Christmas songs that are Norris Approved!

I love Christmas. I really do! Don't try and be a grinch with me good sir. I'm a moody, cantankerous bugger for a good chunk of the year but once December hits and the Christmas music starts being played in every supermarket across the country (including my own) I suddenly am endowed with an un-exhaustible amount of Christmas spirit. Sure many Christmas songs are cheesy but they get you excited for the big day. I'm not a fan of Mariah Carey 11 months out of the year but I defy you to listen to 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' and NOT feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately not many bands/singers record Christmas songs these days. The Christmas Number One usually belongs to whoever won the X Factor or whichever charity tugged the hardest at our heartstrings. So year after year we tend to hear the same songs. Wizzard wish it was Christmas every day, Cliff dusts off his Mistletoe and Wine while Noddy screams 'IT'S CHRISTMAAAAASSS!!!' at any given opportunity. Even though it's only once a year you'd be forgiven for getting royally sick of the same tunes.

Having said that there are some songs that I really look forward to hearing. Some you may have heard before; others I'm going to guess you may not have. Hopefully my little playlist of Norris Approved Christmas songs will get you in the festive mood!

Queen- Thank God It's Christmas

For a band that are as huge as Queen, it's a mystery as to why their Christmas song is rarely if ever played on the radio. In fact you'd be forgiven for thinking that a Queen Christmas song doesn't even exist- but it does my friends. In between recording 'The Works' and 'A Kind of Magic' albums, Queen released this chilled out little track. It's really quite nice and jolly while perfectly capturing that feeling we all have on Christmas Day- thank God we finally made it!

The Darkness- Christmastime (Don't Let The Bells End)

Arguably the most well known song on my list. Back in 2003 when the Darkness were possibly the biggest band in the UK, everyone's favourite glam rockers of the new millennium decided to release a Yuletide rocker in the hope of getting Christmas Number 1. They lost out to Gary Jules and Michael Andrews' cover of 'Mad World' which had been part of the soundtrack to 'Donny Darko' but that doesn't stop this awesome song firmly cementing it's place in Christmas song history. Bonus points for the choir!

This song will always have a special place in my heart after seeing the band live in November 2011. Being we were so close to Christmas the band played this very song as it started to snow in the O2 Academy Newcastle. Meanwhile a drunken man slow danced with me throughout the whole song. Truly epic.

Madness- Inanity Over Christmas

This obscure Madness track was presumably a B-Side or something. I discovered it on a 3 track retrospective called 'The Business'. It's not the Christmassiest song I've ever heard. It's just completely insane. You can tell they had a lot of fun with it and that at the same time it was never really intended to join the likes of Slade and Band Aid. A definite must listen for fans of Suggs and co.

Michael Bolton- White Christmas

Ah 'White Christmas'... so many people have covered this song and we all know Bing Crosby recorded the definitive version. But my personal favourite version is one that I only discovered this year. Michael Bolton's version is everything you'd expect of him. If you hate him then avoid. If like me you actually secretly (and now no longer secretly) love him then you'll love it. Love it I tell you. Michael!!!

But I've saved the best for last. My personal favourite Christmas song. Until I hear this song on the radio or at work I can't truly get into the Christmas spirit. Don't ask me why, I've simply always loved it. In tribute to my very good friend Danielle Bage, here is my favourite Christmas song...

Chris Rea- Driving Home For Christmas

Pour yourself some hot chocolate, put on the fire and enjoy... unless you're actually driving home for Christmas in which case put this on IMMEDIATELY!! Chris Rea demands it!

So what do you think? Those are simply MY favourite festive tunes but maybe you have others that get you in the mood. Please tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave a message below or on my Facebook page.

Until next time!

In defence of: Nickelback

Canadian rockers Nickelback released their latest album 'No Fixed Address' earlier this week and took the time to announce a huge UK tour to commence in November 2015. The tour starts in Sheffield and ends in London which will certainly disappoint THIS GUY (click to follow the link). When you go to as many gigs as I have in the past your email inbox is inundated with pre-sales and ticket information regarding all the big UK tours. An email from Live Nation proudly stated that this will be Nickelback's 10th World tour. In an age when bands split up within six or seven years or never get the opportunity to shine on the big stage 10 world tours is damn impressive! It got me thinking about the redheaded stepchildren of rock. Nickelback have been around for 20 years by the time they tour next year and for a good half of that they've been maligned as one of the WORST bands in music history. My opinion? I like them. I'm certainly not alone in that perception otherwise they wouldn't have the huge success they currently enjoy. If you search 'Nickelback' on any search engine, I'm sure you'll find a million and one articles talking about how much the band suck. Admittedly some of the points they make aren't hugely inaccurate but very often some of those same points are also a part of what makes them appealing to so many of their fans.

Back in 1995 when the band formed, right through to 2001 when their breakthrough album 'Silver Side Up' was released, Nickelback were plonked into that ever irritating genre known as 'post-grunge' which you may as well call 'post-Cobain'. I get it. Nirvana were a great band. Kurt Cobain was an enigmatic artist. Why does that mean that nearly every other band post-1994 had to try and sound like him? No one was going to match Nirvana. They were on the crest of a wave and were the perfect antidote to the hair metal bands that the music buying public were tired of. The problem was that post-grunge bands weren't fun. I became a Nickelback fan in when 'How You Remind Me' was EVERYWHERE towards the end of 2001. It reached No.4 in the singles charts and I made sure to pick up their album. It had a very dark tone filled with angst and anger; the perfect soundtrack for the 15 year old me who I'd decided wasn't understood by anybody.

Fast forward a couple of albums and Nickelback were a very different band. Songs about domestic violence and dysfunctional relationships were replaced with songs about sex in the back of cars and generally living the rock and roll lifestyle. People were in shock! What happened to Nickelback? Why aren't they keeping it real? Here's the secret... they are! Once 'Silver Side Up' came out, Nickelback were catapulted into the rock stratosphere just like Linkin Park around the same time. They toured the world, rocked out in front of thousands, got drunk and likely had their pick of sex, drugs and rock and roll. So when it came time to sit down and write the next album guess what they wrote about? Bingo!

