CHRISTMAS CRACKER (SNOW SCENES) A SEASONAL SONG OF MINE FEATURING OLDER SNOW PHOTOS OF MONTEFRIO (AND MY SUSIE) PLUS THE GRANADA SKI SLOPES OF OUR SIERRA NEVADAS.

After a low profile musical production period of eight weeks (- a computer black screen problem had me very stressed out *&^%$! ) Plus software issues compounded things, after which it seemed as if I'd lost all of my precious Youtube videos... GRRRRR! Sigh - I was not a happy camper... But finally, all's well that ends well... I've 'picked up the pieces' - and with huge sighs of relief - posted a new video..! MY LAPTOP, BY CLIVE DAVIES: I SAT MY LAPTOP ON MY LAP IT ATE A LOT OF FLUFF AND NOW IT WON'T DO ANYTHING I THINK IT'S HAD ENOUGH SO I TOOK MY FRIED COMPUTER TO A SPECIALIST I.T. GUY AN INNOCENTLY ASKED HIM WHY MY LAPTOP FRIED QUITE TACITURN HIS WORDS ARE FEW IN FACT HE'S VERY QUIET HE QUIETLY SAID ALL LAPTOPS NEED A BASIC FLUFF FREE DIET!

PHONEY NEWS (original song) My song PHONEY NEWS was written after watching three documentaries - here are the links to short trailers: The Social Dilemma | Official Trailer | Netflix (2020) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaaC5... Saving Capitalism | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix (2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T9E2... Secret City, IMDb (2012) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2448704/...

I'M NOT ED SHEERAN (original song) The inspiration for this song came about when I read that Ed Sheeran and I share the same birth date... (Although he's exactly 47 years younger than I am..!) Gasp! I'M NOT ED SHEERAN New song by Clive Davies *INTRO: WITH A GUITAR NOT A BROOMSTICK - HE LOOKS LIKE A FAMOUS MATE - HE COULD BE HARRY POTTER'S SIDEKICK - BUT FOR THE FICKLENESS OF FATE..! 1 WEAR MY HAIR LIKE ED SHEERAN - MOVING MY WHOLE CAREER DEVELOPING HIS STYLE, A VOCAL-CASUAL-YOKEL WOULD APPEAR SEEKING HIS WORD ADVENTURES, EVER CLEVER AND NEVER ABSURD WITH RETINUES OF FOLLOWERS - FOLLOWING EVERY WORD 2 DRESS MYSELF LIKE ED SHEERAN, ADOPTING HIS CANDID GAZE WEARING A DIMPLE-EDGED SMILEY FACE, DELIVERING EACH PHRASE - LIKE 'HI GUYS!' COOL-SCHOOL COMMENTS, IN A WORD PLAY KIND OF WAY CHECK-OUT HIS CAFE COOLNESS, AND CHECK SHIRTED DISPLAY 3 WALKING LIKE ED SHEERAN, TALKING IN 'ED-SPEAK' TOO NEVER CARELESS OR DISINTERESTED, EVER CONFIDENT AND COOL NEVER DISTANT OR ALOOF - THE PROOF OF THIS - FUCK YES! DELIVERED WITH A GRIN AND ROSY APPLE CHEEKINESS 4 COULD I CONTENT MYSELF WITH ED SHEERAN PLAY-DAY DREAMS COULD I REINVENT MY EGO - DENTED BY MY GENES IF MY LIFE BECAME LIKE HIS - WOULD I EVER LET IT SHOW... I WOULD, PERHAPS - BUT IN ANOTHER DREAM - OF NEARLY FIFTY YEARS AGO! 5 TAKES OFF GINGER WIGLET FRINGES - UNCOOL FOR MY MY KIND OF SHINDIG 'COS I DIG WHERE I AM AND WHAT I 'ARE!' - NEVER DESTINED TO BE A ROCK STAR..! ME AND MY GUITAR - MUSICALLY FREE - FINGERSTYLIST REPARTEE BOUNDLESS CLIVESTYLE VARIATIONS - NOT TO MENTION LYRICAL FACINATION *OUTRO: MY REAMS OF SCHEMES THESE DREAMS OF THEMES - ARE NEVER WHAT THEY SEEM MERELY REAMS OF THEMES THESE SCHEMES OF THEMES ARE NEVER EVER DREAMS OF DREAMS

DIVINE DILEMA (original song) A scribbled verse from my sketch book was reshaped and polished - it's about Our Musical Hero who has found himself a bit tied up and doesn't know what to do about it...

TRICK CYCLING (original instrumental) Last movement of my suite, 'La Bicicleta' I look so serious said Susie - which made me think of alternative light and summery ideas for the visuals... Chick Cycling was the winner..! LoL

A E I O YOU AND ME (original song) It's a fun song - yet another songfruit freshly plucked from my song tree (rootstock from the ragtime era...) LoL

ALMOST EUREKA (original song) My latest song is a bizarre improvisation on my developing guitar style - a funky Nuevo Flamenco-ish wacky fusion - with vocals loosely attached..! LoL

DOUBLE DECKER (remix of my original instrumental) I wrote this piece for my one man show 'Waiting for the Moon' at South Africa's Grahamstown Arts Festival... I'm playing my Ramirez 1A concert guitar, in dropped D tuning.

THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST Original song by Clive Davies BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE LONGER AND THE AIR IS NOT SO CHILL FIND CONSOLATION IN ISOLATION THAT ABSENCE TENDS TO FILL GOOD THINGS PROD AND PROMPT US - HELP US FIND A KEY TO BUILD A NEW FOUNDATION - TO STRENGTHEN YOU AND ME FILLING TIME WITH CHANGES - NEW PHASES AND GOOD WILLS WE ADD NEW TUNES TO MELODIES WITH ORNAMENTS AND TRILLS NICE THINGS SOMETIMES HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO SIT AND WAIT WE OFTEN SAY THAT JUST A THOUGHT CAN LEAD TO SOMETHING GREAT ISOLATED FOR THE DURATION LOOKING FOR A COMFORT STATION SEEKING MUTUAL ADMIRATION AND LOVE OF SMALLER THRILLS WE DREAM OF SUMMER PASTURES WHEN THE SUN IS STRONGER STILL FOCUSING ON LITTLE PLEASURES, FAR FROM WINTERS CHILLS REVISING DAILY LIFESTYLES, KEEPING THOUGHTS SO LIGHT BRITTLE ISSUES FOLD LIKE TISSUES DIMMED BY BRIGHT SUNLIGHT THINK OF WINKING AT MINOR FLAWS - THEY CAUSE NO LASTING STRIFE THEREIN LIES THE ANSWER - LOOK FOR THE LOVELY THINGS IN LIFE THOUGHTS FLOATING ON GOSAMER WINGS JUST COAST ALONG ON THESE LOVELY THINGS - THESE THINGS SO FEATHERLIGHT... THESE LOVELY THINGS OF LIFE!

SHOWTIME (original song) Another song fresh from my song tree, to raise your spirits and hopefully a few chuckles... SHOW TIME! BY CLIVE DAVIES CHORUS: KNOCK KNOCK IT'S GREENWICH MEAN TIME - UNLOCK YOUR PAD-LOCK BIG TIME CLOCKWORK SHOCK WORK GO TIME! IN TICK-TOCK TALK - IT'S SHOWTIME! IT WAS HALF PAST THE KNEE JOINT, SAID THE FIGURE ON THE CLOCK - THE TIME WAS ALMOST HALF PAST KNEE I HAD FLOWN IN TO ALASKA IN MY PIN-STRIPED JET, LANDING ON AN ICY FROZEN SEA THE WEATHER MILD AND BITTER, WITH A GLITTERING OF FROST - SO NICE TO BE HERE JUST IN TIME FOR TEA THOUGH THE LIME JUICE CURDLED CREAM ON TOP OF MY CUP - WHICH SORT OF STUCK TO MY PINK GOATEE ON THE DOT I SAW THE CLOCK HAD RE-ALIGNED A NOSE AND A HAND - THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE FIGURE I COULD SEE SO I WALTZED WITH MY TEACUP SWINGING FROM MY BEARD - TO MEET THE BOSS - THE NEW REVERED QUEENBEE NOW SENOR BUMBLE BEE HAD BUZZED ME - IF HIS BUZZING WAS CORRECT - I SHOULD 'WING' MY INTERVIEW WITH LADYBEE - SING HER AN OUTLINE OF MY STORY, LEAVING OUT THE GORY BITS - BY PRETENDING SHE WAS JUST A HONEYBEE CHORUS: KNOCK KNOCK IT'S GREENWICH MEAN TIME - UNLOCK YOUR PAD-LOCK BIG TIME - CLOCKWORK SHOCK WORK GO TIME! - IN TICK-TOCK TALK - IT'S SHOWTIME! OH NO! THE CLOCK WAS FROZEN STIFF WITH A SMILE UPON ITS FACE - DOH REY MI FAH SOH, LAH DEE, DAH DEE, DEE TO BE OR NOT TO BEE - HOPEFULLY NOT A WASP! NOW I'M CLUELESS AS TO WHAT THE TIME COULD BE... GASPING AS I GRASPED THE MEANING OF THIS SILLY SCENE, FEELING SUCH AN INEFFECTUAL WANNABEE BUT QUEENIE WAS A HONEY AND AWARDED ME THE JOB - AND THE MONEY, AND ANOTHER CUP OF TEA! THE MORAL TO THIS TALE IS, IF YOUR FAILURE TO ALIGN THE FIGURE ON THE CLOCK YOU CANNOT SEE YOU NEED TO PAUSE ( ..2, 3, 4 ) LOOK FOR THE CAUSE - IT MAYBE JUST ANOTHER TYPE OF BEE... SO BE CAREFUL, TYPE YOUR RESUME, WITH SOME CRAFTY LYRIC LINES THAT DEFINE YOURSELF AS DIFFERENT TO ME CHOOSING WORDS TO RE-ALIGN YOUR CLOCK, THAT TICKS AS WELL AS TOCKS - AND YOU'LL GET THE JOB WITHOUT THE THIRD DEGREE! CHORUS: KNOCK KNOCK IT'S GREENWICH MEAN TIME - UNLOCK YOUR PAD-LOCK BIG TIME - CLOCKWORK SHOCK WORK GO TIME! - IN TICK-TOCK TALK - IT'S SHOWTIME!

MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTBIN (a re-imagined spoof song!) Freshly plucked from my song tree (with apologies to Lonnie Donegan) and in keeping with my song challenge to all songwriters to help lift the gloom that's surrounds the whole world at present - write a song with a smile in it..! MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTBIN, by Clive Davies MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTBIN, HE WEARS A DUSTBIN LID HIS PROPER NAME IS ROGER - BUT WE ALL CALL HIM SID! WHEN HE DOFF'S HIS LID TO YOU HE MAKES A PROPER STINK SUCH A MUCKER IN HIS DUSTBIN AND TUCKER - A SOD, WITH A NOD AND A WINK RAISING SUCH A DUST STORM AS HE GOES OUT ON HIS ROUNDS THE SOUND OF SID'S CLANKING LIDS, SOUND'S LIKE A BATTLEGROUND UPSETTING ALL THE NEIGHBOURS - BY WHISTLING DIRTY SONGS..!!! HE FLIRTS WITH ALL THE LOCAL GIRLS - EVEN THOUGH HE PONGS! (SOMETHING AWFUL!) WATCH HIM JUGGLING DUSTBIN LIDS - HE'S REALLY QUITE A STAR KICKING HIS BOOTS LIKE FRED ASTAIRE, NO MATTER WHERE HE ARE CLATTER, CHATTER, RATTLE AND SCRAPE, BANGS, CLANGS AND TINKLES HIS FRUITY SMELLS WAKE SLEEPING BEAUTIES - EVEN RIP VAN WINKLES! SCHOOLED AT ETON AND OXFORD, HE'D SUCH A PRIVILEGED START IN THE WHEELBARROW OF LIFE, DESTINED FOR A GREATER PART JUST A FELLA IN A TOPPER AND TAILS - HE ROSE TO THE TOP OF THE TREE NOW HE OWNS HIS OWN DUST CART, AND LOOKS DOWN ON YOU AND ME..! OH - MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTBIN, HE WEARS A DUSTBIN LID HIS PROPER NAME IS ROGER - BUT WE ALL CALL HIM SID! WHEN HE DOFF'S HIS LID TO YOU HE MAKES A PROPER STINK SUCH A MUCKER IN HIS DUSTBIN AND TUCKER - A SOD, WITH A NOD AND A WINK

LEMON SMILES (original song) I felt that all of my music projects waiting for completion were too 'heavy' for this challenging and uncertain time that the whole world now finds itself in... So, starting out from scratch with a nonsense line - just grabbed from fresh air, I began writing a song - with a SMILE in it... LEMON SMILES by Clive Davies Pipped at the gate post fizzy lemons whizzing by Winged horses riding lemon rainbows in the sky Pancho's mulish foolish looks mirror his own mule Are Don Quixote challenges of a clever man or fool? Schools offer answers as in higher schools of fish Lemon wishing helps when riding rainbows as we wish Beaching whales as in a country dancing is divine Lemons foster fitness changing water into whine Machiavelli lemon jelly well he really didn't know Lemonade is not a charity for clarity begins at Homer was a poet philosophic wannabee Buzzing lemon blossoms on the bitter lemon tree Homer came to grips with novel quips and arty crafty scholar Ships of the desert regions lemon heaven blessed Well rested after contemplating lemon fish and chips Allowed unzipping of his fruit revealing lemon pips! Unzip a lemon taking care as you incise For limes looks like a lemon not a melon in disguise So here's a rip-off of a tip-off I've wrapped it up in prose It's fun to squeeze your pips to hit your target on the nose!

BLARNEY MAN (original song) A delightful Irish family, the Kenny's, lived next door to us in Oxford, and Dad's great Irish friend George Ryan gave me my first guitar. In 1968, my big brother Les and I hitch-hiked across Ireland to Tralee - where the Guinness Folk Festival, the Rose of Tralee competition and the Trotting Races all combined - such a wealth of Irish experience - interesting people, music, humour, the 'Blarney' was everywhere - surely building the foundations of Irish wackiness into my young mind... The Blarney Man by Clive Davies 1) THE CUTEST TOWN IN IRELAND WHERE THE BLARNEY SHOWS ITS FACE TICKS OVER AT A SLOWER PACE TO ALL WHO CALL FOR ALE NOW SEAMUS THERE IS OFTEN DUBBED AS NOT THE BRIGHTEST IN THE PUB - BUT BEGORRAH AND BEDAD THE LAD COULD REALLY TELL A TALE LICKING MENTAL PENCIL LEAD, HE'D TINK A MESSAGE TO HISSELF THEN LEANING ON THE MANTELSHELF HE'D START TO WHET HIS WILES GRINNING AND A-GLARING – SURE HE'S AWAY WITH THE FAIR-IES AND A COUPLE OF HAIL MARY'S - TOSSED INTO THE SKY! CHORUS: TIDDLYWINKS WE'RE ODDS AND SODS IN THE KINGDOM OF THE GODS ROLLICKING, FROLLICKING, BOLLICKING FUN AT THE BLARNEY BAR TODAY 2) IS IT FACT OR IS IT FICTION THAT THE TELLER OF THE TALES HAS A BLARNEY STONE ADDICTION WHICH THE KISSING NEVER FAILS HE TELLS OF SUCH ADVENTURES - ALL THE DREAMERS ARE EXHILARATED ACTIVATED, ANIMATED - PICKLED TINK - AND STIMULATED THIS SEAMUS FELLA HELD THEM WITH HIS HOLY GRAIL OF TALES AND THE PUB ENTERED THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS FOR THEIR SALES HE'D TROT THE PLOTS AND STORYLINE HE'D LIFT HIS SNOUT AND SHOUT WHILE THE PEOPLE FELL ABOUT - AND LAUGHED THEIR TONSILS INSIDE OUT! 3) UNDERNEATH THEIR PADDY CAPS - SMOKY TEETH LIKE DOMINOES WRINKLED NOSES, EARS DELIGHTED, BLINKING EYES IN SMILING FACES, CHEWING PIGGIES TROTTERS, BAKED PRATIES AND PISTACHIOS SHEBEEN KISSERS WHITE PAINTED WITH GUINNESS STOUT MOUSTACHIOS! 4) ARE THESE FLIGHTS OF FANCY WHERE HIS FERTILE TINKING SAILS IRISH MISTY - PASS THE WHISKEY - IS THE FELLA TELLING TALES..? IS IT PHONEY - OR ONLY BALONEY - NEAT AND SWEET BUT NEVER SOUR WORD SPINNING AND WORD WEAVING - AT TEN TOUSAND WORDS AN HOUR! 5) WHY NOT FIND OUT FOR YERSELF, IF YOU'VE A DAY TO FIND YERSELF HERE AND NOW, TURN LEFT - (NO RIGHT..?) - AH, GO OTHER WAY! FOLLOW THE FELLA, THE PRIEST AND TINKER, NOT FORGETTIN' THE GUINNESS DRINKER YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT - SO FOLLOW YOUR FEET - TO THE BLARNEY BAR TODAY..!

