The Divine Miss M

Well, Readers. A hell of a lot has happened since we last spoke (?) and I have an awful lot to blog about. Hurrah! But the first bit of business that we need to discuss is something - or someone - absolutely fabulous. Someone who is the epitomy of camp. Someone who could be described as...divine. 

It's no secret that I adore anyone who can be considered a gay icon and my friends have often said they're convinved I'm a 50 year old gay man, so when I saw Bette Midler was touring the UK on her Divine Intervention tour, I absolutely jumped at the chance to go. I managed to snatch early release tickets (thanks, 02 priorities!) for me and my sister and then began the long 6 month wait. 

Now, I know Bette Midler is wonderful. She's a bundle of energy and is showing no signs of slowing down despite being 69. It's safe to say we had pretty big expectations. Read: HUGE. 

She exceeded them.  

Coming out on the stage in a flirty pink baby doll dress, Bette is still looking amazing. And so it begins. 

Throughout the night, she switches from energetic numbers (complete with high kicks) to belting out emotional ballads at a rate of knots. I knew that Bette had a pair of lungs on her but ...wow. On albums she's amazing. In person, she's breathtaking. 

She sings a couple of songs from her new album, It's The Girls and some songs that neither my sister or I know, but as each one starts we look at eachother and nod. They're bloody good. Particularly noteworthy for me here is a cover of Leonard Cohens' Everybody Knows which, as far as I can see, she has never recorded but I wish she would. It was so beautiful, Readers. I adored it. 

Between songs she talks to the audience, cracking perfectly timed jokes with language that could, as they say, make a sailor blush.

And then, much to everyone's delight (especially mine) she comes out in full Winifred Sanderson costume and performs I Put A Spell On You from Hocus Pocus. It's no secret she's keen to do Hocus Pocus 2 and by the reaction, it would be extremely well received. Come on, Disney! Get on it!

Her extremely crude character, Soph, made an appearance dressed in a fabulous feathered number. Here, Bette waltzed across the stage telling jokes that are as old as the hills about 'her boyfriend Earnie' that are absolutely filthy. It's divine. She's been telling these jokes for 30 years or so, but they still crack the audience up and she clearly delights in their laughter. 

Another costume change brings a sequinned (hurrah!!) hot pink floor length gown and some of her biggest ballads. The Rose, From A Distance and, of course, Wind Beneath My Wings. All I can say is they were all beautiful. One that especially stood out to me was Stay which I hadn't actually heard before but has since been played on a loop. Take a listen if you have a moment. 

So to close here, I was expecting a lot from Bette. I've loved her since I was a little girl and saw her in Big Business (an absolutely cracking film. Go and watch it if you haven't already). I was hoping that I wouldn't be disappointed and I definitely was not. She stayed on stage for nearly 2 hours without any supporting act (except a fantastic band and three backing dancers - The Staggering Harlots) and she sang her freaking heart out. She's said before that she loves touring and performing and that can be seen from a mile away. She thrives on stage and it's no wonder she became so famous all those years ago; she has that thing that makes you want to watch her. She's Vaudevillian, Diva and a whole lotta Heart. 

I've always looked up to Bette because, much like Cher, she's someone who is completely herself and if you don't like it, you can lump it - they don't care. She's colour in a black and white world and she knows it. It's what she's built her career on. One doesn't name themself The Divine Miss M without believing they are, in fact, Divine. 

Personally, I think if you're still selling out world tours 40 years after starting out, there has to be a reason. Dedicated fans are only going to get you so far. Bette isn't only a singer who can belt a song out, she's an actress who can add emotion without seeming insincere - my sister and I are still unsure if she was actually getting emotional towards the end of the show or if she was acting. She can bring an audience through a show of non-stop Bette - jokes, stories, songs, dancing - and still leave them wanting more, more, more. 

It was a phenomenal show that I was glad I could share with my sister. And, in the words of Soph... 

I'll nevah forget it, ya know. 

M x 

Photograph is not my property

Twist really is the New Twerk

Nowadays, there seems to be nothing more admired and sought after than the past. Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr... you don't have to look too far or too hard for a #vintage or #retro. We all want the romance of the past but we just can't get it. Why? Because we're not in the past. We're right here right now. Fashion has changed. Technology has changed. Music has changed.

