So, the month of May will always mean one thing to me.... EUROVISION!!

I'll be sharing with you some of my favourite Eurovision moments over the next week, but in the meantime I though I'd show you what the s=chart looked like this time in 1996:

1 Gina G Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit
2 George Michael Fastlove
3 Baddiel & Skinner and The Lightning Seeds Three Lions
4 Tony Rich Project Nobody Knows
5 Mark Morrison Return Of The Mack
6 JX There's Nothing I Won't Do
7 Suggs & Louchie Lou / Michie One Cecilia
8 Peter Andre featuring Bubbler Ranx Mysterious Girl
9 1996 Manchester United FA Cup Squad Move Move Move (The Red Tribe)
10 The Smashing Pumpkins Tonight, Tonight
11 John Alford Blue Moon / Only You
12 Metallica Until It Sleeps
13 Sean Maguire Good Day
14 Gloria Estefan Reach
15 Liverpool FC & Boot Room Boyz Pass And Move (Liverpool Groove)
16 Bryan Adams The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me
17 Black Grape Fat Neck
18 Robert Miles Children
19 SWV You're The One
20 1300 Drums featuring The Unjustified Ancients Of M-U Ooh! Aah! Cantona
21 The Klubbheads Klubhopping
22 Manic Street Preachers A Design For Life
23 Celine Dion Because You Loved Me
24 Chantay Savage I Will Survive
25 Blur Charmless Man
26 The Lighthouse Family Ocean Drive
27 Busta Rhymes Woo-hah!! Got You All In Check
28 M-Beat featuring Jamiroquai Do You Know Where You're Coming From
29 Michael Jackson They Don't Care About Us
30 Alanis Morissette Ironic
31 Lisa Marie Experience Keep On Jumpin'
32 Pulse featuring Antoinette Roberson The Lover That You Are
33 Backstreet Boys Get Down (You're The One For Me)
34 Jodeci Get On Up
35 Horace Brown One For The Money
36 LL Cool J Doin' It
37 3T 24 / 7
38 Mark Snow The X-Files
39 Gabrielle Give Me A Little More Time
40 Scooter Rebel Yell

Sitting at the top of the chart was Gina Gee with one of the biggest selling Eurovision singles of all time. Such a pity that it did not do that well in the actual competition but in the mid-nineties Ireland were winning it almost every year, no matter how shit the song was

There was a hell of a lot of Football featured in the top 40, probably due to the fact that England was hosting Euro 1996 and from what I recall England did rather well [don't quote me on this, I know as much about football as next door's cat]

Apart from the all the football novelties, the rest of the chart was rather brilliant with some classic house tracks from JX, Robert Miles and Pulse, great pop from Suggs and Blur and a nice bit of rock from the Manics and The Smashing Pumpkins...good times!

So what are your memories of this period? Something else was also happening this month, a little film from the USA was shown on the BBC called... Doctor Who! I do remember getting a little bit excited about that [I did not watch it four times in one day..honestly!]

A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible.

Not the most exciting of film names, and some of the trailers I have seen for this film leave you wondering what this film is about - and I don't mean the salmon fishing, I'm not that dumb.

For a week where Battleships is number one everywhere (may the gods help us) we were quite surprised to find this film in Screen 1 at our local Cineworld. The screen was actually quite full, and once everyone had got settled in their correct seats (it still amazes me how many people sit in the wrong seats in a Cinema that always allocates seating), we settled in to watch.

Whilst the film is mainly about the 10,000 salmon getting moved from British waters to The Yemen, the story between Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt's characters is at some points hilarious, others quite sad and other times just "nice".

I'm not great at writing, and I am hoping to improve as I write more of these reviews - so I will leave it here: The film is really good and I would recommend you see it - you don't need to know about fishing.

My Score: 7/10

Director: Lasse Hallström
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Amr Waked

Totalitarian Tip Toe

Review By Andrew Barclay

Back in Manchester in the late 80s and early 90s, the music most closely associated with the city was the psychedelic dance tinged beats of The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses. It was in this musical environment that 'As Able As Kane' emerged. However, AAAK were a no nonsense industrial influenced band, and this in itself separated them from the other groups of that period.

Perhaps because of this different musical slant, the band caught Record label attention and they were duly signed. Two albums later and several appearances on John Peel's now legendary radio show, the band found themselves in 1992, and with the group’s members all being involved in other projects, AAAK split up.

