Thursday, 12 May 2016

That's Entertainment : Transvision Vamp


So…today, despite being on a health kick, we took the kids to Maccas after soccer training, which was after swimming lessons, which was after a full day of school.  Not justifying it.  Just saying.  I didn’t really want to be there.  Truly, I didn’t.  The last thing I need is a digestive track filled with Big Mac.  Ok…we do it.  A Big Mac, fries to go…cause honey, I don’t care.

Then, as I sat wistfully in the restaurant garden and wondered why I’m not young anymore, I think I began to pay attention and I found Bros playing When Will I Be Famous on the PA.  Bros!  I texted some pals and it was decided we were old.  Which didn’t really help me but it got me reminiscing.  Bros were out and about when I liked bands like Fine Young Cannibals, Tiffany, The Communards, Debbie Gibson, Roxette and Transvision Vamp.

One thing led to another and I got to thinking about Transvision Vamp’s blonde bombshell vocalist Wendy James, and just how many of her TV Hits posters I had blu-tacked to my boarding school dormitory wall.  Not only did she have platinum blonde hair and raspy vocals, she pouted.  All the time.  Every poster any of us boarders had, Wendy James pouted.  No wonder when the bed sheets were changed, they cracked.  

Their first substantial hit was I Want Your Love which was one of those brassy anthems - great to shout along to at the pub on Friday night.  Great guitar, drumming and propulsive beat.  Sultry, seductive and it probably sold shed loads of 7 inch singles so teenage boys could perv on Wendy James every Saturday and Sunday morning when they watched Rage or Video Hits.  

Ah yes.  

I digress.

Baby I Don’t Care came a couple of years later and was another one of those brassy anthems - great to shout along to at the pub on Friday night.   Great guitar, drumming and propulsive beat.  Sultry, seductive and it probably sold shed loads of 7 inch singles so teenage boys could perv on Wendy James every Saturday and Sunday morning when they watched Rage or Video Hits.  

For some reason, Transvision Vamp were quite popular in Australia.  We took them to our collective bosom.  Even their third album which died around the world sold well here.

(I Just Wanna) B With U dropped in 1991 and wasn't another one of those brassy anthems or great to shout along to songs at the pub on Friday night.  It was still sultry, seductive and it probably sold shed loads of CD singles so teenage boys could perv on Wendy James every Saturday and Sunday morning when they watched Rage or Video Hits.  It hit #16 on the ARIA Chart.  I was 16 when it came out.  You do the math.  

Eventually, people like Tori Spelling and Nicole Eggert were the pull out posters in TV Hits.  Wendy James and her band of boys shuffled off in to obscurity.

But every once in a while, I drop the needle on to Side 1, Track 1 of Velveteen.  That lighting strike blistering guitar intro and banshee scream that revs up Baby I Don’t Care sends shivers up my spine and my mind, like a Delorean, hits 88…or 1989 as the case may be.  

Yep.  I need some alone time with my vinyl.  

Now after me…pout…wail...

No you don’t have to say you love me…baby it’s alrighttttttt.  Cause honey I don’t care.  






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That's Entertainment : Daya


Once in a while I like to flirt…with Channel V.  It keeps me in touch with my inner teen.

And once in a while, Channel V flirts back.  Like it did last summer…when it made my…erm, day-a.

Daya.  

Note down this name.  I’m coming over all Molly Meldrum but I reckon she’ll be the next Taylor Swift.  Everywhere I go - car radio, Westfields, iPod,  Moorebank Hotel trivia night…I’m hearing the synth-fantastic song Hide Away.

The whole thing is AWESOME to the Key of Rad.  Great vocals, heartfelt and smart lyrics, bass, synth…  The whole thing is PERFECT!!! Now I’m not one prone to hyperbole…but in this case, it’s totally justified. And I’m guessing I’m not the only one enamoured here.  

It’s highest peak on any chart, thankfully, has been in Australia, where Hide Away got to #6.  Not bad for a 17 year old looking to buck the trend.  She has an amazing ear for synth pop and beats, as well as breathtaking vocals for someone so young.  And as it got to #6, I’m guessing a few of you already have it on your iPod.  A sad sack audiophile like me, I had to harass the US Target to get the CD release mailed to me (it was released exclusively there). 

Daya also recently featured on The Chaninsmokers single Don’t Let Me Down, which got to #3 a couple of weeks ago, and now she’s released her next single from her debut EP, Sit Still, Look Pretty.

I’m guessing the next thing I’ll be doing is buying a Daya t-shirt.

Ah yes, flirting.  Harmless fun.  Hide Away?  Nah.  Listen to it all night and day-a…


Daya



The Chainsmokers feat. Daya






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Thursday, 5 May 2016

That's Entertainment : Prince


I turned 40 the other day.  It officially made me ‘old’.  Which is cool because I’ve resigned myself to never understanding anyone under the age of say, 30…like…ever…again.  I’m not even going to pretend.  
But as you get older, your childhood heroes start to die.  

Now, I’m not going to bore you about how much better it used to be (well, it was) but as a child of the 80’s, I feel a smug self satisfaction I grew up in an era where pop music exploded on to TV screens.

And in that era, there were three pop stars who basically ‘owned’ the 80’s.  Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince.  Each of them pushed the envelope with their lyrics, sounds, production, artwork, costumes and concert work, and each can truly lay claim to being monolithic in the era.

