How Russell Raised Me Up...
My weekend involved 33 thousand people and a musical line up of Peter Hook of New Order, Russell Watson the opera singer and Clint Boon of The Inspiral Carpets.
I was commentating at the Bupa Great Manchester Run and Russell was doing the warm up, Clint was doing the Dj'ing and Hooky was running it. I don't know which one of those statements is the most bizarre.
One of my jobs was to introduce Russell who was going to sing You Raise Me Up for the crowd. So far, so simple. But then PR man Dave came up with a wheeze: "Wouldn't it be great if when he gets to the line 'you raise me up' he literally raises up above the crowds?"
The call went out for a mobile hydraulic stage so that on the cue, Russell ( dressed in his running tights!) would then be sent skywards.
It was a 'Spinal Tap meets Busby Berkeley musical' moment and I was a bit worried in case we couldn't pull it off. What if Britain's best known tenor were to suddenly discover he didn't have a head for heights? What if the engine stalled and You Raise Me Up became You Raise Me Up Ever So Slightly?
In the end it was a brilliant moment and I have to say Russell Watson floating in mid air singing to an incredible crowd of 30,000 people was actually quite moving.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~13~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Is that a shammy hanging out his pocket. The third floor's not been done for a while.
Complain about this comment
Run at a time that suits you in the BUPA race.
Complain about this comment
He always seems areally good guy.
Complain about this comment
"I can see my house from up here!"
Complain about this comment
BUPA is A PUB backwards.
Complain about this comment
Is there Castlemaine 4X?
Complain about this comment
How the XXXX would I know?
>8-D
Complain about this comment
"You're the voice - try and understand it!"
Complain about this comment
The 30000 had turned up after a radio advert for a free tenner
Complain about this comment
Hey Norrie - yes BB tells me he was a really nice guy. It's been a day full of excitement....the stories from the weekend and the inspirational meeting with Mr Bolt, and then our very own Bryan "Bolt" Burnett turns up in tights for our weekly run session! What with that and a busy night on the show it's more than a girl can take so early in the week.
I think I've peaked!!
Thanks for contributions on the blog this weekend....kept me giggling.
x
Complain about this comment
Lycra's linear and lateral limitations loom large.
Complain about this comment
#10
Bernie the Bolt?
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS