Mylene wearing her hair in tribute to Rolando; Jimmy displays his wonderful attitude again; Darius, international man of language.
Kym up first, singing Habanera and wearing a lacy bedspread. No, it's lovely, really. She's flirting - I get why the bedspread now. She became saucier as she went along, the last part was steamy. She's done it again, a deserved standation. There's a woman in the family enclosure all stoney faced and not clapping! Bad form, what? I didn't notice the wrong words, neither did Meat Loaf, lol! Rolando just, well, see the quotes, ha ha. Afterwards she said: "It’s difficult because I’m so busy and I’d love to be able to spend more time on the songs. I got a few words wrong but I did my best.”
Laurence Llewellyn Bowen said: “That was Kym playing the joker as far as I’m concerned. That was your pitch for the top spot, I thought it was wonderful but I’m a mere man and I’m a push over for a woman with a fan. But that’s really Katherine’s opera song, so it’s really Katherine that you’ve got to impress.”
Katherine said: “I loved the performance, I really did, in fact I might have to steal that fan, but you did get some of the words wrong and you could have been more sexy in the performance, the music could have been more sexy.”
Meat Loaf said: “lt worked for me, I’ll tell you what, that was like sex. Forty-five seconds of pure ecstasy.”
Alan replied: “We really must get you out more.”
Rolando said: “Acting and singing are quite different and it’s difficult and the voice wasn’t always there, the character was in and out, in and out.” *add that last bit to Meat Loaf's comment and you understand the hilarity!
Next to perform was Jimmy Osmond with Amor Ti Vieta He's eating, drinking, sleeping opera, crikey they've set me off now, his best yet, he makes everyone smile ... and cry.Afterwards he said: "I just got through it. What a beautiful experience it’s been this week to uncover emotions. Everyone should go to the opera.”
A dewy-eyed Katherine said: “I think this has been a turning point for you, it’s the first week where you’ve had a proper aria and it’s forced you to sing in an opera style and something clicked, I hope you preferred it because I enjoyed that.”
Rolando: “It was very, very touching. Technically there is so much to work on but the one thing an opera singer should never lose, and you didn’t, and that is the connection with the emotion and that is fantastic.”
Marcella is given Queen of the Night. Goodness! Or, WTF as Marcella put it! The Magic Flute song with the very high very quick notes, she's looks fabulous in a stunning blue floor length gown and hair extensions, the set is amazing, plenty of character, awesome performance. Afterwards she said she was glad to have her husband and son in the audience.
Meat Loaf said: “That was difficult but I’m going to quote Shakespeare and say, ‘Call out the dogs of war.’”
Rolando said: “That was a challenge and, technically, the most difficult thing to sing, but I have to say, yes, yes, yes.”
Laurence said: “I’m agreeing with Lord Meat of Loaf, wonderful, absolutely wonderful.”
Katherine said: “Who’d have thought anyone would be able to sing this song in this competition, let alone in the third week and, character wise, I would not mess with you.”
Danny has Time to Say Goodbye - I love this song! Tips from Russell Watson but he's taken Danny's phonetic phrase book away. Hope he gets it back - wobbly start, became stronger, went for it big time though!
Danny said: “I think it was a tough one but I did my best. It was nerve wracking but nerves are no excuse.”
Katherine: “Sometimes you haven’t had the energy levels but you found the energy and came out with some guts but I know you can do better.”
Rolando said: “I have good and bad news. The bad news is that technically you were struggling all week and it was sometimes too much pop, but the good news is you were nervous and you were still big on stage and that says a lot.”
Laurence said: “I’m a huge fan of your voice and of most of your performances but that was B side - you didn’t engage with it in the same way but, as Rolando said, you fought so hard to make something of it and I’m extremely grateful.”
Darius has Granada, I know this, I do ... what is it ...ah, this is going to wind me up - it's an advert isn't it? Is it? Or is it something I know in English. That's Amore? Is that it? Another strong overall performance from him. Afterwards he said :“I salute the mentors and opera singers who spend their lives learning to sing like this. This is a dream come true for me.”
Meat Loaf said: “I believe that you love Granada and if you were selling real estate there I’d buy one from you.”
Katherine said: “This is a completely different – what was all the fuss about this week? I don’t understand. You even did a little twiddle that I didn’t hear in rehearsal. It was brilliant.”
Rolando said: “You surprised everybody and improved to grow in the performance. Your Spanish is better than your French. Thank you very much, it was a beautiful act, thank you.”
Laurence said: “There was a great bit where sounded like you’d been gargling women. It was a great performance, a very great performance, some wonderful noises there.”
Finally, Bernie with Voi Che Sapete, singing as a teenage boy! Gary from DOI helps with character. In a tough week, Bernie wins my vote again - stunning. She's got the vocal, but also captures the emotion and is animated throughout, watchable and well as listenable. Afterwards she said: "I would love to continue singing like this and I really hope we’re bringing this to wider audience.”
Katherine said: “It was outstanding Bernie, honestly. What I love is that when we gave you this song you didn’t know it and I’m not sure you liked it, but you attacked it and you came out here and gave a marvellous performance.”
Rolando said: “I was very impressed, really. What you sang last week compared to this, it’s a different world. It was really believable and I enjoyed it immensely.”
Meat Loaf said: “Peter Pan don’t ever grow up, don’t ever grow up, don’t ever grow up.”