We lost Wacko Jacko back in 2009.  And two weeks ago, Prince left us too.  It came as enormous shock.  It really did.  

I was on holidays.  Relaxed.  And most mornings, the first thing I do is check the news on my phone.  The headline: Prince Dead.  Cripes I thought.  Charles…William…Harry…?  No.  Just Prince.

Now, I’ll be honest.  After Prince had secured his ‘freedom’ from Warners in the mid-1990’s, the chart hits dried up. He lost the million dollar film clips and promotional clout of a major label able to splash him on music tv and across radio.  So to say I’d heard anything recently would be a fib.

But I’d always admired Prince for having taken on the record industry.  I admired how, once he won, he remained as prolific as ever.  And I loved how he was an early adopter in the late 1990’s, embracing the internet, reaching out to his fan base by offering them connection with him and his art.  He remained an enigma AND one of the biggest touring acts in the world, who sold his music directly and exclusively to his fans, using the record companies if and when he needed to and how he saw fit.  He knew he couldn’t make music make him money by selling it, so he made it and toured it, giving punters exactly what they wanted.  And he reaped the rewards.  He had control of his destiny and his output. Considering this was a man who was a HUGE pop rock star, and had walked around with SLAVE daubed on his face, this must have been satisfying for him.  Later, in the digital age, he remained vigilant, not allowing anyone to use his material without permission. He had YouTube swept daily to remove ALL music and film clips of his from the website.  He was staunchly protective of his work, and fair enough too.  If you fight hard enough to earn a living and create something, you have every right to stop people using it as they wish.

As an artist, let’s not forget, Prince meshed pop, rock, soul, new wave, funk, punk, metal licks, r’n’b, rap, and jazz to create ground breaking music.  He was a fashion icon, looking suave and sophisticated - have you ever seen a picture of him in jeans, t-shirt and sneakers?  The man oozed sex appeal, but from all accounts, he was a deeply spiritual man.  He fused sex and religion in to a body of work that was so diverse he could never be pigeon holed.  He collaborated with many musicians and wrote songs for other people, making them bona fide hits (The Bangles - Manic Monday; Sinead O’Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U).  He was so prolific, he would write a song, grow bored of it a few minutes later, write something else.  If rumours are to be believed, he has 1000’s of unreleased songs in the vault. So many, he could release a studio album a year for the next 100 years.  

As a performer, he put on 3-4 hour shows, giving it his all.  When in a new town, he’d finish his gig, go to a local club and find a bar or jazz band, and ask if he could join in and jam.  Not as a star, but just as one of the band.  Growing up in a musical household, he possessed a huge vocal range and was a multi instrumentalist who would often play guitar, bass, piano, drums on tracks (despite video clips showing backing bands).  On his debut LP, he played 27 different instruments.

Oh and the sex appeal?  Well, let’s just say Prince didn’t shy away from saucy lyrics.  Cream?  Gett Off anyone?  Without Prince, I would never have known there were 22 positions in a one night stand.   In 1985, Tipper Gore and the PMRC were encouraged in part by Prince’s sexy lyrics to Darling Nikki on Purple Rain, to introduce the Parental Advisory stickers that go on albums now.  

And did I forget to mention he was an actor?  Purple Rain, Under The Cherry Moon and Graffiti Bridge.  You should watch them. 

A good friend of mine saw Prince back in February.  She says he was still amazing; playing and singing at the top of his game.  And ironically, after all was said and done, Prince had apparently made peace with Warners and was preparing to remaster all his albums for re-release.  Here’s hoping it still goes ahead.

Even when he died, Alex knew because of Raspberry Beret and Batdance - two of his fave songs.  Although, watching I Wanna Be Your Lover, he did ask if Prince was a boy or a girl.  LOL!

In closing, Prince's party anthem 1999, was released in 1982.  Then, 1999 was 17 years in the future.  Now, it’s 17 years in the past.  In that time, Prince had a giant career.  It spanned decades and was punctuated with dozens of songs that are radio and party staples.  When all is said and done, Prince really did make the best of his time on this dirt ball.  Life won’t quite be the same without him.  So many artists today owe him a massive debt of gratitude.  He strutted like a giant and walked the walk, fought the fight and in the words of 2016's other music loss, David Bowie... boy could he play guitar.  

So as I finish writing, with a lump in my throat, I find my (ageing) self singing…

My name is Prince and I am funky!!!  My name is Prince, the one and only!!!  I did not come 2 funk around!!!

RIP Prince.


In honour of Prince, who doesn’t allow his songs on YouTube, I’ve put together a list of hit singles you really need to have on your I-pod.  His Hits and B Sides Triple-disc set is a perfect beginning.  The other couple of best of albums The Very Best Of and Ultimate are worth having, just for a couple of songs left off the 3 disc set.  And of course Batdance!  After 1995…you’re on your own.  Let’s go crazy!

  • I Wanna Be Your Lover
  • Little Red Corvette
  • Let’s Go Crazy
  • Purple Rain
  • Raspberry Beret
  • Pop Life
  • Kiss
  • Sign O The Times
  • Batdance
  • Thieves In The Temple
  • Cream
  • Gett Off 
  • 7
  • Peach
  • The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
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