I'll Be Fat, Lonely Or Dead

So, England won't be hosting the World Cup in 2018. There are a number of reasons being banded around as to why too. The first is that we just weren't good enough, the second is because FIFA are a little corrupt, what with all their bribes and such, and the third is that David Cameron didn't actually pitch about why England should have the competition, he actually just pretended he was in the House of Commons and argued about why he thinks he's better than Ed Milliband. Whatever the reason, England aren't hosting the World Cup until at least the year 2030.

It was that fact that got me thinking. In 2030 I'll be 40 years old, but what about further on into the future after England don't host that World Cup either? Chances are by the time I'm 52 I'll be either fat, lonely or dead. Either way, I'm quite willing to admit that I won't be doing anything extravagant like playing Wembley arena, or releasing my umpteenth album. I'm no Paul Weller.

I don't know why, but I've suddenly re-encountered my love for Weller. It might be because he was on the cover of NME last week. I didn't realise I was so influenced by the media, first The X-Factor, now this. Next thing I know, I'll be buying Black Eyed Peas new album (I definitely won't).

Anyway, I've digressed. The truth is, Weller is a legend, and although you might not know it, everyone has encountered some of his music at one point or another. The man has been in the music industry since 1977, and apart from a bit of a blip in the late 80s with The Style Council, he has continually released good music right up to this day. It's a testament that he hasn't run out of things to do.

I think the reason is because there's always something to complain about. When he was around with The Jam in the late 70s and early 80s, he was brilliant at commentating on society, or voicing disdain at how it was being treated by the powers that be. This is something that has stayed with him right up to the present day, he may have mellowed a bit since being a teenager, but you still get the picture with Paul Weller. He's pissed off.

Anyway, on Monday he released a new live album, mostly featuring material from his latest studio album, Wake Up The Nation. Weller's live shows can only be described as immense, sure, the audience he attracts aren't quite the same as the ones he probably did 30 years ago, but he still gives it his all, which is quite commendable at the age of 52. He even breaks out some classics from his days in The Jam, if you can, make sure you listen to 'That's Entertainment', one of his most famous songs, slightly reworked, but still retaining all that made it good originally.

Don't take it from me though, have a listen to the great man yourself. You can listen to a playlist of all his greatest songs here. Hopefully it'll keep you entertained until 2012, at least by then we'll have the Olympics.