Borole living her dream
SIMPLY THE BEST: THERE IS A SONG FOR EVERYONE
Soweto singer will take Tina Turner fans down memory lane.
T ina Turner is an act that is hard to imitate. Her music is legendary and she has always been captivating to the lovers of soul and pop-rock music.
Added to her porfolio as a performer, the 78-year-old Turner is also an actress and songwriter.
Soweto-born actress and singer Caroline Borole is playing the role of the legendary Turner, sometimes known as the “Queen of Rock”, in a dazzling two-hour stage production – Tina: Simply The Best – at Emperors Palace.
Borole is backed by a live band as she performs Turner’s biggest hits, including Simply the Best, What’s Love Got to Do with It, River Deep Mountain High, Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, Private Dancer and many more.
Borole let The Citizen in on who she is, her current performances and what audiences can expect from the show. I come from the southwestern townships, otherwise known as Soweto. Tina, Tina, Tina. Besides normal radio, she is all I listen to. Well, I’m really loving Durban-born songstress, LaSoul. She has some sultry vocals that are hip and happening right now. It was actually Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked. I studied musical theatre so I’m always churning out the tunes. Brandy Norwood’s debut album Brandy. Before that, I had a whole cupboard full of cassettes and LPs. I draw inspiration from strong women in my life and industry ladies, too.
My mother is at the top of that list, of course, but my biggest musical influences are divas like Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Miriam Makeba and Dorothy Masuku, to name but a few. I’ve been singing from an early From tomorrow until September 16, Tina: Simply The Best will be performed in the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace. Tickets at Computicket. age. The music industry is tough to crack into but once you do, you have to keep on pushing the boundaries by working hard and being hungry for success. It feels incredible to sing songs from a living legend who is still a force to be reckoned with. Ms Tina is a show that female performers dream of performing on stage, and I get to live that dream. I have performed at the Palace of Dreams before, so it feels like home – and it’s always good to be back home. The show is jam-packed with all the tunes we know and love from Tina. It is highly energetic, full of exciting and electric rock ballads and tunes.
There is a song for everyone, young and old. It simply doesn’t disappoint. I won’t give away everything about the show, but I can tell you that with a full band and a horn section, two amazing dancers and a talented backing vocalist, the show is truly simply the best. My greatest supporters of course – my family and my closest friends. In all honesty, though, I want all of South Africa to see this show. They will be buzzing with good old rock and roll joy.