Down To Earth
Down To Earth is a drama about dreams - having them and realising them. The series is warm, touching, tender and funny, as it follows the trials and tribulations of a family's new life in the countryside.
A move from inner city London to remotest Devon couldn't have been more dramatic for the Addis family.
To realise the full potential of the premise, the vibrancy of the drama, the beauty of the landscape and the emotion of the music all come together to create compelling television.
The music for Down To Earth is as colourful and varied as the scenery of the setting - the panoramic county of Devon.
Music is used to express the tapestry of emotions the characters experience as they come to grips with their new life in the countryside.
The youngest child, Molly, plays the violin, which enables the series to use music within the drama, not just as an accompanying score. The violin is then reflected in the score.
In the second series of Down To Earth, the use of music within the drama has been developed. The opening and closing sequences feature a wonderful re-recording of the original version of "After All This Time", sung by Tony Hadley, creating a positive and energised introduction to the new series.
There is a tender performance by Pauline Quirke of "I Only Have Eyes For You" in Episode 3; both Warren Clarke and Pauline Quirke team up to perform a duet of "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" in Episode 4; in the final Episode, "Things Are Looking Up" is performed by Tony Hadley in his debut acting role, and this has been recorded by Carol Decker for the soundtrack; and, lastly, the composer of the series, Sheridan Tongue, has created an individual and contemporary feel to his original score, capturing the essence of the "feelgood" factor but also cleverly depicting the emotions and experiences of the main characters in the ups and downs of everyday life. The sequences contribute enormously to the power of the drama they portray, and the use of music gives the scenes a tenderness which simply cannot be achieved with words alone.
The series ran from 2000 to 2005.
Carol's version of "Things Are Looking Up" is fantastic, a big band that wouldn't be out of place in "Live At The Albert" with Robbie Williams. Imagine my 2 favourite singers singing a 'big band' duet!! Would be fantastic!!
Here is the song :
Things Are Looking Up
Here And Now is the most successful high profile 80's live show, the brand was launched in 2001 by Tony Denton Promotions and has become a runaway success ever since. What makes Here And Now so unique is that all the artists perform back to back and it's a hit only show. Many of the acts have reformed especially for the tour or it's the first time in years they would have performed live.
The first nationwide tour took place in November 2001 and featured Paul Young, Kim Wilde (who came out of retirement for the show), Curiosity Killed The Cat, Nick Heyward, Heaven 17, T'Pau, and Go West. The tour played to over 60,000 people taking in 7 arenas!!
A further 6 UK arena tours followed and then international tours of Australia, The Far East, Japan and across Europe. The show has a combination of over 30 artists with an interchanging line up, depending on the country.
In 2003 this unique touring brand saw its first ever stadium events with shows at Bolton Wanderers Reebok Stadium and Bournemouth Football Club.
2007 Here And Now staged 17 huge outdoor shows that sold out country wide, and a further 11 in 2008 with Blickling Hall in Norfolk selling out its 10,000 capacity for the second year in a row. Here And Now gained a new record in Shrewsbury at The Quarry selling 9,000 capacity (previous record was Will Young at 7,600), also breaking records at Ascot Racecourse, with a record attendance of 33,115. Other venues followed including 10,000 capacity at Exeter Powderham Castle also selling out.
The next UK Arena tour took place in May 2008 with yet another line up that had the fans singing and dancing in the aisles-acts included first timers Rick Astley, Johnny Hates Jazz, Cutting Crew and Bananarama.
Tony Denton first came up with the idea of Here And Now after promoting similar shows with 70's artists under the banner "The Best Disco In Town", a format of 7 artistes all on the same bill. These acts included KC & The Sunshine Band, Chic, Rose Royce, Village People, Sister Sledge & Tavares. Tony, being the agent for most of the 80's artistes, decided it would be a natural progression to have an 80's version of this show and Here And Now was born.
