Age does not weary these stars
Cliff Richard joins a rare club in a field where longevity is rare, says Ian Cole
CLIFF Richard turned 80 this month. For many of my generation he’s been around for ever.
He had his first hit song when I was in grade five. Even though he was pre The Beatles and was a contemporary of Elvis Presley, he has continued with hit songs decade after decade.
From Summer Holiday to Congratulations to Mistletoe and Wine and numerous number ones before and after, he has succeeded for years in an industry where survival is generally short- term.
Another aspect of an artist’s life can be highlighted when they put themselves under a different spotlight. During his life, Cliff Richard has made headlines doing other things, mainly raising money for charity, but there were other moments.
In 2012, he took part in what he regarded as a favourite memory and that was carrying the Olympic Torch for a section of the Derby to Birmingham leg of the relay.
On another occasion in 1996 during a rain delay at the Wimbledon tennis championships, he led the crowd in an impromptu singing performance until the players could return on court. My daughter tells the story that while she was working at the Wimbledon Championships in London in the early 2000s, Cliff Richard was a regular attendee and always took time to speak to the workers at the gate. Good to hear!
However, my favourite story relates to the BBC production, The Young Ones. Taking the title of the show from one of Cliff Richard’s songs, the program centred on several dysfunctional young students sharing a flat somewhere in North London.
It was totally irreverent and quite violent in a slapstick manner, altogether displaying the opposite of any image which Cliff Richard may have portrayed.
The cast, among others, included Rik, a Cliff Richard fan, Vyvian, who was a violent punk- rocker, and Neil, a depressed hippy.
A few years after the last episode, Cliff Richard joined with the cast for a one- off performance for charity doing a rendition of one of his earlier hits, Living Doll.
Great stuff really. There are many examples of artists continuing into their 80s and I guess Cliff Richard
A FEW YEARS AFTER THE LAST EPISODE OF THE YOUNG ONES, CLIFF RICHARD JOINED THE CAST FOR A PERFORMANCE FOR CHARITY DOING A RENDITION OF ONE OF HIS EARLIER HITS, LIVING DOLL
has the chance to join them.
Leonard Cohen was one who stands out as does comedian George Burns.
He thought he may as well keep going as he said: “Even going to sleep at my age is taking a risk!”
Back to Cliff Richard. He received an OBE for his music and charity work back in 1980 and in 1995 was knighted.
He is now approaching his second OBE and this particular one is one which many of my generation are close to achieving while some, not in a hurry to achieve, would like to eventually. OBE ( Over Bloody Eighty)!