Some 17 years later, the 'Electric Tremor' label approached the band about putting out a 'Best of' album, and with renewed enthusiasm, the band decided to record and tour again. 'Totalitarian Tip Toe' is the resulting comeback album, and it's a beast of an album. Paul Rawlinson’s vocals are authoritative and strong, accompanied by the programming and synth wizardry of Simon 'Ding' Archer.

Further to my previous blog about the Coalition For EQUAL Marriage, http://www.coolmanchester.com/index.php/CM/manchester-pride/coalition-for-equal-marriage-don

the government are carrying out an equal civil marriage consultation.

As quoted on the website, The key proposals of the consultation are:

to enable same-sex couples to have a civil marriage i.e. only civil ceremonies in a register office or approved premises (like a hotel)

to make no changes to religious marriages. This will continue to only be legally possible between a man and a woman

to retain civil partnerships for same-sex couples and allow couples already in a civil partnership to convert this into a marriage

civil partnership registrations on religious premises will continue as is currently possible i.e. on a voluntary basis for faith groups and with no religious content

individuals will, for the first time, be able legally to change their gender without having to end their marriage

Current legislation allows same-sex couples to enter into a civil partnership, but not civil marriage.

If you would like to participate in this consultation, the form can be found here:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/consultations/equal-civil-marriage/

I have completed the form and it only takes a few minutes, I would strongly recommend that all same sex couples do the same thing and share this document everywhere, it's a very good way to show the current government how we feel.

Submissions are being sought from charities, organisations, groups and individuals to take part in this year’s festival. Organisers have opened applications for the Manchester Pride Parade and Lifestyle Expo.

One of the UK’s most successful Pride events, the festival is a unique opportunity to show commitment to diversity and inclusion, whilst helping the charity to raise much needed funds for local LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and HIV charities and community groups.

The Manchester Pride Parade, weaves its way through the streets of Manchester on Saturday 25 August 2012. Over 3000 people take part in the parade each year and previous entrants have included Manchester Airport, Coronation Street and Greater Manchester Police.

The theme Queer’d Science, has been adopted in honour of the father of computer science, mathematician, logician, wartime code breaker and victim of prejudice, Alan Turing. The gay computer pioneer was prosecuted for gross indecency for having relations with another man in 1952, when homosexual acts were illegal in the UK. This year the country celebrates the centenary of Turing’s birth.

Exhibition space is also available during the Big Weekend in the Lifestyle Expo area, with host of exhibitors promoting services and offering support. A very popular area of the festival site, early booking is advised.

Manchester Pride’s Chief Executive, John Stewart said “This year focuses on encouraging individuals to become ambassadors for Manchester Pride, promoting and inspiring their workplaces to take part in the festival.”

“Participants have a great time, whilst helping us raise money for services in Greater Manchester that support the LGBT community and those living with or affected by HIV.”

Tickets for the Big Weekend, will be released for sale on 01 May 2012. However, those wishing to indulge themselves with the VIP treatment can purchase Platinum Passes, giving access to the events site, Main Arena viewing area and the VIP suite, in addition to a number of complimentary drinks during the weekend.

All applications can be made through the Manchester Pride website www.manchesterpride.com and click on get involved.

To find out more about Manchester Pride and this year’s festival you can follow the charity on Twitter @manchesterpride

1. Marlon Roudette - New Age

New Age has been a huge hit all over Europe, but for some reason hasn't been big in Marlon's native UK. Its being rereleased here shortly and has a great summery vibe to it.

2. Alphabeat - Vacation

Apart from "The Spell", Alphabeat's second album was a bit of a disappointment to me. Vacation is the first single from their forthcoming third album and is a very promising return to form.

3. fun. - We Are Young

This has been number one in the USA for approximately eleventy-billion weeks and that's because it is FANTASTIC! We are still waiting for a UK release of this but if you are desperate for it there are several cover versions on itunes cashing in on its absence, including a rather good Glee one!

4. Yolanda Be Cool Feat. Crystal Waters - Le Bump

This is catchy as hell and harks back to the greatest dance tracks of the 90s. We Speak No Americano is still played heavily on the radio even though it was nearly two years ago, I think this would be called a "long awaited" follow up!

5. Melanie Fiona - 4AM

Melanie Fiona is another up and coming singer from Canada and 4AM is a very atmospheric bit of R&B and manages to bit different enough from all the other cliched R&B tracks around at the moment.