Three entertainers were lost over the weekend.
The first is Jeff Conaway who passed away at only 60. He is best known as Kenickie in the film version of Grease the T-Bird who was second only to Danny Zuko. Then he moved on to the TV series Taxi in which he played the struggling actor Bobby Wheeler, and appeared as Sergeant Zack Allen in Babylon 5. He died from pneumonia with sepsis, which his dependence on persciption drugs meant it was discovered too late how ill he was.
So here he is with John Travolta in Grease Lightning
Next up a change in pace and style was Chicago born Gil Scott-Heron a proponent of the spoken word, before rap really was the thing. His style is more poetic than rap. But still speaks of the stuff that affects Americans. Here is a the title track of his 2010 album, his first in 16 years I'm New Here.
Finally Felicity 'Flick' Colby one of the original Pan's People, who went on to choreograph the TOTP replacement dance troupe Legs & Co and then Zoo. In the days before music videos if a band couldn't appear on Top of the Pops often their song may have been danced to by one of the dance troupes, quite often Flick was one of the choreographers. I love the fact that 70s costumes from prime time TV are considered too risque for a YouTube audience, as this clip will ask you to verify you are over 18.
Showing posts with label musical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label musical. Show all posts
Monday, 30 May 2011
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Un croissant in the morning can be quite continental...
... but diamonds are a girl's best friend.
The news this morning that Greggs are to start selling croissants as part of its breakfast range, despite a challenging market conditions, got this song going in my head.
Of course as a former employee of Gerald Ratner I'm musing the fact that if M&S sandwiches lasted longer than some of the Ratner's products, will Greggs next start branching out into the jewellery business. The lose of the local H. Samuel branch here in Bangor indicates that this too is currently a challenging market.
So today as David Cameron makes his closing remarks to the Conservative conference will we hear him say:
Or then again maybe not.
The news this morning that Greggs are to start selling croissants as part of its breakfast range, despite a challenging market conditions, got this song going in my head.
Of course as a former employee of Gerald Ratner I'm musing the fact that if M&S sandwiches lasted longer than some of the Ratner's products, will Greggs next start branching out into the jewellery business. The lose of the local H. Samuel branch here in Bangor indicates that this too is currently a challenging market.
So today as David Cameron makes his closing remarks to the Conservative conference will we hear him say:
"Our country is facing tough financial times. I suggest we look at history. Bretton Woods, the gold standard, the great depression. That is why today I'm instruction Gideon, ... err, I mean the Chancellor to tie sterling to the Gregg's sausage roll standard. One pound will be the equivalent of two of Gregg's finest."
Or then again maybe not.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
No Matter What: Stephen Gately 1976 - 2009
It is always a tragedy when somebody dies suddenly, when it happens to someone young who was looking forward to getting back to what made them famous even more so.
Last night Boyzone singer Stephen Gately who was on Majorca with his long time partner Andy Cowles, they had a civil partnership ceremony in 2006, went out for a few drinks. When he returned to his accommodation he fell asleep and never woke up. He's been born on St. Patrick's day in 1976 (he shared both my given names*, much as Morrissey also does, as a result).
Indeed his last Tweet on Tuesday said:
The band, who X-Factor contenders should remember made a drastic debut on the Gabriel Byrne's Late, Late Show on RTE, had six UK number one hits from 1994 - 2000. They were managed by Louis Walsh and were preparing for another tour after last year's successful comeback tour. Louis found out after last night's X-Factor and said:
After the band split Stephen had a short lived solo career, his first solo single New Beginning peaked at number 3 in the UK charts. The follow up I Believe which was inspired when he saw Billy Elliot and appeared on the film's soundtrack, peaked at the 'Stephen Glenn position' number 11. When the third solo single Stay only reached 13 Polydor dropped the artist.
While it may have been a disaster is let Stephen move into musical theatre from early 2003 he took on the lead in Andrew Lloyd-Weber and Tim Rice's Joesph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. His next West End role was a shock for the sweet one out of Boyzone appearing as the child-catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2004. In 2006 he also appeared as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.
There does seem to be an obligatory Doctor Who reference in a lot of my tributes and this one is no exception. Stephen appeared as Tommy Tommorrow in the Doctor Who audio play Horror of Glam Rock in March 2007, alongside Paul McGann the 8th Doctor and Bernard Cribbens who recently played** on screen Wilfred Mott, the Doctor's companion Donna Noble's (Catherine Tate) grandfather .
He also appeared in the 2007 second series of Dancing on Ice where he skated with Candaian professional Kristina Lenko. Though she said she "did not feel safe" dancing with Stephen and they went out in 8th on 10 February. He also made his debut film role in Credo in 2008.
A sad loss at the age of only thirty three.
UPDATE: I'd forgotten how in 2001 the Lib Dems had used New Beginning as their campaign song, and it has subsequently been used at Conference many times. (Hat tip to Lib Dem Voice). See also Andrew Reeves.
Many tributes have been flooding in from around the world and the best place I can find to keep up with them is on Ronan Keating's official website.
Stephen Gately 17 March 1976 - 10 October 2009
*His full name was Stephen Patrick David Gately.
** Not his first on screen role in the series.
Last night Boyzone singer Stephen Gately who was on Majorca with his long time partner Andy Cowles, they had a civil partnership ceremony in 2006, went out for a few drinks. When he returned to his accommodation he fell asleep and never woke up. He's been born on St. Patrick's day in 1976 (he shared both my given names*, much as Morrissey also does, as a result).
Indeed his last Tweet on Tuesday said:
The book was his children's fantasy novel The Tree of Seasons which was due to be released for Christmas, this year
"still busy - lots going on. Focussing on finishing my book next so may be quiet here."
