Monday 17 September 2018

BLOG TOUR: Dear Mr Pop Star - Derek & Dave Philpott


A collection of hilarious letters to iconic pop and rock stars with fantastic in-on-the-joke replies from the artists themselves: Eurythmics, Heaven 17, Deep Purple, Devo, Dr. Hook and many, many more…

For more than a decade, Derek Philpott and his son, Dave, have been writing deliberately deranged letters to pop stars from the 1960s to the 90s to take issue with the lyrics of some of their best-known songs. They miss the point as often as they hit it.

But then, to their great surprise, the pop stars started writing back...

Dear Mr Pop Star contains 100 of Derek and Dave's greatest hits, including correspondence with Katrina and the Waves, Tears for Fears, Squeeze, The Housemartins, Suzi Quatro, Devo, Deep Purple, Nik Kershaw, T’Pau, Human League, Eurythmics, Wang Chung, EMF, Mott the Hoople, Heaven 17, Jesus Jones, Johnny Hates Jazz, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Chesney Hawkes and many, many more.


Derek and Dave Philpott are the noms de plume of two ordinary members of the public, working with help from a worldwide social networking community.


What did I think?

Derek and Dave Philpott don't just listen to popular songs, they dissect and analyse them to hilarious effect.  There is something for every pop music fan in their latest book: Dear Mr Pop Star; you're sure to find your favourite artist in this book, even if they didn't respond to Derek & Dave's letters.

I love the layout of letters to and from artists, along with postcards to those artists who didn't respond.  Admittedly, some of them go over my head if I don't know the song that is being discussed but a quick trip to google puts that right.  It's all done in such good fun and this is reciprocated in the responses from the artists.  Take the letter sent to Justin Currie of Del Amitri by Derek Philpott whereby Derek is worried about ruining his corduroys whilst rolling to Mr Amitri after car trouble in the rain!  Lyrics of 'Roll to Me' below if you're wondering what on earth I'm going on about:


When the engine's stalled and it won't stop raining
It's the right time to roll to me


So if you enjoy listening to music, you will never listen to your favourite songs in the same way again after reading Dear Mr Pop Star.  I've found myself listening a lot closer to songs on the radio and if one of the songs that Derek & Dave have written about comes on, it does make me laugh.  It's surprising how much gobbledegook is in lyrics so Derek and Dave speak for all of us listeners when they ask the artists to explain themselves!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon



Links
Twitter: @DerekPhilpott   



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  2. Just a HUGE thanks not only for spending your valuable time on this wonderful critique - we know how busy you bloggers are, but also for such an eloquent assessment of our project, 10 years in the the making. You have nailed the essence of our book and we are extremely appreciative. Also it's been a delight corresponding with you in the months leading up to this glorious moment. Highest Regards, The Authors

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