Revisiting and listening to a lot of the Floyd tracks over the past few weeks reminded me the film of “The Wall” existed so I sat around for a while at the computer yesterday watching it. Whilst nominally a Pink Floyd production, other than some credit for musical collaboration, it is totally credited to Roger Waters, a fact which probably makes Dave Gilmour more pleased than annoyed.

I’d all bar entirely forgotten about it except for the vague memory of the ‘marching hammer’ video that was accompanied the release of the title track and of course the song itself.

Bob Geldorf - The Wall (1979)

For a start I’d totally forgotten Bob Geldorf starred as Pink! Hard to believe but true. I’d also forgotten most of the other tracks… just as well probably because I can’t say I felt they stood up to the test of time as well as their other more ‘mainstream’ music. This was probably because much of the film revolved around RG’s cathartic attempts to blame everyone he’d ever met in his life for all the psychological demons he felt he was carrying around with him

Some of the film was quite creepy… to say the least… but Pink’s deterioration into insanity was very cleverly done though some of the violence was perhaps overdone.

Having had this wild burst of nostalgia I’ve gone out and sourced The Who’s, Quadrophenia which was released as a film in 1979 roughly around the same time that The Wall was released as an album. Perhaps it was the success of Quad that encouraged RW to embark on the project that was to culminate in the release of The Wall a few years later… not sure. Of the two I think Quad works better as a film, though perhaps musically The Wall holds its ground a little more firmly, dated though it is.

Overall, though the film reached out from the corners of my mind I can’t say I found it pleasant to either watch or listen to despite the excellent production. For me the film was disturbing so I doubt I’ll be watching it again soon. Still, it was good in some ways to remind myself of what was one of the first ‘rock operas’ ever written, and perhaps one of the longest rock videos ever made!

Yet another iconic figure, in the shape of Bo Diddley has passed through the veil to the great gig in the sky. Bo, who was 79 died yesterday of heart failure. He had both a stroke and a heart attack last year and had been in poor health since.

Bo DiddleyBo was *the* founding father of rock ‘n roll yet only two of his own recordings, i.e. ‘Mona’ and ‘Bo Diddley’ really made an impression on the UK markets. In addition however, he co-wrote ‘Not Fade Away’ with Buddy Holly which was a hit for  Buddy, and later for the Rolling Stones.

His influence on people from Chuck Berry through the Beatles to U2 has lasted through the past 50 years and won’t soon be forgotten.

On the subject of ‘entertainers’, we’d like to say happy birthday to Australian singer Kylie Minogue (a.k.a. the singing budgie) who has reached the ripe old age of 40. Bearing in mind the scare she had recently with developing breast cancer she will no doubt be relieved that she reached this anniversary without further problems. However instead of the huge birthday party friends had been expecting she’d lay, on she’s opted for a relatively small scale party with close friends and family.

Kylie Minogue NudeAdmittedly she isn’t my favourite singer and since she sang ‘Locomotion’ and ‘I should be so lucky’ back in 1987 I’ve never really followed her career which amazingly has flourished for all these years!

Actually bearing mind her it was her sister Danni who was the early bloomer it was surprising how easily she seemed to morph and develop herself into a a fully-fledged entertainer. Perhaps it was the ‘fresh faced girl next door’ image she promoted during her time as an actress in the Neighbours soapie that endeared her to the UK public.

Whatever the reasons, she’s lasted twenty five years in a business that has seen the stars of one hit wonders shine and dim to nothing.

She seems nice enough person so good luck to her… happy 40th Kylie.

News today that Dame Shirley Bassey is in hospital recovering from emergency surgery after experiencing stomach pains. Details are sketchy, obviously, but there is no suggestion at present that the 71 year old singing legend will not recover quickly.

Shirley Bassey - young and mature

Shirley Bassey has been one of the UK’s best loved entertainers for the last half century with a string of hits and amassing sales topping 100 million records!! Her distinctive voice, coupled with an irreverent attitude in which she displays the ability to almost mock her own somewhat theatrical performance style has endeared her to audiences worldwide.

We wish her a speedy recovery to full health.

For those of us of a ‘certain age’ one of the high spots of our young lives was the regular dose of comedy from “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In’ which was an extremely funny if bizarre US made comedy programme, which in style might be likened to a cross between the Goons and Monty Python!

The show ran from 1968 – 1973 and made household names of people like Goldie Hawn, Ruth Buzzi, Lily Tomlin, Artie Johnson, Judy Carne and many more. It also threw up catch phrases’ that still echo down the years though their origins are unknown to many of the kids that use them “Sock it to me”, “Here comes the Judge”, “Veeeery Interesting… but stoopid!!”, and perhaps best “Blow in my ear an I’ll follow you anywhere!!”

The reason for relating all this is that, as the subject says, the last of the two headliners, Dick Martin (on right in picture below), died of respiratory failure at his home today. His partner in crime, Dan Rowan passed on in 1987.

Rowan & Martin's Laugh In

Did Dick have a good life?? You bet your sweet bippy!!

I’ll be honest… I *still* miss that show!! :)

The UK papers were awash a few days ago with the stirring words of the Duchess of York, a.k.a. Fergie as she defended the honour of her daughter the Princess Beatrice a.k.a. ‘chubby buns’ who is getting a lot of flak (she says) because of her size and shape, i.e. errr… cuddly (?).

Princess Well you’d have to admit that there *is* quite a lot of chubby buns to go round. I have no idea if she *does* go round and that’s none of my business. Well actually I suppose her size and shape is none of my business either really, but I do tend to comment on the way the press reports various ‘issues’, especially when they have created the ‘issues’ themselves.

This is one of those.