I genuinely respect it. That may sound odd but bear with me. I truly appreciate when a band/singer puts everything into what they do. I truly respect the songwriter that spills their heart on the page. But what happens next? They get recognition for their amazing work. They tour and live the rock and roll life. For many the bad times are over. Sure some may have demons to work through be it alcohol, drugs etc but there are many rock stars that would be the first to admit that the bad times in their lives are over. So what do they do? They become complacent before trying to recapture whatever it was that made them resonate with us in the first place. I always use KoRn as an example. Before I go on I want to say that I'm not bashing KoRn. Anyone who reads this and thinks I am is invited to read my previous post Surviving your Twenties before bearing in mind that their music was basically the soundtrack to that very dark time in my life. The point I want to make is that Jonathan Davis went through some horrific things in his childhood. Those first albums resonate very heavily with anyone who has suffered from depression, anxiety or had suicidal thoughts. The problem is once the band became the huge name they are today the motivation to be downbeat had gone. They were rich and were doing what they loved in front of millions of fans. Those dark days were a million miles away. Without downplaying what JD has been through in his life, the band writing the same kind of songs they did in their 20s now in 2014 comes off as trying to recapture something they once had. Nickelback writing about getting pissed and shagging everything in sight is a more genuine approximation of where Chad Kroeger and co are at this stage in their lives. They're freaking rockstars and that makes their music more honest than most.

Ok so perhaps that's what they want me to think. Maybe Chad Kroeger sits backstage with a ginger tea and finger sandwiches and it's all an image. If so I can promise you they aren't the first band to do that. They're just one of the few to be doing it in the modern music landscape. A band like Airbourne can down beers on stage and shout about how rock and roll will never die... but Nickelback can't? At this point we come to a huge part of the anti-Nickelback movement: Chad Kroeger. Yes it seems that some people don't so much have a problem with the band as their ever present frontman. Yes it seems the general consensus is that Chad is an utter twat. This opinion wasn't helped by the fact that he married Avril Lavigne of all people. So let's see... a rock band with an arrogant front man who sing about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll (for the most part), who despite hatred from the critics play huge stadiums across the globe. Sound like anyone else we know?

So perhaps Nickelback are following the Kiss method of being rock stars. Let's be honest it's working... and you know what? I'd sooner buy a Nickelback album than a lot of the other successful stuff out at the moment. Sure it's simplistic but so is AC/DC. Sure the lyrics are extremely sexually suggestive while slipping by completely unnoticed by most ('I'll come for you but only if you want me to' anyone?) but then Aerosmith were always pretty good at that themselves. Sorry haters, I have a feeling Nickelback will be around for a while- they're one of the few rock bands flying the flag for rock's long standing motto:

Agree? Disagree? I wanna hear from you! Tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave a message in my Facebook group. Ciao for now!

Black Stone Cherry: Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, 27/10/14

It wasn't long ago that Gene Simmons from Kiss proclaimed that rock was dead. It was a pretty controversial statement. What's always interested me about rock is the idea that it's finite. Rock stars are always constantly talking about how rock 'n' roll will never die. You don't hear Katy Perry proclaiming that pop will live forever or Eminem tell the world that rap will never die. No it's always rock. The idea that the rock legends of the 70s and 80s would burn out in a blaze of glory simply didn't come to fruition. Instead they went on reunion tours and charged us extortionate amount to hear the hits (although that's another post for another time). If rock truly is dead then it's because those legendary rock stars never stepped aside... and the rock bands of today don't have the balls to break the glass ceiling.

But rock isn't dead. No way my friends. I have one clear cut example.

I'm sure many readers of this blog know my thoughts on Black Stone Cherry. They are simply put my favourite band to come along for years. I first saw them support Def Leppard and Whitesnake at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. Even a short 20 minute set let me know that these guys were the real deal. Now 6 years later, Kentucky's finest have gone from opening arena gigs to headlining them and boy are they ready!

 This was my 5th time seeing the band. It was also my fiancé Kayleigh's first time at a Black Stone Cherry show. We'd driven two hours from Durham to Sheffield especially for the gig and the excitement at our hotel was palpable. Pretty much everyone was there to see Black Stone Cherry. It made for a great atmosphere.

Canadian rockers 'Theory of A Deadman' opened proceedings to a pretty respectable crowd but at least from where I was sitting we were all waiting for the main event. Insane Aussies 'Airbourne' were up next; a band I've seen at many a festival or support slot. As predicted they were fantastic. Given a couple more album cycles they could surely do an arena tour of their own. Kayl summed it up best by telling me later that Airbourne were so loud she could 'hear them in her lungs'. On any other night I could quite happily have gone home then.

I've been to a lot of gigs. One of my favourite moments at any show would be the start of a Metallica gig. As 'Ecstasy of Gold' builds to its climax I get goosebumps. It's a moment any rock fan should experience. But even that is merely the music played before Metallica hit the stage. This was the 5th time I've seen Black Stone Cherry but as I sat in the Motorpoint Arena and the band started playing 'Rain Wizard' I got goosebumps all over. I knew this crowd were ready to rock and that this band wouldn't disappoint. As Chris Robertson screamed "Here comes the rain!" an entire arena screamed back in unison. It will always be a treasured gig memory.

I have to take the time to praise the setlist that the BSC played in Sheffield. As I'd followed news of the rest of the tour across Europe I saw that some of their best cuts were missing. Europe missed out on early hits such as 'Soul Creek' or fan favourite 'Things My Father Said'. By the time the band had hit Glasgow the night before these songs were back in the set. All the hits were represented: 'Blind Man', 'Blame It On The Boom Boom', 'Lonely Train' and of course the amazing 'Me & Mary Jane'. "The only thing," I'd said to Kayl before the gig "that would make their setlist complete would be 'Fiesta Del Fuego'. However I was confident I wouldn't hear it on this night. So the moment the rumbling bass line kicked in I might as well have screamed like a girl.

