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New York Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Ute Lemper Still Sings Songs of Rebellion. The Stakes Are Still High.
'Welcome to Weimar — to the year 2025,' Ute Lemper announced. The German-born singer and actress was greeting friends and colleagues who had squeezed into the Birdsong Society's small headquarters by Gramercy Park to hear her perform songs from her latest album, which celebrates Kurt Weill, a composer Lemper has championed for four decades. Sliding into the album's title number, 'Pirate Jenny,' Lemper got even closer to a listener who had been standing just a few feet away, fixing him with a snarling grin. Featured in 'The Threepenny Opera,' the most celebrated of Weill's noted collaborations with the playwright Bertolt Brecht, the tune has been covered by artists from Nina Simone to Judy Collins. It's also the only standard written from the perspective of a hotel maid waiting for a ship of pirates to arrive and, at her behest, murder all the guests. 'It's a song about revolution and rebellion,' Lemper explained in an interview before the event. The singer is less intimidating in conversation than she is when channeling bloodlust. She'll turn 62 in July, and with her long, lean frame and impossibly high cheekbones, she still projects the cool beauty of a runway model. Lemper was perceived as something of a rebel herself, at least in her native country, when Decca Records released 'Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill' in 1988. The album, which evolved from 'a little fringe record I made in Berlin' a couple of years earlier, earned Lemper an international fan base — with one notable exception. 'The Germans hated it,' Lemper recalled. 'They weren't interested in speaking about the past.' Decca's chief executive at the time, Roland Kommerell, German himself, had started a project dedicated to bringing back music that had been banned under the Nazis, including classical symphonies and Weimar-era cabaret songs — music composed by Jews who were persecuted or, like Weill, forced into exile. 'It was a huge chapter to rip open; it was still bleeding at the time,' Lemper said. 'And suddenly, I was in the position to have to respond to hundreds of journalists about this music. I became almost the representative of my generation, the Cold War generation, in Germany.' Lemper lived for a while in Paris and in London, where she starred in the Brecht- and Weill-inspired musicals of John Kander and Fred Ebb, winning an Olivier Award for her portrayal of the merry murderess Velma Kelly in 'Chicago,' a role she also played on Broadway. Since 1998 she has called New York home; she currently resides on the Upper West Side with her second husband, the musician Todd Turkisher. Turkisher played percussion on 'Pirate Jenny,' which also features 'Mack the Knife,' 'My Ship,' 'Speak Low' and 'Surabaya Johnny.' Co-produced by David Chesky, Turkisher's frequent collaborator, and Lemper, the tracks wrap her pungent, dramatically astute vocals — applied through the years to the words and music of artists as diverse as Jacques Brel, Philip Glass, Nick Cave and the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda — in Chesky's atmospheric, often eerie arrangements. The album sprang from a conversation Lemper had last year with Chesky, who released it on his label, the Audiophile Society. Lemper pointed out to Chesky, also a composer, that 2025 would be the 125th anniversary of Weill's birth. 'And he said, 'you should do something different. Let's make it more accessible for a new generation, with a groovy component, but without watering down the strength of the stories.'' In an email exchange, Chesky wrote, 'Ute owns this genre of Weill material; she understands the world of Brecht and Weill better than anyone I have ever encountered. But I proposed to her, what if we took these classic songs and set them in this dark, late-night, Berlin cabaret vibe, while using the electronic language of today's music? Then you have versions that still honor the songs but have a more direct connection to today's world.' Adrienne Haan, another German-born, New York-based singer who has won acclaim performing a range of international material, including Weill's songs, was a teenager when she first discovered Lemper. In a phone interview, Haan, 47, said she had been influenced by many artists who recorded from the 1920s through the '50s, 'but Ute was much closer to my age, and she was such a strong interpreter. There was a certain steel in her voice, and I found it fascinating that someone from Germany, from the generation above me, could make it in America.' A prolific live performer, Lemper will trace Weill's life and songbook on May 27 and 29 at the Manhattan cabaret venue 54 Below. The engagement follows one earlier this month at Neue Gallerie, where she presented another favorite program, 'Rendezvous With Marlene,' based on a three-hour phone conversation she had in the late 1980s with another German woman known for denouncing Hitler: Marlene Dietrich. Lemper had written Dietrich, then in her late 80s, 'to apologize' for comparisons that had been drawn between them, 'and to thank her for the inspiration she had given to generations of women,' she said. 'Marlene was a woman ahead of her time; she raised the gender question 100 years ago — she was bisexual, she dressed like a man,' she added. 