Latest news with #Bananarama
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Scottish band reveal how Dolly Parton became the key to their success ahead of Glastonbury gig
'We really do have Dolly to thank for us being there at all." SAVED US FROM A 9-5 Scottish band reveal how Dolly Parton became the key to their success ahead of Glastonbury gig THE Bluebells will play Glastonbury for the first time this summer — and insist it's all down to Dolly Parton. Lead singer Bobby Bluebell — real name Robert Hodgens — and the McCluskey brothers will take to the festival's Acoustic Stage at the end of next month. Advertisement 5 The Bluebells thank Dolly Parton for their success However, Bobby reveals their incredible resurgence wouldn't have been possible if the country and western legend Dolly hadn't priced herself out of doing a TV car advert in the 90's. Her original version of I Will Always Love You was first choice to be used in a Volkswagen commercial. However, after Whitney Houston's cover from the Bodyguard movie topped charts around the world it was deemed too expensive to use. So the Scots indie band's 80s track Young At Heart was chosen instead - before giving the trio their first-ever No1 when the song topped the charts for four weeks in 1993. Advertisement Bobby explains: 'Clare Grogan's sister Kate was working at this advertising agency in London at the time. 'They had already made the Volkswagen advert with Dolly Parton singing her version of I Will Always Love You. 5 Dolly Parton attends Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs In Symphony World Premiere 'But in 1992 it became this huge hit for Whitney Houston, so the money for the use of Dolly's song suddenly went through the roof. 'The agency was scrambling around as they were just about to launch and they needed a replacement and fast. Advertisement 'Kate then says, 'I think Young At Heart will fit the bill' as it had the same vibe as Dolly's song. "So because Dolly became too expensive and I had known Kate from school before her sister was in Altered Images, The Bluebells got their first No1.' Music icon Dolly Parton appears on The One Show and viewers can't believe her 'real age' Govan-born Bobby had written a piece about Ken and David McCluskey's teenage band for his music fanzine, then joined it in 1981. He recalls: 'I was finding groups to write about and at that time there were only about 10 bands in Glasgow — so they were going to get written about at some point. 'David was probably 14 at the time and I just thought he was an incredible drummer — he was like Keith Moon.' Advertisement But Bobby soon moved to London to live with girlfriend Siobhan Fahey from the trio Bananarama. He says: 'I had a duffle coat and NHS specs, but fortunately for me at that point the geeky look was coming in.' Together Bobby and Siobhan co-wrote Young At Heart as a Bananarama album track. But The Bluebells then reached the top 10 themselves with the track in 1984 before the band split two years later. 5 Dolly Parton attends "Dolly: An Original Musical" fireside chat and press conference at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts Advertisement Bobby went on to be a club DJ, David worked a music tutor with additional-needs adults for charity SenseScotland, while Ken became a college lecturer. However, they were all thrown back together again when Dolly said no and Volkswagen called. Their longevity and continued popularity will now see their debut album Sisters re-released on June 27 — the day before they take to the Glasto stage. But it's not all been a bed of roses for the track that keeps them ticking. 5 Dolly Parton attends the opening of Country Music Hall of Fame (Photo by) Advertisement Session musician Bobby Valentino — who gave the jaunty violin performance on the track — sued for £100,000 worth of royalties in 2002 after only being paid £75 to play on the song. The US musician even gave a violin solo in court to help convince the judge to rule in his favour. Bobby recalls: 'I had a drink in the pub with Valentino afterwards and he said to me, 'I'm sorry Robert, I needed the money and was just chancing my arm really'.' The track has followed them all around the world, even when they played behind the Iron Curtain in the mid-80s. Dad-of-two Bobby says: 'We were travelling to East Berlin and stopped at a service station. Advertisement "Although you can hardly call it a service station. It had about one sandwich and bowls of gruel. 'Suddenly Young At Heart started playing over the sound system and even to this day I'm convinced that it was too much of a coincidence. 'What I actually think happened was that the Stasi were following us and they had put it on, just to remind us that we were being watched by the East German Secret Police.' 5 Bobby Bluebell shared how Dolly Parton helped the band He adds: 'I used to find it strange to hear it played at funerals. But I'm kind of getting used to that now. Advertisement 'I never thought of it as being a funeral song but yeah, I think it does fit quite well.' Dolly herself played the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2014 and now The Bluebells will get to follow in her footsteps at Worthy Farm in Somerset. But for someone who is now more likely to be found in a golf clubhouse than in a nightclub, Bobby is just glad that their Glasto slot is an early one. The 65-year-old, who used to play golf with a 12 handicap, says: 'My favourite festival is actually Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick, because it's surrounded by all those lovely golf courses. 'I have been to Glastonbury before with Texas when they were on the main stage and they were brilliant. Advertisement 'But it's not the sort of thing I would normally do. Standing in a field for four days queuing for an autobank or the toilet isn't really my thing. "So I was delighted when I was told we would be on stage at half five. 'That means we can get out of there and be in a hotel by 10pm — perfect.' He adds: 'We really do have Dolly to thank for us being there at all. 'But life is full of all these little Sliding Doors moments that can take you to some incredible places.'
