Les Blogs de Belsize

 Day 24 - Stars on the Christmas Tree Stars on the Christmas Tree - play song on Bandcamp   A simple song I imagined children could sing at Christmas as they look at shining stars on their tree. That's it really!! Merry Christmas everyone!!! 'Stars on the Christmas Tree' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (c) Richard Longley 2025 lyrics Everybody count the stars on the Christmas tree I can see them, one by one But they’re not for me Give a little gift and take a piece of mine And the stars will shine Steal a little kiss and look into my eyes And the stars will shine Everybody count the stars on the Christmas tree I can see them, one by one But they’re not for me Give a little gift and take a piece of mine And the stars will shine Steal a little kiss and look into my eyes And the stars will shine

 Day 23 - The Old Bohemian (Indie Disco King) The Old Bohemian (Indie Disco King) - play song on Bandcamp   The original lyrics to the popular carol 'Good King Wenceslas'  were written in 1853 by John Mason Neale, who adapted the story for the Christmas season.  The music, however, is much older and comes from a 13th-century Finnish tune called 'Tempus adest floridum',  based on the real-life Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (c. 907–935 AD). The idea that King Wenceslas was a Bohemian really fascinated me. My idea of a Bohemian was steeped in Jack Kerouac, Jean-Luc Godard and Lloyd Cole! I decided to re-write the lyrics (to an original tune) imagining Wenceslas as an indie-kid, with dufflecoat and an armful of vinyl from Sarah Records purchased from HMV, making his way on the Northern Line up to a gig at the Camden Monarch in the snow. 'The Old Bohemian (Indie Disco King)' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes...

 Day 22 - Under the Mistletoe Under the Mistletoe - play song on Bandcamp   A simple song relaying the activities of so many parents (especially when I was growing up) of sneaking into children's bedrooms on Christmas Eve and filling stockings, sacks and (in my case) pillow cases full of presents. A quick peck on the cheek between husband and wife, mother and father, then up the stairs to perform the role of Santa. 'Under the Mistletoe' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (c) Richard Longley 2025 lyrics From under the mistletoe What secrets do you keep Nobody else will know A stolen kiss before you creep Into the bedroom when the lights go out Hiding presents into pillowcases Turning inside out From under the mistletoe What secrets have you got Nobody else will know Be sure that you’re not caught Into the bedroom when the lights go out Hiding presents into pillowcases Turning inside out Into the bedroom when the...

 Day 21 - Music On Christmas Morning Music On Christmas Morning - play song on Bandcamp   Text (c) Anne Brontë, first published in 1846 under her pen name Acton Bell in the collection Poems by the Brontë sisters. (*the author died at least 100 years ago - 28 May 1849) Another instrumental idea I'd had for a Christmas track but lacked any inspiration for lyrics until I found Anne  Brontë's wonderful poem. The piece celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is written in a traditional hymn style, characterised by its simplicity and sincerity. The poem begins with the narrator expressing a love of music, and how it has the power to soothe  grief and pain. They then describe the special music that is heard on Christmas morning, which they say has the power to awaken them from their sleep and call them to worship.   A lovely idea which struck a chord and I edited the text to fit my music and my own beliefs. 'Every Christmas Eve' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, ...

 Day 20 - Every Christmas Eve Every Christmas Eve - play song on Bandcamp   I think the lyrics for this song say it all, for me anyway. So very personal, following a loss.   'Every Christmas Eve' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (c) Richard Longley 2025 lyrics Every Christmas Eve I’ll take you by the hand, we’ll light a candle For your love Every Christmas Day We’ll hide away in secret, think about you And your love Every year I know it’s getting harder Every year I know I miss you more Every Christmas night I’ll make a promise that I won’t forget you Or your love Turning out the lights I’ll hide away my feelings, won’t regret them Or my love Every year I know it’s getting harder Every year I know I miss you more And you know This is when the days are darkest I can’t let go This is when the days aren’t good enough for you Every year I know it’s getting harder Every year I know I miss you more