The new album 'Magic Mountain' was well represented and as always the entire band were on top form. They also seemed genuinely shocked at the reception they were getting. Hearing the fans sing their songs back to them with such force must have been a life changing experience for a band who are cruelly under appreciated in their home land. This UK arena tour should be proof of three things:

1. Black Stone Cherry are one of the greatest (if not the greatest) live bands in the world. 

2. They are more than ready to headline festivals and gigs all over the world including back in the U.S.

3. That Gene Simmons was totally wrong. Rock and roll is very much alive and well. We just need to let the young blood kick down the door!

Surviving your twenties

Lately with so much going on in my life there have been times where I have felt like the walls are closing in. Yes I'm seriously happy with a beautiful fiance, a wedding to plan and a house that we both own. However working up to 39 hours every week, volunteering as a counsellor on one of my two days off and helping look after my grandma (who is currently in care) leaves very little time for me to enjoy the fruits of my wonderful life. Don't get me wrong. I'm certainly not trying to claim that I have it hard; far from it. What my counselling training has taught me however is that experiences like depression, anxiety and panic are all subjective. What can cause one to rock in the fetal position in the corner of the room could happen to another and they'd barely break a sweat. When I feel the pressure and feel like those walls are within touching distance, I simply try to think about other times in my life and how far I've come.

Frankie Boyle of all people said something really profound in his first book 'My Shit Life So Far' and it has stuck with me in the years since I read it. I'm frustrated that I can't find the direct quote but the main crux of it is this. The majority of people seem to have a major breakdown or crisis in their twenties yet no-one really addresses this. Mid-life crisis? Sure that's a thing. However the idea of having a major identity crisis before you hit your 30th birthday may seem asinine to some.

Mine was at the very start of my twenties. One random Saturday afternoon in 2008 I was entirely positive that I was going to die. Perhaps all the pepperoni pizzas and kebab meat and chips (one meal folks) were catching up with me. I wasn't sure. All I knew was that in the middle of a shift at work that I was going to meet Freddie Mercury in the sky. NB: I'm not trying to be offensive there. I genuinely like to think that when I finally move on to the next plain that Freddie is there somewhere with a vodka and coke waiting. It turns out it was *just* a panic attack. Just. Anyone who has ever been unfortunate to have a panic attack will tell you it certainly doesn't feel trivial enough to warrant a 'just' before it. Well at least I wasn't dead...

I spent the next six months in a constant cycle of panic attacks followed by crippling tiredness and so on. It takes me a long time to fully recover from a panic attack. The adrenaline is so intense that I'm exhausted for days. On this occasion I fully believe I never truly had enough time between them to pull myself together. I didn't miss a day of work (although I should have) at this point and just carried on.

I pulled through only to stumble into another bout of panic attacks in 2009. I remember sitting on the bus and realising that for the first time in several months that it was happening again. I could have actually cried my eyes out... and I nearly did. This time it was this and the break up of a relationship that made me look at who this 23 year old man I'd become was. I had no idea. In my head I was still 16 and listening to Metallica 'til one in the morning. Perhaps I was the 19 year old that was the life and soul of a night out at university. He'd had high dreams to become a director and a writer. In 2009 I was working on a deli counter for a supermarket; far far away from my lofty aspirations.

I went for counselling shortly after my girlfriend at the time dumped me. To be honest it was for the best and would only have happened later. I simply wasn't ready for a relationship. I didn't even know who I was! Counselling was a huge moment in my life. It didn't mean I was crazy or insane; it simply meant I was brave enough and strong enough to ask for help. It had such a profound effect on me that I completed training to become a counsellor myself! My counsellor sat and listened to everything I had to say without judgement. If you aren't this lucky, get another counsellor. A good friend of mine told me his counsellor sat and talked at him for an hour before asking if that helped! I was lucky that I was given the space to look at my life. In comparison to some my life hasn't exactly been traumatic but I still had stuff to deal with.

It's nearly five years since my last panic attack. I'm 28 and yes I still work for that very same supermarket albeit a branch closer to home. The difference is that I know who I am. I will always consider myself very fortunate that my counselling training gave me an opportunity to look at myself and face up to what I saw. Some of it I didn't like; I still don't. I put things off for far too long. I'm crap with money. I'm very reluctant to take criticism. That being said there are things about myself I do like. I'm kind. I have an innate desire to help people. I like to make people laugh. I'm a son, a fiancé,  a brother, a friend and most recently an uncle and I can genuinely say that I've never been happier. Yes I have those stressful moments but I have something that 16 year old Mike didn't have: self respect.

Why have I decided to talk about this now? Let's think about what Frankie Boyle said. At some point in your mid 20s you'll have some kind of identity crisis. I consider myself lucky that I had mine at 23.  Some of my friends currently feel lost or unsure of their place in life.  It's a really shitty place to be. All I want to say is take a deep breath and look after yourself. It's not new agey. Chill out with your favourite film, cook your favourite meal or do what I did: put on your earphones and walk. It'll get better... after all we've got mid life crises to deal with in a couple of decades!!

I hope this has helped you and ask if there is any post here at Norris Approved that you share to make it this one.  I personally recommend the web forum NoMorePanic if you need support for panic disorder or depression. Plesse tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave a message below or on the Facebook page if you'd like to share your own experiences.

How much is TOO much for live music?

I'm off to see Black Stone Cherry later this month. It's going to be their first headlining arena tour in the UK and they are bringing along Aussie rockers Airbourne and Theory of a Deadman for support. For a great night of modern hard rock I paid £25 per ticket. In this day and age that's actually a bargain! Plus I KNOW that it will be an amazing show.

Black Stone Cherry at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield will be my 53rd gig (including festivals) since I saw Guns N'Roses and Foo Fighters at Leeds Festival back in 2002. Throughout the past twelve years I've seen acts as folky as Mumford & Sons right through to thrash gods Metallica but I've always had one rule...

