Chris Skinner's blog

Shaping the future of finance

Songs

Why are banks so easy to dislike?

I’ve realised over the last few weeks that my FinTech Karaoke is generally having a dig at bad bankers. It’s easy to have a go at bad bankers or, as the 99% call them, banksters. It’s because there’s a lot of bad practices historically in banking from ripping off customers with hidden fees (PPI); signing…

The FinTech Karaoke Challenge: Mr. Blue Sky

[A longer version of this blog appears here, explaining why so many songs are anti-bank] During lockdown, Spotify has found that the song Mr Blue Sky by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is the most popular song of the summer. It makes us feel good, even though the song is over forty years old (stop…

The FinTech Karaoke Challenge: Umbrella

Now I’m no Jay-Z and definitely a million miles from a Rihanna, but there is an old saying attributed to Mark Twain that “a banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain.” This persists generally as a view around the…

The FinTech Karaoke Challenge: Googbusters

Everyone keeps talking about Big Tech opening banks. Rather than opening or buying banks, most of the Big Tech firms are partnering with them. Apple and Goldman Sachs make a nice pair as does Google, who partner with a variety of banks to offer financial capabilities. Several of the Big Tech firms have danced around…

The Karaoke Challenge: Despacito

During my karaoke lockdown challenge, I’ve been surprised how engaged my audience is, from those who encouraged me to do JaJa Ding Dong to a trans-Atlantic duet with Barb MacLean of Islands in the Stream. However, I’ve never been as challenged as I was this week. I got an email from Oriol Ros of Latinia…

The FinTech Poetry Challenge: I wandered lonely on the cloud

There are some iconic lines in films. Stop the world, I want to get off. I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore. Do you want to take the red or the blue pill? I’ll have what she’s having. And, right now, during these lockdown no travel times, it often…

The FinTech Karaoke Challange: Islands in the Stream, with Barb MacLean

This week’s challenge was created by various tweets between myself and Barb MacLean. She offered to duet with me but, considering I’m here in Poland she’s in Canada, that could be difficult. Anyways, the song we picked was Island in the Stream or, as it is now, Apps in the Cloud. We probably shouldn’t have…

The FinTech Karaoke Challenge: Summertime

I keep thinking I should give this up, but people keep encouraging me to continue so I will … for the moment. This week’s challenge was given to me by Brian Caplen, Editor-in-Chief of The Banker magazine, a sister publication of The Financial Times and hugely serious and circumspect. Therefore, I was surprised when Brian said I must…

The Karaoke Challenge: Gold digger

It seems my Karaoke Challenge is proving successful so far, with many readers asking me to cover a song they think would be funny with my quirky twist. Whilst I’m getting all of these requests, I’ll keep up my feeble attempts to entertain until I’m travelling and too busy again. This particular request I couldn’t…

The Karaoke Challenge: Jaja Ding Dong (Dada Bank Wrong)

One of my readers enjoyed my Karaoke so much that he challenged me to attempt Jaja Ding Dong.  If you don’t know the song, it’s the amazing #singalongaferrell in the hilarious film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. If you haven’t seen this film, I can thoroughly recommend it. Funniest thing I’ve seen…

What is the future?

Learn more

Learn more about Chris

About Chris Skinner

The Past, Present And Future Of Banking, Finance And Technology

Fintech expert Chris Skinner: countries need digital transformation to remain competitive

Join me on Linkedin

Follow Me on X!

Hire Chris Skinner for dinners, workshops and more

Learn directly from from one of the most influential people in technology, gain insights from the world's most innovative companies, and build a global network.

Chris’s latest book

Chris Skinner’s ‘Digital For Good’ Book Launch Event – CFTE

Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on FinTech 2023

Chris Skinner
Commentator, CEO of The Finanser and best-selling author at The Finanser

Thinkers360 Thought Leader

Contact Me

Global Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award

Global 100 - 2024 Winner

Chris Skinner - Financial Markets Advisor of the Year - The Finanser - UK 2023

Best Financial Markets Advisor of the Year 2023

30 Best Regtech Blogs and Websites 2023

Kids creating the future bank | TEDxAthens

Captain Cake and the Candy Crew

Captain Cake Winner of a Golden Mom’s Choice Award

TWO-TIME WINNER OF A MOM’S CHOICE GOLD AWARD!

Alex at the Financial Services

Gaping Void's Hugh MacLeod worked with the Finanser