Or has it? 

For those of you who haven't heard of a band called Postmodern Jukebox, you're missing out. Big time. The concept is simple; take modern songs and redo them with a retro twist. They do everything from Nickleback in Motown style to Iggy Azaleas Fancy in a 20s swing style. It shouldn't work but it really, really does. Founder Scott Bradlee, who also plays the keyboard and guitar in the band, is a genius. Well done, Sir. 

I love listening to PMJ, especially on a Saturday morning whilst making breakfast with my sister. And you won't believe how much it improves the bedroom cleaning process. But when one of my good friends, Tim, asked me if I wanted to go and see them live, I'm not going to lie. I was dubious. I loved the band and listened to them incessantly, but the show was in Camden, I was beyond poor and I wasn't really sure that - dare I say it? - they would be a good band to see live. Quite a few of their numbers are kinda slow and although they have a huge niche fan base, I wasn't sure if the crowd would really be my kind of thing. But Tim, being the trooper that he is, had promised to come and see a Drag show with and so I figured that I owed him one. And what could be the worse thing to happen? I wouldn't have a good time. Whatever. So we brought our tickets, booked a hostel for the night and soon we were getting the coach up to London. 

After a couple of quick drinks at a (really bloody expensive) Wetherspoons, we made our way to Dingwalls, the venue. It turns out that PMJ had actually had such a high demand that they had played another show immediately before the one we were going to see and had allowed themselves a 20 minute or so break. Amazing. One of the band members was outside getting some air and chatting happily to a couple of the fans, calling one over by name which she seemed thrilled about. A lot of people were dressed up in 20s or 50s grab and there was a really cheery atmosphere. Okay, so maybe this wasn't going to be so bad. 

Tim and I managed to get to the very front of the stage (yay) and as soon as the band came on, I knew that it was going to be absolutely amazing. The entire band were so in synch and the singers voices were to die for. The three girls singing, Robyn Adele Anderson, Ashley Stroud and Cristina Gatti each have an individual sound, belting out the songs and really getting the audience involved. When they came together to sing a couple of songs such as Ellie Gouldings Burn, their vocals were out of this world. They sounded freaking beautiful together. 

I fell in love that night. PMJ have a 'tambourine guy', also known as Tim Kubart, who danced wildly around the stage through a number of the songs, waving a tambourine around. Now, I never really thought that there was much skill to playing a tambourine, but I was proved very wrong. When he knelt down and handed me a tambourine to play with him, I'm not going to lie, I considered running away with him. I really did. Anyone who can have so much enthusiasm and energy for the tambourine, jumping around the stage and having the time of his life, has my vote. 

There was also a tap dancer dancing directly in front of us on a small square. Alexander MacDonald is genuinely amazing.Dressed in the old school stuff, complete with braces, he gave everything, adding to the music with his tap dancing. I've always loved tap and to see someone so skilled right in front of me was brilliant. I wouldn't hesitate to run away with him either, to be honest.

Tim (my friend, not tambourine guy) and I were absolutely living the dream. I know his love for Ashley is real and it's deep. The girl cast a spell over him that night that will never be broken. The audience were really loving the music, but none of them seemed to be really dancing. They were throwing their hands in the air and cheering, really getting into it, but just not dancing. Now, I'm a dancer. I don't mean that in the way that I can dance, more that I love dancing. Badly. And so the fact that it didn't seem the 'done' thing to start dancing wildly didn't stop me from... well... dancing wildly. I may have elbowed a couple of people, but it got us a wider space and was so much fun. I loved it. 

After the show was over, the band, despite having to get a coach to Amsterdam or somewhere within the hour, stayed around and chatted to the fans. Tim and I were really lucky to actually be able to meet nearly all of them. Nearly every single one were like, 'hey! You were the guys dancing in the front!" which I'm not sure is a good or a bad thing but they seemed to be pretty happy that Tim and I had so much enthusiasm. Tambourine guy was especially nice, as was Robyn. She told us that we deserved extra time talking to her because of our dancing and that we should have elbowed more people out of the way (this was quickly followed by 'I didn't mean that! I love the fans! I don't wish harm on anyone!!!...*whispered* but elbow them out the way). 