The girls outsang the boys tonight, I think they'll all be safe and it'll be a boy going! Not much time to vote is there? Rolando takes the stage; they make him bring it back, he has to sing ... his eyebrows have a life of their own, don't they? Mesmerising. (The voice, not the eyebrows!) Here we go: Safe - Marcella; Kym;Darius; Bernie. Jimmy v Danny, tough for the panel. Or maybe not - it's unanimous for Danny! Jimmy said: He said: "My opera dreams have just begun. What a blast and now I get to go home and see my beautiful wife and kids, that's opera for me. It's empowering and exciting and I have fallen in love with everyone in this contest."
Down to just five! Same time next week, 9pm ITV1 on Friday, see you then :-)
Friday, 29 January 2010
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Sports Day
Shelley Rudman claimed a Bronze in the Skeleton European Championships, which secured her the runner up spot in the overall World Cup, keeping up her impressive form in the run up to the Olympics.
Speed Skaters Elise Christie and Jon Eley won silvers in the 1500m and 500m respectively, at the European Championships in Germany, with a bronze for the men’s relay team in the 5000m.
Sailors Ian Percy and Andrew Simpson have added the World Title to their Olympic one!
Paralympian Sean Rose takes downhill World Cup Gold in Sestriere, becoming the first Briton ever to do so.
Greg Harlow won the World Indoor Bowls title.
Disabled sailor, Geoff Holt, has become the first quadriplegic to sail solo across the Atlantic.
Speed Skaters Elise Christie and Jon Eley won silvers in the 1500m and 500m respectively, at the European Championships in Germany, with a bronze for the men’s relay team in the 5000m.
Sailors Ian Percy and Andrew Simpson have added the World Title to their Olympic one!
Paralympian Sean Rose takes downhill World Cup Gold in Sestriere, becoming the first Briton ever to do so.
Greg Harlow won the World Indoor Bowls title.
Disabled sailor, Geoff Holt, has become the first quadriplegic to sail solo across the Atlantic.
Friday, 22 January 2010
PopStar To OperaStar
Rolando's looking for "Chaka Chaka" in the performances tonight. Should be interesting - an opera version of I'm Every Woman!
Darius, singing a Spanish song in French - he's feasting on ass at the moment, as Katherine and Rolando argue (very genteely) over pronunciation; Dave Arch is cracking up. Confident, real stage presence, who'd have thought, he's come a long way since that Britney classic hasn't he! The song: Votre Toast from Carmen. He said: “It was the most wonderful, wonderful experience working with Rolando and Katherine and you have to learn to sing in French with Italian overtones and a different vocal but it’s such a privilege…it’s a singers dream, I’m really enjoying it.” Rolando said: “You gave energy to your performance…but the French, aye aye aye, there was a moment when you wobbled.” But Laurence Llewelyn Bowen liked the performance and said: “l think we can out you as secret matador.” Afterwards Darius said: “I was confused by the different directions, I must admit.”
Kym has the drinking song, ideal for barmaid Michelle! But she hasn't had much time - on stage though, it's a mini production. I know nothing about opera, obviously, but I thought she was brilliant! Staggered actually, wasn't expecting that! The official song title: Brindisi/Libiamo Ne’lieti Calici. Afterwards she said: “I find it really hard. I’m tired, working and I have my children. It’s harder then I thought it would be, it’s so difficult.” Katherine Jenkins said: “There is such a massive improvement on last week, that was just wonderful. I think when you have a setting and your character, you’ve got into it and with it being a drinking scene you can use your character. You tend to go flat but didn’t do that this week, but I’d still like to make it stronger next week.” Meat Loaf said: “I think you have a real problem and that is that you’re going to be invited to every party in London from now on.” Laurence Llewelyn Bowen said: “It was sophisticated and very sensible. The song is about requiring money from gentlemen callers to go upstairs for fun, but you made it elegant and sexy.”
Danny has a beautiful but tragic song, Caruso, showing his serious side, even with the tongue tied Italian, terrific performance, very emotional, I loved it, his mum's crying and Katherine swooned! He said: “Oh my God, I’m so happy it’s over. I nearly cried, especially with my mum sat there.” Rolando said: “I have to say that Danny worked very hard and had real concentration. It was a dangerous piece for him because he could bring his pop voice out but he really kept his opera voice.” Laurence said: “It was an incredibly mature performance. It would have been absolutely so easy for pop Danny to come out and play but you kept him back. It was fabulous.” Meat Loaf said: “I applaud you, son, you were there, every moment. That was love song and I believed every moment that you sang.” Katherine simply said: “I have one word, swoon.”
Marcella had Un Bel Di Vedrimo from Madame Butterfly, dramatic and emotional, terrified but not crying. She's very hard on herself, a great job, didn't quite get the raw emotion. She said: “I can’t remember how I felt, I was definitely struggling. There’s so much to think about. I didn’t really connect as much as I wanted, it’s the old story about the nerves.” Katherine said: “I think you are far too hard on yourself. You, by far, have got the hardest song this week, and last week, but you come in and work really hard and, technically, everything we asked you did, it was outstanding.” Meat Loaf said: “She was singing about a lover coming back across the seas and if I was him I’d have been swimming to you darling and I want you to know, God willing, and the creek don’t rise, you’ll be back next week.” Rolando was not so impressed and said: “You tried to get the emotion but when a technical part arises you can’t connect the emotion and we didn’t hear that extra magic moment we had in the rehearsal room, but, as Katherine said, it was an incredibly difficult piece.” Laurence agreed and said: “The butterfly was clear for takeoff and I was worried it wouldn’t leave the runway, but, on the plus side, you’ve pulled Meat Loaf.”
