Great idea. Eddie Murphy, Tom Hanks, Paul Young, Shakespeare - yes, yes, yes and yeah! (This first bit doesn't make much sense now Rachel's comment's gone)

An author that comes to mind is Nevil Shute. He used to be a mainstay of the library shelves but is now drifting into oblivion. Beautifully crafted, well-observed page-turners full of life and humanity.

Dory Previn also seems to have been sadly neglected, while Leonard Cohen marches on. Maybe it's because her output was so much less and she doesn't tour like him.

There's also an obscure poet called Andrew Young who died in 1971. I read 'Idleness' by him to fellow-walkers on the recent WOL walk from Hebden Bridge. A poem that will always be special for me.

Obscure artist? Try Caspar David Friedrich. German Romantic from 200 years ago. When the world was just waking up to the possibility that ordinary people could think big thoughts, all by themselves.

Secret liking for Hermans Hermits, Boney M, Goombay Dance Band and shitting in women's handbags.

And yes, Shakespeare. Fabulous tragedies, piss-poor comedies (never laughed yet).

This doesn't really concern me as I've got impeccable taste and it's everybody else who's wrong.That includes anyone who doesn't think Uptown Top Rankin' by Althia and Donna is the greatest piece of music ever recorded.

Tom Jones and all the men of Harlech...welsh landscape would not be panned so ceremoniously without the soundtrack. Tom also looks like a young version of my dad, so says my mum, from times when welsh miners were not supposed to be politically correct.

the film dogma...genius writers/directors, all star cast yet still manages to be come one of worst acted (apart from the bros and chris rock being himself - another guilty pleasure of mine btw) cringeworthily hilarious piece of comedy ever seen. ive no idea how it works that film but it does even with alanis morrisette in it. strangely tho loads people agree that it is indeed great and its trying to work out why its terrible that i struggle with. BUT I KNOW IT IS. :)

Tony Curtis in The Vikings..(although I am sure it is because he resembled Troy Tempus) and yes I wanted to be Marina! Ha note that TC resembles TT..no Troy was not a puppet!

Mark Bolan..such glam..such big brown eyes.

Ralph-Vaughn-Williams for his wonderful mastery of english classical music.

Tessimonds poetry for simply catching a moment..also he was a local lad.

Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction.

And Johnny Morris who made up voices for the animals.

David Nixon for his magic.

The list is endless.. :) Wonderful isn't it?

Dave - are you not mixing up guilty pleasures with obscure artists there? Dory Previn is not a guilty pleasure, she is one of the most raw artists going.

Me - I don't believe in the concept. Whatever pleases you, whether to the eye or ear, is all good. I don't listen to music, watch films, or read books for anyone other than myself.

However, having said that, if you own any Phil Collins CDs, then we can't be friends.

Stella - I wanted Johnny Morris to be my 2nd dad when I was a kid :)

this thread need nt be dead yet...john coopey started up one similar about sex and well...anyway all of mine were far too embarrassing and guilt enducing that ill have to add some more...but not before i say that pam ayres turns my brain to cheese.

the riverdance itself i thought was fine, loads of dancers were thrilled to bits that people liked their thing and stopped assuming that theyd all been whipped with rosary beads to make them go to practice...but yeh the revival of the irish as cool still endures. the welsh had a stab with gavin and stacey but i know that being half welsh is only really bearable knowing that my english half is preferred by most, cerys matthews or not.

guilty film: anything denzel washington. i have a collection, devil in a blue dress is best as the story line is quite interesting. I like them cos he is in them and he usually plays the hero good cop/detective sometimes including uniform and/or suave dress style., phwoar.

guilty music: Lady GaGa. I dont know why musos insist she is inferior in talent because i do not see or hear that. She is an artist of mega proportions. some of her stuff is more poppy than others but like most true artists the commercial stuff is just a cover to get to the real work inbetween or within the art of video. i dont feel guilty for liking tho, i think she appeals more to women than men and men seem to think they have the monopoly on taste.

with this game i think it important to choose stuff that is a guilty pleasure and not something that is just rare/obscure/exclusive...most of that stuff is considered uber cool even if its shit. this is a different ball park.

go on who likes wham?

ps john i love boney m and admit this every xmas by dancing around to boy child :)

I confess to only two.
For some bizarre reason I like the work of Deep Forest, particularly Sweet Lullaby.

Secondly, I love all of those lovely old black and white French films where they're all subtitled, the ladies keep the door open when they go to the loo and you have to wait for an hour and a half before anyone gets a shag!

I'll get my coat.

So we're back to sex again - errr thank you Graham...

This is such a vast subject that I had to scratch my head to think about it. My problem is that I have problems remembering the song or the artiste....

Like Ray, I don't feel guilty about liking anything not considered trendy. I think often there is a kind of snobbery going on. Groups/people can't get too popular or they are considered crass and middle of the road, their critics ignoring the talent that got them where they are.

On that score, I really like Coldplay. They are lovely to watch live - get the crowd going, give out great vibes. Chris Martin is musically gifted and the songs are melodic and memorable. What is there not to like?

I like corny old comedians like Dick Emery and 'Some mothers do Ave em'. There was a simplicity about the humour. Add to that all the carry on films. I love farce. As a child I once had the good fortune of seeing Arthur Askie in pantomime - absolutely hilarious - I shall never forget it. He was wasted on TV - needed to be seen live.

What would I consider shit music? The Bay City Rollers. I never ever liked them or understood anyone liking them and their hideous tartan bomber jackets. I also loathe all these manufactured boy bands. Music seems to have gone very insipid. I have fond memories of watching boys 'pogo' dance at the school discos....

Pam Ayres! I missed her. I love Pam Ayres. All that plumminess but weaved into really underestimated rhythmic forms.
And while we're at it, Betjeman and Kipling too!
Billy Connolly - I could laugh at him with my feet in the fire.
Conversely (I hope there's not another rogue sub-thread about to be born) icons that I have never raised a titter at include Charlie Chaplin and Morcambe & Wise.

Why would John Hegley be a guilty pleasure? I think he's fuckin' brilliant!Never liked UB40, Steve, sucked all the sauce out of reggae. Uptown Top Rankin' is great, though. I like the one in the dungarees best.

those early 80s billy connolly vids were so funny i would always cry and have a sore belly. and only stopped watching cos i think i knew all the words. some comedy is great for that tho i am most annoying whilst talking all the lines over monty python...(I think the pythons have reached an agreed upon status as british royalty in comedy terms tho and i bet you could have a whole thread daring people NOT to like them...oh, didnt someone mention Chaplin?). I think Connolly did get a bit up his arse but who cares he was funny as...

ps sorry boys for sweeping generalisation about men and taste monopolies. I get a bit diva around GaGa.

Is. bring back the pogo and new romantic sweepery

Status Quo / Pam Ayres / Spam

But do you also like pork luncheon meat?

Rachel, I too like Lady GaGa, who happens to be quite musically talented. I'm betting not many divas can play the piano whilst singing, with one leg cocked up on top of the piano... I believe she writes all her own stuff and it is catchy and well produced.

Corn Flakes..ice cold mild and golden syrup...all throw up together now!..

Oh and salad cream butties!!

Steve
My thread on Sex raced away from yours initially, but it seems Guilt is catching up!
Was that inevitable?

haha john sex, guilt whats next? ste blacks poetry comments threads have been running religion...a fitting combination methinks ;0