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Birmingham Pride set to kick off in city with Banarama and Clean Bandit headlining
Birmingham Pride returns to the city this weekend with Clean Bandit and Bananarama headlining the main year, about 75,000 people flocked to the country's second city to celebrate at one of the UK's biggest Pride parade will assemble in Centenary Square at 11:00 BST on Saturday before making its way through the city centre at 12:00 BST and ending in the LGBTQ+ village where the main festival activities will take is one of several Pride events this year to have banned political parties in "unequivocal solidarity" with the transgender community, after the Supreme Court ruled that the term "woman" in the Equality Act was defined by biological sex. Organisers of Birmingham Pride previously said that Labour, the only party which had been booked to march at the parade, was told it could not do so, while Labour said it would "continue to protect the trans community", adding laws to protect trans people remained. Birmingham Pride entertainment The Birmingham Pride street party will be held in the heart of the Pride Village, centred around Hurst Street, Bromsgrove Street, Kent Street and Lower Essex stars to take to the Birmingham Pride stages have included The Sugarbabes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and year, Clean Bandit is headlining the main stage on Saturday at 22:35 BST, while 80s girl group Bananarama is headlining on Sunday at 22:30 full line-up for the main stage on Saturday is:Birmingham Royal Ballet - 16:00 BSTCatty - 16:45 BSTTom Rasmussen - 17:40 BSTUna Healy - 18:35 BSTClementine Douglas - 19:25 BSTCascada - 20:30 BSTThe Wanted 2.0 - 21:30 BSTClean Bandit - 22:35 BSTThe full line-up for the main stage on Sunday is:Kitty Scott-Claus - 16:20 BSTVicky Jackson - 17:35 BSTMoonchild Sanelly - 18:40 BST Alexandra Burke - 19:25 BSTClaire Richards - 20:20 BSTVengaboys - 21:20 BSTBananarama - 22:30 BSTAs well as the main stage, performers will also take to the dance arena, cabaret stage, and community stage. What roads are closed for the parade? The Birmingham Pride parade on Saturday is free to attend, starting in Centenary Square and finishing in the LGBTQ+ said: "The Birmingham Pride Parade march is one of the most important aspects of the entire festival weekend, enjoyed by tens of thousands of participants, walking, marching or aboard creatively decorated floats, and viewed by in excess of 75,000 spectators lining the streets of Birmingham."There will be rolling road closures through the city centre while the parade takes place, affecting bus and tram following roads will be closed while the parade is held:Broad Street and Centenary SquareCarrs LaneMoor Street. Priory Queensway to St Martins QueenswaySt Martins Tunnel for when Moor Street reopens but Tunnel is closedSmallbrook Queensway. St Martins Tunnel to Hill StreetHurst StreetThe parade will leave Centenary Square, march along New Street, then up High Street before turning onto Carrs Lane, organisers will then follows St Martins Queensway, which becomes Small Brook Queensway, to Hurst Street where it will end near the entrance to the LGBTQ+ Village Street to the slow moving nature of the parade, with plenty of stops and starts, it will take about 45 minutes from start to finish, organisers 06:00 BST on Saturday to 06:00 BST on Monday, Pershore Road will also be closed between Sherlock Street and Upper Dean Street for safe access to the Smithfield Birmingham Pride will be a number of bus diversions in place throughout the day with some bus stops closed and temporary stops in Express West Midlands bus services 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 9, 12, 12A, 13, 13A, 16, 17, 23, 24, 35, 45, 47, 50, 60, 61, 63, 80, 82, 87, 97, 126, X1, X2, X8, X10, X21, X22 will be subject to will also be some bus stop changes due to the rolling road closures for the parade. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
From gigs to haircuts: The best ways to get your 80s cultural fix this year