ALICE'S CAT (original song(s) I play two versions, first a simple folky style - and then a more jazzy style - loosely connected by instrumental improvisations... Inspired by Alice and her Cheshire Cat - it's a nonsense song, written a while ago - in an 'age of relative innocence!' LoL

Anastasia (original song) A commission inspired this fantasy song... 'A Fairy story, please..!' This was from Susie, my sweet musical darling wife, who sometimes makes a suggestion (more like an instruction! ha, ha,) I'm smiling as I write this, because this clever lady intuitively knows which type of music will provide a startling contrast for my next weekly video post..! So here is a Fairy story, delicately placed between sections of an instrumental called Anastasia that I wrote for a young Montefrio student, Anna, about three years ago.

SNOWING HARD (Duet over Mark Fussell's guitar music) Dear friend Mark had posted his composition, Snowing Hard. I commented that he could turn it into a duet... He sent me the mp3 file and suggested that I try to make a duet of it..! It turned out to be more than a challenge... So here it is (- a real pigs breakfast of an attempt!) LoL Touché, brother Mark...

TOP SECRET (original instrumental, remix) This is one of a number of pieces where I started with a blank slate, searching for a melodic, harmonic or rhythmical idea. Though, these days more often than not, I'll have a wee sketch written in notation or TAB or even words, which I use to kick-start a development... Any of these can give me a visual scenario which also stimulates my imagination - and sometimes provide a title at this early stage, which further encouraging my creativity..!

Beating my way (original song, new recording) Such a sensitive guy - he goes through extreme weather and danger to get to her place - then, having arrived battered and weary, he wonders if he should intrude on her quiet evening..!

Here, There and Everywhere (Beatles re-imagined)

REVELATION (original, remix) Better sound on this remix - now my amazing revelation becomes even clearer..! Freshly plucked (well, remixed) a song fruit from my song tree - it's about this wonderful free APP - that I just had to write to tell you about..!

Afromenca (original instrumental, remixed) I've never studied flamenco though I've attended many shows in my 15 years of living in Spain. First posted a few years ago this piece of mine was sketched in South Africa and completed in Spain. I've given many concerts in Montefrio - this was a fun edit of a home recording - putting me into a movie!

Spacebaby (original song, remix) A futuristic musical romp with Universal appeal..! LoL

GHOST DANCES (original instrumental duet) 'GHOST DANCES' - THE GHOSTS OF RENAISSANCE CHRISTMAS PAST THAT SHOWS ACTUAL RENAISSANCE DANCING, FILMED IN 1584 - USING USING GALILEO'S AMAZING STRING AND BEESWAX TECHNOLOGY..!

MATRIX MORE VARIATIONS (original instrumental) A matrix can be social or mathematical, here I set out to make it musical..! The photos show some of my experiences in the three countries where I have lived for long periods; UK, South Africa, and since 2005, Spain...

MOLLY'S CHRISTMAS WISH (original song) Talk about winging a song - this has a WET PAINT placard..! Focused on reading the lyrics, I allowed my vocals to improvise - and left the chords up to my fingers... Then, Santa pyjamas on (as promised) - I pressed record... (Hopefully, my editing doesn't spoil my Christmas story..) *The lyrics themselves started all over the place (- as my wacky songs do) - until I rhymed Jolly with Molly... Factual background: My two brothers and I had an Auntie Molly, who was always a little sad, except when she wasn't..!!! Sister of Uncle Laurie, who was married to Auntie Milly - our Auntie Molly lost her fiancee in the war. She never had a boyfriend and, living alone, she never ever married..!

ICLICLE MUSIC (original) It's still too early for Christmas music (though Susie already has my Santa Claus pyjamas ironed and ready to wear..!) LoL

BAREFOOT RUNNER (live original song) This song was part of a one man show I performed at the Grahamstown Festival in South Africa. I later made an album of this show, called Waiting for the Moon.

PLUCKERS (live original song) I posted a photo essay version of this some three years ago... For those that requested the chords here's another video that I made today which shows the fairly simple chords... (I hadn't played the song for three years - so it's a bit rough!) LoL

TOP HAT CAVEAT (original song) For my weekly video post (+-360) this song only took a couple of days to write as this outrageous stand-up comic generates lots of comments and photos... LoL

Almost Like Being In Love ( jazzy chords) For my video post this week, here's a practice piece that I made a few weeks ago (often they end up in the bin - but this one's not too bad..!) LoL *A cut on the tip of one of my left hand fingers has restricted my playing... Grrr!

Merry Mushrooms (original song) I wrote this song in the 1980's for a proposed TV series... Sal Price, the (then young teenage) daughter of dear friends, at Buccaneers Lodge & Backpackers, Chintsa in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, is the charming singer on this (very dated) tape recording... (My guitar sounds tinny and quite ancient..!) (But then I am too..!) LoL

DAMI (original instrumental) My tremolo study with variations (Before and After...) Yesterday's sunny patio video was interrupted... So, on this cool early morning, after some welcome evening rain, I hit record again - armed with a steaming mug of cocoa! Mmmm...

