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The Culture Vulture

About cultural things: music, dance, literature, theatre and local events.

“Emma”
Friday, January 24, 2025

No, not the 1815 romantic novel by Jane Austen, but Emma Cherry Rolf, professional actress based in Ronda.

Emma was born in England but grew up in Ibiza. She trained as an actress at the prestigious Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, Kent and has worked professionally in the West End, throughout the UK and much of Europe.

She now lives in Benaoján, 20 minutes drive from Ronda. She is married to Paul Rolf who is a property designer.

[Footnote: My son, Tom Whitelock, also trained as an actor/musician at Rose Bruford College, 20 years after Emma. They met last year for the first time in Benaojan .]

    Publicity photo of Emma [ECR]    Tom, Su and Emma meet in Benaoján [Paul Whitelock]

 

Su, professional name Susannah Austin, is a great singer. Tom often accompanies her on double bass and as a backing singer:

 

Susannah Austin Don't Turn Out That Light - live gig in London club featuring Susannah and Tom

Forgive and Forget (Let It Go) - Susannah Austin - video of Susannah

West End Live 2016 Sunny Afternoon - Tom performing live in Piccadilly to promote the Kinks musical "Sunny Afternoon"

'Sunny Afternoon' acoustic cover | Sunny Afternoon cast

 

Why is Emma in the news?

Next weekend Emma stars as the mother in “Bodas de Sangre” (“Blood Wedding”) by Federico Garcia Lorca, the Granada playwright murdered on Franco’s orders in 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War which ushered in nearly forty years of fascist dictatorship In Spain.

Considered, along with “Yerma” and “The House of Bernarda Alba” to be the finest three plays written in Spanish of the 20th Century.

This modern production will materialise on Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 January 2025 at the Teatro Vicente Espinel in Ronda.

A few remaining tickets are on sale at Intersport Cary on Calle La Bola and at Restaurante Miyagi Exprés on Calle Jerez.

 

Proyecto Platea

Emma works at the Proyecto Platea Theatre Company, where she assists owner Marcos Marcell, a professional actor and director from Ronda. The company provide drama classes for all ages, and it is from these amateur actors and actresses, that some real talents have emerged.

I first saw this company perform a delightful one-act play in the open-air patio at the Convento de Santo Domingo in Ronda during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The play was called “Novias” and took place in the wedding dress shop of Dolores, where three brides-to-be had assembled for the final fittings of their wedding dresses.

    [Poster courtesy of Red Escena]

 

The plot, which revealed the truth behind the “weddings” of the three novias, was fascinating and with well-known songs interspersed, the whole thing was a delight.

As a result, I joined the adult class at Proyecto Platea.

 

Emerging talents

The amateur “stars” include a retired doctor, the owner of a Sports shop, a restaurant manager, teachers and students.

My favourite amateurs – in alphabetical order by surname - are Charo Carrasco, Avelino Écija, Nieves Rodríguez and Ana Belén Sánchez.

    Avelino Ecija [PP]              "Novias" (L to R: Charo, Emma, Ana Belen, Nieves) [PP]

 

Back to Emma

As well as her acting achievements, Emma has written a number of original play scripts with best friend Charo Carrasco, including the afore-mentioned “Novias”.

In August 2023 an anthology of their scripts, “Yo soy teatro”, was published and is available from Amazon.

    Publicity photos courtesy of Amazon and Charry TV

 

© The Culture Vulture

 

Links:

Live theatre is back! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

TREADING THE BOARDS: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

 

Photos:

Amazon, Charry TV, Facebook, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Red Escena

 

Tags:

Ana Belén Sánchez, Avelino Écija, Benaoján, “Blood Wedding”,  “Bodas de Sangre”, Calle Jerez, Calle La Bola, Charo Carrasco, Charry TV, Convento de Santo Domingo, Covid-19 pandemic, Culture Vulture, “Emma”,  Emma Cherry Rolf, fascist dictatorship In Spain, Federico Garcia Lorca, Ibiza, Intersport Cary, Jane Austen, Marcos Marcell, Nieves Rodríguez, “Novias”, Paul Rolf, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Restaurante Miyagi Exprés, Ronda, Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, Susannah Austin, Teatro Vicente Espinel, “The House of Bernarda Alba”, Tom Whitelock, West End, “Yerma”, “Yo soy teatro”



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Phil Manzanera and Roland Orzabal
Monday, January 6, 2025

Who?

These consummate musicians are British, despite their Hispanic-sounding names; the former a long-time collaborator with Roxy Music, Phil Collins and others; the latter the mainstay of Tears for Fears together with Curt Smith.

 

Phil Manzanera

Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, OBE (born 31 January 1951), and known professionally as Phil Manzanera, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer.

Manzanera is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music, and was previously the lead guitarist with 801 and Quiet Sun.

In 2006, Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On an Island, and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America.

