If you heard that Cilla Black died this weekend, you might have wondered who she was if you are American. I can tell you that she is a very well loved and respected singer/entertainer in Great Britain. I always liked her myself and feel saddened at her passing. I found two videos on YouTube for you, the first one is a celebration of her 50 years in show business from 2013 and tells a lot about this delightful woman, not just about her career. If you don't have time to see it now, come back to it later! And at about the middle of it, at about minute 32...make sure you see Sir George Martin talk about the recording of the song "Alfie". AND then, listen to the song sung on stage with just a guitar. Beautiful tribute! (George Martin at Abbey Road Studios, I don't think we would have known the Beatles if not for him, he is someone I really admire. And look at him in the 1960's, so tall and with his London accent, just gorgeous!)
The second one is of her wedding in 1969. (It is just over one MINUTE long!) Look at the crowd if you don't believe that she is very popular! I love her short mini dress with the furry collar and sleeves, perfectly in style it was too! And I was 12 years old that year, but I had those same white go-go boots. Anybody else remember them? They were FAB!
When you listen to the videos I want you to pay special attention to the Liverpool accents...if you are a Beatles fan, you should recognize it anywhere! (I don't claim to be an expert on accents but I know the Liverpool one, I really do...it is a kind of sing song way of speaking and the voice goes up at the end of a sentence...okay, you have listened, you will always know it now, right?)
Once again, my friends, I have not been able to visit all the blogs I like to read. I have been under the weather. A visit to the doctor today and a day off work. Hope I will be able to get back into the swing of things soon-reading all your wonderful words and then...climbing my mountains, you all know that is what I truly love to do.
My medical advice...try to get as much exercise as possible...the heat has made it very difficult for me lately to go on our long walks and my health has suffered for it. Take care! (And please don't worry about me, in the words of the lads from Liverpool... I am "getting better all the time".)
 |
| Our cereus cactus only blooms at night...you must get up early to see this bloom! (This cactus is now 21 years old and is over 6 feet tall!) |
I thought Cilla's songs made it big in the States, too...back in the day. She certainly was popular down there...as was her TV show.
ReplyDeleteLast year there was a great little mini-series shown on TV...a bio of her life and rise to fame...it was very good. If you've not seen it, try to get a hold of it from somewhere.
She was a natural girl/woman with no airs or graces. A ray of sunshine.
I know none of my co workers knew who she was...but then, they are not as sophisticated as we are, Lee! HA! (Don't worry, no one that works with reads my blog!)
DeleteNo airs or graces, yes that sounds just right and the kind of folk I like to be around. I don't care how talented you are, just how nice you are.
I meant to type..."She certainly was popular down here"...not "there".
DeleteI'm an oldie.(but a goodie)...so I was around enjoying all the wonderful music, singers and bands of that era! :)
And I, too, like straight-shooters...no bull-dust or manure...if you know what I mean! :)
Oh, I knew you meant down there,...I mean down here for you, if you see what I mean! HA!
DeleteI mostly work with fairly younger people and not too many know any singers except the ones from their own generation, especially not any from England.
And you might guess, I am the same. I really don't have time for phonies and bullies and that makes up a lot of the population.
I DO remember Cilla Black. As a matter of fact I just saw her obituary in today's morning paper and it brought back memories.
ReplyDeleteWe have those Night Blooming Cereus cacti here in Hawaii too.
Kay, YOU know her because we are sisters under the skin!
DeleteAnd Richard has to pick up that potted cactus and bring it into the garage EVERY WINTER. He is a saint, did you know? :-)
I hope you feel better real soon, Kay!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay! Off to have some medication with a strawberry yogurt. Your comment reminded me to do this, so thank you!
DeleteYouTube also has her singing "Anyone Who Had A Heart" which is a beautiful song. Please feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteI love to find music on YouTube.
DeleteAnd thanks for your well wishes.
I knew Cilla Black from the telly but until now didn't know much about her. I bet my mother-in-law Mary is sad about her passing, Cilla was exactly the type of person she likes to see on TV.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you've not been well. I hope the medication helps, and you'll soon be able to go on those lovely walks and hikes again!