To begin with what the hell are they doing publishing a picture of a 19 year old girl who in most ways is just an ordinary citizen. There is virtually zero chance of her ever approaching the throne as a candidate for Queen and her only claim to fame is through the family of her father and her mothers propensity for having her toes sucked… and ensuring she remains in the media spotlight… of which we say nothing.

Well ok we must say something, especially when this woman was chosen to explain to a desperately poor family how to manage on a food budget of £80 a week? I’m not sure Fergie is even aware exactly what ‘poor people’ eat. And while it’s all very well to complain about the publicity her girls get, you have to remember that she pushed them out into the limelight herself. How much did we hear about Princess Anne’s kids as they grew? Very little.

Anyway… back to the point… I see very little ‘news’ value in the story whatsoever and I think it’s just an excuse to fill column inches on a day when there is little or nothing else of note to comment on.

After all who would be interested in the conflict in Darfur, or murders in South Africa, famine in Uganda, cyclones in Burma, or earthquakes in China?? Nobody I’ll bet. Females, males, young or old are all being told that the fact this female is generously proportioned is more newsworthy than all else. Really? I think not.

Ok she is being protected by security paid for by the UK taxpayer, but really… is it necessary for her to be inflicted on us? She’s of even less interest that Peaches Geldorf and that’s saying something!!

Personally I’d have thought government plans to store and vet *all* emails and internet traffic was *far* more sinister and worthy of comment… but what do I know?

The country is going to the dogs.

I see Little Lily Allen is back in the news and not for her singing. Yet again the silly girl has given the photographers a field day by (unintentionally?) letting them take photos of her ‘going commando’, i.e. sans underwear. Stripping her top off in a pool was one thing. In these new shots she’s having what you might call a ‘Britney Spears’ moment. :)

As nice looking as she is, she’s rapidly getting a reputation in the same league as Britney Spears… and that ain’t good!

Lily Allen looking 'happy.Ok she’s 25, just lost a child and a boyfriend in rapid succession and must be hurting inside, but it seems she’s going to pieces so fast it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt by the shrapnel! It’s sad enough when it’s done ‘in private’ but when it’s done in the full glare of the media spotlight someone needs to step in to provide protection. In this case her father was there with her but seemed unable to help.

I think she’s drop dead gorgeous fully dressed or not, and it might be she’s just having fun… in which case good on her. Trouble is if it’s all a cover for something more serious going on in her head then she might well look back on these photos with acute embarrassment.

And no I’m not going to publish them here… or the url where I saw them. If you’re than interested I’m sure you’ll be able to find them easily enough.

Bit of sad news might be in the offing for fans of Jodie Foster in that it appears she may be splitting from Cydney Bernard, her partner of 14 years only months after announcing they were a ‘couple’.
Jodie has two children who are raised by the couple.

Seems so sad if true, but as the report has been issued by the National Enquirer I’m not entirely convinced it’s true, though even the NE has been known to get facts right occasionally… if only by accident!

I’d like to be able to send you their website to check the story, but I can’t… seems it’s “Under Construction“.

So this evening *I* went with the wife and youngest daughter to see a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Hills Grammar School (THGS). The eldest daughter was in the chorus singing her little heart out along with 19 others… and a great job they did, conducted by Owen Nelson who tonight was Music Director.

The question you are possibly asking if you read the earlier sparse review gleaned from the wife’s reports is, was it as good as she suggested? The answer – an emphatic yes!

THGS LogoThe Hills Grammar School has always had a thriving music department and over the years we have come to expect great things from them, despite the obvious changes in performers as the children leave school or pursue other interests. Nevertheless I think with this production they excelled themselves.

In some ways it’s unfair to single out any particular cast member because they worked as a whole to produce this mini-masterpiece. However extra credits *must* be given to Emma Woodworth whose voice as usual dominated whenever she sang, which luckily was for a large part of the performance. Her natural smile and shining eyes made it clear throughout how much she was enjoying herself. Emma is a naturally gifted performer.

Likewise, Charlie Cox who played Joseph is equally gifted and put on a wonderful showing. Whilst his voice might not have the range and clarity of Emma’s his acting abilities were *very* prominent and he truly brought the character to life.

These two, along with the remaining cast would have made Andrew Lloyd Webber sit up and listen and I’m sure many of them will continue to build a career in the performing arts!

Of course a vital part of a musical, is the music… and the way it is performed is critical to the success of the whole. After listening to the score performed by a band made up of students and a few teachers I understood why someone in last nights audience thought perhaps the vocalists were performing to a backing track… the
reproduction was exceptional.

As we were all leaving the wife remarked how professional it was, especially in comparison with productions from our own school days. My comment is that it would have stood up well against *any* professional group! They were quite simply that good!!

In fact the quality of the production brought into question just why the ‘run’ was limited to just two nights. Given more publicity even in the local area and I think it could well have run for many weeks yet (schoolwork allowing :) ). As it was, all seats were filled on both nights and could well have been filled over again.

As we left we realised that although *we*, the audience, weren’t allowed to film the production some video equipment had been running. I hope that eventually a DVD of the concert is released by the school. I for one would be more than happy to sit and watch it several times more.

A simple ‘well done’ Hills Grammar School seems almost inappropriate for such a show, yet what more can one say other than that, except to say I’m eagerly looking forward to the next production! :)

We’re off to the eldest daughters school tonight. She has a bit part in the chorus of the school production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The ensemble performed for the Junior School yesterday morning and gave the first of their two performances ‘to the public’ last night.

The wife said she heard someone discussing the music and wondering if the music was from a ‘backing track’ because it was so good. Actually it was all live!
Sadly I won’t be able to publish a picture of the cast… or even of the daughter… because the rule is strictly no photos. Sad but there ya go… this is the world we live in.

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