Unassuming Susan Boyle is making waves around the world with her performance on Britain's Got Talent. 47 years old, never been kissed, from a small collection of villages in the UK, Susan shows what it takes to follow your dream in the face of those who don't believe - and how to shock a nation! The clip has already had over 17million views, I've watched it three times and it's still bringing tears to my eyes.
Showing posts with label performance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label performance. Show all posts
coronation
Last night we went to go see Nataniёl's new production, Coronation. If you're living in South Africa, and you've not been to see Nataniёl yet, you're missing out on a large piece of our culture and colour. He's brilliant, fabulous, fantastic, amazing. I've waxed lyrical about him before, when we went to go see Men Who Fly, but he really is that good.Last night's story - he creates all his songs, stories, anecdotes around a central theme for each production - was about finding your place in the world, and how many people confuse this with the pursuit of power. Filled with stories of people in cities, people in small towns, people with small minds, people with big hearts, he paints a wonderful picture of South Africa-and in fact history - with all its good and bad, but mostly, all the humour there is to be seen and experienced if you'll only look at things slightly differently. The word that best fits him is "poignant".
He carries himself like a prince from a long-forgotten royal court. Hand gestures are precise and considered, there's no excess in gesture, but plenty in costume.
As a performer in South Africa, Nataniёl is singular in his craft.
"A king too shy to appear in public, a dictator eating his subjects, a pregnant beauty queen, a commander in love with the enemy, through the ages history has provided us with countless examples of the unbelievable and the royally insane.
Coronation takes a look at the madness and absurdity of power and those whose lives are ruled by it, those who will die in pursuit of it, those who will die being oppressed by it, those who will die defying it and those not realizing they are in possession of it." - mambaonline.com
a little bit of za kultuur
If I can recommend that you see one South African production this year, it's this one. Forget all the local bands (yes, even freshlyground), the local soaps, the dodgy pantomimes and funny festivals in muddy valleys surrounded by beer and hot dog stands.If you want to see one South African at the height of his game, a consummate performer and artist, then go see Nataniel. Seriously.
We went to his production, "The Moses Machine". To say we were astounded is an understatement. The man is a genuis. From his music to his costumes (which are as outlandish as you can imagine) to his stories - the man knows how to sway and enthrall a crowd. So, despite what you may have decided about him based on his demeanor or appearance, please try see his new production, "Men Who Fly".
I have my tickets...
"Moving away from the structure of previous productions, this show is built around a theme rather than a single story-line. Energetic, textured and fantastical, MEN WHO FLY is a tribute to all who do not have their feet on the ground. Original soul, rock and pop songs alternate with comedy sketches and stories in both English and Afrikaans."
jose gonzalez
We went to go see Jose Gonzalez performing live at Wits Unitversity last week (the guy who did the music they use for the sony bravia bouncing balls ad).
While I like his music, I admit I didn't know too much about him. Turns out his parents are Argentinian, but he's Swedish. He doesn't speak too much english. And he plays guitar like he was born with one in his hands. It's amazing to watch - I've never seen anyone re-tune their guitar between songs to change the key. Simply amazing.
It was a little disappointing that he didn't have more original music, but his covers are really cool too. Besides "Heartbeat", the track that made him famous, actually being from The Knife (who you HAVE to try get a hold of), he did a pretty cool version of Kylie's "Hand on your Heart".
All in all, I'm really pleased we went - add to the list of things done in 2007: "see live international acts " - TICK!
Did I mention we went to meet him and get our CDs signed?
karma chameleon
A new favourite live performer! I love this - being able to find new acts that you really enjoy and can see over and over. The latest one is Chris Chameleon. You may remember him as the guy who wore dresses and make-up in the band BOO!, but all that's changed. Not that it was a bad thing. I just think Chris may have found his own groove now. We went to see him perform a while back at a theatre in Pretoria. Loved it! He did the poems of Ingrid Jonke (yes, you HAVE heard of her - think back to school) and he gave them a life I never saw before while hanging over an old textbook. He breathes in to them. He introduces one song as "one of Ingrid Jonke's saddest poems of loss", and promptly launches in the liveliest vocal acrobatics ever!
And he really is an amazing vocalist! The things that man can do with his throat! At one point I really thought the sound effects had kicked in, but it was all him - just him, his mic and his guitar. "I know - talented tongue" he says smiling...
If you get a chance to see him, I recommend you do - you won't regret it, and you may find something beautiful you never knew was so close.
"i was a king bee with a head full of attitude"
Monday night Robin and I went to see Lloyd Cole performing at the Bassline in Newtown. Let me just say it's the most disorganised venue I've ever been in. But back to Lloyd...I don't really know Lloyd Cole - he's apparently a little "before my time". But there's one track that Robin gave to me some time ago. So while the place was packed out with fans who have followed his career for decades and were cheering at the first few chords from his guitar as soon as they recognised an old favourite, I was waiting for my song. Just that one song that I'd recognise. Something that I could also associate with the evening. Because I certainly didn't have my LPs there to be signed. (you heard right)
From listening to the track I imagined someone older and a little more 'country & western'. But he's a gentle, simple looking man in jeans and a waistcoat who can't be much older than 40. And by his own account he's spent the last 10 years living in seedy motels as his career (which was big in the 80s) took a serious dip. My quote for the evening: "Don't believe the stories - this isn't a comeback. I never left. I was just...failing." That's the other thing about him - a self-effacing humour which you don't notice at first, but which had the crowds giggling through the evening. He also made a tribute to those people in the audience who he "sees a lot at concerts around the world" who aren't actually LLoyd Cole fans but who have the misfortune of dating/being married to/knowing one. "To all of you who happen to be sitting next to a Lloyd Cole fan, who’s dragged you here to listen to this, this is for you, I’d like to thank you for actually being here..." Which I thought was pretty genuine and heartfelt - it can't be easy trying to fight your way up the ebb of your career.
I heard my song by the way - and one other from Johnny Cash I recognised. yay! :oD
It took a lost weekend in a hotel in amsterdam
And double pneumonia in a single room
And the sickest joke was the price of the medicine
Are you laughing at me now may I please laugh along with you
~ "Lost Weekend" by Lloyd Cole
Lloyd's own page.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