Now, 11 years later, Here And Now has become a household name and the artistes have appeared on numerous TV & radio shows including GMTV, This Morning, The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Loose Women, Saturday Kitchen, BBC Breakfast TV, Radio Two's Jonathan Ross & Steve Wright Shows, Radio Five's Eaamon Holmes Show and all the radio breakfast shows amongst many many others.
Carol has been on numerous shows promoting Here And Now including appearing on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, singing "China" live.
2011 marked the 10th Anniversary of Here And Now and the 2011 UK Arena tour took place in June and July. The line up included Boy George, Jason Donovan, Jimmy Somerville, Belinda Carlisle, Midge Ure, Pepsi & Shirlie and A Flock Of Seagulls.
Here is a listing of all the acts related to Here And Now :
- ABC
- ALTERED IMAGES
- A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS
- BANANARAMA
- BELINDA CARLISLE
- BOY GEORGE
- BROTHER BEYOND
- BUCKS FIZZ
- CHINA CRISIS
- CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT
- CUTTING CREW
- FIVE STAR
- HAZEL O'CONNOR
- HEAVEN 17
- HOWARD JONES
- IMAGINATION
- JASON DONOVAN
- JIMMY SOMERVILLE
- JOHNNY HATES JAZZ
- KAJAGOOGOO
- KATRINA
- KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS
- KIM WILDE
- LIMAHL
- LIVING IN A BOX
- MIDGE URE
- NIK KERSHAW
- ODYSSEY
- PAUL YOUNG
- PEPSI & SHIRLIE
- RICK ASTLEY
- THE BELLE STARS
- THE CHRISTIANS
- THE REAL THING
- TOYAH
- T'PAU
- VISAGE
Doesn't the above look like the A-Z of 80's royalty!!
T'Pau's Here And Now Tour Dates
I shall be including all the Here And Now tour dates here as well as in each individual year.
Here And Now 2001
08/11/2001 Newcastle Telewest Arena
09/11/2001 Sheffield Arena
10/11/2001 Birmingham NEC
14/11/2001 Birmingham NEC
15/11/2001 London Wembley Arena
16/11/2001 Manchester Evening News
17/11/2001 Cardiff International Arena
The Here And Now site says that T'Pau were in the line up of the first tour of 2001, and that they made a welcome return in 2003. I would imagine Carol took time out in 2002 as that was the year Carol and Richard's second child, Dylan, was born.
Here And Now 2003
08/05/2003 Manchester Evening News Arena
09/05/2003 Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
10/05/2003 Newcastle Telewest Arena
13/05/2003 Brighton Centre
15/05/2003 Bournemouth BIC
16/05/2003 London Wembley Arena
17/05/2003 Birmingham NEC
12/12/2003 Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
13/12/2003 Brighton Centre
14/12/2003 Cardiff International Arena
17/12/2003 Newcastle Telewest Arena
18/12/2003 Manchester Evening News Arena
19/12/2003 London Wembley Arena
20/12/2003 Birmingham NEC
Here And Now 2004
Here And Now Outdoor Show 2004
10/07/2004 Bolton Reebok Stadium
Here And Now 2007
Here And Now In Denmark Esbjerg Festival 2007
16/06/2007 Denmark Esbjerg Festival
Blickling 10th Anniversary party 2007. One night. Nine acts. Non stop hits. And the biggest firework finale ever!
14/07/2007 Blickling Hall
Carol 'rocking the place out' at Blickling Hall with Sex Talk.
21/07/2007 Northumberland, Ainwick, Ainwick Castle
28/07/2007 Safron Walden, Audley End
Here And Now in Denmark Langelands Festival 2007
04/08/2007 Denmark Langelands Festival
25/08/2007 Sussex, Hastings, Battle Abbey
Carol singing 'China' as good here as she did 20 years prior!! (sorry its not all of it)
Here And Now at Butlins Minehead 2007
16/11/2007-19/11/2007 (Weekend Concert Break) Minehead, Butlins
Here And Now 2008
Here And Now in Ireland 2008
24/05/2008 INEC Arena Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland
Here And Now in Shrewsbury 2008
12/07/2008 The Quarry, Shrewsbury
Carol 'rocking it out' in Shrewsbury!! Fantastic picture!!