I just knew that she was from Liverpool and was one of those that Sir George Martin produced. I hope you went to the middle of that video and saw the clip with him talking about the song "Alfie", it is such a great story!
DeleteThanks, Meike, I hope to feel better soon.
I am so glad that you celebrated Cilla's life. Her death is a great loss. She was a wonderful woman and great entertainer and singer. xx
ReplyDeleteI felt fairly certain that my in-laws would have enjoyed her on TV for years and so, I thought of them when I wrote this. I really loved that special that they did for her, in celebration of her 50 years in show biz. Brits just have the best things on TV, you really do!
DeleteReally sad to hear about Cilla's death at the weekend. I must be one of the few people in the UK that didn't regularly watch her on the box, but she was a lorra lorra fun - and her songs are part of the soundtrack to the 60s and growing up - I play them still. By all accounts a genuine person, too. Liverpool is quite a place. I did a post on the Cavern a while back and we're off to do Beatley-type things later this year - yeah, yeah, yeah. RIP Cilla - thanks for all the smiles.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you Brits don't mind me doing a post on Cilla Black. I did feel sad at her passing, I have a special fondness for those who began their careers in Liverpool. I also thought she seemed just a true genuine person. LIke Paul McCartney said, the kind of gal who would say, "Step Inside, Love". Just lovely.
DeleteI hope you get better soon. I heard about Cilla while I was at work. In true British fashion the next words out of my boss's mouth were a joke. I mostly knew her from Blind Date and Blankety Blank so I wasn't as shaken up as I could have been by the news. She was a charming and entertaining woman who will be missed.
ReplyDeleteCharm is sadly lacking these days I believe!
DeleteThank you for your well wishes for my health, much appreciated! :-)
Dear Kay, I am sorry to hear you are not in good health for the moment. I hope that moment passes quickly. And thanks for the good advice about exercise, advice I really need to hear! But now I am off to Lake Chautauqua where time spent with kids and grand kids will keep me active.
ReplyDeleteOh well, I suppose that is fashionable to be as pale as a ghost and dark circles under the eyes in some country! I do know that you will get excercise with kids around, you just can't help it! Have fun at the lake!
DeleteAs someone of an age with Cilla and The Beatles, brought up in Liverpool and who went to the Cavern Club when the Beatles and Cilla were in their formative years I have to say that I feel a special sorrow for her passing. It's not so much a personal sorrow as the sorrow that all Liverpudlians, particularly those of a certain age, will feel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment! And I hope you don't mind me saying that I think I know the Liverpool accent. I didn't say but I hope it was implied that I love to hear it!
DeleteLucky you, to be able to say that you went to the Cavern Club! Could you have been one of those that they showed in the video standing in line to get in at lunchtime?
I don't ever recall going at lunchtime Kay nor, in fact, do I ever remember queuing. I do remember walking down Whitechapel where NEMS (Brian Epstein's North End Music Stores) had a massive picture of The Beatles in the window. I was with a friend (who became one of the youngest Bank Managers in the North West of England in the days when one had bank managers). He memorably remarked that 'they would never take off'. Of course he was not alone. Wasn't it an HMV executive who held the same view and thus HMV lost out rather heavily.
DeleteGeorge Martin recognized the potential of The Beatles and that is one of the reasons that I really like him!
DeleteThanks for letting me know about your Liverpool days! I really like a book about The Beatles, it is called "The Love You Make", by Peter Brown. Both my son and husband have a favorite book about the Beatles, and it is called,
Revolution In the Head". (I think it is more about their music.)
Are we fans? Yes, we are!
I'm sorry that you have been under the weather, Kay!!! I do hope that you feel better soon! I've been sporadic too, but for a much happier reason ~ traveling, traveling! Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteI would rather be traveling rather thank sitting at a doctor's office!
DeleteHugs to you, my friend!
And...I'm sorry I did say this when I responded early...take good care of yourself, Kay....I hope by time of my writing this you are well on the mend...and feeling 100% once more. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your well wishes. The heat here is not good for this kind of upper respiratory illness. My car said the outside temp was 107 today.
DeleteCould I visit you in Australia please?