Back in 2005, my sister told me that a friend was selling U2 tickets for the then City of Manchester Stadium. I agreed to take them off her hands before realising they were £60 each! As good as the show was I made a promise to myself on the train back to Durham: Never spend over £50 on a gig ticket. A £50 seems quite reasonable. Hell I nearly made if £40! As amazing as it is to see your favourite artists on stage, it's only one night and by the time you factor in travel, merchandise, food and possibly even a hotel you could easily be upwards of £100 out of pocket.

I've come close a couple of times to breaking my £50 rule. Festivals obviously don't count as you get so much more for your money. However there have been times when a really great band or singer comes to town and they want upwards of £50. Peter Gabriel is charging £51 (before fees) for his show at the Metro Radio Arena. I've seen Peter Gabriel once before (funny story I may tell one day relating to that) and he was great but I can't justify even that. Usher is also coming to the arena. He's not to my taste but obviously he's a pretty big deal. That being said he wants £61 of your hard earned money to sing 'Yeah!' and some other songs to you. I just can't justify it. Kylie Minogue wants £80 for a ticket to a show on her latest tour!! £80??? She should be so lucky! ...  ... I'll get my coat...

However this week I finally broke my £50 rule; call it inflation, call it weakness, I don't know. Queen's classic line up have been no more since 1991 when Freddie Mercury left us too soon. That hasn't stopped Brian May and Roger Taylor taking the baton over the past decade or so and hitting the road. One of the first gigs I ever went to was only their second show billed as Queen since the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Queen + Paul Rodgers played the Metro Radio Arena in 2005 and gave us younger Queen fans a chance to see our heroes play the songs we love. In that context I was happy to pay £50. It is still one of the greatest nights of my life. Q+PR returned to the arena in 2008 on their Cosmos Rocks Tour and again blew the house down. I genuinely thought that I would never see Queen in any incarnation again.

Their current collaboration with American Idol alum Adam Lambert has breathed new life into the band and has seen them tour the world for a whole new generation of fans. Their much awaited UK tour went on sale yesterday with a price tag of... £70. Well £60 for the cheap seats. I'm not gonna lie, I really thought long and hard before getting tickets. In the end it was only the fact that my mum was so generous as to contribute towards the price of tickets as a Christmas present that I decided to go ahead and buy them. I simply couldn't have afforded it on my own. I'm 28 years old with a mortgage and a wedding to pay for. £70 (or £60 as I eventually plucked for) is a lot of money! That could pay my electricity or a good food shop. Perhaps I'm getting older and my priorities have changed. I'm extremely excited that I'm going to get to see Brian and Roger one more time and the fact they've been singing relatively obscure songs like 'In The Lap of The Gods... Revisited' give me goosebumps. That being said I'm fully aware that what their promoters expect fans to pay is extortion.

I'm not having a go at Queen. I've listed loads of artists here who are charging a huge amount to let you see them perform. Queen (like all the others) charge so much because they know we'll pay it. I'm living proof. However I'm pretty sure that I won't break my £50 rule again. Some of the best shows I've ever been to were also the cheapest. Every time I see WWE Superstar Chris Jericho's group Fozzy, I leave having thoroughly enjoyed myself and having only parted with an amount of money that would pay for a takeaway for me and the missus. Steel Panther (as of 2014) never charge over £20 and put on the most hilarious and bitchin' show I've ever seen; so much so I'll be seeing them again as part of my stag weekend next March.

Then there's Black Stone Cherry... 5th time seeing them in a few weeks and I KNOW I'll get my money's worth. Not that I think they'll ever charge over £50 a ticket but like Queen they are one of the few bands I'd be happy to break my £50 rule for.

What do you guys think? Do you have a cap for how much you'll pay for live music? You may also be interested in reading a post I wrote a few years back about Gorillaz cancelling some UK shows in favour of touring America. Read it on the link below:

An Open Letter to the Management of Gorillaz

Tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or like my Facebook Page. Alternatively comment below:

The British Network is coming!!! ... or is it?

For the past couple of months I've been bracing myself... No, nothing to do with my bodily functions. Since the end of August I've been bracing myself for the launch of the WWE Network here in the UK. For a long time fan like me it's a really big deal. Over the past decade or so WWE has amassed a gargantuan video library showcasing the best and worst of televised professional wrestling. Finally in February of this year, the E decided to launch it's long rumoured network in the US to much pomp and circumstance. Hulk Hogan came back almost exclusively to promote it, there were ads all over WWE TV and of course in today's online driven world there was no escaping it. Despite the fact that many UK fans found an easy and cheeky way to get the US stream I decided against it. I wanted to wait until WWE had perfected their revolutionary product and brought it legitimately to our shores. That date was touted a few weeks back as October 1st... and as of September 26th that's really all we know...

Yet there are so many questions surrounding the UK launch; some brought on by the launches around the world earlier this year and others from the uncharacteristically quiet stance McMahon and co have taken. I mean surely WWE WANT us to subscribe to their network... don't they?

Although 99% of the time I think I'm cool I have extremely geeky tendencies. One of my most prized possessions is a Marvin the Martian action figure who sits in my spare room. I've been known to watch 'Red Dwarf' DVDs with the actors' commentary on. Predictably as soon as I was given a launch date of October 1st for WWE Network I promptly made sure I wasn't at work that day... Geeky! So naturally I've been somewhat concerned by the lack of news. So here for anyone trying to catch up are the major questions ahead of the Network's launch and my best attempts to answer them.

Q: Will the UK see the WWE Network launch on October 1st?

A: Despite the lack of any major updates it certainly seems that way. I tried to research this myself a week or two back and reached out to Triple H on Twitter (see? Geek!!) during his Q&A about NXT Takeover. Unfortunately he didn't respond but I guess his main role that day was to hype the show. A couple of days ago I tweeted in a generally frustrated manner about it all:

While WWE Network didn't respond it was favourited by a wrestling podcast called Midweek Wrestle Chat (who you can follow @MWCUniverse). MWC carried the baton for me and reached out to WWE. The next day they tweeted this response:

To corroborate this story, any UK fans asking on the WWE Network Facebook page are being told that it WILL launch on October 1st. However here is where things get even hazier...