EASY PEASY (original song) A spin-off from my practice for playing guitar at a recent wedding, I 're-sculpted' a well known song by letting my curious mind and fingers delve into some ideas - and two days ago - hey Presto..! (*It seems the more I practice - the luckier I get..!) LoL

Arpeggio Variations (improvised) It's 6 pm and a sunny 29 degrees C on the 7th of October 2019 I'm sitting on our cottage patio in Montefrio Spain, playing a G,C,D,G chord sequence - well that's where it started... I tried to make it melodic (to avoid boring any passing friends..!) LoL

SUNSHINE MARKET (original song) I decided to use a 100 year old drummer to accompany me - please excuse the 60 seconds warm-up... This story-song is a (patchwork!) sort of a factual account of a visit to a Sunshine Market last Sunday... ''Practice harder young Davies..!'' ''Yes, Headmaster..!'' LoL

Finger Thinking (original instrumental) This is a piece from my sizeable repertoire of compositions - those I've actually written down..! LoL (Played on my £70 student guitar..!)

THERE BE DRAGONS..! (original song) A genuine Renaissance, song that I wrote myself..! Actual film footage of Dragon fights with Knights of old... First hand eye witness minstrel accounts in song..! (Predates Greensleeves..!)

MATRIX (original instrumental) I recorded this in three parts, each part on one of my different instruments... The sound settings were kept the same for each guitar to illustrate their individual characteristics: 3/4 size Student guitar / Flamenco guitar / Ramirez Classical guitar.

DEEP MARSHMALLOW VALLEYS (PARODY) I had fun writing this parody on The Big Rock Candy Mountains, a ... read moredream alternative paradise for kids of all ages, 1 to 100... Those who didn't relish my 'Pumpkin Houses' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD1A8D0Ekf8 can now delight in Gingerbread Houses with Milkshake Streams... After all, it's glorious summertime - so just R E L A X ..!

Living Doll (jazz / blues arrangement) This is a remixed song with new visuals added... Having taken a week off (without posting a new video!) I'm relaxing in the heat of our gorgeous Andalusian summer - still celebrating my Fandalism.com video channel having reached an incredible two million views..!

Here are some new variations on my E minor study 'ENFASIS' that many of my students will remember... *It also celebrates my videos reaching two million views on the wonderful musicians video channel www.fandalism.com

HOUND DOG (wacky chords) Never able to simply 'play a song' I always love to experiment - 'push the boundaries' - moulding, warping, distorting - morphing each song into a new shape that challenges my 'weird musical sensibilities..!' LoL

FIESTA (original instrumental) Only in my mind, not on paper, this is an earlier classical guitar composition of mine that I'm still doubtful about including in my upcoming September gig (- my first since 2012..!) Gasp! So I first have to write it out - then the piece needs a lot of work to really make it flow..! (Wipes sweaty brow!)

TIGHT DRESS BLUES (original song, remix) A Blues encounter that inspired me to write probably the most intense song I've ever written..!

THE GLORY OF LOVE (tutorial) My basic fingerstyle method for separating the thumb from the fingers by using only one thumb note for each beat... I also show a couple of other fingerstyle techniques for this great song..!

LAGOON (original song, remix) Cintsa lagoon, nestling on the east coast of South Africa, toes dipping in the beautiful Indian Ocean, this gorgeous retreat holds so many precious memories and inspired so many songs for me...

LIPSTICK HOCKEY TRICK (original song) Wacky is as wacky does - this is a free flowing FUN song..! 'A rap-fashioned narrative - car horn boogie..!' LoL

JAZZMOLO (original instrumental) I'd just wished bon voyage to my latest guitar student from UK and I was itching to get to terms with extending a piece that had been going around my mind - I call it 'JAZZMOLO' - so I scribbled a quick cascade of chord symbols and pressed video record... It starts with the music that is a little guitar study, then I improvise on the scribbled chords in the middle section - and end off with the study again..! Oh, and the guitar is a sweet 3/4 sized student model that I bought new in UK last month, for seventy pounds..!

I'm in the Mood for Love (remix) My recording of this wonderful old classic song is dedicated to my darling wife, Susie... What an inspiration Susie is, in my life and my music!

You may have noticed that I've always been fascinated by chords, so when I put this song together - I had to use a lot of harmonic glue...! LoL

I found a delightful Chinese Puppet Show by Dragon Art Studio. I added some weird music..! (I think this will raise a smile from my grand kiddies: Jude and Darcey, Emma and Claire...)

Granada On My Mind (original song) Summer is here and the scent of bright yellow Broom flowers wafts along the hills and roads all the way to the beautiful city of Granada...

Photograph of You (remix) His girlfriend had cried on my shoulder, 'He's always busy, busy, busy - she could never spend time with him - what could she do..? *I simply had to write this song..!

Using the 'Good Morning Blues' of Lead Belly fame (as so many Blues players do...) I'd loosely sketched some new verses... However - I'm only a dabbler in the Blues Style - so what finally came out is a wacky nonsense piece (though at the very end I do hope there's some sort of resolution ...!) LoL

I don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (remixed) Novel phrasing and chords...

Rocky Raccoon (remix) Lots of Oops and rolling of eyeballs among this wonderful Beatles Western 'spoof' song (- some flying fingernails too..!) LoL

Funny Walks (original instrumental) I selected a segment from my 'Ministry of Funny Walks' video, and turned it into a rhythm study to use for teaching..!