In 1984, when The Terminator came out, Arnold Schwarzenegger told audiences he'd be back. Well, it turns out, it wasn't just him: the 80s are, absolutely, back – in art, in music, in film. Here's what to look forward to this year if you fancy a trip down memory lane. The gigs Every 80s musician worth their shoulder pads is on tour this summer. Duran Duran in July; The Human League from June to August; and, also in June, Billy Idol is playing at Wembley Arena and Bananarama are headlining at the Hampton Court Palace Festival. The 80s mania continues into autumn, too: Marti Pellow and his Wet Wet Wet bandmates have 19 UK shows in October while Adam Ant also goes on tour that month. And for those who want to kill several bands with one stone – head to Darlington. On 24 August the town will host '80s Calling!', a day-long concert at Darlington Arena. Tickets start at £56 and the line-up includes The Human League, Bananarama and Tony Hadley. Bodacious! The musical This week Just For One Day, a musical about how Live Aid came together begins its eight-month run in the West End. It's a 'jukebox musical', which means the songs aren't originals but covers of 80s hits. (At one point, the Margaret Thatcher character, who is refusing to waive VAT on Bob Geldof's charity single, performs a version of 'I'm Still Standing'.) The costumes are nostalgic, too; Craige Els, who plays Geldof, wears triple denim – jacket, shirt and jeans. Tickets start at £25. The film The Naked Gun has returned, sort of. The 80s film series about hapless New York policeman Frank Drebin hasn't been remade but, rather, given a sequel. Now Liam Neeson is playing Drebin's son, another hapless New York policeman called Frank Drebin Jr. The trailer – which got 11 million YouTube views in three weeks – looks suitably bonkers. It features 72-year-old Neeson wearing a schoolgirl's kilt and slaughtering bank robbers with a lollipop-shaped shank. If that wasn't enough to persuade you to watch it, Pamela Anderson also stars. Out in cinemas in August. The exhibition If you haven't seen it already, check out the Leigh Bowery retrospective at Tate Modern – on until 31 August. The gallery describes the Australian-born artist as being a 'fashion designer, club monster, human sculpture, nude model, vaudeville drunkard, anarchic auteur, pop surrealist, clown without a circus, piece of moving furniture, modern art on legs'. Which is a varied and impressive CV. Appropriately, the exhibition rooms have been decorated with disco balls (tickets are £18). And, for more clubbing nostalgia, The Design Museum in London has Blitz: The Club That Shaped The 80s. Tickets aren't on sale yet, but the show starts in September. The opera The historian and podcaster Dominic Sandbrook has paired up with the composer Joseph Phibbs to create an opera about Margaret Thatcher. Seriously. The two-act show is called Mrs T and will be performed in an unconfirmed location this autumn. According to Phibbs, the opera will feature 'key scenes' from Thatcher's tenure – including an evening where she danced with Ronald Reagan. Weirdly, this isn't the first opera concerning the former PM. In 2013, Allies, an opera about Thatcher's relationship with the ex-Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, toured Europe. For some reason, the production never made it to British theatres. The haircut It's not a culture trend, exactly, but it feels worth mentioning: the mullet remains. Frankly, it's been back for a while. Actors like Paul Mescal (left), Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler have all – at some point in the past three years – had mullets. But now the 80s cut is not just for Hollywood types. On the latest season of Race Across The World, contestant Tom, 21, from Bury St Edmunds, has a mullet. The trend has spread to Gen Alpha, too. Last month, a hairdresser from Surrey told The Times she'd seen 'boys as young as five or six, coming in with their parents and asking for a mullet'. Thankfully, the schoolboys are too young to try another 80s hair trend – moustaches. Manuel Harlan, Steve Schofield, getty images, Leigh Bowery: Fergus Greer, Leigh Bowery Session I Look 2 1988 © Fergus Greer. Courtesy of The Michael Hoppen Gallery
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Ex-girlfriend of huge 80s pop star joins cast of Real Housewives of London
THE ex-girlfriend of Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley is set to appear on the Real Housewives of London. Socialite Amanda Cronin - who started dating the 80s pop star in 2022 - is the latest name to join the UK spin-off. 5 5 The 56-year-old previously told of her pride about her relationship with George Michael 's bandmate, jokingly boasted: "It'll make a fabulous chapter in my memoir." It's hoped she will divulge details of their whirlwind romance during filming for Real Housewives. Skincare business owner Amanda is best known for being on The Millionairess And Me, which documented her unlikely friendship with a formerly homeless film-maker Martin Read. She gained attention for talking about her £10million jewellery collection and £200,000 chauffeur-driven Bentley, while volunteering in a charity