 

 

 

 

Early life

Manzanera was born on 31 January 1951 in London, England, to a Colombian mother (née Manzanera) and an English father, who worked for the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), and spent most of his childhood in different parts of the Americas, including Hawaii, Venezuela, Colombia, and Cuba. It was in Havana, Cuba, that the young Manzanera, aged six, encountered his first guitar, Spanish guitar owned by his mother.

His earliest musical accomplishments were Cuban folk songs inspired by the Cuban Revolution.

In Venezuela, the eight-year-old Manzanera started experimenting with the sounds of the electric guitar.

During his teenage years he was absorbing the twin influences of 1960s rock and roll and Latin American rhythms of merenguecumbia, and particularly the boleros of the Mexican Armando Manzanero.

 

Music links:

Guantanamera Phil Manzanera

Phil Manzanera - 801 (Live)

Phil Manzanera: My Go-To Guitars

PHIL MANZANERA LIVE AT RONNIE SCOTTS - EAST OF ASTEROID

Roxy Music - Avalon

 

Roland Orzabal

Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana (born 22 August 1961) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and author.

He is the guitarist, co-lead vocalist, main songwriter, co-founder, and the only constant member of Tears for Fears. He is also a producer of artists such as Oleta Adams.

In 2014, Orzabal published his first novel, a romantic comedy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early life

Orzabal was born Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 22 August 1961.

Orzabal's father, George Orzabal de la Quintana, was a Frenchman of Argentinian and Basque/Spanish roots and was often so ill that he was rarely seen by his children. 

Orzabal wrote his first songs when he was seven years old. The family later moved to Bath, Somerset, where he attended Culverhay School (later Bath Community Academy) and became a member of the Zenith Youth Theatre Company.

 

Early career

Orzabal met Curt Smith while both were in their early teens in Bath.

Orzabal and Smith went on to form Tears for Fears, a new wave music/synthpop outfit.

Orzabal sings and plays guitar for the band, while Smith sings and plays bass guitar. Orzabal is also the band's main songwriter.

Orzabal and Smith were responsible for discovering pianist/vocalist Oleta Adams, whom they invited to collaborate on their 1989 album The Seeds of Love.

Adams appeared on several tracks on the album, most notably the hit single "Woman in Chains", which she performed as a duet with Orzabal.

Orzabal then co-produced Adams' album Circle of One (1990). The album reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 20 in the US, and featured her transatlantic top ten hit "Get Here".

 

 

 

Orzabal also co-wrote the lead track "Rhythm of Life" for the album, which was originally intended for The Seeds of Love. As well as playing guitar and singing backing vocals on the track, he also appeared in the song's accompanying promo video.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Music links:

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Official Music Video)

Tears For Fears - Shout (Official Music Video)

Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love

Tears For Fears - Woman In Chains ft. Oleta Adams

 

© The Culture Vulture

 

Photos:

Wikipedia, YouTube

 

Tags:

1960s rock and roll, Argentinian, Armando Manzanero, Basque/Spanish, bolero, British Overseas Airways Corporation, Circle of One, co-founder, co-lead vocalist, Colombia, Colombian mother, constant member, Cuba, Cuban folk songs, Cuban Revolution, Culverhay School, cumbia, Curt Smith, David Gilmour, electric guitar, English father, Frenchman, George Orzabal de la Quintana, guitarist, Havana,  Hawaii, Latin American rhythms, merengue, Oleta AdamsOn an Island, Phil Collins, Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, Phil Manzanera, "Rhythm of Life", Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana, Roland Orzabal, Roxy Music, songwriter, Spanish guitar, Tears for Fears, The Culture Vulture, The Seeds of Love, Venezuela, "Woman in Chains"

 

 

áéíóú



Like 2        Published at 9:03 PM   Comments (0)


Guitar legends
Sunday, January 5, 2025

A few years ago I wrote an article about the best rock and blues guitarrists. They included the likes of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Dave Gilmour, Hank B Marvin, Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, Mark Knopfler and George Harrison.

[Image: www.posters.es]

 

So, what’s new?

I’ve been sorting out my CDs and came across a double live album by Dave Gilmour playing in the docks in Gdansk, Poland.

    Dave Gilmour as a young guitarrist with Pink Floyd [Britannica]           Gilmour in 2024, aged 78 [Wikipedia]

 

I’ve always rated Gilmour highly from his days with Pink Floyd, but this album blew me away. His playing was sensational, better than Clapton at his peak, I reckon.

 

Let’s be honest, since he deserted Blind Faith after one tour and one album, Clapton never achieved greatness on the guitar again.

Distracted by his obsession with Patti Boyd, George Harrison’s missus .....

..... and later by the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who fell from a balcony at his estranged wife's home, he’s done very little of worth since.

Now aged 78 he is no longer active.

