w.atching the w.orld unw.ind

Today's lyric:

"The power of love
A force from above
A sky-scraping d'ove

Flame on, burn desire
Love, with tongues of fire
Purge the soul
Make love your goal."

Frankie goes to Hollywood: "The power of love"
From the album: "Welcome to the Pleasuredome"

The office has an unforced, but regular and well-attended social calendar. Different types of events, not (always) necessarily culminating in a visit to the pub!

Last night was an "Intro and Outro" competition, with a dozen of us - of the complete age spectrum - gathered in the grand boardroom, sat at the huge, solid-wood table, munching on nibbles and wracking our brains for those famous but forgotten tracks, bands and years.

In between rounds, someone suggested that I hook up my minidisk player to the PA, just for some background music?

I was a bit hesitant, because my eclectic tastes rarely find a empathetic audience - but hey, we're all friends here.

"Oh, I know this one" someone said gratefully.

"I can't believe you like this one too" said another (read:"for someone as old as you")

Etc.

As we turned to the torture of round two, several were not-so-secretly wishing we could have carried on with my compilation, instead of the quiz's brain-teasers...

So today I slipped Mr.D's Favourite Ballads Vol.1 into the player, (and Vol.2 into the rucksack for the return trip). And as I head into a four day weekend - Woot! Yay! Nang? - I thought I might create Vol.3 while I'm off.

But I need some inspiration - so what is/are your favourite ballad(s). And, possibly, why?

Nothing overly-schmalzy, please. Remember, I've got to listen to it, not you.

There must be something that Mr Whiskers uses to calm his wolves?

And will Witchy notice the covenish reference on this here page, and be moved to suggest a track?

Maybe even the Pistols wound down to something a little more * cough * melodic?

Come on then - if you think you're soft enough!