BRINK OF CONFUSION (original song) AFTER A COLD START ON A WET AND WINDY MORNING I SEE YOU IN A CORNER OF MY MIND BUT FOR THE SAKE OF INNER PEACE I CONCENTRATE ON ABSTRACT THOUGHTS THEN I FOCUS AND MY DAY BECOMES DEFINED I TAKE A BOLD STEP THROUGH THE MORNING DOORWAY MY THOUGHTS BOUND WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK I ALLOW THEN THE RAIN KISSES MY BROW, AND HERE I AM ON THE BRINK OF CONFUSION AND I FIND MYSELF THINKING ABOUT YOU ANYHOW I NEED A FIRM HOLD ON THE HANDRAIL OF A NEW IDEA A FIRM HOLD - A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR MY LIFE A NEW SLANT - TO BREAK THE THREAD OF MY DEMISE TO REIN-IN MY GLOOMY MOOD AND LIFT MY DOWNCAST EYES SUN RISING ON MY NEW THEME, LIKE A NEW MUSICAL SCORE MY SELF CONTROL ASSERTS ITSELF - SADNESS IS DENIED ONCE MORE I'M IN CONTROL, RESOLUTE AND SELF ASSURED I THROW AWAY MY BLINDFOLD - I WON'T WEAR IT ANYMORE

Pumpkin Houses (original song, remix) Let's talk about pumpkin Pied a Terre's and cucumbersome homes That fulfil the two essentials we need Let's talk about eating where we live and living so cheaply, 'Cos we grow our own houses from seed! Let's talk about eating marrow raw as we nibble out a doorway And have breakfast on a passage or two Let's talk about lunching on the lounge with a little marrow-juana Let's talk about vegetable bedroom stew Chorus: Oh, Oh, eat me a hole in a new house Eat me a place to stay Gonna get me an artichoke architect To digest my accommodation needs - today! Let's talk about vegetarian pests, I never have them as guests 'Cos they eat me out of house and home... I was once a marrow cook, with a narrow outlook Now I'm a broadbeaned gastronome! Chorus: Oh, Oh, eat me a hole in a new house Eat me a place to stay Gonna get me an artichoke architect To digest my accommodation needs - today! My calabash cottage is the avocado Ritz For me to habituate With a full fat tummy and roof above my head I'll settle down - lean upon my beanbag - and vegetate!

THE INFLUENCE (ORIGINAL SONG) GOT MONEY DRINK BREW SMELL BAD MAKE NOISE SHUT UP GET UP TALK NICELY DON'T HELP KICK DOOR KICK BACK GRAB WHEEL FALL OVER SHOUT OUT PUSH BOOT TALK NICELY DON'T HELP SIT DOWN GO FAST PEOPLE CARRY VERY FAR DON'T FEED DON'T EAT TALK NICELY DON'T HELP STOP FAST HIT FACE FIGHT BEAST HURT HAND BITE TONGUE WRONG MOVE TALK NICELY DON'T HELP JUMP UP ROOF SMACK KNOCK DOWN HEAD SORE DOOR OPEN FALL OUT TALK NICELY DON'T HELP BRAIN LOOSE SIT UP GO BACK START OVER FOOT WALK ALMOST NEARLY TALK NICELY DON'T HELP

GIRL FROM IPANEMA (jazzy) Aah, free wheeling with this fabulous Bossa Nova song that I've never recorded before...

UFO (original song) I FOUND A FLYING SAUCER BURIED IN THE GROUND, I CLEANED IT UP AND CHANGED THE OIL THEN FLEW IT INTO TOWN I TOOK IT TO MY GARAGE BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE MAKE, SO A BICYCLE REPAIR SHOP CHECKED THE TYRES AND FIXED THE BRAKES I WENT FLYING UP THE MAIN STREET FASCINATED LOOKING DOWN, I ALMOST HIT THE TOWN HALL IN MY FROLICKING AROUND PEOPLE ON THE PAVEMENTS, WALKING, FOCUSED ON THEIR PHONES - THE MASSES AND THEIR MILLSTONES - I COULD ALMOST HEAR THEIR GROANS THE KIDS WERE ON THEIR PHONES TOO WHEN I HOVERED AT THE SCHOOL, BUT NO ONE LOOKED UP TO SEE ME SO I HEADED FOR THE ZOO THE MONKEYS SAW ME - THEY ALL LOOKED UP EXCEPT FOR THE KANGAROO, WHO CAME HOPPING OVER FOR A RIDE - ALONG WITH THE GNU I SCOOTED AWAY FROM THIS ANIMAL FRAY - IT WAS PEOPLE I MEANT TO IMPRESS, SO I FOUND A GATHERING OF SOCCER FANS AT THE STADIUM ADDRESS I HOVERED OVER THEIR FOOTBALL MATCH THOUGH ALL EYES WERE ON THE BALL - I SAW THE GOAL AND HEARD THEIR CHEERS - BUT NOBODY SAW ME AT ALL IN FACT NOBODY WAS EVERYWHERE THOUGH NOBODY NOTICED MY RIDE, EVEN A SPACESHIP CANNOT WHACK IT - FACT IS PEOPLE ARE PRE-OCCUPIED I WOUND UP BROWNED OFF AND DOWN IN THE DUMPS EVEN THOUGH I WAS UP IN THE AIR, IT'S RATHER INCREDIBLE (ACTUALLY INEDIBLE) - I DIDN'T STAND AN EVENING PRAYER I FOUND IT A DULL PLACE WHEREVER I FLEW OVER HOUSE AND STREET AND TOWN, GOING UP PROVED A COME DOWN, A TOTALLY TURNABOUT RUN-AROUND WEARING A CLOWN FACE I QUICKLY ABOUT-FACED AND ME AND MY SAUCER FLEW HOME, I CHEWED SOME CHOICY ADJECTIVES, PARKED IN MY BACKYARD AERODROME IN A BLACK MOOD I LOWERED IT BACK IN IT'S HOLE AND SHOVELLED IN SOIL WITH A SIGH, I THREW IN SOME SODS THEN THREW A SALUTE, FEELING SAD AS I WHISPERED GOODBYE LATER ON ON MY PHONE SOMEONE TWEETED ABOUT A KANGAROO AND A GNU, THAT HEAPED PROBLEMS ON KEEPERS BY RUNNING AROUND, AMOK AND AT LARGE IN THE ZOO