 

 

                        Eric Clapton [El Español]

***

Peter Green was sensational as the front man of the original Fleetwood Mac, but after he fried his brains on drugs, he never produced great guitar playing again. He is now dead.

Carlos Santana is amazing. He still plays live concerts, although he is 77 years old.

Peter Green as a young guitarist in Fleetwood Mac [Primicias]   Carlos Santana still going strong, aged 77 [La Razon de Mexico]

 

Jeff Beck from The Yardbirds was a top guitar player. He sadly died in 2023, aged 78.

Joe Walsh of The Eagles was also a great guitarrist who contributed hugely to the success of this California band.

The late Jeff Beck in his heyday [Britannica]                         Joe Walsh [Billboard]

 

Hank Marvin was a pioneer on the guitar. His playing on those great instrumental hits by The Shadows in the 60s was superb.

Brian May was as important to Queen as the late Freddie Mercury. His playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee in 2002 was astonishing.

         Hank Marvin [Wikipedia]                                             Brian May [Photo: X]

 

Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page wouldn’t have achieved greatness, despite having a great drummer in John Bonham and a wonderful singer, Robert Plant.

Mick Taylor’s spell as a Rolling Stone marked him out as a great guitarist. Keith Richards? I’m not sure about that.

Jimmy Page [YouTube]    Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards [Wikipedia]

 

Mark Knopfler as the lead guitarist of Dire Straits, proved himself over a decade. Outstanding!

Towards the end of The Beatles and subsequently, George Harrison demonstrated not only his ability as a songwriter but also his great guitar playing.

Mark Knopfler in Dire Straits [Reddit]                        The late George Harrison, ex-Beatle [Rolling Stone]

 

Interestingly, of all the guitarists I’ve mentioned here, a number were given their big break playing for John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Mayall was no slouch on the guitar either, by the way.

                                 [Photo: rafabasa]                                   [Album sleeve: Amazon]

 

There are other great guitar players from the 60s and 70s. I’m thinking of Jimi Hendrix, Chris Rea, Pete Townsend of The Who, and Jet Harris of the original Shadows.

 

© The Culture Vulture

 

Links:

Best Of Joe Walsh - Joe Walsh Greatest Hits Playlist Full Album

Blind Faith - Sea of Joy

Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home - London Hyde Park 1969.

Brian May on the roof of Buckingham Palace- Queen's Jubilee - God Save The Queen - YouTube

Dire Straits Greatest Hits Full Album 2022 | Best Songs Of Dire Straits

Fleetwood Mac Peter Green - Black Magic Woman (Live Boston Tea Party) 1970

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

Hank Marvin - Apache

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (50th Anniversary) [2023 Remaster] {Full Album} - YouTube

Santana - Black Magic Woman - 8/18/1970 - Tanglewood (Official)

The Best Live Perform Ever!!! Jeff Beck - Beck's Bolero | HD

 

And what about this for a bonus treat? George Harrison on stage at Wembley Stadium with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Phil Collins, Jeff Lynne in a concert in aid of The Prince's Trust in 1987:

George Harrison & Ringo Starr - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 1987)

 

Photo acknowledgements:

20Minutos, Amazon, Billboard, Britannica, El Español, Facebook, La Razon de Mexico, Primicias, rafabasa, Reddit, Rolling Stone, Royal Albert Hall, Wikipedia, www.posters.es, YouTube, X

 

Tags:

Blind FaithBrian May, Carlos Santana, Chris Rea, Dave Gilmour, Dire Straits, Eric ClaptonFleetwood Mac, Freddie Mercury, Gdansk, George Harrison, Golden Jubilee, Hank Marvin, Jeff Beck, Jet Harris, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, John Bonham, John Mayall, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Keith Richards, La Razon de Mexico, Led Zeppelin, Mark Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Patti Boyd, Peter Green, Pete Townsend, Pink Floyd, Poland, Primicias, rafabasa, roof of Buckingham Palace, Queen, Robert Plant, Rolling Stone, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, The ShadowsThe Who



Like 2        Published at 11:54 PM   Comments (0)


230,000 dead after massive flooding
Friday, December 27, 2024

It was 20 years ago yesterday, Boxing Day, that a massive tsunami devasted communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries.

The countries whose coastal areas were affected included India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and Thailand. The wave even reached the east coast of Africa.

The tsunami and its aftermath were responsible for immense destruction and loss of life on the rim of the Indian Ocean.

 

 

Factfile

On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time, a major earthquake, measuring a massive 9.2–9.3 on the Richter scale, struck with an epicentre off the west coast of Aceh in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

The undersea earthquake was caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burma plate and the Indian plate.

The direct results of this huge tsunami with waves up to 30 m (100 ft) high, caused major disruptions to living conditions and commerce in coastal provinces of surrounding countries.

It is the deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century, one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, and the worst tsunami disaster in history.

It is also the worst natural disaster in the history of Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Asia, the most powerful earthquake in the 21st century, and at least the third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world since modern seismography began in 1900. 