All in all, it was an amazing night and I would really recommend that if you can get tickets, get tickets. You won't be disappointed. It makes for an unusualy night (where else could you hear (and enjoy) someone rapping in Yiddish?!), different from the usual gig that you would go to and I promise you will love every moment. Their music is individual and ridiculously catchy and the members are so humble and welcoming. 

They're touring again around September time and I promised that they would see me and my awful dance moves again. It's a promise I fully intend to fulfil. 

Definitely check out their youtube channel here and their website here. Go go go!

M x  

Tambourine guy, Tim Kubart.

Tap Dancing supreme, Alex MacDonald. 

She was so lovely to talk to and has a voice that has to be heard to be believed, Robyn Adele Anderson. 

Adam Kubota, upright and electric bass player who spent an age talking to us and was hilarious. 

Group founder, arranger, keyboard player and guitarist, Scott Bradlee. 

Three Songs That I Simply Adore

Music is something that really gets me through the day. I know I'm not alone in this and I know so many people that feel the same way about it; we listen when we're down, happy, worried, nervous etc etc etc and we connect memories with songs to the point where a song can change your mood completely simply because of the memory associated with it. So I wanted to give you readers (hello... are you out there? Echo echooo.. echoooo.... echoooooo....) a little list of my five three favourite songs at the moment (this was going to be five but it took so long!! I'll maybe continue this at another time). As I've already discussed in another post, Starman by David Bowie is way up there and would be one of my five if I hadn't blogged about it already so I'm cheating a little but hey who; my blog my rules. 

Side Note: I am so excited that Bowie has a new album out soon! Having an artist that hasn't released anything for 10 years and suddenly releases a song with absolutely no publicity and said song rocket straight to number one really is a testimony to him and I don't think there are many artists that would be able to do that. It just goes to show that the old rockers really do still have 'it' and when you're standard is so high, not even Time can make you fade. Emily, if you're reading this, #yourewrong. 

So, on with the show.

Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty

Released : 1978

I used to think that this song was really quite positive when my Mum used to play it when I was little, but having listened to the lyrics, it's actually not. It's about dreams not turning out how you think they will and it's absolutely beautiful. If nothing else, the saxophone playing is incredible (where have all the good saxophone instrumentals gone?!) and it's just a song that I can - and do - listen to on repeat. Rafferty has a voice that is so soothing and you'll probably recognise him from Stealers Wheel - Stuck in the Middle with You. Clooowns to the left of my, Jooookers to the right, Here I am, Stuck in the middle with youuuu. Ring a bell? It should. Also, fun fact : Gerry Rafferty died on my birthday in 2011 (4th of January). RIP, buddy. 

Memory : This song will forever remind me of my Mum because she used to play it quite a lot when we were cleaning etc and I recently found a mixed CD she made me when I was younger that had it on which ignited my love for it. 

Favourite Lyrics :

You used to think that it was so easy, 

You used to say that it was so easy, 

But you're trying, 

You're trying now. 

Another year and then you'll be happy, 

Just one more year and then you'll be happy, 

But you're crying, 

You're crying now. 

Enola Gay - Orchestral Menouvers in the Dark

Released : 1980

The hook of this song is just amazing and probably my favourite part of it. The entire track oozes 80s with it's synth style and although I love the song, I find it even better when you realise that the it is based completely on history. Quick history lesson : Enola Gay was the name of the plane that dropped the atomic bomb (code name "Little Boy") on Japan in WW2, named after the Mother of the pilot, Paul Tibbets. The song also refers to the fact that it was detonated at 8.15am and I love that everything is brought into a song that is still so catchy even if you don't know the meaning behind it, if not a little weird. So well played OMD. Well played.

Memory : It actually reminds me of the TV series, Ashes to Ashes because that's were I really took note of it. (Alex switches on the radio in Genes office to cover the sound of their conversation about Mac. I mean... whut?)

Favourite Lyrics : 

Enola Gay, 

Is Mother proud of Little Boy today? 

