Ginny Dougary :: Award-winning journalist and writer

Ginny Dougary :: Award-winning journalist and writer » Music http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk Politics, celebrities, interviews, opinions, travel, and more... Tue, 18 May 2010 16:07:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Leonard Bernstein: ‘charismatic, pompous – and a great father’ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2010/03/16/leonard-bernstein-%e2%80%98charismatic-pompous-and-a-great-father/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2010/03/16/leonard-bernstein-%e2%80%98charismatic-pompous-and-a-great-father/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:42:14 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=319

Had you been fortunate enough to be in the company of the most charismatic American conductor-composer- teacher-broadcaster of all time for long enough, it is likely that you would have heard this explosion at regular intervals in living rooms and auditoriums across the world: “That’s STEIN!” whenever someone affronted the late, great Leonard Bernstein by introducing him incorrectly as “BernSTEEN.” His youngest child, Nina, now 48, is talking to me about her father, whose life and art is being celebrated all year at the Southbank Centre. It’s a tantalising and illuminating process attempting to channel such an exuberantly talented man through the women who were close to him (I also speak to Marin Alsop, the conductor, who was his protégée) but ultimately frustrating since everything you hear — good and bad — just makes you wish, even more, that you had met him. Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2010/03/16/leonard-bernstein-%e2%80%98charismatic-pompous-and-a-great-father/feed/ 0 Even Lloyd Webber isn’t sure why Phantom of the Opera is his biggest hit http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2010/02/21/even-lloyd-webber-isn%e2%80%99t-sure-why-phantom-of-the-opera-is-his-biggest-hit/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2010/02/21/even-lloyd-webber-isn%e2%80%99t-sure-why-phantom-of-the-opera-is-his-biggest-hit/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:15:22 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=298 webber

As a sequel to the Phantom opens, he talks about his new ‘almost cool’ status, his father’s roving eye — and the joy of a dirty joke Andrew Lloyd Webber has his kind face on and is looking straight into my eyes as I sing: “Your looks are laughable, unphoto-graphable, but you’re my favourite work of art . . .” No, alas, I am not the new Dorothy and this attempt at My Funny Valentine, in the back of a black cab, is the closest I could get to being auditioned by His Lordship. “Mmmm,” he murmurs, tactfully, “it’s rather nice, actually.” Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2010/02/21/even-lloyd-webber-isn%e2%80%99t-sure-why-phantom-of-the-opera-is-his-biggest-hit/feed/ 0 Mitch Winehouse on the torment of Amy’s self-destruction http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/12/20/mitch-winehouse-on-the-torment-of-amys-self-destruction/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/12/20/mitch-winehouse-on-the-torment-of-amys-self-destruction/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:07:38 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=259 Photo - Phil Fisk