It had the longest fault rupture ever observed, between 1,200 km and 1,300 km and had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, at least ten minutes. It caused the planet to vibrate as much as 10 mm (0.4 in), and also remotely triggered earthquakes as far away as Alaska. 

Its epicentre was between Simeulue and mainland Sumatra. The plight of the affected people and countries prompted a worldwide humanitarian response, with donations totalling more than US$14 billion.

 

20 years on

The recovery of these communities has been amazing. Obviously, the shock and grief experienced two decades ago is still ever present in the hearts and minds of survivors and the bereaved.

On this 20th anniversary the media has “gone to town”, interviewing survivors, including locals and foreigners who were there on holiday, and illustrating how they have processed what happened and how they have coped with the loss of loved ones. Many have involved themselves in charity work and continue to support the communities affected.

 

 

“The Impossible” (feature film)

Eight years after the tragedy a remarkable film was released by Warner Bros. The English language-Spanish collaboration “Lo Imposible” was directed by Juan Antonio García Bayona and written by Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez two Spanish film-makers in their 40s.

The film featured international actors, including Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Geraldine Chaplin, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring, Douglas Johansson and Emilio Riccardi.

The film was well-received by critics and received numerous nominations and awards, including Oscars, Golden Globes and from the Screen Actors Guild.

 

   Naomi Watts [Aventura y Naturaleza]       [Photo: 20Minutos]                                   The cast at an Award Ceremony [El Diario]

 

You can watch the entire film in English here: The impossible full movie 1080 Blueray print

 

© The Culture Vulture/The History Man

 

Links:

The Impossible (2012 film) - Wikipedia

The impossible full movie 1080 Blueray print

 

Photos:

20Minutos, Aventura y Naturaleza, BBC News, El Diario, Muy Interesante, Wikipedia, WordPress

 

Acknowledgements:

Wikipedia, www.bing.com, www.britannica.com, www.premiososcar.net

 

Tags:

14 countries, 20 years on, 21st century, 227,898 people, Alaska, Boxing Day, Douglas Johansson, earthquake, east coast of Africa, Emilio Riccardi, Ewan McGregor, Geraldine Chaplin, India, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Juan Antonio García Bayona, “Lo Imposible”, Maldives, Marta Etura, Naomi Watts, Pakistan, Richter scaleseismography, Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez, Simeulue, Sönke Möhring, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Thailand, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, "The Impossible", third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the worldTom Holland, tsunami, Wikipedia

 



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Happy Birthday to Bogie, Lew, Quentin, Anwar, Annie, Shane and Dido
Thursday, December 26, 2024

And many others …..

Lots of people are born on 25 December, just like any other day of the year.

Yet there seems to be a particular interest in those who were born on Christmas Day, ie yesterday.

Here is a selection of famous people who were born on the same date as Jesus Christ:

 

1899  HUMPHREY BOGART

American actor (Casablanca - "Here's looking at you, kid"), born in New York City (d. 1975)

 

1901 ALICE, ENGLISH PRINCESS

Also Duchess of Gloucester, aunt of Elizabeth II, born in London, England (d.2004)

 

 

 

 

 

1906 LEW GRADE

British TV mogul (ATV), movie producer (eg “Boys from Brazil”), born in Tokmak, Uyezd, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire

 

1908 QUENTIN CRISP

English author (eg “The Naked Civil Servant”)

 

 

 

1918   ANWAR SADAT

3rd President of Egypt (1970-81, Nobel 1978), born in Monufia, Egypt (d. 1981)

 

1919 NOELE GORDON

British actress (Crossroads), born in East Ham, London (d. 1985)


1929 STUART HALL

British radio and television presenter (It's a Knock-out), and convicted sex offender (2013), born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England

      Anwar Sadat [Wikipedia]                     Noel Gordon [Daily Mail]                       Stuart Hall [The Guardian]

 

1936 ISMAIL MERCHANT

Film producer (with Merchant Ivory - Remains of the Day), born in Mumbai, India

 

1936 PRINCESS ALEXANDRA

[Christabel], The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, British royal family member (cousin of Queen Elizabeth II), born in Belgravia, London, England

 

1944 KENNY EVERETT

[Maurice James Christopher Cole], British DJ and TV personality (Kenny Everett Show), born in Seaforth, Lancashire, England (d. 1995)

 

1944 JAIRZINHO

Brazilian soccer winger (81 caps; Botafogo FC 416 games) and manager (Gabon), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

1954 ANNIE LENNOX 

Scottish vocalist  (Eurythmics - "Sweet Dreams"; solo - "Why"), born in Aberdeen, Scotland

Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Official Video)

 

1957 SHANE MACGOWAN

British-Irish punk rock musician (Pogues - "Fairytale of New York", "Red Roses For Me"), born in Pembury, Kent, England (d. 2023)