 Day 19 - Christmas Card 1983 Christmas Card 1983 - play song on Bandcamp   Another lyrical return for 'Johnny Handsome' as he falls from his sleigh, to be tended by 'Jenny' this time ('Jenny' and 'Johnny' being just two of the most adopted names for boys and girls in popular music!). I've also referenced again Cary Grant, 'The Bishop's Wife' and 'It's A Wonderful Life' proving once again that repetition is good and writer's block is bad. The idea harks back to simpler times in the beginnings of relationships, when you did spend virtually all the money you had earned from your Saturday job on a record from HMV in order to impress your partner of the day. Failing that, you made a mixtape (look it up on Google, kids!) although in simple terms, it's a playlist in physical form, labelled with love and biro! 'Christmas Card 1983' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes...

 Day 18 - A Very Woolworths Christmas A Very Woolworths Christmas - play song on Bandcamp   A re-write of my earlier Christmas 'hit' - 'A Very Indie Christmas' - essentially a 'wish list' song for tracks and artists from the C86 era. For this new compilation I decided to look back to those glorious late-night shopping expeditions to Woolworths and the present lists written to Santa (which always included a *Chopper bike!!) A song for those who know what a Ronco record cleaner is/was. *and I'm still waiting for Santa to deliver my Chopper! 'A Very Woolworths Christmas' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (c) Richard Longley 2025 lyrics I sat on my bed writing Christmas cards To all my school friends Even the one that was hard (his name was Barry, he’d smash your face in) I left out a note for Santa to se For a Chopper bike and a Slade L.P. Now all I want for Christmas Late night Woolworth’...

 Day 17 - A Morston Christmas Tale A Morston Christmas Tale - play song on Bandcamp   In a moment of wishful thinking I decided a tiny village in north Norfolk needed its own Christmas song. Lyrically, I wrote about what creatures inhabited this region and the activities (such as boat trips to see the seals) took place. I also imaged a narrator, who'd been away to that there London (other metropolitan cities are available) and was 'coming home' to an idyllic country Christmas, complete with glowing church candles and march hares playing on a frosty field in the winter's sun. As yet, it hasn't been adopted as the village's Christmas anthem. 'A Morston Christmas Tale' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (c) Richard Longley 2025 lyrics Over frosted fields I roam Where the tawny owl and blackbird have flown Going home Over quayside path in snow Marshland breezes through my tee shirt blows Going h...

 Day 16 - Leave Me December Leave Me December - play song on Bandcamp   Another bereavement related song thinking about the ghosts and shadows of Christmas past and wishing December away so that the New Year can begin. There's some remorse in thinking about the previous excitement of looking forward to the end of November and the beginning of December, signifying the start of the Christmas season. There's guilt even thinking about celebrating the season when there's someone who won't be this time around. 'Leave Me December' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (c) Richard Longley 2025 lyrics Leave me December with garlands of green Leave me to sleep with the past I can see shadows of a Christmas that’s been Reminders that are breaking my heart Leave me December with hopes and my dreams Leave me to cry on my own I can see ghosts of a Christmas that’s been Scared that I’m left all alone You will remembe...

 Day 15 - The Night Before Christmas The Night Before Christmas - play song on Bandcamp   "The Night Before Christmas" (or "A Visit from St. Nicholas"  ) is one of the most iconic and enduring poems, especially around Christmas time. It was first published anonymously in  December 23, 1823, in the Troy Sentinel newspaper. It's a uthorship has remained in dispute between  Clement Clarke Moore, a  professor and biblical scholar from New York. Moore c laimed authorship in 1837 , saying he wrote it for his children in 1822 and included it in a poetry anthology in 1844. Alternatively, some think Henry Livingston Jr., a  New York farmer and poet of Dutch and Scottish ancestry  wrote the poem, likely before 1823. Assuming the text was written by Moore and  published before January 1, 1930, it is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. I set part of the text to an instrumental piece I'd recently written and hop...

