How classy is this? I had one of those ‘it’s bleeding obvious’ moments of profound realisation in the middle of the Dolly Parton concert in London on 6 July. It was an amazing concert. She’s a remarkable performer with a great voice who can play at least 6 instruments with considerable skill. There were no light shows, no massive sets or rows of backing dancers, just her and her band in the vast O2 arena. Dolly was completely engaging. Even songs that on the albums can sound a bit cheesy (OK more than a bit) she made totally believable. At one point she sat down and told a story that she’s told a thousand times before. It was classic C&W, ‘we was paw but happy’ schtick, but it was her story. It lead inevitably to the song ‘Coat of Many Colours’ about going to school in a coat made of rags and being teased. I knew the story, had heard the song many times and yet it was absorbing and moving. Then it suddenly occurred to me, ‘just tell your stories’. Dolly didn’t need the bangs and whistles, just a story people related to and her raw talent in singing it. It was a lesson about exposing your true self and trusting in your talent.
Dolly’s ability to hook her audience is all the more remarkable in that as well as removing big lighting effects, costumes and dancers from her repertoire of engagement she also removed facial expressions. Other than her mouth opening and closing, her face did not move whatsoever. Set solid and yet she still gripped everyone.
The only worrying moment in the concert was the fact is was on a Sunday and she tossed in a couple of Jesus songs. I found myself in a middle of thousands of people clapping and chanting along to “He Lifted Me Up”. It must be what a Hillsong meeting is like. I’m pleased to report I was not swept away by the crowd’s emotion. I remained seated and po-faced throughout the song.
Dramatic wording
In my comedy writing workshop I discuss how choosing dramatic wording can have a brilliantly comic effect. In a pub in Bamburgh, Northumberland I got a great new example to use with the sign below.
You can just imagine the Gates of Hell opening at 9 o clock every night as the daemons trek into the beer garden. Come to think of it, ‘the fall of darkness’ might not be about night at all but the point where drunk behaviour turns nasty and the daemons come out - which would be a very sensible time to close a beer garden.
‘The Fall of Darkness’ would also make a great title for a book, but imagine your disappointment when you got it home and discovered it wasn’t about the end of the world but about getting to the pub before it shut.
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