The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York (Official Video)

 

    Annie Lennox [Wikipedia]                            Shane MacGowan [Onda Cero]

 

 

1971 DIDO 53 YEARS OLD

[Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong] English pop singer (No Angel; Eminem's "Stan"), born in London, England

Dido - Here With Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dido [The Guardian]

 

1975 MARCUS TRESCOTHICK

English cricket batsman (76 Tests, 14 x 100s, HS 219; 123 ODIs; Somerset CCC), born in Keynsham, England

 

1984 ALASTAIR COOK

English cricket batsman and captain (161 Tests, 33 x 100s, HS 294, 175 catches; Essex CCC), born in Gloucester, England

    Marcus Trescothick [Facebook]         Alastair Cook [The Guardian]

 

© The Culture Vulture 

 

Links:

Dido - Here With Me

Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Official Video)

The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York (Official Video)

 

Photos:

BBC, Daily Mail, Facebook, Onda Cero, The Guardian, Wikipedia

 

Tags:

25 December, 3rd President of Egypt, Aberdeen, ALICE, ANNIE LENNOX, ANWAR SADAT, Ashton-under-Lyne, Brazil, Brazilian soccer winger, “Boys from Brazil”, BBC, British DJ, British-Irish punk rock, Casablanca, Christmas Day, convicted sex offender, "Crossroads", Daily Mail, DIDO, Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley, Armstrong Duchess of Gloucester, Dave StewartEgypt, Elizabeth II, Eminem, ENGLISH PRINCESS, Eurythmics, Facebook, "Fairytale of New York", HUMPHREY BOGART, "It's a Knock-out", JAIRZINHO, Jesus Christ, KENNY EVERETT, Lancashire, LEW GRADE, London, Maurice James Christopher Cole, Monufia, "No Angel", NOELE GORDON, Onda Cero, Pogues, QUENTIN CRISP, "Red Roses For Me"Rio de Janeiro, Scotland, Seaforth, SHANE MACGOWAN, "Stan", STUART HALL, "Sweet Dreams", The Guardian, “The Naked Civil Servant”, "Why", Wikipedia 

 

áéíóúü



Like 0        Published at 8:13 PM   Comments (0)


The Radio One Christmas Number One and “The Fat One” on Channel One
Friday, December 20, 2024

Today, 20 December 2024, is the last Friday before Christmas, the day when the official Radio One Christmas single is announced. The result is based on sales figures up to 11.59 pm on Thursday night. Nowadays, “sales” includes downloads.

 

On Sunday, 22 December 2024, the last Sunday before Christmas the numbers will be drawn for Spain’s National Christmas Lottery, known as “El Gordo” (The Fat One”). Boy and girl choristers draw the balls and sing the numbers. The whole lot being televised by La 1 (Channel One).

 

 

The Radio 1 Christmas No 1 2024

One of the favourites to win for a second year running is “Last Christmas” by Wham!

First released in 1984, 40 years ago, the single by George Michael and Andrew Ridgely was pipped to the post back then by the first ever Band Aid charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, an initiative led by ex-Boomtown Rat Bob Geldof.

A remake of the Band Aid song is in the running again this year, but Wham! are the Bookies’ favourites, having released brand-new vinyl and CD versions of their iconic track, plus an hour-long film "WHAM! Last Christmas Unwrapped", which aired on BBC Two last week.

George is no longer with us, having died on Christmas Day 2016, aged 53, of a heart condition.

 

El Gordo – “The Fat One”

Starting on Sunday morning and lasting for several hours, the balls will be drawn by singing treble choirboys and girls. The whole thing will be televised live on TVE1, commonly known as La 1.

Whilst I can’t imagine anyone watching the whole programme, the Spanish, who are avid purchasers of lottery tickets, will tune in and out to see whether they have struck lucky.

I never buy a Christmas Lottery ticket. I think the price of a décimo, a tenth of one number, is exorbitant at 20 euros plus 3 euros commission to the vendor.

In the UK, I seem to recall one number for the National Lottery costs just 2 pounds sterling.

 

Endpiece

So, by the end of this weekend we’ll know who has the Christmas No. 1 and who has won lots of money in the “The Fat One”.

Two days later it’s Christmas Eve (La Nochebuena) and then Christmas Day (El Día de Navidad). In Spain Boxing Day is a normal working day.

On 28 December it's Día de los Inocentes, the Spanish equivalent of April Fool's Day.

On 31 December it's New Year's Eve (La Nochevieja).

 

Stop Press:

I’m watching live coverage of the countdown to this year’s Christmas No. 1. Some of the favourites have gone. Mariah Carey at No. 3 and Tom Grennan at No.4.

We’re now down to the last two: Wham! and Gracie Abrams.

Can Wham! become the first act to top the charts with the same hit two years in a row?

 

Yes, they can - they’ve done it!

Amazing!

