I was deeply saddened yesterday to hear that Brian Wilson had hung up his surfboard for the last time. He's written some truly amazing songs and, for a while, really did give Macca a run for his money. I listen to Marty Wheelan every day (7-10am) on RTÉ and was absolutely bowled over by a Dublin barbershop quartet singing live in the studio this morning a breathtaking version of God Only Knows*; goosebumps doesn't even come close. (*Fast forward to 11:51.)
That said, this blog is, essentially, now more than ever, about the living, And someone who definitely falls into that category - even at 92(!) - is Willie Nelson. RTÉ has been playing cuts from Willie's new album, Oh What a World, for a little while now; not least this gorgeous offering which, for me, is already shaping up to be one of my songs of the year.
Willie Nelson - Forty Miles From Nowhere (2025)