'And she became an American citizen and fought against the Nazis, entertaining troops on the front lines. She wanted to go home later, but the Germans thought she was a traitor.' Attentive to history's darker recurrences as well as its nuances, Lemper is wary of certain comparisons that have been made involving President Trump. 'There is only one Hitler,' she said, but called the current moment a 'new chapter,' that is 'really worrisome' in no uncertain terms. Lemper has also been interested in expressing herself more through songwriting. In 2023 she released 'Time Traveler,' consisting entirely of original material, as well as a memoir in German with the same title, 'Die Zeitreisende' — featuring an epilogue by her daughter, Stella, who just earned her master's degree in creative writing at Columbia University. 'I had already published a memoir when I was 30,' Lemper mused. 'An East German publisher asked me to write it, because so much had already happened with my career, and living through the fall of the Wall.' She hopes the new book, which has been translated into Italian, can also be made available in English: 'I incorporated tales from those times, and obviously followed that up with more decades of life and motherhood and ups and downs. I so appreciate aging. I would never want to turn the wheel back — except maybe for a little less backache, and a new hip.' Lemper is considering a replacement, but only when she can find time in her schedule — which this spring alone has also included a German revival of a staging of Brecht and Weill's 'The Seven Deadly Sins,' which she first performed in more than three decades ago. 'We're going to take it to Paris next year, and then London,' she said. 'I still have more to give, and I have to give it at every performance. The more you give, the more you have.'
Extra.ie
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
On this day in 1971: Thin Lizzy released their self-titled debut album
On April 30, 1971, Thin Lizzy – then made up of Philip Lynott, Brian Downey and Eric Bell – released their self-titled debut album via Decca Records. To celebrate, we're sharing Brian Downey's reflections on the early days of the band, taken from a 2024 interview with Will Russell. [In 1969,] Phil had joined Skid Row. But at some stage, he went off to Manchester to get his tonsils out, and when he came back, he discovered he wasn't needed! So, we got together and formed a band called Orphanage – Phil, myself, Terry Woods for a while, Joe Staunton on guitar, Pat Quigley on bass. Phil was singing; he wasn't playing bass. We had a gig in the Countdown Club, off Mary Street, and Eric Bell turned up with Eric Wrixon. During the interval, they both came into the dressing room. Eric Bell said, 'Man, it sounds really great. I'd like to have a chat with you guys after the gig'. I said, 'What about?' He replied, 'Well, I intend to form a band, I'm just wondering are you guys available?' So, we played the rest of the gig. Later, Eric was back in the dressing room and told us, 'I just dropped a tab of acid before the gig, you sounded really brilliant!' Phil enquired, 'You're tripping at the minute?' Eric goes, 'Yeah, I'm pretty out of it, but I'm really interested in getting together with you guys. The band sound amazing'. I said, 'I'm not surprised!' We didn't know what Eric was like playing guitar. He'd played with Van Morrison's Them, but he wasn't on any of the albums or singles. When we started to rehearse, we discovered Eric was a brilliant player. Phil wanted to play bass, but Eric had an idea that somebody else was playing bass. When Phil announced it, he said, 'I have my bass here' and Eric said, 'Let's play and see what happens'. Phil took the bass out – an old Fender Jazz that he bought off Bobby Ballagh, who was playing with The Chessmen Showband at the time. It was later stolen out of our van when we played The Marquee Club in London. We jammed some blues numbers. Phil had told me he was practising five hours a day on the bass – Pat Quigley and Brush Shiels were giving him lessons – so Phil really held his own, jamming through those numbers. I was really surprised, because we'd never played together before. Eric was also pleased, so we had a band together. Eric Wrixon played keyboards – the original Thin Lizzy was a four-piece. We got a set together with Hendrix and Deep Purple covers. Then Phil said he'd a few original tunes. He played them on the acoustic guitar, and some of them ended up on our first album. We were getting some publicity, especially from New Spotlight magazine. We were regarded as a supergroup because I came from Sugar Shack, Phil from Skid Row, Eric Bell from Them and Eric Wrixon from The Trixons. Reaction to the gigs was good, and the band recorded a single, 'The Farmer', at Trend Studios with John D'Ardis. Lizzy's manager, Brian Tuite, persuaded Decca to come to Dublin to listen to the band, after which they were offered an album deal and took the boat to England, sans Eric Wrixon. They were now a trio. We recorded our first album, Thin Lizzy, in five days. It was mixed in two days, but we weren't allowed into the mix. Back then, you weren't – they were still in white coats in Decca Studios. Nick Tauber was the guy who mixed our albums, and he became our producer for Vagabonds, but we never met him.
