Round-up

So it looks as if David Beckham's gone Hollywood, signing with the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer this week. In addition to getting loads of money, he'll be able to flourish in an environment far away from the talking heads of European football. Still, a five year contract for a guy who's 31? He's still playing well but I can't see him still performing at a high level at 36. Maybe if Posh and Becks are ever in Philly I'll invite them round for a nice cuppa...

In other sporting news, the Philadelphia Eagles are still alive in the NFL playoffs. Tomorrow is a slightly more worrying game than last week, as the New Orleans Saints are a far better club than the Giants. The Eagles have a good chance, but they are definitely the underdogs in this game.

Uniting my two loves, this week I sang as part of a pickup choir for a TV special put together by NFL films to air on Super Bowl Sunday. Expect lots of slow motion hits and beautiful spiralling passes to the accompaniment of dramatic brass and percussion (and our inspired "oohs" and "ahs" on top). First the UK Snooker championship last year (snooker related Christmas carols filmed around York on BBC) and now this. If I could sing at a Phillies game that would be ace.

I saw 'Dreamgirls' this week and was slightly taken aback with how much I enjoyed it. The production values were stunning and some of the performances (Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, and Eddie Murphy especially) were really top notch. I don't usually like excessive heart-on-sleeve singing displays, but in the context of the drama it was quite effective. Should I admit that when Jennifer Hudson sang the barnburner "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" I found myself brushing away tears? Anytime you can go to the cinema and be reached that viscerally, there's something good there. Of course the damn song has been in my head for the rest of the week...

I promise to write a post of some substance...soon.