TRIPLICATA (original guitar suite) The suite begins with a 6/8 arpeggio Prelude (- only a few hours old - it's virtually an improvisation that uses my 'Skeleton' chords - high fretted notes interspersed with open strings..!) The middle movement is a slow 4/4 Song that precedes the Dance which is in 6/8, both of these are dusty (rusty!) LoL - older pieces that I've never recorded before...

SOME PEOPLE (original song) 1) SOME PEOPLE LIVE WITHOUT EMOTION, WON'T GET THEIR FEET WET IN THE OCEAN OF LIFE.. THEY'RE NOT PREPARED TO SAY, THAT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A NOD AND A WINK, SOME PEOPLE APPLY A RULE OF THUMB - SOME ARE DOING GOOD DEEDS – OTHER’S ARE LOOKING THE OTHER WAY..! 2) SOME PEOPLE MIX A POTENT POTION – FOCUSING ON SELF-DEVOTION FABRICATING SELF-PROMOTION - JUST TO GET YOUR VOTE SO BUTTON YOUR COAT - OPEN YOUR MIND, AWARE OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BLINDSIDE YOU JUST READ THE WEATHER CAREFULLY, AND YOUR BOAT WILL STAY AFLOAT..! 3) SOME PEOPLE GO THROUGH ALL THE ACTIONS, AND FOR THE MEREST FRACTION OF THEIR LIVES HEADS BOWED THEY MUMBLE - THEN THEY WALK AWAY... HAVING PAID THEIR WEEKLY PENANCE, AND SALVED THEIR SHAKY CONSCIENCE THEY'RE ALL FIRED-UP AND LICENSED TO BEHAVE IN THE SAME OLD WAY..! 4) SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO GET IT WRONG, WHILE OTHER’S SEEM TO GET IT RIGHT BUT DON’T LET APPEARANCES DECEIVE YOU - MOST FOLKS ACHIEVE SO MUCH BELIEVE IN YOUR SELF, YOU’LL FIND YOUR FORTUNES - ARE IN LIFE, AND NOT IN COOKIES JUST LOOK AND LISTEN BEFORE YOU LEAP – AND DEVELOP A SENSITIVE TOUCH..! 5) SOME PEOPLE KEEP AN EVEN KEEL, ENABLING THEM TO STAY QUITE STABLE, RIDING A GALE, THEY’RE HALE AND HEARTY – THEY’RE ON THE UP AND UP... ENJOYING THE SWEET FRUITS OF THEIR LABOUR, SWEATING, TOILING - LOVING LIFE THEY’RE LIVING LIFE FOR ALL IT’S WORTH - AND NEVER GIVING UP..!

MOUNTAIN GREENERY (jazzy chords) I cut my lyrical teeth on fabulous songs like this Rogers and Hart 1926 song... With such inspirational material, it was great fun to come up with over 150 chord changes to provide colourful challenges for my guitar playing and singing...

FLAT CAT (original, remix) by Clive Davies In the MARSHMALLOW among the TWEEDS, a tiny SELF lay sleeping Covered in CLOVER, nothing he HEEDS, though his mind through a dream softly PEEPING His mind through a dream softly PEEPING Curled in a ball of CANDYFLOSS, three little TWICE lay DREAMING Neither one nor the other one noting the loss - of the fourth little TWICE who was SCHEMING The fourth little TWICE who was SCHEMING Cheshire a FlatCat eating his dinner, FURRING in contented splendour Waiting for something or nothing to GLIMMER - waiting for something to end-or... BEGIN! A CREAM filled the air of the BRASSY wallow - up SELFED the JUMP - in a hurry! A MONSTER came over the FRIDGE to follow - his FOOTSTOMPS in kind of a CURRY His FOOTSTOMPS in kind of a CURRY 'ZOT!' cried the SELF - as he shot with his P UN - the FLATCAT lay sighing in GLASSES 'OH, Toe is ME! MY Good DEED is DONE!' And rewarded he was... with MOLASSES! And rewarded he was... with MOLASSES!

Tea Shop Tourniquet (original music and poem) Romantic VALENTINE Dreams..! NOT EXACTLY..!!!

FOCUS (original song)

Dum Dee Dum (original song) For my grand kids, Jude and Darcey in UK and Emma and Paige in South Africa. *And a special dedication for Simon, Susie's eldest son - with his bright mind - amazing computer skills and Calvin and Hobbes vision...

PACKINGTONS POUND (MY VARIATIONS)

REVELATION (original song) Freshly plucked from my song tree - it's about this wonderful free APP - I just had to write to tell you about it..!

CLIVE & RAFI Montefrio Musical Evening Rafi, a retired teacher is a fine singer and dear friend. He has played trombone in the local prize winning Montefrio Wind Band for many years... Two months ago, he and I decided to give a little concert of popular songs that we grew up with - Beatles music and so on... This is an edited video of our concert on the 26.DEC.2018 (*My first 'live' public performance since 2012..!)