 

New link:

Wham's Last Christmas is the Christmas number one for a second consecutive year

 

© The Culture Vulture

 

Links:

Advent - in Spain

April Fool! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner

Fish for Christmas and no gifts? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

“Last Christmas” or “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” – 40 years on

Understanding the Spanish Christmas Calendar

 

Photos and Images:

Antena 3

BBC

Clash magazine

El Diario

Freepik

Official Charts

TVE1

 

Tags:

20 December 2024, 22 December 2024, Andrew Ridgely, Antena 3, avid purchasers of lottery tickets, Band Aid, Bob Geldof, Bookies’ favourites, Boomtown Rat, Boxing Day, BBC, BBC Two, charity single, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Lottery, Christmas No. 1, Christmas single, Clash magazine, Culture Vulture, décimo, Día de Navidad, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, downloads, “El Gordo”, Freepik, George Michael, Gracie Abrams, La 1, “Last Christmas”, last Sunday before Christmas, Mariah Carey, Nochebuena, Official Charts, Radio One, Secret Serrania de Ronda, TVE1, “The Fat One”, Tom Grennan, Wham!, "WHAM! Last Christmas Unwrapped"

 



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“When I’m 82” – Paul McCartney World Tour comes to an end in Manchester and London
Tuesday, December 17, 2024

The 82-year-old former “Beatle”, Sir Paul McCartney, played an exhilarating live concert in Manchester last weekend.

McCartney and his band are on the concluding leg of their 8-country world tour 2024, which included two concerts in Madrid earlier in December.

 

 

The “Got Back” tour 2024

The “Got Back” concert lasts a mammoth two hours forty minutes during which the octogenarian takes us on a “Magical Mystery Tour” of his back catalogue, from the early days of The Quarrymen, through The Silver Beetles, The Beatles, Wings and as a solo artiste.

 

Writing in The Guardian, that paper’s music critic Dave Simpson described their concert at Co-op Live in Manchester last Saturday as “extraordinarily sublime and humblingly beautiful”.

 

The Times of London awarded the concert *****.

 

On the SKY News Press Review broadcaster and commentator Duncan Barkes described Macca as a “legend”.

 

TeleMadrid wrote on its website:

Paul McCartney pone fin a su gira Got Back en el Wizink Center. El ex-Beatle vuelve a Madrid ocho años después de su último concierto en el estadio Vicente Calderón.

 

“Con dos fechas únicas en España, las entradas se agotaron en apenas dos horas este verano.”

 

The Spokesman-Review and The Dallas Morning News noted the absence of the Beatles song "Back in the U.S.S.R.", a usual staple of McCartney's live concerts, from the setlist. This in protest at the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 

His own website, www.paulmccartney.com, informed us that the 2024 tour would include 15 shows, in 8 countries.

The Got Back tour has stormed through Latin America over the course of 7 weeks, starting in Montevideo, Uruguay on 1st October and ending at Corona Capital festival in Mexico City on 17th November. ….. Paul and the band will make a triumphant return to Europe in December, with shows in Paris, Madrid, Manchester and London!”

Asked whether they had a post-show routine to come down from the energy of a performance, Paul replied:

“Oh yeah definitely. Most of the time we get on the bus immediately, and before we change back into our ‘day clothes’ I have a margarita to drink, which is always very welcome! And I have a cheese and pickle sandwich with ….. Branston pickle.”

 

 

UK Tour Dates

14/15 December 2024            Co-op Live Arena        Manchester

18/19 December 2024            The O2 Arena              London

 

Sir Paul McCartney

Arguably the most talented of The Fab Four, James Paul McCartney has been composing and making music for nearly seven decades!

With hindsight it has become clear that the left-handed self-taught bass guitarist was the major driving force behind the Liverpool band.

If you listen to the compilation album of their number ones, “One”, where their chart-toppers appear in chronological order, it is fascinating to note the initial pre-dominance of John Lennon turning into the Paul McCartney Show, as Lennon became distracted by other things, not least Yoko Ono.

 

George Harrison and Ringo Starr also came more into their own later on.

 

Earlier, after they had given up touring and moved into the recording studio, Paul was the one behind "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Magical Mystery Tour".

 

 

The End was nigh …..

As The Beatles lurched towards breaking up, Paul was the one behind their ground-breaking live performance on the roof of the Apple Corps Offices in Savile Row in 1969.

And it was Paul who got the others to agree to recording their final album “Let it Be”. Despite the animosity between members of the band at that time, it’s a remarkably good piece of work.

 

McCartney took most of the blame for the break-up of The Beatles back then, although he has since been vindicated.

 

What happened next …..?

John Lennon went off to New York with Yoko Ono, following their famous wedding in Gibraltar.

 

He made music in The Big Apple with The Plastic Ono Band and as a solo artiste. Some of his most thoughtful songs emerged from that time, eg “Imagine” and "Jealous Guy".