Vanessa and there's still no let up in The Saturdays schedule, so she suffered again this week, still breathy - don't think it will do her any favours, the song not being something in Italian we've never heard of - Summertime in English and I'm thinking, I prefer Ella. She said: “I am a little torn but I am still putting 100 per cent into this and I do want to be here.” Rolando said: “Well, you know, one thing is to say you want to put 100 per cent into something, the other thing is to work like that and perform like that - you did it.” Katherine said: “That was a really good performance, but, in fairness, quite an easy song. It’s in English and so not as complicated and I think you got away with it. But, if it was more difficult, it would have been more worrying.” Laurence said: “There’s a fragility to your tone that I find endearing, but, what I would suggest, is that you run because Rolando is going to bag you up and make sure you make it to rehearsals.” Meat Loaf said: “I have to disagree with Katherine, it is an easy song but it’s also hard because it’s English and so well known and everyone has heard it, so to come out here and to nail it, the audience knows when you’ve nailed it, but in French they wouldn’t have an idea and I think you did very, very well.”
Bernie's got the Love Theme from The Godfather, Parla Piu Piano, she's going for a big note at the end "Oh, S***" she says. "Where's it say that?" says Rolando! Passionate, it's a Wow - she nailed it, I'm actually welling up, there's a standation in the audience I think. From a batch of excellent, moving performances, she just nicked a vote from me. And not just because there's a chance we're related. A Chaka Chaka performance! And not a Rufus in sight (just a private little 80's soul joke there!) She said: “I was so, so nervous.” Katherine said: “That ending blew everyone away, I wished I had that note. It was so beautiful, you were so into the passion of it. You were slightly ahead of the orchestra but I’m going to forget that because it was brilliant.”
Meat Loaf said: “Hit men all over the world are in tears now, sweetheart, you killed it.”
Laurence said: “It is incredible to hear the noises you make so and even though you were running fast, it gave it added energy.” Rolando said: “You took breathes in strange places, but that’s what I call a chacka chacka performance.”
Jimmy sings Volare, a flirty song, he'll sing to the missus. Had a lot of fun with it. He said: “I blew the words but I had so much fun. If I’ve gotta go, what a way to go. It was do much fun. What a great song, what a great opportunity. I’m still working on it.” Rolando agreed and said: “You said it, the words were not there. I think this is the problem of pop singers, your voice was tired it was not there, you were struggling, but you tried very hard and when your voice is tired there’s nothing else you can do.” Meat Loaf said: “Jimmy in the middle of the stage you did something with your hand and it was sexy dude.” Laurence said: “Last week the song was ice cream, this week I thought it was a little bit of cheese, very nice and lovely but next week let’s have opera.”
Katherine shows them all how it should be done, seemingly so effortless and a jolly song! Well, it was! Lots of tra la la ing.
Decision time: Safe are Darius - Danny - Bernie - Kym - Marcella. It's Jimmy v Vanessa.
Meat Loaf and Katherine chose to save Jimmy, with Katherine saying: “Vanessa has the God given voice, but, Jimmy, you come in here every week prepared, so I have to save Jimmy.”
Laurence and Rolando chose to save Vanessa, so the decision went back to the public voting figures and Vanessa was announced as having the least amount of votes and therefore left the competition.
She said: “I feel like gave it my all and I just want to thank everyone who voted.”
Down to six! Same time next week: 9pm, ITV1.
Darius, singing a Spanish song in French - he's feasting on ass at the moment, as Katherine and Rolando argue (very genteely) over pronunciation; Dave Arch is cracking up. Confident, real stage presence, who'd have thought, he's come a long way since that Britney classic hasn't he! The song: Votre Toast from Carmen. He said: “It was the most wonderful, wonderful experience working with Rolando and Katherine and you have to learn to sing in French with Italian overtones and a different vocal but it’s such a privilege…it’s a singers dream, I’m really enjoying it.” Rolando said: “You gave energy to your performance…but the French, aye aye aye, there was a moment when you wobbled.” But Laurence Llewelyn Bowen liked the performance and said: “l think we can out you as secret matador.” Afterwards Darius said: “I was confused by the different directions, I must admit.”
Kym has the drinking song, ideal for barmaid Michelle! But she hasn't had much time - on stage though, it's a mini production. I know nothing about opera, obviously, but I thought she was brilliant! Staggered actually, wasn't expecting that! The official song title: Brindisi/Libiamo Ne’lieti Calici. Afterwards she said: “I find it really hard. I’m tired, working and I have my children. It’s harder then I thought it would be, it’s so difficult.” Katherine Jenkins said: “There is such a massive improvement on last week, that was just wonderful. I think when you have a setting and your character, you’ve got into it and with it being a drinking scene you can use your character. You tend to go flat but didn’t do that this week, but I’d still like to make it stronger next week.” Meat Loaf said: “I think you have a real problem and that is that you’re going to be invited to every party in London from now on.” Laurence Llewelyn Bowen said: “It was sophisticated and very sensible. The song is about requiring money from gentlemen callers to go upstairs for fun, but you made it elegant and sexy.”
Danny has a beautiful but tragic song, Caruso, showing his serious side, even with the tongue tied Italian, terrific performance, very emotional, I loved it, his mum's crying and Katherine swooned! He said: “Oh my God, I’m so happy it’s over. I nearly cried, especially with my mum sat there.” Rolando said: “I have to say that Danny worked very hard and had real concentration. It was a dangerous piece for him because he could bring his pop voice out but he really kept his opera voice.” Laurence said: “It was an incredibly mature performance. It would have been absolutely so easy for pop Danny to come out and play but you kept him back. It was fabulous.” Meat Loaf said: “I applaud you, son, you were there, every moment. That was love song and I believed every moment that you sang.” Katherine simply said: “I have one word, swoon.”
