A tune for a beautiful Friday

For some reason Dire Straits are still in the vaguely naff/questionable bracket when it comes to the eighties music revival that's been influencing new bands and upping the sales of vintage vinyl. Maybe it's because of the mullets, maybe it's that they were the first band to have a song shown on the now deeply uncool MTV Europe, maybe it's the prevalence of those dads who still want to be cool who love them. But whatever; I care not: I am declaring my undying love for Dire Straits. The following is a complete tune from beginning to end, the end especially - oh! the piano - and, a gem of ridiculous eighties music video making.

Rolling Stones Promote Black Ops.

Now this isn't new news, but those of you with a TV may have noticed an advertisement for the multi-million selling computer game Call of Duty: Black Ops. This excellent bit of selling candy manages to make the game seem like a movie with it's excellent choice of footage and use of editing. But what really makes the ad is the inclusion of what is probably The Rolling Stones best song, Gimme Shelter. This has seen a resurgence in interest in the song and subsequently in sales. In fact sales of the song are the highest they have been since it's release in the sixties. If you look at the comments under the multiple videos of the ad on the internet you will see a generation who were unaware of Gimme Shelter asking what this song is that so perfectly compliments the action. This is one of the savviest bits of business the Stones have done in a pretty business savvy career. Actually I was wondering why my younger brother, who had shown very little interest in music I had shoved his way, had come asking for my copy of 40 Licks. He had booked Black Ops months in advance. Mystery solved. Whatever you make of the medium of promotion, it's heartening to see the comeback of a truly brilliant song.