The band, who X-Factor contenders should remember made a drastic debut on the Gabriel Byrne's Late, Late Show on RTE, had six UK number one hits from 1994 - 2000. They were managed by Louis Walsh and were preparing for another tour after last year's successful comeback tour. Louis found out after last night's X-Factor and said:
"We're all absolutely devastated."I'm in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don't know much about what's happened yet.
"I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man."
In 1999 Stephen took the brave step at the time of coming out as gay, a former member of the bands security detail were possibly about to out the story. It wasn't the done thing for members of boybands popular with screaming teenagers to remove that curtain of possible romance from their fans, even long term girlfriends were hidden. However, later he said he was glad that he would no longer have to hide his love for then boyfriend of four years Eloy de Jong of the Dutch boyband Caught in the Act. But it didn't take away from the lustre of little Stephen or the adoration of the band or him. After the band had reformed their second new single Better contained a scene on romantic couples including two men embracing as a nod to Stephen and his sexuality.
After the band split Stephen had a short lived solo career, his first solo single New Beginning peaked at number 3 in the UK charts. The follow up I Believe which was inspired when he saw Billy Elliot and appeared on the film's soundtrack, peaked at the 'Stephen Glenn position' number 11. When the third solo single Stay only reached 13 Polydor dropped the artist.
While it may have been a disaster is let Stephen move into musical theatre from early 2003 he took on the lead in Andrew Lloyd-Weber and Tim Rice's Joesph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. His next West End role was a shock for the sweet one out of Boyzone appearing as the child-catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2004. In 2006 he also appeared as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.
There does seem to be an obligatory Doctor Who reference in a lot of my tributes and this one is no exception. Stephen appeared as Tommy Tommorrow in the Doctor Who audio play Horror of Glam Rock in March 2007, alongside Paul McGann the 8th Doctor and Bernard Cribbens who recently played** on screen Wilfred Mott, the Doctor's companion Donna Noble's (Catherine Tate) grandfather .
He also appeared in the 2007 second series of Dancing on Ice where he skated with Candaian professional Kristina Lenko. Though she said she "did not feel safe" dancing with Stephen and they went out in 8th on 10 February. He also made his debut film role in Credo in 2008.
A sad loss at the age of only thirty three.
UPDATE: I'd forgotten how in 2001 the Lib Dems had used New Beginning as their campaign song, and it has subsequently been used at Conference many times. (Hat tip to Lib Dem Voice). See also Andrew Reeves.
Many tributes have been flooding in from around the world and the best place I can find to keep up with them is on Ronan Keating's official website.
Stephen Gately 17 March 1976 - 10 October 2009
*His full name was Stephen Patrick David Gately.
** Not his first on screen role in the series.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Fringe Review - A Slice of Saturday Night #edfringe
The Space @ The Royal College of Surgeons (no more 16:45 slices remaining)
Well it is Saturday night, or at least early evening when I finally catch my slice of Saturday Night, by the Why Not Musical Theatre Company.. As the audience walk I'm greeted by a frozen cast tableaux one of whom has his trousers down by his ankles revelling his Union Jack boxers, only once we are all seated does the music begin and the cast all complete preparations for their night at Club a-Go-Go.
But when they get going you are toe-tapping along with them intermingled with an hilarious mix of lyrics from the Heather Brothers. If you ever wanted to hear a song about premature ejaculation song with total professionalism and comic expression and timing, amongst other teenage angst, this young production certainly shine. There is the hesitancy of shy love, the over confidence that a girlfriend will forgive all indiscretions and the bravado that one can pull any girl 'even frigid Brigid'.
Of course while the boys are over compensating for lack of wham bam thank you ma'am, the girls are trying to appear more innocent than they are. But they can rely on Eric de Vene their host to help out his regulars with some advise, if not always sound. Advise for the guys on how to cope with tenting in the groin through dance steps, or that the best way to keep the girl is the 'pork pie'.
All to glorious music the tunes of which are strangely familiarish but the lyrics most certainly are not. Or at least not when you first hear them, me I'm still humming them.
However, no matter how much you like this review sadly I was one of those indulging in the last Slice of Saturday Night for this fringe. But I will be looking out for their future productions. If they are of this standard I'll be back.
Well it is Saturday night, or at least early evening when I finally catch my slice of Saturday Night, by the Why Not Musical Theatre Company.. As the audience walk I'm greeted by a frozen cast tableaux one of whom has his trousers down by his ankles revelling his Union Jack boxers, only once we are all seated does the music begin and the cast all complete preparations for their night at Club a-Go-Go.
But when they get going you are toe-tapping along with them intermingled with an hilarious mix of lyrics from the Heather Brothers. If you ever wanted to hear a song about premature ejaculation song with total professionalism and comic expression and timing, amongst other teenage angst, this young production certainly shine. There is the hesitancy of shy love, the over confidence that a girlfriend will forgive all indiscretions and the bravado that one can pull any girl 'even frigid Brigid'.
Of course while the boys are over compensating for lack of wham bam thank you ma'am, the girls are trying to appear more innocent than they are. But they can rely on Eric de Vene their host to help out his regulars with some advise, if not always sound. Advise for the guys on how to cope with tenting in the groin through dance steps, or that the best way to keep the girl is the 'pork pie'.
All to glorious music the tunes of which are strangely familiarish but the lyrics most certainly are not. Or at least not when you first hear them, me I'm still humming them.
However, no matter how much you like this review sadly I was one of those indulging in the last Slice of Saturday Night for this fringe. But I will be looking out for their future productions. If they are of this standard I'll be back.
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