This kiss you give, 

It's never ever gonna fade away.

Somewhere With You - Kenny Chesney  

Released : 2011 

A modern song?! Gasp! Have you ever heard of it? I'm thinking that the chances are slim to nothing. Why? Because it's country music...BARE WITH! 

I know that usually when people hear the words "country music" they instantly go "Errrrr. I'll take a raincheck. No thanks. Sorry, wrong number" but I actually really like country! Especially the modern country that is mixed with more electric guitar than steel guitar. This one is more "mainstream" than a lot of other country music and although Kenny Chesney has a voice that makes it so clear he is wearing a cowboy hat, I still find his voice really beautiful. The song is simply about a past relationship that has broken down and he can't move on because he's still hung up on the girl. It's an age-old tale of someone that hasn't moved on but the whole song has such a catchy tune and I have literally played this on repeat for weeks. 

Memory : I used to be in control of the music in my photography classes and I used to play this one quite a lot because hey, I was in control. Oh, the power!

Favourite lyrics : 

If you see me out on the town, 

And it looks like I'm burning it down,

You won't ask and I won't say, 

But in my heart I'm always somewhere with you. 

Soooo there we go. As I said before, this was going to be a five-song-parter thing but to be honest, it's taken so long! 

I hope you like the songs and are having a good year so far! 

:)

M x 

Christmas Tunes and Freedom

College broke up for Christmas today and words cannot express how happy that makes me. It's getting to the point where I really cannot stand to be in the place and the thought that I finally have some time to myself and don't have to get up at stupid 'o'clock is simply heavenly. There are so many people that I cannot stand to be around and I don't have to see them until next year!  Glorious! 

But anyhoo. This is supposed to be a cheery post full of Christmas joy and Yuletide happiness.

I really am looking forward to Christmas this year. The entire family is going to be home which consists of Mum, Dad, the sister, two brothers and the fiancée of a brother. It's all very exciting even though there will be precisely no room to move.

Here's the Ruddy household crimbo tree. 

Now, when it comes to Christmas shopping (or anything for that matter) I am rubbish. I always have so many ideas except that they never really materialise. I'm one of those people that have the very best of intentions and then never seem to get around to making them happen. Or I manage to get my Crimbo shopping done a week or two before christmas with a relieved sigh that I managed to finish it in reasonable time. But this year I have done precisely.... nothing. Not a single present has been brought or wrapped (which is the best part of Christmas shopping. I love me a good wrapping session) and I'm feeling pretty shame faced. 

Apart from the fact that I haven't brought anything, I have very limited funds to buy anything with. So I'm sorry if you're a member of my family/friend. You won't be getting anything lavish this year. 

But that doesn't matter. Christmas isn't just about the presents and one of the main things that I love about Christmas is the songs. Speaking of which, I  found an absolute gem this year from the Supereme Fabulettes with the video being directed by Boy George. Campness, scorned drag queens and christmas cheer. What more could you possibly want?! 

At my house, the musical selection at christmas isn't just your typical songs that are overly played around this time of year, I love the littler known ones. Stop the Cavalry by Jona Lewis is played and known, but I personally don't think that it's well known enough. It's such a good song and always gets me bobbing along. Jonas voice is so flat and deadpan that it just works even though it probably really really shouldn't. 

One of my all time favourite songs isn't really known at all. Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton is a song from the 80s musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (an incredible film, by the way. Dolly Parton running an old-timey whorehouse? Be still my beating heart) So technically it's not actually a christmas song and it's not the cheeriest of tunes, but it definitely reminds me of christmas and I only hear it at this time of year so to me, it is offically a crimbo tune. It's a slow and beautiful country ditty and Dolly sings it flawlessly. I love it. 

There really are a lack of good christmas tunes being released these days. Gone are the cheesy tunes that everyone pretends that they don't love but then belt out with the best of them. So I say down with cheap X factor covers.  Let us go back to the 80s and whack out some classic tunes that will be played in 30 years. Lets go all Wham! and have our 10's equivalent to Last Christmas.

I hope that you're all enjoying your build up to christmas! And if you're not then there really is no hope for you. Change your name to "Grinch" and go live in a mountain. 

M x