So, let’s get the great big elephant out of the room straightaway. Is there something a bit iffy about the way Mitch Winehouse appears to be making a career on the back of his daughter’s demons? What career, you might ask. Well, there are at least two documentaries in the pipeline in which he features large as day, as well as Mitch Winehouse’s Showbiz Rant, an online TV series that films him in his cab sounding off to various celebrity-lite passengers (David Hasselhoff; someone called Shaggy, who was told to take his feet off the seat) – “And don’t get me started on that Lady Gaga…” and so on – and now he’s even recording an album of his own, Rush of Love, due to be released in spring. Isn’t it a bit weird, I ask him, since he would never have got an album out if… “Never. Not in a million years,” he jumps in. “Course not. I mean, I’m not an idiot. I know that I got the album ’cos I’m Amy’s dad.” Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/12/20/mitch-winehouse-on-the-torment-of-amys-self-destruction/feed/ 0 Goldie’s Bittersweet Proms Symphony http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/08/12/goldies-bittersweet-proms-symphony/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/08/12/goldies-bittersweet-proms-symphony/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:30:32 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=223 Photo: Jude Edginton Goldie is the very model of concentration, his wide topaz eyes taking everything in. There’s a massive thunderclap of drums rolling, followed by a spooky whispering, hissing sound from the 70-odd sopranos and altos of the London Philharmonic Choir, the basses come in, quietly at first, their voices gradually swelling to another crescendo, a banging of a metal sheet, the BBC Concert Orchestra builds as one, as the whole choir sings out in full majestic force… and then silence, followed by applause. The drum’n’bass pioneer, who experienced the harshest start in life, has just heard his first orchestral piece, which will have its world premiere at this year’s Proms. Sine Tempore (Without Time) – only seven minutes, but each one a thrill – is his response to the concert’s theme, evolution; not one big bang but a series of explosions heralding the birth and growth of new life. Just before the orchestra started up, he and his Maestro mentor, Ivor Setterfield, gave each other a quick hug. It was hard to tell from their expressions which of the two men was more excited – and apprehensive. Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/08/12/goldies-bittersweet-proms-symphony/feed/ 0 A hip-hop tour of New York’s Harlem http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/05/25/a-hip-hop-tour-of-new-yorks-harlem/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/05/25/a-hip-hop-tour-of-new-yorks-harlem/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 20:15:31 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=192 So there I am with my solid crew, two teenage sons and me in Kangol berets, dripping in bling, on loan from our hosts Grandmaster Caz and Reggie Reg, the grandaddies of hip-hop, manoeuvring our way through Harlem and the Bronx in a tour bus rapping to “It’s like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from going under”. What a great way to start a family holiday in New York. Caz (short for Casanova) is an A* teacher; no slacking permitted as he fires out questions, checks whether his pupils have been listening, points out places of interest — where such and such a gangsta rapper was shot dead (“We always pause here to pay a little love . . . a little respect”) — and lists the four cornerstones of hip-hop culture: the DJ, the MC, breakdancing and graffiti. And then there’s the clothes. Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/05/25/a-hip-hop-tour-of-new-yorks-harlem/feed/ 0 How do you pen a song for the Brighton Festival Fringe? http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/05/25/how-do-you-pen-a-song-for-the-brighton-festival-fringe/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/05/25/how-do-you-pen-a-song-for-the-brighton-festival-fringe/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 20:09:25 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=190

A song for everyone

Music, food of Hove: Ginny Dougary prepares some shockingly filthy numbers

Oh come on all ye faithful

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2009/05/25/how-do-you-pen-a-song-for-the-brighton-festival-fringe/feed/ 0 Music, food of Hove: Ginny Dougary prepares some shockingly filthy numbers http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2008/05/19/music-food-of-hove-ginny-dougary-prepares-some-shockingly-filthy-numbers/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2008/05/19/music-food-of-hove-ginny-dougary-prepares-some-shockingly-filthy-numbers/#comments Mon, 19 May 2008 15:17:47 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=127

How do you pen a song for the Brighton Festival Fringe?

Ginny meets Dolly

Men and singing — why we need vocal heroes

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2008/05/19/music-food-of-hove-ginny-dougary-prepares-some-shockingly-filthy-numbers/feed/ 0 Really good snares, Mum; how Shlomo taught my son and me how to beatbox http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2008/05/14/really-good-snares-mum-how-shlomo-taught-my-son-and-me-how-to-beatbox/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2008/05/14/really-good-snares-mum-how-shlomo-taught-my-son-and-me-how-to-beatbox/#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 08:37:19 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=125 Shlomo, beatboxer extraordinaire, is a courteous, cleancut young man with good teeth. This I know because he bared them repeatedly while demonstrating the basic skills of a percussive vocalist - a lip-smackingly resonant “B-uh”, followed by a wide-grinned “T-uh” and the finale of an open-mouthed primal pout “K-uh” - in a masterclass conducted for the benefit of my 17-year-old son and his mother. Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2008/05/14/really-good-snares-mum-how-shlomo-taught-my-son-and-me-how-to-beatbox/feed/ 0 Paean of praise to the ginger-ninjas http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2007/07/20/paean-of-praise-to-the-ginger-ninjas/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2007/07/20/paean-of-praise-to-the-ginger-ninjas/#comments Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:25:00 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2007/07/20/paean-of-praise-to-the-ginger-ninjas/ Click here to listen to Ginger Chorale by Ginny Dougary and MJ Paranzino, performed at the Royal Festival Hall, June 2007 Jenny McAlpine