 Day 14 - Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin Pie - play song on Bandcamp   Feeling in a particularly sour mood one day, after yet another endless ear-bashing, head-splitting, nerve-irritating  performance of the 'Now!' playlist I decided an anti-Christmas, Christmas song was needed. I decided that my narrator wanted to reject all feelings of goodwill to all men served up by syrupy festive tunes and the lyric was born. Initially, I was particularly disturbed by 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree', although not the excellent Brenda Lee original. No, what upset me was the infuriating Mel Smith and Kim Wilde version, where Mel 'hilariously' suggests to Kim that there's 'plenty of pumpkin pie left'. Immediately I thought, no, I don't want any pumpkin pie, nor any of the other tropes wheeled out every year.  The saving grace, if there is one, comes in the form of merely wanting to spend Christmas with that special person in the narrator's life. 'Pumpkin P...

 Day 13 - First Christmas First Christmas - play song on Bandcamp   A song of bereavement and loss - what happens when you have to face up to the fact that someone you've spent every Christmas with (or near) is no longer here. The lyrics say it all for me. 'First Christmas' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (c) Richard Longley 2025 lyrics All this time You’ve been on my mind Since that first day You went away I’m so cold Gather my strength But I’m out of my depth Since that first night Keep holding me tight I’m so cold The edge of the world is a long way The end of tomorrow is due Yesterday won’t be repeated But Christmas has come And this year’s the very first one Without you

 Day 12 - It Only Snows At Christmas (On My TV) It Only Snows At Christmas (On My TV) - play song on Bandcamp   It occurred to me while watching yet another dismal festive production on the goggle box one day that it only seems to snow at Christmas on television. And on Christmas Eve at that. And at the end of a programme. Where all the cast stare starry-eyed at the sky while the production crew try desperately to hide the fact that they are filming in August. The fact is,  there is a blatant disconnect between the portrayal of a white Christmas on television and the rare occurrence of actual snowfall on December 25th . White Christmasses (and dreaming of them thereof) is an idyllic notion only amplified my media productions (and Christmas songwriters!). The reality is, Christmas Day is often mild, grey, damp and soggy. Still, let that not spoil our festive fun, as my track sets the traditional Dickensian scene of urchins and sleigh rides, chocolate boxes, Advent calendar...

  Day 11 - Sleigh Ride (In The Sky) Sleigh Ride (In The Sky) - play song on Bandcamp   Written initially for my imaginary Balham, south London-based band from 1971 - 'Valentina Way'.  Valentina Way Bandcamp During the COVID-19 pandemic, comedian Arfur Smith , the self-proclaimed Night Mayor of all Balham, used to hold regular imaginary expeditions throughout the world, where his social media followers would consider where they'd be, who they'd be with and what they'd do if free from the restrictions of the pandemic. I participated in the excursions with glee and enthusiasm, introducing an imaginary bubblegum band from 1971 who would be gigging in whatever city Arfur had chosen that day, usually supporting a local tribute artist or band from the same era. For example, if in Paris, Valentina Way would be supporting the French Beach Boys, 'Les Garcons de la Plage' (apologies Eric Idle for stealing this gag from 'The Rutles' movie!) I ran with this flims...

  Day 10 - Christmas Bride Christmas Bride - play song on Bandcamp A re-write of my track 'Blushing Bride' to pose the question, are you the Christmas bride? The lyric idea came from two sources - one being noticing older members of the community and wondering what their weddings might have been like and the second, watching repeats of Top of the Pops from the 70's, with young dancers and contemplating what their lives might have been (depending on the era and their musical tastes) as well as how they might look today. So the lyric takes us to a wedding in December 1965 and a honeymoon in a caravan (probably as glamorous back then as one in Thailand is today) through Glam Rock, the Bay City Rollers, Punk, New Romantics, Brit Pop ... Each generation and each social tribe represented by music and fashion but all with the same question ... were you the blushing or Christmas bride? 'Christmas Bride' by Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Written, recorded, performed, produced by...