Marcella had Un Bel Di Vedrimo from Madame Butterfly, dramatic and emotional, terrified but not crying. She's very hard on herself, a great job, didn't quite get the raw emotion. She said: “I can’t remember how I felt, I was definitely struggling. There’s so much to think about. I didn’t really connect as much as I wanted, it’s the old story about the nerves.” Katherine said: “I think you are far too hard on yourself. You, by far, have got the hardest song this week, and last week, but you come in and work really hard and, technically, everything we asked you did, it was outstanding.” Meat Loaf said: “She was singing about a lover coming back across the seas and if I was him I’d have been swimming to you darling and I want you to know, God willing, and the creek don’t rise, you’ll be back next week.” Rolando was not so impressed and said: “You tried to get the emotion but when a technical part arises you can’t connect the emotion and we didn’t hear that extra magic moment we had in the rehearsal room, but, as Katherine said, it was an incredibly difficult piece.” Laurence agreed and said: “The butterfly was clear for takeoff and I was worried it wouldn’t leave the runway, but, on the plus side, you’ve pulled Meat Loaf.”
Vanessa and there's still no let up in The Saturdays schedule, so she suffered again this week, still breathy - don't think it will do her any favours, the song not being something in Italian we've never heard of - Summertime in English and I'm thinking, I prefer Ella. She said: “I am a little torn but I am still putting 100 per cent into this and I do want to be here.” Rolando said: “Well, you know, one thing is to say you want to put 100 per cent into something, the other thing is to work like that and perform like that - you did it.” Katherine said: “That was a really good performance, but, in fairness, quite an easy song. It’s in English and so not as complicated and I think you got away with it. But, if it was more difficult, it would have been more worrying.” Laurence said: “There’s a fragility to your tone that I find endearing, but, what I would suggest, is that you run because Rolando is going to bag you up and make sure you make it to rehearsals.” Meat Loaf said: “I have to disagree with Katherine, it is an easy song but it’s also hard because it’s English and so well known and everyone has heard it, so to come out here and to nail it, the audience knows when you’ve nailed it, but in French they wouldn’t have an idea and I think you did very, very well.”
Bernie's got the Love Theme from The Godfather, Parla Piu Piano, she's going for a big note at the end "Oh, S***" she says. "Where's it say that?" says Rolando! Passionate, it's a Wow - she nailed it, I'm actually welling up, there's a standation in the audience I think. From a batch of excellent, moving performances, she just nicked a vote from me. And not just because there's a chance we're related. A Chaka Chaka performance! And not a Rufus in sight (just a private little 80's soul joke there!) She said: “I was so, so nervous.” Katherine said: “That ending blew everyone away, I wished I had that note. It was so beautiful, you were so into the passion of it. You were slightly ahead of the orchestra but I’m going to forget that because it was brilliant.”
Meat Loaf said: “Hit men all over the world are in tears now, sweetheart, you killed it.”
Laurence said: “It is incredible to hear the noises you make so and even though you were running fast, it gave it added energy.” Rolando said: “You took breathes in strange places, but that’s what I call a chacka chacka performance.”
Jimmy sings Volare, a flirty song, he'll sing to the missus. Had a lot of fun with it. He said: “I blew the words but I had so much fun. If I’ve gotta go, what a way to go. It was do much fun. What a great song, what a great opportunity. I’m still working on it.” Rolando agreed and said: “You said it, the words were not there. I think this is the problem of pop singers, your voice was tired it was not there, you were struggling, but you tried very hard and when your voice is tired there’s nothing else you can do.” Meat Loaf said: “Jimmy in the middle of the stage you did something with your hand and it was sexy dude.” Laurence said: “Last week the song was ice cream, this week I thought it was a little bit of cheese, very nice and lovely but next week let’s have opera.”
Katherine shows them all how it should be done, seemingly so effortless and a jolly song! Well, it was! Lots of tra la la ing.
Decision time: Safe are Darius - Danny - Bernie - Kym - Marcella. It's Jimmy v Vanessa.
Meat Loaf and Katherine chose to save Jimmy, with Katherine saying: “Vanessa has the God given voice, but, Jimmy, you come in here every week prepared, so I have to save Jimmy.”
Laurence and Rolando chose to save Vanessa, so the decision went back to the public voting figures and Vanessa was announced as having the least amount of votes and therefore left the competition.
She said: “I feel like gave it my all and I just want to thank everyone who voted.”
Down to six! Same time next week: 9pm, ITV1.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Hint: In Strictest Confidence
Swearing upon the bible, the doctor convinced others but not herself. The eyes of the dead man’s daughter impressed their will upon her; she fought them and won.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Rise to the Challenge: Sport Relief Weekend
Hot off the press ... or rather, the email alert!
It all kicks off on Friday 19th March with a day of fundraising fun at home, at work and at school, before a night of special Sport Relief telly on BBC One, packed full of celebrity performances and moving documentary films.
Then, of course, there's The Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile on Sunday 21st March, where hundreds of thousands of people will take to the streets to raise money and change lives. You'll be able to see all the action on The Sport Relief Mile Show on BBC One later that day.
The best bit is, all the cash you raise will be spent by Comic Relief to help people living unimaginably tough lives, both in the UK and across the world.
Then, of course, there's The Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile on Sunday 21st March, where hundreds of thousands of people will take to the streets to raise money and change lives. You'll be able to see all the action on The Sport Relief Mile Show on BBC One later that day.