Q: Will the Network cost £9.99?

A: Honestly? I have no idea. You'd think if they make a chant out of it it should apply to everyone. $9.99 equates to about £6.99 roughly so WWE would make good money from the UK fans with a £9.99 price tag. Plus with the £ going up in value since Scotland voted No to independence (yeah I do politics too!) it would benefit WWE even more. That being said I guess we'll see.

Q: Will the WWE Network be a part of Sky?

This is arguably the most intriguing part of the whole situation. Every country in the world bar one that has WWE Network has it via an on demand online only service similar to Netflix. Canada however have a more traditional cable deal with a set up similar to if Sky had a dedicated WWE Channel. That's great for those with Sky but what about those who don't? What about those who have Sky but not Sky Sports? As I'm sure you've guessed already I tweeted Sky about the WWE Network and got this timely response:

So the answer (unless Sky are being coy) is a firm No. The UK will get an online deal similar to the rest of eh world. In short you'll need some sort of compatible device and/or the WWE App.

Q: But Sky show ALL WWE Pay Per Views. Does that mean our network won't get these?

A: I tend to believe the UK network will get all the PPVs although that's merely speculation. I'm sure Sky won't have too big an issue with this. They'll still get Raw and Smackdown before the Network does and to be honest the Network may even bring MORE viewers to the weekly shows on Sky. If WWE can't show the PPVs because of their deal with Sky then UK fans will likely use the loophole to subscribe internationally or worse case scenario not subscribe at all. I don't think WWE will take that risk.

So as of today that's all I know. You know what I know. If it does turn up next Wednesday I'm sure I'll do nothing all day. If it doesn't? Well then that's surely going to create a whole new set of questions and I'll have to dig out those Red Dwarf DVDs.

What do you think? Tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave me a message below :-)

The Great British Overreaction

Now as I'm sure you get by now I watch a lot of TV... I mean a lot! I studied TV and Radio Production at university so not only do I love TV but the nature in which we as a nation/world use it is of great interest to me.

One of the few shows that has passed me by is 'The Great British Bake-Off'. There's no particular reason for this. I'm aware it's about as popular as One Direction at a teen girl's sleepover. I'm even vaguely aware of Paul Hollywood but I don't know if that's his real name or not. I don't dislike it. It's simply something I've never watched. 

However I get the premise; to put it crudely it's like X-Factor meets the Apprentice meets Greggs. It's a hugely popular show; good for the BBC! However it seems since 'Bake-Off' moved on to BBC 1 that it has adopted some of the controversy usually reserved for shows like the X-Factor.

Now I'm the first to get annoyed when the weekly controversies and sob stories unfold on X-Factor but it's undoubtedly great telly. The tabloids splash Louis Walsh all over the front page, Internet forums go ballistic and the Mary Whitehouse's of the nation phone Ofcom because "something must be done". Although it can be tiresome it is just as much part of the show as the contestants. How does this relate to 'Bake-Off'? Well the show has been under intense scrutiny this week... And why?

...

...

...

Someone took someone's Baked Alaska out of the freezer.

I'll run that one by you again...

Someone took someone's Baked Alaska out of the freezer!!

Someone stop the presses!! Was anyone hurt? More importantly was the Baked Alaska hurt? Oh the humanity!! 

Please remember I don't have an issue with the show. I don't have an issue with the fact that they have capitalised on a 'controversy' the way they have. Admittedly it's amusing that people have contacted Ofcom because someone may or may not have sabotaged someone's pudding. I guess the big question is how is this media frenzy any different than what happens on X-Factor every year? 

Maybe the fact that it was covered on Newsnight????

Yes you've read that correctly. The baker of the terminal dessert was interviewed on the BBC's premier political TV show. Let's not worry about what's happening in the Middle East or what's going on with the NHS. I'd much rather hear about someone exiting a reality show because their Baked Alaska wasn't quite right!

You may think I'm overreacting... I think that the pot may be calling the kettle black. There's no escaping the media frenzy surrounding these shows; it's all part of the drama. The tabloids will always generate buzz to sell papers. That being said next time your favourite singer goes out on X-Factor or a baker's dough doesn't rise on 'Bake-off' please consider the following...

1. Is this *really* worth phoning Ofcom over... I mean really??

2. Is this going to affect your life in even the slightest measure?

3. Is this worthy enough to make its way on to Newsnight?

If not calm down, have a nice bath and watch something a bit less controversial... I hear Doctor Who hasn't had any Ofcom complaints lately ;-)

Thank you and help!

I'd like to quickly take the opportunity to send a HUGE thanks to everyone who has even glanced upon this blog so far. It's only a few weeks old but I love having the opportunity to ramble about stuff that interests me. If you have read any number of my posts; thank you. If you have shared or recommended my page to anyone; thanks! If you have favourited or retweeted a tweet (here's looking at you Mick Foley!) then once again thanks! Now that's out of the way I have a couple of ideas related to this blog and other projects and I would really appreciate anyone who could help...

First of all I've been thinking a lot about the topics I post about here at Norris Approved. Originally Norris Approved was going to be about music exclusively but I decided to write about other passions in my life including TV, movies and pro wrestling. Some people will be interested in what I have to say about WWE while others will be far more interested what I think about the latest rock albums.

That's not to say that I'm not willing to check out other stuff to write about. That's where you all come in. 'Norris Approved?' (title subject to change) is going to be a weekly post where I watch/listen to/read something I've had little or no experience of before and at the end of the post I'll decide whether it is 'Norris Approved' or not. This is where you come in. Is there a TV programme or movie you love or hate? Is there a band or album you worship or despise? Maybe there's a book you've read to death or absolutely loathed. All you have to do is send me your suggestions and I'll pick the best of the bunch. There are three ways you can suggest something for 'Norris Approved?':

1. Comment in the box below
2. Leave a message on the Norris Approved Facebook Page
3. Tweet me @NorrisApproved3

I'll post the first edition once I've picked something and had time to read/listen/watch whatever I've chosen. So PLEASE get suggesting...

