29 march 2023

First Easter Concert in years, and I was so proud to be part of it. 

Ed was very pleased, he took to Facebook and wrote, “What a brilliant concert Dorset for Singing in Dorchester tonight, am so proud of you all! Over £250 raised for #Willdoes and we can do it all again tomorrow night (Thursday, 30th March) at St. Aldhelm's Church in Weymouth at 7pm.  Free entry with a retiring collection and every penny going to the charity. Thank you all so much x”

So there’s a plug for tomorrow’s concert too, when I’ll be singing once again the song that Ed and I wrote in 2016. 

There were some great cabaret acts too, the first time I’ve seen a standing ovation at a DFS event. Goals! And choir did very well with our rich and varied set, even that saucy Peter Kay medley, we certainly pulled that off. I feasted on the smiles of our generous audience. 

Well done Choir, I don’t want you, I probably don’t need you, but I sure do love you. Recklessly…

Cat xxx

16 March 2023

Some people were surprised that our concert is in 2 weeks not 1. Ed had prepared the running order which we would run through this very practise. 

In concerts to announce we had - 

7th May we have been asked on Weymouth Beach to sing for the king’s Whotsit. Not just randomly, on a stage and everything. 

27 may - 10.55 Fayre in the square - brewers quay. Ed and his gorgeous choir shall sing. 

And thus the running order was launched - 

9 to 5 

Now and Forever

Africa 

I who have nothing 

(Solo section) 

Peter Kay medley 

From Both Sides Now 

Uptown Girl 

2 out of 3 ain’t bad 

Those Were The Days 

And after scribbling the list we warmed up, then spent 40 minutes singing our set. Remember our opening song needs soooooo much energy and good American accents. 

Song 2 had a bum line - second line of second verse! Listen in for homework please! Smiley faces and high cheekbones please.

Africa demanded a stand up rain practice! 

Peter Kay - makes choir groan. It needed a second run through. We used the video to help. 

Wow. I’m tired now ….

9th March 2023

There were some lovely posters to display somewhere, and here’s one down below just for you. 

Apparently it looked a lot like this last year, but we had to cancel for pandemic type reasons. We responsibly warned up. I yawned a lot. More oxygen please. 

We commenced with the Peter Kay Children in Need Medley using the original track as a help and guide. After some typos were pointed out, pencils scribbled away and we sang it again by ourselves. Ed said I can bring a giant banana to the concert. 

We spend a teensy bit longer on the Jai Ho which is very squeaky in contrast to the ‘get knocked down’ section which is really quite shouty. We sang to the end, with 8 more songs to sing. 

Next Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad specifically with the intention of nailing the middle section. We sang along with Meat. We looked very closely at some of the timings, and went again. Ed said it was coming together beautifully. 

Still jogging we hit 9 to 5 crazy running and trying to squeeze in all those words. Honestly I was glad to type this so I can catch my breath. Hmmm what else can I type here? Phew! We stood to perform it and managed to inject a great deal of energy. We sang half the song. 

In the place of much energy we turned to Now and Forever. Ed sat at the piano to tighten us up a bit. 

Time to play rain for Africa and Ed said, You are getting good! The voices were off until we began to sing. Ed said I can bring a monkey to the concert. 

And From Both Sides Now with Ed at the Piano was lovely lovely, and rapidly followed by Those Were The Days proper crowd pleased. Raise your glasses of pop! 

We had to choose between two songs and I Who Have Nothing won. We stood and made a very good job of it, divas that we are. 8 out of 9 really ain’t bad at all! 

Well DFS, we want you (singing), we need you (singing), and don’t forget I love you, Cat xxx

2nd March 2023

A new song? At this close to a concert? We whipped up the sheets and waved them around, slipped them into folders and caught up with our friends. 

Ed had another cold. Aw, we said, and tried to be sympathetic. He pointed out the new Medley, for those who hadn’t seen it yet. And we warmed up. It was good to have Ed in charge even if he was meant to be on strike today … We used Mangoes, Bananas and Kiwis to warm up, which choir hadn’t done in a while. 

Am dram time, I Who Have Nothing which we were supposed to be all very warmed and loosened up for. But the words wouldn’t fit on the lines again. Oops. Ed was already at the piano, but he broke it down for us. Short clipping bits and smooth long bits. Basically. And more drama. And hold. And breathe. Yes. More drama to be added this week. 

New medley time, the Peter Kay Children in Need Medley. We listened to track, from 2009. Pop into drop box to listen again, this weeks homework. 

We dropped into Africa, like you do. Rain time. Shhhh everyone. We practiced a multi layered ending. Anchors, beautiful people, and tops. 

Into Uptown Girl. Guuuurrrrrl. Yeah. 

And sweetly, we listened to a recording of From Both Sides Now recorded in the Isle Of white last year. Then Ed sat at the piano and we sang, sweetly at first, then energising … feeling it. Or at least, I was. 

Jogging next, through 9 to 5 feeling out of breath and nostalgic for typewriters! Dolly-isms needed for this one. Chuck your British accents out the window. 

We ended with Those Were The Days and very well done Choir. Love you xxxx