shop in the Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil. Amanda met Andrew in the summer of 2022 - five years after his split from his long-term partner - when they were seated together at a friend's birthday dinner. Andrew was in a 25-year relationship with Bananarama's Keren Woodward. They split twice, eventually separating for good in 2017. When they broke up after almost a year together, Amanda told the Daily Mail: "I'm looking for a monogamous relationship. "When the next Mr Right comes along, he will have the same set of values that I have. "I'm quite traditional, a sweet, country girl. I'm also discerning and want to be around other people who understand what that means." She added: "I'm intelligent, demanding. Not for everyone." Piers Morgan in awkward interview with Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley as he tries to get singer to talk about George Michael Despite appearing to suggest Andrew didn't intend to have a monogamous relationship with her, she has no regrets about their time together. She added: "He's a good person and it was just great, a lot of fun, and will make a fabulous chapter in my memoir." Amanda will join the likes of millionaire Panthea Parker to create the hit show's London spin-off. The socialite, who counts JLo as a friend, was the first name to be heavily linked to the show, which is expected to air exclusively on streaming service Hayu this year. 5 5 Producers have set their sights on signing glamorous businesswomen over glitzy celebrities in the new series. Amanda's wealth is expected to be an eye-opener for viewers of the upcoming show if her appearance on The Millionaire and Me is anything to go by. Amanda landed a multi-million pound settlement when she divorced energy mogul Mark Daeche in 2019. At the time of filming the Channel 4 show in 2022, former model Amanda had ten staff running her plush Belgravia home and reveals she bought another mansion round the corner for £3million, which she's renovating in the hope of selling for £11million. She took the cameras along on a shopping trip to buy fittings and fixtures, including a £26,000 bath, and even tried out an £88,000 bed and browsed gold taps costing £7,000. The Sun has contacted Hayu for comment.
The Independent
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Sabrina Carpenter has simple response for those who think her live shows are ‘offensive'
Earlier this week, Eighties hitmaker Pete Waterman made headlines for his remarks that the 'Espresso' singer, 25, is 'offensive' for dressing as 'a little girl'. The 78-year-old said: 'They've won all of their freedoms and their rights, women. They fought for everything they've got, and now they're throwing it away, is the way I would look at it. 'It's just crazy. If you're asking to be respected, don't come on in a G-string.' Her lyrics were dismissed by Waterman's collaborator Mike Stock, meanwhile as 'lazy' and overly sexualised. In a new interview with The Sun on Sunday, Carpenter's response was simple: 'My message has always been clear – if you can't handle a girl who is confident in her own sexuality, then don't come to my shows.' She added that women being judged on their appearance 'isn't something new', saying: 'Female artists have been shamed forever. In the Noughties it was Rihanna, in the Nineties it was Britney Spears, in the Eighties it was Madonna – and now it's me. 'It's essentially saying that female performers should not be able to embrace their sexuality in their lyrics, in the way we dress, in the way we perform. 'It is totally regressive. It's like those who want to shame don't make comments when I talk about self-care or body positivity or heartbreak, which are all normal things a 25-year-old goes through. 'They just want to talk about the sexual side of my performances.' Stock and Waterman, along with Matt Aitken, are part of a trio of pop producers who penned many of the enduring hits of the 1980s and 1990s and helped to launch the careers of some of music's biggest stars including Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley and Bananarama. Carpenter's sixth album, the Grammy-nominated Short n' Sweet, became her first to debut at No 1 on the Billboard 200, and it produced the top-three Hot 100 singles 'Espresso', 'Please Please Please' and 'Taste'. In a four-star review of the album for The Independent, critic Helen Brown wrote that the record 'confidently hair-flips its way between TikTok pop, yacht rock, and country'. Carpenter's Short n' Sweet Tour recommences in Dublin on 3 March. It will arrive in London on 8 March and finishes in Stockholm on 4 April.