 

Then in 1980 he was assassinated by one of his fans, Mark Chapman. John Winston Ono Lennon was just 40 years old.

 

***

Ringo Starr also went to the USA and following divorce from Maureen and a couple of short relationships with other women, he married Bond-girl Barbara Bach in 1980. She had appeared in “The Spy Who Loved Me” alongside Roger Moore.

Ringo still lives in California with Barbara Bach and continues to make music and tour with his All Starr Band. And he is 84 years old! Barbara is a mere youngster at 78!

 

More talented than many thought, Ringo was a good actor – check out the three Beatles movies, A Hard Day’s Night, Help and Magical Mystery Tour.

 

He also did voiceovers for Thomas the Tank Engine and The Magic Roundabout.

 

Despite John Lennon’s famous put-down in an interview, Ringo Starr is regarded as one of the best rock drummers of all time.

 

***

George Harrison remained in the UK with his wife, model Pattie Boyd, and made some of the best music of his life. “Something” and "My Sweet Lord" are good examples.

Boyd left him for his best mate Eric Clapton who had lusted after her for years. “Layla” by Derek and the Dominoes, was apparently about Pattie Boyd.

 

Harrison later married Olivia Trinidad Arias from Los Angeles, California, USA  .

 

George, known as "The Quiet Beatle", died in 2001 at the age of 58 from lung cancer and a brain tumour. But, what a musical legacy he left behind! 

 

Olivia Harrison is one of the six directors of Apple Corps, the Beatles publishers.

 

George also diversified and set up HandMade Films, which brought us a host of great films, including “Life of Brian” by Monty Python and "Mona Lisa", starring Bob Hoskins.

 

***

Paul McCartney had married US photographer Linda Eastman during the “death throes” of The Beatles.

The couple moved to the Scottish island of Mull, where they adopted a healthy agricultural lifestyle.

But showman that he was, Paul soon set up a new band, Wings, together with former Moody Blues lead singer Denny Laine and wife Linda.

 

They toured British universities, charging 50p for an impromptu concert, in order to build up a head of steam. My girlfriend, later my first wife Jeryl, went to one of these, when Wings turned up at Salford University. (I was abroad at the time).

 

Wings enjoyed remarkable success from 1971 to 1981 and their albums “Band on the Run” (1973) and "Venus and Mars" (1975) are classics.

After Linda died of breast cancer in 1998 aged 56, Paul had a couple of disastrous relationships before settling down and marrying New York businesswoman Nancy Shevell in 2011. They are still together.

 

A great philanthropist, Paul bought his former grammar school, The Liverpool Institute, which had closed, and created LIPA, a “fame school”, in order to train people in music and performance arts.

 

LIPA has turned out a large number of professionals, including my son, Tom Whitelock, who did a singing diploma there, as well as using the state-of-the-art facilities to develop his keyboard, double bass, and saxophone skills.

 

    Tom Whitelock as Kinks' bass player Pete Quaife in the West End run of "Sunny Afternoon"

 

Endpiece

Paul McCartney was always my favourite Beatle. His talent, drive and longevity are amazing!

 

© The Culture Vulture

 

Acknowledgements:

El Pais

Facebook

The Guardian

The Times

Wikipedia

www.paulmccartney.com

 

Photos:

Amazon

Branston

Britannica

El Club Del Rock

El Popular

La Sexta

Mondo Sonoro

New Musical Express

Official London Theatre

Uppers

West End 

Wikipedia

WIZink Centre

 

Links:

GET BACK TAKE 1 | THE BEATLES ROOFTOP CONCERT

PAUL MCCARTNEY Got Back Tour; Seattle 2022

 

Tags:

O2 Arena, amazon.es, "Back in the U.S.S.R.", Bob Hoskins, Branston, Britannica, Co-op Live, Dave Simpson, double bass, Duncan Barkes, El Club Del Rock, El Pais, El Popular, Facebook, keyboard, La Sexta, “Life of Brian”, LIPA, London, Macca, Madrid, “Magical Mystery Tour”, Manchester, "Mona Lisa", Mondo Sonoro, Monty Python, NME, New Musical Express, Official London Theatre, Olivia Trinidad Arias, Paris, Pattie Boyd, saxophone, SKY News Press Review, singing diploma, state-of-the-art facilities, TeleMadrid, The Beatles, The Culture Vulture, The Dallas Morning News,  the “Got Back” tour, The Guardian, The Quarrymen, The Silver Beetles, The Spokesman-Review, The Times, Tom Whitelock, Uppers, West End, Wikipedia, Wings, WIZink Centre, www.paulmccartney.com



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“Last Christmas” or “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” – 40 years on
Sunday, December 15, 2024

It’s 40 years since “Wham!” released their Christmas single “Last Christmas”.