My second request is something not entirely related to the blog but it seemed a good platform to reach out for help...

My good friend Shaune Kimberley and I have discussed for a while now starting our own podcast. He's coming up to visit in a couple of weeks and we are looking to record a pilot of sorts to see how that may look. With Kimbo and I both wrestling fans we no doubt will have wrestling as part of any podcast we do. An idea I have had for the podcast would involve help from someone with ZERO knowledge of wrestling.

We need an open-minded person (preferably with a sense of humour) who has NEVER watched wrestling in their entire lives. Just to be clear it needs to be someone who has no opinion on wrestling either other than curiosity. Someone who thinks it is 'fake' and 'shit' despite never watching it will be of no use. Said person can be any age, sex, race etc. All that's needed is access to Skype (in order to take part in the podcast) and access to WWE programming (Sky Sports). If the podcast is ongoing we'll get you as a regular contributor as you watch WWE every week. If this sounds like something you (or someone you know) would be perfect for then please DM me @NorrisApproved3 or email me at mikenorris339@live.com. Alternatively if you think you can help us with our podcast adventure in ANY way please do the same.

Well that's it for now. Thanks again for reading and if you can help with either of my ideas PLEASE get in touch,

Mike

Dean Ambrose- future World Champion?

There's no doubt that in the 21 months since they crashed the Survivor Series main event, the collective members of the Shield have changed the face of WWE. It's been a rare treat for fans to see three hungry, young superstars make their own indelible mark on wrestling. Almost without exception wrestling stables are built around one or two wrestlers while the rest simply make up the numbers. Think about the Rock as part of the Nation back in the 90s or Randy Orton in Legacy. The Shield were unique in that all three of the members were showcased, highlighted (and most importantly) prepared for the future.

When Seth Rollins turned on Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose back in June there were many doubts and questions. Was it too early to disband the group? Was Seth Rollins the right member to turn heel? What will become of the three wrestlers formerly known as the Shield? This writer believes that all three wrestlers have the ability and the opportunity to usher in a new era for WWE. An era that is less about kid friendly catchphrases and more about exciting in ring action. I would genuinely have no problem with these three wrestlers becoming the top tier of WWE as the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton hurtle towards retirement. As of right now it looks like Roman Reigns will be the first to get his hands on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Since his stellar showing in the Royal Rumble the fans have been firmly behind him and his victory over Randy Orton at Summerslam seems to indicate further what WWE have in store. With Brock Lesnar as champ, what better way to build a new star than have Roman Reigns conquer The Beast at next year's Wrestlemania? Meanwhile Seth Rollins having possession of the Money In The Bank contract guarantees him at the very least a championship match in the next year.

But what of Dean Ambrose? I'd argue that while his rise to prominence hasn't been the most straight forward that in the long run he may have the most fruitful career of all three Shield alumni. My first introduction to Dean Ambrose came from a disagreement with Mick Foley. Before the Shield debuted back in 2012, Ambrose was pencilled in for a feud with the Hardcore Legend which was shelved when Ambrose allegedly brought Mick's family into the proceedings. While this delayed Ambrose's debut, it also surely must have created a small amount of animosity for the young wrestler from Foley fans.

Upon the debut of the Shield, all three had spectacular six man matches with the likes Ryback and Team Hell No and it wasn't long until Ambrose pinned Kofi Kingston to win the US Championship. However the title reign while long was quiet and uneventful- certainly not two words one uses for Ambrose these days. When the Shield split, I was somewhat worried about Ambrose. With Reigns flying high and Rollins holding Money in the Bank would Ambrose become the next D'Lo Brown, Ted DiBiase Jr or David Otunga?

What I discounted was how talented Ambrose really is. Out of the former Shield members, Ambrose has reinvented himself the furthest. Somewhat ironically given his initial confrontation with Foley early in his career, Dean's character and wrestling style harks back to early Cactus Jack. He's mentally unhinged and has no regards for his own safety. In the PG, non ECW world that is modern day wrestling, that's pretty unique. His matches aren't gorefests, they are just wild and out of control. His lumberjack match with Rollins at Summerslam stole the show and it was down to the hard work both men put in.

This next point may sound odd and is merely cosmetic but the ring attire of a wrestler is so important. While Roman Reigns is pretty much stuck in his Shield attire, Rollins appears to have raided Batman's wardrobe. Ambrose however appears to wrestle in his street clothes. It adds to his character. You don't imagine him working out in the gym or warming up. He literally comes off the street and fights. Out of all the Shield members, his gimmick is the furthest removed from what it once was.

Then there's that connection with the fans. It's very rare and only comes once in a while. Mick Foley had it. CM Punk had it. More recently Daniel Bryan had it. It's almost more satisfying than being anointed the future by Vince and company. Roman Reigns might have the office behind him but Ambrose has really clicked with the live audience on his own. The fact that #lumberjackmatch was the number one worldwide trend on Twitter during his Summerslam match shows the power that the fans have when they get behind someone. It might take a while but just like Foley and Bryan before him, WWE will have to react if the grassroots support for Ambrose grows at the rate it is currently.

On this week's Raw, Rollins curbstomped Ambrose on to the 'injured' list while he takes time out to shoot a WWE Studios movie. The timing is disappointing for me as a fan but it's a great sign that WWE have big plans for the Lunatic Fringe. Time will tell when he comes back and when he does one can only think that with the WWE Universe behind him that his first WWE Championship reign is coming in only a matter of time.

5 great movies to remember Robin Williams by

I woke up this morning to some genuinely crushing news, Robin Williams; one of Hollywood's greatest comedy actors has tragically passed away. The outpouring of grief across the Internet has been huge and my entire Facebook feed was dominated by Robin and people's tributes to a man who clearly made a huge impact on millions of people.

As someone who has suffered from depression and anxiety in the past, it is his struggle with mental health that has impacted me the most and how he must have felt in his final hours. A man who was a strong contender for "The Funniest Man On Earth" is no longer with us.

What really stuck out amongst all the articles and reports was a poignant quote from Robin's wife who said:

"it is our hope that the focus will not be on Robin's death but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions." 

In a moment of pure sadness like this it is easy to forget the sheer joy that Robin Williams at his very best brought to the table. So from one Robin Williams fan to another here are five Robin Williams films that stand as a fitting tribute to a true Hollywood great!

1. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

If you are currently in your 20s, chances are your defining image of Robin Williams is dressed as an old lady with his 'boobs' on fire. It's the perfect Sunday afternoon film and amongst all the hilarity there's actually a touching story in there, Plus it's one of the few films about divorce that doesn't go for the schmaltzy happy ending but shows that people can put their differences aside for their kids. Expect to see plenty of Mrs. Doubtfire clips on the news over the next few days,

2. Good Morning Vietnam (1987)

An Oscar nomination and Golden Globe victory still don't do this movie justice. Williams' portrayal of Adrian Cronauer is dominated by his trademark manic humour but also showcased a dramatic flair (more on this later). Plus anyone who has seen the movie can't simply say the title in a normal manner. So make sure you check out 'GOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!' if you haven't already.

3. Aladdin (1992)

To this day Robin Williams voicing the Genie in this Disney classic is probably the definitive celebrity role in an animated film. It was a huge thing at the time and the Genie wouldn't be half the character without Robin's input. Now it happens all the time but no one has surpassed Genie. It's made all the better by the fact that a huge percentage of his lines were improvised, leading the animators to having a lot more work to do than expected. A real treat.

4. One Hour Photo (2002)

A real departure from the comedy roles he'd become renowned for, Seymour Parish the mild mannered employee of a photo lab who becomes obsessed with a young family was simply chilling. There are moments where you don't know how to feel about this very mixed up and lonely man but it's the likeability of Robin Williams that leaves you really feeling for Seymour. Quite possibly my personal favourite Robin Williams film.

5. Good Will Hunting (1997)

How could we ignore the movie that gave Robin the Oscar he so sorely deserved? His role as psychologist Sean Maguire helped Ben Affleck and Matt Damon launch their respective careers while further solidifying his own place as a true Hollywood stalwart.

So instead of feeling down, I'm going to revisit these movies and be thankful that at least this wonderful actor was able to give us so many career defining roles even beyond the ones I mentioned here.

Nanu Nanu Mork. RIP Robin Williams

10 Reasons Why 'Guardians of the Galaxy' was awesome!

Anyone who knows me will be aware that I've been looking forward to 'Guardians of the Galaxy' for a long time. From the moment I heard the premise I had a feeling that Marvel (while taking a huge risk) may really be on to something. With a ragtag group of space criminals including a raccoon with anger issues and a talking tree it's only going to go one of two ways isn't it? Well I'm glad to say the movie is a rousing success.

I'd go as far to say that it's my favourite installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. However I don't feel the need to post a blow by blow review; there are plenty of those scattered across the Internet. I should probably explain why I love it so much...

(I'd like to point out that while some of these reasons are genuine reasons I'd argue anyone should use to consider seeing the film, others are admittedly a little sillier. However I can promise you they have all genuinely crossed my mind either during or after watching 'Guardians'. Now is also a good time to let anyone on the fence know that my entire post is SPOILER FREE!)

1. Star Lord may be my new favourite Marvel hero.

Might as well start with the leading man. While movie goers and comic book fans alike love the likes of Wolverine and Iron Man, space outlaw Peter Quill may be my new favourite resident in the Marvel Universe. It helps that he's funny (like all the Guardians) but then again so is Iron Man. I guess what makes Star Lord work is that he is relatable. He's slightly bungling yet becomes the hero of the hour. Plus he has a back story that is just the right mix of tragic and mysterious. He's different enough that he stands out amongst the various mutants, demi-gods and superheroes of the Marvel universe. Chris Pratt's casting in the role (like the majority of Marvel casting decisions) is perfect and I sincerely hope he gets more big roles out of this.

2. Awesome Mix Vol. 1

Tony Stark may love a bit of AC/DC but Peter Quill has one awesome mix tape from his mother that dominates the soundtrack of the whole movie. It adds to the humanity of his character but also creates some pretty funny moments in of itself. I've been singing 'Hooked On A Feeling' for days! I'm even happier that you can buy the mix tape from Amazon. Excited much?

3. Batista is a revelation!

I'm sure if you know me or read other entries in this blog you'll know I'm a huge wrestling fan. That doesn't mean that just  because a wrestler lands a movie role that I'll think they're instantly the next De Niro. For example: The Rock in most movies= good. Randy Orton in 12 Round 2... AWFUL! I was sceptical when I heard Batista (or Dave Bautista) had been cast as Drax the Destroyer but how wrong I was. He played it so straight amongst all the craziness that he was arguably the highlight of most of the scenes he was in. His performance makes me forgive him for winning this year's Royal Rumble. Team Dave!!

4. It made me less worried about Star Wars!

Ok bare with me on this one. As we know Disney now have both Marvel and Star Wars on their books. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has worried about what the new Star Wars will be like. However 'Guardians' had a bit of an old school 'Star Wars' feel about it while feeling really fresh. Quill came across like a modern day Han Solo and the mix of species of aliens and distinct planets and civilisations had me thinking that Disney may not do such a bad job with 'Star Wars' after all. It can't be worse than 'Phantom Menace'!

5. I may now have a thing about green skin...

Does anyone else whose seen the film get where I'm coming from? Am I weird or is Gamora rather sexy? Yes there's the whole green skin thing going on but women with kick ass skills (think Black Widow) are hot. Plus while Zoe Saldana is by no means an uggo I think I prefer her with green skin. Right?? I'll get my coat...