The best bit is, all the cash you raise will be spent by Comic Relief to help people living unimaginably tough lives, both in the UK and across the world.
And, after last week's truly devastating earthquake that hit Haiti last week, which shocked and saddened us all, we'll ensure that some of the Sport Relief cash you raise will help to rebuild the lives of those most affected.
Whether it's to support poor and disadvantaged people at home, or further afield, with loads of ways for you to get involved in Sport Relief 2010, we hope you'll do just that.
Registration is open for the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile as we gear up for a weekend of fun and games on aorund 19-21 March. Find your local mile here.
Friday, 15 January 2010
PopStar to OperaStar
I tuned into this out of curiosity, thinking it might be a bit car crash ... how wrong could I be? The show is an absolute delight - the popstars enjoyed every second, ergo, so did we - the panel (Meat Loaf, Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, Katherine Jenkins and Rolando Villazon) are all so totally different and compliment each other perfectly - the presenters are probably two of the nicest we possess - Alan Titchmarsh and Mylene Klass - Katherine and Rolando strike the perfect balance in mentoring the popstars - a very warm hearted show. I'll be tuning in (see what I did there?) again next week, Friday, ITV1! Here's the stats:
After a mere seven weeks of training and rehearsing, eight popstars have taken to the stage for their first performance in front of a live studio audience.
Performing to mentors Katherine Jenkins and Rolando Villazon as well as critics Meat Loaf and Laurence Llewellyn Bowen the popstars sang accompanied by a live orchestra.
Jimmy Osmond was first up singing O Sole Mio. After singing he received a standing ovation and said “It’s been so much fun.”
Meat Loaf said “Jimmy, that dog was hungry. You’re Jimmy os-solo mio!”
Katherine said “I loved that. I’m so pleased. There are still some things we need to work on, still a bit of Italian and you need to sing through your phrases. You start in your opera voice and finish in your pop voice but I loved it.”
Rolando said “You did a great job. Sometimes you uncover your sounds but most of the time you were covering the voice which is why you were able to sing the high notes.”
Laurence joked (referring to the song’s use in a famous ice cream advert) “If nothing else you’ve sold millions of tonnes of ice cream. I’d stop you and buy one!”
Next to perform was Kym Marsh singing Si Un Jour in a stunning silver dress. Greeted afterwards by her ex band mate host Myleene Klass she said “It was great. An amazing feeling. The orchestra are fantastic.”
Katherine said “I loved your performance and your interpretation. I know you’ve been ill but I thought you did really well.”
Laurence said “I loved the way you trickled down that staircase. I think the nerves got to the French but I don’t care. We won the Battle of Waterloo anyway.”
Next to perform was Alex James who sang Largo Al Factotum. Afterwards he said “My heart is beating.”
Rolando said “That was as far as opera singing can be but I saw you from the beginning and you have to enjoy the performance and you obviously did and the audience enjoyed it and that is also opera.”
Meat Loaf said “That was like watching two women kissing in the subway. That was the best opera by a bass layer in the world.”
Laurence said “You are such a scamp. I don’t know that Rossini envisaged that being done in the style of Dennis The Menace.”
Next up was Marcella Detroit singing Casta Diva. After her performance she said “I felt nervous. Sometimes it inhibits me. I don’t need anyone to tell me how bad I am.”
Laurence said “That is the holy grail of divadom. You were nervous but when you brought in the heavy artillery it exploded.”
Katherine said “The think about your voice, the top notes are just stunning and I feel relaxed listening to them. I do worry about the low notes. You need to support them a bit more.”
Meat Loaf said “That song is a prayer and darling your prayers were answered. Hallelujah!”
Next to sing was Danny Jones who sang La Donna e Mobile . It’s an honour and it was amazing and I enjoyed myself. I tried to be relaxed about it. It was hard but amazing.”
Rolando said “You tried to be relaxed and that’s not bad. I think you started a bit weak because you were nervous but you started to be confident and that is why you were able with the energy of this audience to sing from beginning to end.”
Laurence said “A rocky start but by the end you were the playboy Duke of Mantua.”
Meat Loaf said “All of these beautiful young ladies. You gave them a kiss. Commit to that kiss!!”
Vanessa White from The Saturdays was next to sing the classic O Mio Babbino Caro. After singing – and reducing her bandmates to tears - she said “I’m so nervous but I’ve got the girls here. It was so much fun but I was so nervous.”
Katherine said “The thing is about this aria is its really long phrases and you have to have the breath and control to get to the end of the lines. You did it better in the sessions. But your voice is beautiful and we can work on that. Well done.”
Rolando said “The reason you need to take more breaths is that you don’t concentrate on the sounds in the lower notes. When you sing the high notes you sound really beautiful. We need to work on concentrating that sound in the middle.”
Next up was Darius Campbell singing Nessun Dorma. He said “I didn’t know a week ago if I could sing this. I have to thank the mentors. Being a bass baritone I didn’t know if I could do it.”
Meat Loaf said “Dude you were locked in. He was so focused and locked in. It was about this!”
Rolando said “I have to say it’s not easy in a short period of time to work with hall these things like covering and placing your voice. Without a microphone we wouldn’t have been able to hear the first few notes in a theatre. It’s important to raise your voice.”
And finally Bernie Nolan sang Nuit D’Amour in a sparkling black dress. She said “I was nervous but towards the middle and end I started to enjoy it. I didn’t realise until this very moment how I felt about my mum.”