The Snowman (original song) Based upon a true legend...!!! *No snowmen were injured during the making of this video.

DANCING WITH CALATAYUD (original instrumental) Recorded at a small concert I gave in Montefrio a few years ago, I was inspired to write these variations by a sweet little Em Waltz of Bartolomé Calatayud, the Spanish guitar composer, 1882 to 1973.

CHRISTMAS SONG (chestnuts roasting...) Mel Torme wrote and sang some wonderful songs... This is one that I really love..!

Adagio de Ballet (original) This afternoon in Montefrio, a typical winters blue sky day, I picked up some music at random - perched myself outside in the sunshine and birdsong, and recorded this little piece... (Though I'm no sight reader!) LoL *This music first appeared on my 'Ministry of Funny Walks' video that I posted about 30 months ago.

Lulu's Back in Town (my jazzy version) With my chord symbols hastily scribbled over the lyrics, I thought Lulu was back - she was - but in Eb...! Aaarrgghh! Anyway I had fun playing around with her... *Don't tell Susie! LoL

Merry Go Round (original song) HOLDING ON TIGHTLY, SHOUTING OUT LOUD, WAVING AT FACES IN THE CROWD SINGING LOVE SONGS, BLOWING KISSES, GUESSING EACH OTHER'S SECRET WISHES COASTING DOWN THE STRAIGHTS OF LIFE, FREEWHEELING ROUND THE BENDS FULL OF KINDNESS, TENDER HEARTED - LEAVING CARES SO FAR BEHIND US RIDE WITH ME - COME SPEND SOME TIME ON THIS MERRY GO ROUND OF LIFE READ MY LIPS - BUT DON'T READ MY MIND - YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED AT WHAT YOU FIND YOU'RE THE ONE TO BRIGHTEN MY STYLE, YOU LIGHTEN THE LOAD AND MAKE ME SMILE LOVING LAUGHING - HOLDING LIKE GLUE, SIMPLY DELIGHTING IN WHAT WE DO... TOGETHER - ALWAYS TOGETHER..! ROLLER COASTING BUMPY ROADS, SHOULDERS HOLDING ANY LOAD YOU IN YOUR FRILLY FEATHERED HAT - ME WITH YOUR DOG AND YOUR PERSIAN CAT IT'S THE RIGHT STYLE, TRAVELLING LIGHT, KEEPING SUNSHINE IN OUR PROFILE WARM DAYS, OH-SO PRECIOUS - AND YOU, MY LOVE, TASTE SO DELICIOUS SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS - GONE ARE THE DAYS OF ODDS AND ENDS LEND AN EAR, BIDE A WHILE, WITH SOMEONE WHO'LL MAKE YOU SMILE... SEEK YOURSELF A LIFE LIKE THIS - SHAKE THE BOTTLE AND TASTE THE FIZZ EASING INTO THE PLEASURE ZONE, SEIZE THE DAY - MAKE IT YOUR OWN HOLDING ON TIGHTLY, SHOUTING OUT LOUD, WAVING AT FACES IN THE CROWD SINGING LOVE SONGS, BLOWING KISSES, GUESSING EACH OTHER'S SECRET WISHES COASTING DOWN THE STRAIGHTS OF LIFE, FREEWHEELING ROUND THE BENDS FULL OF KINDNESS, TENDER HEARTED - LEAVING CARES SO FAR BEHIND US -TOGETHER, ALWAYS TOGETHER

COOKIE JAR (Michael Franks great song, remix) Funk is a fascinating rhythm, ideal for fingerstyle improvisation... Currently I'm working pretty hard on updating my gigging repertoire, so I re-mixed my video of this song which I dearly love..!

ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK (Sting's great song) This is a remix of the video I made a couple of years ago... (Living in Spain has probably influenced my music as much as South Africa did..! )

SMACK, BANG IN LOVE (original song) Our HERO finds himself in a really tough situation... Her slap and tickle, was more like Wack and Wiggle - She WACKED - and he WIGGLED - out of a tight corner..!

'C' Si, Si, Senorita (original) A fingerstyle Serenade, I wrote this little melodic piece for my guitar students (often they have a sight reading ability better than mine..! LoL With simplicity in mind, I chose to use the open 'C' chord shape that's easily moved to many positions - up and down the neck... The music display is in TAB and notation, with chord boxes too... If you would like a copy - just send me an email clidaco@gmail.com

Blue Moon (duet + dogs chorus) Big brother Les came to visit me and Susie in Spain a couple of years ago. Les always loves to sing, so this was the two of us having fun with an off the cuff version of this great song - it features a canine chorus too..! LoL

THE ROAD TO FALLOW DUNN (original song remix) First posted four years ago, I wrote this song, having been inspired by the music of the same name, by Mark Smith.

LOST KEY (original song) He's trying to find his door key - but he's wearing his Wobbly Boots..!

An Elephant in THE HOUSE With apologies to Nellie The Elephant! Donald the Elephant flies his self-propelled hot air balloon... Such loud Trumpeting echoes around the globe... Impervious thick skin, oversized gall bladder - Donald's a political animal - no doubt..! LoL

FlamBluesy Floozy (original) Set in a fictitious Spanish nightclub, my story unfolds in a song..!

Valentina (orchestrated) I approached Fandalism's wonderful orchestral composer and arranger, Jean-Louis Sambiasi, asking him if he would like to write an orchestral arrangement... He very kindly agreed to do this for my solo guitar work, Valentina! Working through the heat of his Corsican summer, Jean-Louis then sent me this lovely orchestration!

Wearing Your Wobbly Boots (original)