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Diva's
Delight |
Divas Delight In Their Own
‘Match Of The Day’
08/11/1999
APART from
Australia v France, it was the most closely-watched match of the
day.
Pocket sized diva
Charlotte Church and Queen of Tiger Bay Shirley Bassey had never
been on the same bill before.
It provided our
chance to assess the contrasting talents of the two most famous
female Welsh singers around.
Here, Carolyn Hitt
gives her verdict on how it worked out:
SHIRLEY BASSEY
Age:
Sixtysomething.
Birthplace:
Cardiff.
Musical Style: Big
belters.
Fashion Sense:
Never has a flag been put to so many sartorial uses. After the tent
look of the opening ceremony she thankfully added a sequinned bodice
and, therefore, a bit of figure-hugging shape for the closing
ceremony.
World Cup
Entrance: Suit-ably diva-esque, raising her arms to receive her
public. Was so busy basking at one point she nearly tripped over a
Welsh schoolboys rugby player.
Performance: Was
she or wasn’t she? Still looked a tad uncomfortable in World
In Union but at least mouth and lyrics were in perfect sync,
whether or not she was miming. Much more at home for We’ll
Keep A Welcome, looked like Belting Bassey at her best.
Musical Relevance
to the Occasion: No product place-ment here, just the world cup
anthem and an unashamedly sentimental rendition of one of Wales’s
more syrupy numbers.
Crowd Reaction:
The minute she walked in the joint they went wild.
World Cup Exit:
Looked over-whelmed, or could just be relieved that no-one will be
watching her lips so closely ever again.
CHARLOTTE CHURCH
Age: 13.
Birthplace:
Cardiff.
Musical Style:
Started out aged eight singing “big belters like Shirley Bassey”
but has since switched to light classical repertoire and global
advertising theme-tunes.
Fashion Sense:
Tammy Girl meets Gucci. Decked out for Rugby World Cup Closing
Ceremony in jeans, sequinned T-shirt and fur-trimmed red suede.
World Cup
Entrance: Cutesy grin, plus lots of waving.
Performance:
Sparkly-eyed, in tune and, most importantly, didn’t look as if she
was miming.
Musical Relevance to
the Occasion: Just Wave Hello includes lots of “world
in harmony” type lyrics, so beloved of international sporting
event closing ceremonies. But it’s of even greater relevance if
you’re a Fiesta driver as it happens to be the extended jingle for
Ford’s new multi-million pound advertising campaign.
Crowd Reaction:
Decent cheer, mingled with inevitable cynicism reserved for talented
kiddie stars.
World Cup Exit:
Known for her inability to shut up once she’s sung, sorry natural
ebullience, Charlotte rarely exits without a chirpy comment and her
spoken tones are rather less dulcet than her singing ones. “May
the best team win!” she bellowed before Just Waving Goodbye.
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