Katherine said “I thought you did so well. I think you’ve got a lovely voice. There were a few problems with the breathing but I think it must have been the nerves because in the sessions you did it really well.”
Laurence said “One of my favourite performances of the evening. It was like a huge embroidered shawl that you just wrap yourself in.”
Rolando “I think you were thinking about everything we have worked on. That’s what’s needed and why you got through the performance. You have been a very hard worker and I was very happy with your performance.”
Meat Loaf said “You were a lady in Venice and you were singing to the sky. I will be your sky darling.”
After all of the popstars had sung, guest classical singer Camilla Kerslake performed alongside Gary Barlow who was playing the piano.
No one wanted to be the first to go but it was Alex and Vanessa who found themselves in the bottom with the lowest number of votes from the public. The panel were divided after Rolando and Katherine chose to save Vanessa and Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and Meat Loaf chose to save Alex, with Meat Loaf saying: “You know what? I’m staying with roots, I’m staying with the low end, I’m saying Alex.”
As the panel failed to reach a unanimous decision, the choice went back to the public vote and Vanessa was announced as having the most votes out of the two and therefore stayed in the competition.
Asked about his dreams of winning, Alex said: “Dashed. It was great, what a blast thank you very much. I enjoyed every minute and I’ll never stop singing.”
After a mere seven weeks of training and rehearsing, eight popstars have taken to the stage for their first performance in front of a live studio audience.
Performing to mentors Katherine Jenkins and Rolando Villazon as well as critics Meat Loaf and Laurence Llewellyn Bowen the popstars sang accompanied by a live orchestra.
Jimmy Osmond was first up singing O Sole Mio. After singing he received a standing ovation and said “It’s been so much fun.”
Meat Loaf said “Jimmy, that dog was hungry. You’re Jimmy os-solo mio!”
Katherine said “I loved that. I’m so pleased. There are still some things we need to work on, still a bit of Italian and you need to sing through your phrases. You start in your opera voice and finish in your pop voice but I loved it.”
Rolando said “You did a great job. Sometimes you uncover your sounds but most of the time you were covering the voice which is why you were able to sing the high notes.”
Laurence joked (referring to the song’s use in a famous ice cream advert) “If nothing else you’ve sold millions of tonnes of ice cream. I’d stop you and buy one!”
Next to perform was Kym Marsh singing Si Un Jour in a stunning silver dress. Greeted afterwards by her ex band mate host Myleene Klass she said “It was great. An amazing feeling. The orchestra are fantastic.”
Katherine said “I loved your performance and your interpretation. I know you’ve been ill but I thought you did really well.”
Laurence said “I loved the way you trickled down that staircase. I think the nerves got to the French but I don’t care. We won the Battle of Waterloo anyway.”
Next to perform was Alex James who sang Largo Al Factotum. Afterwards he said “My heart is beating.”
Rolando said “That was as far as opera singing can be but I saw you from the beginning and you have to enjoy the performance and you obviously did and the audience enjoyed it and that is also opera.”
Meat Loaf said “That was like watching two women kissing in the subway. That was the best opera by a bass layer in the world.”
Laurence said “You are such a scamp. I don’t know that Rossini envisaged that being done in the style of Dennis The Menace.”
Next up was Marcella Detroit singing Casta Diva. After her performance she said “I felt nervous. Sometimes it inhibits me. I don’t need anyone to tell me how bad I am.”
Laurence said “That is the holy grail of divadom. You were nervous but when you brought in the heavy artillery it exploded.”
Katherine said “The think about your voice, the top notes are just stunning and I feel relaxed listening to them. I do worry about the low notes. You need to support them a bit more.”
Meat Loaf said “That song is a prayer and darling your prayers were answered. Hallelujah!”
Next to sing was Danny Jones who sang La Donna e Mobile . It’s an honour and it was amazing and I enjoyed myself. I tried to be relaxed about it. It was hard but amazing.”
Rolando said “You tried to be relaxed and that’s not bad. I think you started a bit weak because you were nervous but you started to be confident and that is why you were able with the energy of this audience to sing from beginning to end.”
Laurence said “A rocky start but by the end you were the playboy Duke of Mantua.”
Meat Loaf said “All of these beautiful young ladies. You gave them a kiss. Commit to that kiss!!”
Vanessa White from The Saturdays was next to sing the classic O Mio Babbino Caro. After singing – and reducing her bandmates to tears - she said “I’m so nervous but I’ve got the girls here. It was so much fun but I was so nervous.”
Katherine said “The thing is about this aria is its really long phrases and you have to have the breath and control to get to the end of the lines. You did it better in the sessions. But your voice is beautiful and we can work on that. Well done.”
Rolando said “The reason you need to take more breaths is that you don’t concentrate on the sounds in the lower notes. When you sing the high notes you sound really beautiful. We need to work on concentrating that sound in the middle.”
Next up was Darius Campbell singing Nessun Dorma. He said “I didn’t know a week ago if I could sing this. I have to thank the mentors. Being a bass baritone I didn’t know if I could do it.”
Meat Loaf said “Dude you were locked in. He was so focused and locked in. It was about this!”
Rolando said “I have to say it’s not easy in a short period of time to work with hall these things like covering and placing your voice. Without a microphone we wouldn’t have been able to hear the first few notes in a theatre. It’s important to raise your voice.”
And finally Bernie Nolan sang Nuit D’Amour in a sparkling black dress. She said “I was nervous but towards the middle and end I started to enjoy it. I didn’t realise until this very moment how I felt about my mum.”