The Citizen
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Victor Ray releases new single
World At My Feet is the new single and video from Victor Ray, released on April 23 alongside his extended play (EP) I Will, on Decca Records/Capitol. The EP features all three of Victor's most recent singles, Hearts Break and People Change, Still The Same and the stellar Sticks & Stones featuring Kojey Radical and Strandz. 'The final single is perhaps my most infectious yet, brimming with ambition and telling his story from busking on the streets of Newcastle to being one of the most hotly tipped young artists all around the world.' ALSO READ: House Music trailblazers release a new song He further stated that World At My Feet is a song that represents everything it took just for him to get a seat at this table. 'This song is the story of my 10 000 hours and a promise of what comes next.' Alongside the release of the I Will EP, it also marks the release of all of Victor's EPs to date, available together for the first time on vinyl. Ray has every right to be reflecting on his staggering achievements over the last year, as he has found himself tipped as one to watch by MTV Push 2025, Amazon Music, The Independent, Clash, Notion and The Line of Best Fit, as well as being selected as Wonderland's cover star in Autumn of last year. Currently embarking on his first US and Australian tours, Ray's rise to superstardom is in full flight across the globe. His powerful blend of vulnerable, autobiographical storytelling and staggering, world-class vocals is proving irresistible worldwide. The tracklist for the EP Still The Same Sticks & Stones featuring Kojey Radical and Strandz Hearts Break and People Change World At My Feet At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
New Marianne Faithfull tracks to be released
Four new songs by Marianne Faithfull, the English singer best known for the 1960s hit As Tears Go By and who died earlier this year, will be released this summer, her son said on Friday. Faithfull, one of the most colourful personalities of London's Swinging '60s, endured homelessness, drug addiction and cancer before she passed away aged 78 in January. As the former girlfriend of the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, Faithfull gained notoriety for her escapades in the era of sex, drugs and rock and roll, but she also released 21 solo albums, won a Grammy nomination and had a film acting career. Faithfull had worked on the new recordings over the past year. They were inspired by her first two albums from 1965 and due to be revealed last month but plans were put on hold following her death, Decca Records said. "Marianne lived to create and perform music – it was her driving force and she never stopped," her son Nicholas Dunbar said in a statement. "Right up until the end she was looking forward to this release which now completes and celebrates her remarkable artistic career." Burning Moonlight, one of the new songs, which also gives its title to the EP, was inspired by the opening line of As Tears Go By. It was released on Friday, while the full digital EP will be released on June 6. "It's a good time to look back," Faithfull had said after completing the project, according to Decca Records. "It helps me to remember all the things I've done. I can't say I'm a particularly nostalgic person, but I am enjoying this period of reflection." Reuters
Reuters
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
New songs by late singer Marianne Faithfull to be released
LONDON, March 14 (Reuters) - Four new songs by Marianne Faithfull, the English singer best known for the 1960s hit "As Tears Go By" and who died earlier this year, will be released this summer, her son said on Friday. Faithfull, one of the most colourful personalities of London's Swinging 60s, endured homelessness, drug addiction and cancer before she passed away aged 78 in January. As the former girlfriend of the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, Faithfull gained notoriety for her escapades in the era of sex, drugs and rock and roll, but she also released 21 solo albums, won a Grammy nomination and had a film acting career. Faithfull had worked on the new recordings over the past year. They were inspired by her first two albums from 1965 and due to be revealed last month but plans were put on hold following her death, Decca Records said. "Marianne lived to create and perform music – it was her driving force and she never stopped," her son Nicholas Dunbar said in a statement. "Right up until the end she was looking forward to this release which now completes and celebrates her remarkable artistic career." "Burning Moonlight", one of the new songs, which also gives its title to the EP, was inspired by the opening line of "As Tears Go By". It will be released on Friday, while the full digital EP will be released on June 6. "It's a good time to look back," Faithfull had said after completing the project, according to Decca Records. "It helps me to remember all the things I've done. I can't say I'm a particularly nostalgic person, but I am enjoying this period of reflection."
