Getting in the swing...
Shelagh Fogarty gives her review of Nicky's big night
What is it with Nicky and Scousers? It's not enough that he spends most of his mornings sitting next to me in the 5 live Studio. Now he's teamed up with actor and singer, Mark Moraghan, to produce a Swing album, launched last night at The Leicester Square Theatre in the West End.
To a packed house, they clearly had the time of their lives, performing songs written by Nicky, sung by Mark, and all a rather lovely nod to the American Songbook.
Old(ish) Blue Eyes and his Ukelele accompanied Mark on a few of the songs, including Many's The Time and Through It All. 5 live Breakfast's Senior Producer Gill Edmonds sang backing on "A Blast From The Past" and Wonderfully Wonderful You. The usually restrained and sophisticated Breakfast Team whooped and chanted her name every time she came on. Not big. Not clever. But we make no apologies. The highly regarded singer Margo Buchanan sang a duet with Mark and backing on many more songs. The musicians accompanying them all were second to none.
The two crooners have a great stage rapport, and it's obvious the unlikely combo has taken them both in a direction which delights them, a direction some might be sceptical about. What's a Radio and TV Presenter, who grills politicians for a living, doing making an album with an actor who once delivered babies on Holby City? Well why not? Give it a listen. You'll enjoy it. My favourite is This Universe of Blue. It reminds me of Everything But The Girl's The Night Caruso Sang. Hold on to the people you love because the rest is too big to grasp is what I took from it. No doubt Nicky'll tell me if I'm right or not!
Oh, and a word about the Ukulele. Nicky tends to appear a bit wounded when I give him my "Scouse Eye" look at the mere mention of this tiny, kitten instrument. Last night it went missing just before the encore, and he had to borrow one, as you do. I mean, please. The trombone didn't go missing. The double bass didn't wander off. The trumpets didn't nip out to powder their noses. I still need some convincing that Ukuleles aren't silly.
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So, has Shelagh apologised for arranging the kidnapping of said ukulele?
Good luck to Nicky, not afraid to put his head above the parapet!
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is this 'product placement' in action?
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i know what it is - its the 'chemistry' between shelagh and nicky is so similar to his 'chemistry' with julie burchill on the radio.
i knew something was bugging me. resolved at last!
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Gosh! I am please to report that Leicester Square and its theatre was still there yesterday.
So no lasting damage done. I wondered what that fellah on the plinth in Trafalgar Square was complaining about.
So has Mayor Boris pulled all licences to perform - er - music in London then?
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