Katherine said “I thought you did so well. I think you’ve got a lovely voice. There were a few problems with the breathing but I think it must have been the nerves because in the sessions you did it really well.”
Laurence said “One of my favourite performances of the evening. It was like a huge embroidered shawl that you just wrap yourself in.”
Rolando “I think you were thinking about everything we have worked on. That’s what’s needed and why you got through the performance. You have been a very hard worker and I was very happy with your performance.”
Meat Loaf said “You were a lady in Venice and you were singing to the sky. I will be your sky darling.”
After all of the popstars had sung, guest classical singer Camilla Kerslake performed alongside Gary Barlow who was playing the piano.
No one wanted to be the first to go but it was Alex and Vanessa who found themselves in the bottom with the lowest number of votes from the public. The panel were divided after Rolando and Katherine chose to save Vanessa and Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and Meat Loaf chose to save Alex, with Meat Loaf saying: “You know what? I’m staying with roots, I’m staying with the low end, I’m saying Alex.”
As the panel failed to reach a unanimous decision, the choice went back to the public vote and Vanessa was announced as having the most votes out of the two and therefore stayed in the competition.
Asked about his dreams of winning, Alex said: “Dashed. It was great, what a blast thank you very much. I enjoyed every minute and I’ll never stop singing.”
Winter Sportsday
Shelley Rudman continues her strong season in the run up to Vancouver, with victory in the World Cup skeleton race at St.Moritz. This follows a bronze in Germany and places her only 34 points behind current series leader, Canada's Mellisa Hollingsworth.
Kristan Bromley took a silver in the men's event, while British sliders gained world rankings points and a brace of medals in the Intercontinental Cup events in Lake Placid. Ant Sawyer took silver in the mens' event, with Donna Creighton the bronze in the women's race. In the subsequent meet at Calgary, Adam Pengilly also secured a silver.
Kristan Bromley took a silver in the men's event, while British sliders gained world rankings points and a brace of medals in the Intercontinental Cup events in Lake Placid. Ant Sawyer took silver in the mens' event, with Donna Creighton the bronze in the women's race. In the subsequent meet at Calgary, Adam Pengilly also secured a silver.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Hands off Cadbury!!
People of Britain - are we really going to let one of our National Treasures be lost? I hope not I really do - for all we know the Managing Director of Kraft may hate Creme Eggs and you know what that means. As in, Nestle took over Rowntree Mackintosh - and when was the last time you saw Toffos? Hm? When? Exactly! And with Easter on it's way, can we really take the risk? (Especially as they're now putting miniature Twisteds in Heroes.)
People of Britain, I urge you - tell the suits: Hands off Cadbury!
I'll start the Facebook group - no, there's one already there - and get the #handsoffcadbury going on Twitter! Join me - don't let the faceless fat cats take our chocolate!
People of Britain, I urge you - tell the suits: Hands off Cadbury!
I'll start the Facebook group - no, there's one already there - and get the #handsoffcadbury going on Twitter! Join me - don't let the faceless fat cats take our chocolate!
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Sportsday
Athletics - our 4x400m relay team will finally be awarded their Gold Medals from the 1997 World Championships, following the American's being stripped of the title, due to Antonio Pettigrew admitting he was on drugs. So that's Team GB, World Champions twice in the 4x4 - 1991 our other glory year - Roger Black the only athlete in both teams. Double world champion - doesn't that have a lovely ring to it!
Swimming - Hannah Miley won 400m IM gold in the European short course championship. What is it with us and the 400m distance! We seem to have always done well, be it running or swimming!
The Winter Olympics begin on 12th February, good luck to all our competitors - particularly the bob skeleton guys, fingers crossed you get more sliding time! It's a shame, they could've all stayed here a bit longer! *peeks out window* Brrrrr.
Swimming - Hannah Miley won 400m IM gold in the European short course championship. What is it with us and the 400m distance! We seem to have always done well, be it running or swimming!
The Winter Olympics begin on 12th February, good luck to all our competitors - particularly the bob skeleton guys, fingers crossed you get more sliding time! It's a shame, they could've all stayed here a bit longer! *peeks out window* Brrrrr.
Monday, 4 January 2010
'A' List? 'Z' List?
It set me thinking, the hyping up of celebrity unveilings for the reality shows - who's 'A' List and who's 'Z' List? Can it be quantified? My beloved Strictly has come in for criticism, with a BBC personage saying they'll pay more for "bigger" stars next year. Do they really need to? I'd never heard of Tom Chambers or Ricky Whittle or Alesha Dixon beforehand - it didn't stop me enjoying them. Would I have enjoyed who the media tell us are the 'A' Listers: Sharon Osborne, Richard Madeley? I doubt it.
From my perspective, they don't come more 'A' List than an undefeated World Champion boxer - but then I'm a sports fan; any one in the world of sport who reaches the pinnacle will be a major celebrity as far as the fans of that sport are concerned.
So how to measure? Well, in the world of sport 'tis easy peasy - are they a world/Olympic champion/number one in their sport? In film and television, are they an Oscar winner/BAFTA winner, do they have the respect of their peers? They to me would be the 'A' Listers. But that's not to say that others without the trophies aren't as valued - that's what lifetime achievement awards are for. And then there are those deemed National Treasures - do they not automatically qualify as 'A' List? The thing is though - they simply don't need the exposure or the money - Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Helen Mirren are never going to take part. Ever. In the days of old they'd have allowed Morecambe and Wise to send them up, that's as far as it would have gone; M&W themselves the 'A' Listers of their day.
The media however, measure differently - Angelina Jolie is more likely described as sexy/pouty/voluptuous/designer clad Brad Pitt's partner, rather than the award winning actress she is. The Rooneys, the Coles, the Beckhams - all would be considered 'A' List by our press - and all of whom would suffer the same fate as Jordan in the jungle, at the hands of a wickedly vindictive and funny British public! That's the only reason many of us would want to see them in it!
To anyone who isn't into sport or film, whose life may revolve around the music scene now, the names Redgrave and Mirren may mean nothing - but they might adore Lady Sovereign. So is it a purely personal thing?
Tweeting Celebrity Big Brother t'other night showed me this was the case - whilst most of my generation were all for Stephanie and Vinnie, there were a few in my timeline cheering on said Lady Sov - and I'm thinking: Who is she? So a producer for I'm Strictly a Celeb Dancing on Ice has to cast their net wide to appeal to as big an audience as possible - which means you are not going to have heard of everyone.
The questions I ask myself are: Are they unique? Have they achieved something not many others, if any at all, have achieved? Or are they a dime a dozen (wags, topless models - possibly one and the same - soap stars, rich people famous for being rich and famous - you know the sort I mean) or do we prefer familiar faces who have been there, done that and have nothing to prove, who give us good value?
Who I would like to see on Strictly doesn't neccessarily equate to the media vision of 'A' List - I just think they'd be a lot of fun: Gary Barlow - technically an 'A' Lister but a seemingly very down to earth one; Adrian Chiles - the dry wit, the journey man, probably; Sue Barker, giggly but determined sportswoman and Fiona Bruce - who's shown during the newsreader segments in Children in Need that she would be so up for it! I'm sure there'll be more ... feel free to add your own suggestions!
From my perspective, they don't come more 'A' List than an undefeated World Champion boxer - but then I'm a sports fan; any one in the world of sport who reaches the pinnacle will be a major celebrity as far as the fans of that sport are concerned.
So how to measure? Well, in the world of sport 'tis easy peasy - are they a world/Olympic champion/number one in their sport? In film and television, are they an Oscar winner/BAFTA winner, do they have the respect of their peers? They to me would be the 'A' Listers. But that's not to say that others without the trophies aren't as valued - that's what lifetime achievement awards are for. And then there are those deemed National Treasures - do they not automatically qualify as 'A' List? The thing is though - they simply don't need the exposure or the money - Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Helen Mirren are never going to take part. Ever. In the days of old they'd have allowed Morecambe and Wise to send them up, that's as far as it would have gone; M&W themselves the 'A' Listers of their day.
The media however, measure differently - Angelina Jolie is more likely described as sexy/pouty/voluptuous/designer clad Brad Pitt's partner, rather than the award winning actress she is. The Rooneys, the Coles, the Beckhams - all would be considered 'A' List by our press - and all of whom would suffer the same fate as Jordan in the jungle, at the hands of a wickedly vindictive and funny British public! That's the only reason many of us would want to see them in it!
To anyone who isn't into sport or film, whose life may revolve around the music scene now, the names Redgrave and Mirren may mean nothing - but they might adore Lady Sovereign. So is it a purely personal thing?
Tweeting Celebrity Big Brother t'other night showed me this was the case - whilst most of my generation were all for Stephanie and Vinnie, there were a few in my timeline cheering on said Lady Sov - and I'm thinking: Who is she? So a producer for I'm Strictly a Celeb Dancing on Ice has to cast their net wide to appeal to as big an audience as possible - which means you are not going to have heard of everyone.
The questions I ask myself are: Are they unique? Have they achieved something not many others, if any at all, have achieved? Or are they a dime a dozen (wags, topless models - possibly one and the same - soap stars, rich people famous for being rich and famous - you know the sort I mean) or do we prefer familiar faces who have been there, done that and have nothing to prove, who give us good value?
Who I would like to see on Strictly doesn't neccessarily equate to the media vision of 'A' List - I just think they'd be a lot of fun: Gary Barlow - technically an 'A' Lister but a seemingly very down to earth one; Adrian Chiles - the dry wit, the journey man, probably; Sue Barker, giggly but determined sportswoman and Fiona Bruce - who's shown during the newsreader segments in Children in Need that she would be so up for it! I'm sure there'll be more ... feel free to add your own suggestions!
Sunday, 3 January 2010
3BT: Scenes we'd like to see ...
... improbable TV listings.
Sunday 3rd January
3.00pm: David Attenborough's Life
Ecologists, palaeontologists and conservationists gather to celebrate their spiritual leader and God of Man.
3.30pm: Antiques Stage Show
Members of the public challenge Fiona Bruce to utilize their old junk in a tableau homage to Broadway.
4.00pm: "Don't You Know Who I Am?"
The ancestry programme moves to London's West End, as a minor celebrity tries to charm bouncers with their best drunken dialogue and fanny/pecker flashing skills. Spin off show "WhoThe F**k Do They Think They Are?" follows on BBCITV4 at 3.00am.
Sunday 3rd January
3.00pm: David Attenborough's Life
Ecologists, palaeontologists and conservationists gather to celebrate their spiritual leader and God of Man.
3.30pm: Antiques Stage Show
Members of the public challenge Fiona Bruce to utilize their old junk in a tableau homage to Broadway.
4.00pm: "Don't You Know Who I Am?"
The ancestry programme moves to London's West End, as a minor celebrity tries to charm bouncers with their best drunken dialogue and fanny/pecker flashing skills. Spin off show "WhoThe F**k Do They Think They Are?" follows on BBCITV4 at 3.00am.
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