Petula Clark has always been one of my favorite singers. Her voice always had a certain element of .... something .... in it accented by an English accent. Whatever that ... something ... was, it made her a bit special.
Petula Clark always seemed like she had a bit of a razor's edge to her even though she was often considered a good girl -whatever that means. Whenever I saw her on TV or heard her singing, I felt she was probably much more comfortable with the working guys and gals than she was with the social elite.Here she is with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. I have a feeling she was much more into the Stones than she was the Beatles. Keep in mind when this picture was taken she was already famous and these guys were just getting a good start. They had their picture taken with her - not the other way around.
Another thing about Petula Clark that made her a bit mysterious and exotic was that she is fluent in French and sings as effortlessly in French as she does in English.
I remember Johnny Carson saying that you can say anything in French and it will always sound good.
Like all of us Petula Clark is older today. In fact, this past November she turned 80. Hard to believe but I guess that is true. This photo was taken of her last year.
Petula Clark is still working and keeping busy. Over the years she has performed countless concerts and made regular appearances. Just this past year she released a new album.
Though Petula Clark reached the pinnacle of her fame from about 1965 to 1972, she was famous before that time and she has remained famous since. Not many people can say that.
One of my favorite Petula Clark songs is I Know a Place. Like most songs of the mid 60s it is about 2 1/2 minutes long. I always liked the energy in her songs.
7 comments:
Petula Clark is 80? You have got to be kidding! How come everyone is getting so old? I'm not aging...... oh, wait, maybe I am.
I also liked her song I Know a Place*. Thanks for posting it.
*Italics aren't working this morning!
I always loved Petula clark.
Nothing compares today to our day when the best music was produced.
We were not spoiled back then but neither were we conservative like our parents were.
We were born just at the right time when we could not only dream but make them come true too.
My absolute favourite song of hers is "Downtown" and I still remember all the words:
When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go - downtown
When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know - downtown
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - no finer place, for sure
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows - downtown
Maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close - downtown
Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova
You'll be dancing with him too before the night is over
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown, where all the lights are bright
Downtown - waiting for you tonight
Downtown - you're gonna be all right now
[Instrumental break]
And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares
So go downtown, things'll be great when you're
Downtown - don't wait a minute for
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
Downtown, downtown, downtown, downtown ...
Can you hear me singing??? lol
The 'Downtown' girl. 80! Oh no---how old does that make meeeee???? MB
Hard to imagine she's 80 and if that's a recent photo she looks great.
"God, I get so tired of people under 50!" This made me laugh. Remember when we weren't to trust anyone over 30? Enjoying the music.. thanks for that.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this as I was listening to her being interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. She is doing the rounds of radio and TV here in UK and is also going to be touring - at 80. Amazing lady. Still pretty and a role model for a lot of people.
And since that an album in English, and a tour of Scotland and England. Now another album recorded in London, and a new track in French with Canadian country singer Paul Daraiche... and the prospect of another tour in the UK and another album in French to be recorded.
http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2015/10/23/paul-daraiche-chante-avec-ses-idoles
She never stops.
If you are interested in her career there is are several Facebook pages for her...
https://www.facebook.com/Miss-Petula-Clark-35601886728/
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