Photo courtesy Red and Proud Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2007/07/20/paean-of-praise-to-the-ginger-ninjas/feed/ 0 A song for everyone http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2007/04/28/a-song-for-everyone/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2007/04/28/a-song-for-everyone/#comments Sat, 28 Apr 2007 15:18:48 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2007/04/28/a-song-for-everyone/ Howard Goodall is a man of many passions: from composing the Mr Bean theme to popularising Wagner. He tells Ginny Dougary why singing and squash — but not dancing — are good for the soul

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2007/04/28/a-song-for-everyone/feed/ 0 Men and singing — why we need vocal heroes http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/12/23/men-and-singing-why-we-need-vocal-heroes/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/12/23/men-and-singing-why-we-need-vocal-heroes/#comments Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:48:42 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/12/23/men-and-singing-why-we-need-vocal-heroes/

Really good snares, Mum; how Shlomo taught my son and me how to beatbox

Hitting all the right notes

Oh come on all ye faithful

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/12/23/men-and-singing-why-we-need-vocal-heroes/feed/ 0 Who wants to be good? http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/03/09/who-wants-to-be-good/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/03/09/who-wants-to-be-good/#comments Thu, 09 Mar 2006 13:31:56 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/03/12/who-wants-to-be-good/ Ginny Dougary 30 years after the birth of punk, Malcolm McLaren reveals that his gran invented it — and taught him the virtues of being bad Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/03/09/who-wants-to-be-good/feed/ 0 Preacher man http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2005/06/25/preacher-man/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2005/06/25/preacher-man/#comments Sat, 25 Jun 2005 20:08:09 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=14 Ginny Dougary For 20 years, Bob Geldof has raged, hectored and charmed to get what he wants: hope for Africa. but even superheroes have their flaws, as Ginny Dougary discovers in a stormy encounter. Just how much of a bully do you have to be to pull off something extraordinary? Does it matter if you bruise or upset people along the way and do you even care if you do, when the goal you are striving for is so important? Do you feel outraged to be challenged over issues which you consider to be trivial, unnecessary and possibly obstructive? These are the questions which nagged me after interviewing Sir Bob Geldof. Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2005/06/25/preacher-man/feed/ 0 Ginny meets Dolly http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2002/11/02/ginny-meets-dolly/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2002/11/02/ginny-meets-dolly/#comments Sat, 02 Nov 2002 20:16:33 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=16 Ginny Dougary Dolly Parton's bosom goes before her. It is impossible to think of her voice and her songs without conjuring a mental picture of that famous cantilevered shelf which juts so implausibly over her minuscule waist. Her top-heavy form even enlivened debate in the House of Commons when some years ago Kenneth Clarke chastised Gordon Brown for relying on the "Dolly Parton school of economics — an unbelievable figure blown out of all proportion with no visible means of support." Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2002/11/02/ginny-meets-dolly/feed/ 0 After the wipe out http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2002/06/01/after-the-wipe-out/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2002/06/01/after-the-wipe-out/#comments Sat, 01 Jun 2002 20:05:08 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/?p=13 Ginny Dougary Life has not been fun, fun, fun for Brian Wilson, presiding genius of the Beach Boys and creator of Pet Sounds, one of the very greatest pop albums. He bears the scars of too much acid and too much pressure. But he can still reduce audiences to tears, whatever their age. Related posts:

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2002/06/01/after-the-wipe-out/feed/ 0 The new romantic – Interview, Nick Cave http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/1999/03/27/the-new-romantic-interview-nick-cave/ http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/1999/03/27/the-new-romantic-interview-nick-cave/#comments Sat, 27 Mar 1999 11:29:32 +0000 Administrator http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/2006/05/30/the-new-romantic-interview-nick-cave/

Mitch Winehouse on the torment of Amy’s self-destruction

How do you pen a song for the Brighton Festival Fringe?

Ricky Gervais in his most ‘postmodern’ interview ever

]]> http://www.ginnydougary.co.uk/1999/03/27/the-new-romantic-interview-nick-cave/feed/ 0