6. I Am Groot

Let's face it. People who were sceptical of the film before it came out cited either the talking raccoon or the talking tree. Vin Diesel happily proves the haters wrong. Groot isn't just light relief but is an integral part of the film. His double act with Rocket (more on him later) creates some genuinely heartfelt moments and I'm sure people will have left the cinema more emotionally invested in a tree than they ever thought they would be. Incidentally if no one buys me an 'I Am Groot' t-shirt for Christmas I'll be so pissed off!!

7. It stands alone

While it's great that the Marvel films all link together (and I can't wait for the Guardians to integrate themselves into the Cinematic Universe more) what really stood out that on the whole the movie stands on it's own two feet. No cheeky Avenger cameo or S.H.I.E.L.D. agents tagging along behind. The only real connection at this point is the Collector who we all saw at the end of 'Thor: The Dark World'. There's a real confidence that these characters can sustain a full movie and that they are here to stay. Now they're established let's see where they end up!

8. Supporting Cast of the Galaxy

Yes the main cast shine but Marvel films do a great job of casting everyone outside the main heroes and villains. The likes of John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Karen Gillian and Peter Serafinowicz all turn up in this film and for movie buffs like me that's always fun. In the case of Reilly it's only a shame he wasn't in it more...

9. Bradley Cooper is a raccoon!

The very idea of casting an Oscar nominated actor as a raccoon is ballsy and hilarious. It helps that Rocket is easily the most badass of the entire group. Watch a raccoon with a machine gun then come back and tell me that this film sucks. Rocket Raccoon kicks ass!

10. Better than Avengers?

Saving perhaps the most controversial point for last... After some serious consideration I believe that 'Guardians of the Galaxy' is a better movie than 'Avengers Assemble'. I enjoyed both films considerably so you may ask how I came to such a conclusion. Simply put 'Guardians' had a bigger mountain to climb. Before 'Avengers' we'd already had films about most of the characters. We knew Iron Man, Thor and the gang and what they were about. The only unknown quantity was Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner. However 'Guardians' had approximately two hours to introduce everyone, make us care about them and establish them as a team. Against all the odds it worked. The movie simply had more to deliver and less chance of succeeding. The fact it did so convincingly simply makes it a better movie outing than 'Avengers Assemble'.

Like it? Don't? Need a poo? Tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or leave a message on my Facebook page. Until next time...

"She's too international!" The science behind the Laminated List

So it's been ten years since 'Friends' left our TV screens (unless you count the daily repeats on Comedy Central).  While there were many memorable moments during its ten year run, one of my favourite episodes was way back in Series 3. In 'The One With Frank Jr', the gang put together what has since become known in pop culture as 'the Freebie List' or more amusingly 'The Laminated List'. The list is essentially five celebrities that you are allowed to sleep with and your partner won't get cross. Now realistically we all know it's just a bit of fun but it's interesting to see who you or your significant other may choose to make up their dream five.

I'm extremely lucky that I'm in a relationship where we are comfortable enough to discuss who we have unspeakable thoughts about on TV, in music etc. for example I know for a fact  that if my fiancé  Kayls saw Chris Hemsworth in the flesh that I may have to physically restrain her for his own safety. That's not to say that I don't completely trust her. (unless we happen to end up at the premiere of Avengers 2!)  I guess the message is don't take it to heart who your cherished one has the hots for.  To be honest it gives me an ego boost to think that I've got the girl and Thor didn't. Take that Demi-God!

Of course the laminated part of the name comes from love's perennial loser Ross Gellar who after finally getting his list up to scratch, laminated it for good measure. It can't be changed. It's final... so for God's sakes choose wisely. Ross' downfall of course was the fact that he had left off actress Isabella Rossilini thanks to Chandler's advice that she was 'too international' and that the chances of meeting her were slim. Little did they know that Isabella Rossilini would appear right there in Central Perk. My advice to you is don't be a Ross. None of my picks are even English! It is a dream list after all so dream big!

OK so remember... they must be celebrities, it's just a bit of fun (so don't get mad!) and once it's laminated (figuratively not literally of course) then there's no going back. Got it? Good.

So without further ado I'd like to get the ball rolling and give you my Norris Approved Laminated List! ... in no particular order

1. Eliza Dushku

If you need me to explain why watch 'Dollhouse', or 'Buffy' or 'Tru Calling' (she runs around a lot in that last one) Some of the people on Kayls' list are there because of their voice. I didn't necessarily get that until I thought about Eliza Dushku. Let's just say that husky voice finishes everything off perfectly!

2. Natalie Portman

In terms of my relationship this one's probably the most contentious. For some reason unknown to me Kayls HATES Natalie Portman. Maybe if she starts a blog one day she'll tell you why. I told Kayl one day that she looked lovely and she replied "Thanks. Oh by the way I saw a picture of Natalie Portman the other day... she looked like a dog."  Oh and by the way 'Black Swan' may have helped with this pick.

3. Andrea Corr

This one's likely a blast from the past for many of you. Andrea was the lead singer of the Irish family band that took over the charts in the late 90s. Anyone whose knew me circa 2002 knew I loved Andrea Corr... I mean it was a bit unhealthy. I guess it's due to that that I'll never truly be able to take Andrea off my list. Irish accents make anyone 10% sexier. That's scientific fact!

4. Demi Lovato

Ok so here's one I don't get. I just don't. For some reason if she happens to be on the telly I can't help but think about how hot she is. I can't even put my finger on it but you want what you want I guess.

5. Velvet Sky

My 5th pick was a toughie but I've gone with TNA's most popular Knockout (arguably). Maybe it's the slightly rocky style, maybe it's the character she plays in the ring or maybe it's her entrance... Yeah it's all that...

So there you have it. I've rambled for long enough. Now I wanna know YOUR laminated list. Leave it in the comments below, tweet me @NorrisApproved3 or like Norris Approved on Facebook and leave me a post on the wall. If I get plenty of responses I may revisit this soon.

Ciao for now!