At about the same time Bob Geldof (now “Sir” Bob) set up the first charity single in aid of the starving in Africa, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, which featured most of the top pop and rock stars of the time. The group name was "Band Aid".

 

What happened next?

Which single got to Number One in the official UK Charts?

The favourite was “Wham!’s” George Michael masterpiece. Fellow member of the duo Andrew Ridgely had nothing to do with the song. “Yog”, as the Greek-born Londoner was known, wrote it, sang it and played all of the instruments. “Last Christmas” was a nailed-on Christmas No. 1!

Then what happened? Apparently, Michael flew straight from Switzerland where they had been filming the video to accompany their song, to the studios in London where the stars assembled by Geldof were about to record “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

You guessed it. The Christmas No. 1 in 1984 was the charity single, by the group cleverly named "Band Aid".

Wham!’s” effort languished for weeks at number 2 and never made number 1. Had George Michael been complicit in his own “downfall”?

 

After "Wham!"

Apparently he didn’t care. In a BBC documentary about Wham! he comes across as a really nice guy. Everybody loved him. He had lots of really close mates.

When he came out as gay, it didn’t affect his popularity. Even when he was arrested for committing a lewd act with another man in a public toilet, his popularity didn’t diminish.

That he died so young was a tragedy, but his legacy lives on.

I found his acoustic rendering of The Police hit "Roxanne" astonishing. Indeed, his solo album "Songs From the Last Century" is remarkable.

 

RIP – George Michael

Born in London of Greek parents his real name was Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. He sold more than 100 million albums during a career lasting almost four decades.

He died on Christmas Day 2016, aged 53, of a heart condition.

 

Endword

“Last Christmas”, arguably one of the best Christmas songs ever, finally reached number 1 in 2023!

 

© The Culture Vulture

 

Acknowledgements:

Billboard

BBC Mundo

El Mundo

EFE

Facebook

New York Times

Wikipedia

 

Links:

George Michael - Roxanne (Audio) - YouTube

George Michael - Songs From The Last Century (Full Album Remastered)

 

Tags:

Andrew Ridgely, "Band Aid", Bob Geldof, BBC documentary about Wham!, BBC Mundo, Christmas No. 1, Culture Vulture, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, EFE, George Michael, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, “Last Christmas”, lewd act with another man, "Roxanne", "Songs from the Last Century", The Police, Wikipedia, “Yog”

 



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A Serendipitous Film Night
Friday, December 13, 2024

It was cold yesterday evening, so I went into my TV room and fiddled with my remote control. For the first time ever, I looked at what SKY Movies had to offer. Blimey! "The Untouchables" was on.

 

"The Untouchables"

The film had already started. I joined the film as Eliot Ness and his team of Untouchables were waiting to ambush a booze convoy at the USA /Canada border.

I’ve seen this film a number of times and always loved it – the performances of Robert De Niro as Capone, Kevin Costner as Ness and Andy Garcia as his police sidekick I always found outstanding.

This time, however, I saw the film in a different light. De Niro was brilliant, of course, but Costner was not as impressive as I remembered. Sean Connery, as the Irish beat cop with a Scottish accent, was also a revelation. I’d always thought on previous viewings of the film, that he’d hammed it up. Not so!

He was an important catalyst.

Billy Drago, the actor who played Frank Nitty, was also off the scale of evil. Drago died in 1999 aged 73, younger than I am now! Blimey!

The scene on the stairs at New York Central Station was as tense and brutally exciting as ever and the courtroom scenes were also tight and just right.

After the film ended, I went to the loo. When I got back to the TV, another film was just starting, a thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

 

"Nightcrawler"

I’d only ever seen Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) with the late Heath Ledger. I liked his performance, but in this film, he was at  a completely different level - a revelation!

He played a hustler and very well too. He made this viewer, at least, warm to his character, even though he turned out to be totally unscrupulous.

The only other actor in the film whom I knew was Rene Russo, from her appearance in the remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair” (1999) opposite Pierce Brosnan.

From my recollection she was a beauty in that film and certainly matched Faye Dunaway in the original version with Steve McQueen (1968).

She was older here but still gorgeous. I fully understand why the character played by Gyllenhall, Louis Blum, fancied her!

Cos I did too!

I enjoyed the film immensely. And it must have been good, because I stayed awake. Normally after dinner and a few beers I drop off. Not this time.

 

© The Culture Vulture

 

 

Tags:

Al Capone, Andy Garcia, Billy Drago“Brokeback Mountain”, Eliot Ness, Faye Dunaway, Frank Nitty, Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kevin Costner, Louis Blum, New York Central Station, "Nightcrawler", Pierce Brosnan, Rene RussoRobert De Niro, Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, “The Thomas Crown Affair”, "The Untouchables"



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Advent
Monday, December 2, 2024

This post has been updated and improved and moved to:

"PUNTOS DE VISTA" here:

Advent - in Spain

 

¡Felices Fiestas!



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