'You can get it if you really want' - Jimmy Cliff

00:04 |

Friday 28 November 2025

Good morning, everyone OK?

Let's breeze through the past few days: the legendary Jimmy Cliff, the trailblazing singer behind "You Can Get It If You Really Want" and my favourite version of "I Can See Clearly Now", died aged 81. Kevin, who interviewed Cliff in 2022, wrote a lovely tribute to the man who was "so much more than the sweetest voice in reggae".

We also have this week's State of the Arts from Fiona Sturges on how Rosalía's extraordinary album Lux has found an unlikely fan in the Vatican, who praised it earlier this week. Fiona asks whether this signals a new era of papal-pop culture diplomacy, after decades of condemning pop stars from Madonna to Sinead O'Connor.

Some great gigs happening next week, including Cameron Winter doing his solo show at the Roundhouse in between all he's doing with his band, Geese. Brogeal are in London tonight headlining The Garage, while Wolf Alice are playing the biggest shows of their career next week at the O2 Arena.

New music: beautiful Sufjan Stevens-sounding number, "Little House", from Rachel Chinouriri, "Booga" from Central Cee and Cork five-piece Cardinals with the excellent "Barbed Wire" from their forthcoming debut album, Masquerade, out 13 February. South Arcade's "Blood Run Warm" from their EP Play, also out today, is great - they're doing a sold-out show at Kentish Town Forum tonight. Sex Mask are gloomy in the best way on "Curse", and I love Olive Jones on the delicate, beautifully composed "Colour on the Wall". Also, Irish rock band Big Sleep going "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo'.

Finally, a new episode of Good Vibrations with the wonderful Ella Eyre, talking about red flags, love hearts, therapy, vocal surgery and all sorts. Tune in!

Ta ta for now x

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Tracks of the week

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1. "Barbed Wire" - Cardinals

2. "What It Gave me" - Jordan Rakei, Jalen Ngonda

3. "Blood Run Warm" - South Arcade

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Q&A

Spotlight on... Girl Tones

Hello! Tell me about yourselves

We are a two piece sister duo called Girl Tones. We were classically trained on cello and violin, then made the extreme switch to rock music. Laila on drums, Kenzie on guitar and singing.

What are the inspirations and influences behind your music?

We are influenced by the White Stripes, but all in all we have a very diverse background so we feel inspired by classical, jazz, anything super melodic and catchy.

What do you have lined up for the rest of the year and beyond?

We plan on staying home and working on music for the rest of the year. Next year we hit the ground running on the road again & are super excited to return to the UK to play The Great Escape Festival in May.

Geordie Greig

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