The crowd in Shrewsbury!! T'Wow!!
Carol was 'back home'. She must have been so proud to be singing in front of all of those people in the home town where she grew up.
Here And Now at Stansted Park 2008
20/07/2008 Hampshire, Stansted Park
Carol enjoying herself at Stansted 2008
Here And Now at Exeter Powerham Castle 2008
26/07/2008 Powerham Castle, Exeter
Look at the size of that crowd!! Great shot!!
The crowd are enjoying themselves by joining in to Heart and soul and China.
Here And Now at Ascot Racecourse 2008
09/08/2008 Ascot Racecourse
Carol enjoying herself at Ascot. Where's the hat? Lol!!
Here And Now in Dublin, Ireland 2008
13/12/2008 Dublin RDS, Ireland
Here And Now 2009
Here And Now in Ireland 2009
02/01/2009 Royal Castlebar, Co Mayo, Ireland
03/01/2009 INEC Arena, Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland
Here And Now in Switzerland 2009
13/03/2009 AG Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
Carol in Zurich
Don't they look happy. Carol and husband Richard in Zurich 2009.
Here And Now in Germany 2009
14/03/2009 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
Here And Now at Newmarket Racecourse 2009
19/06/2009 Newmarket Racecourse
Here And Now at The Quarry Shrewsbury 2009
11/07/2009 The Quarry
Henley Here And Now Weekender 2009
22/08/2009-23/08/2009 Henley On Thames (T'Pau on 23/8)
Here And Now 2010
Here And Now Scarborough he Greatest Eighties Party Ever!
31/07/10 Scarborough, Open Air Theatre
Here And Now The Rewind Festival 2010
21/08/2010-22/08/10 Henley On Thames (T'Pau on 21/08)
Here And Now at De Brabanthallen, S-Hertogenbosch, Holland 2010
18/09/10 De Brabanthallen S-Hertogenbosch, Holland
Here And Now 2011
Here And Now Whitehaven 2011
17/06/2011 Whitehaven Marina, Whitehaven
Here And Now 2012
Here And Now Glasgow 2012
21/07/2012 Glasgow Green, Glasgow, Scotland
Here And Now at Lytham ST Annes 2012
15/09/2012 Lytham St Annes, Lytham Green, Lancashire
Here And Now Ascot Racecourse 2012
11/08/2012 Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire
I have only mentioned T'Pau at the above venues, if you want to see which other artists were there, go to the website, http://www.here-and-now.info/
2002
In 2002 Carol and Richard had their second child, Dylan. He completed their family, and will be ten this year. Obviously this was a quiet year for her musically. Carol appeared in the first Here And Now Tour last year and has taken this year out.
9 Dead Gay Guys
2002 was to see Carol making her acting debut on the 'silver screen', in a film titled 9 Dead Gay Guys. This is the story of two lads from Belfast as they stumble their way through the London gay underworld in search for "gainful employment," that is, the offering of sexual favours to older gay men in order to subsidize their respective giros.
However, when one of the punters dies during 'the act', they are forced to look for 'work' elsewhere. It is then they discover the myth of 'The Bread in the Bed' - a huge bed full of money.
Nine dead gay guys are the result of the ensuing caper as the lads begin the search for the bed.
Cast :
- Glen Mulhern
- Brendan Mackey
- Steven Berkoff
- Michael Praed
- Vas Blackwood
- Fish
- Leon Herbert
- Simon Godley
- Carol Decker
- Raymond Griffiths
- Abdala Keserwani
- Karen Sharman
Carol plays the wife of Jeff (Steven Berkoff)
I personally haven't seen the film, but have heard it is heavily influenced by Guy Ritchie and along the lines of Trainspotting.
Basically, you either 'loved' it or 'hated' it. It was very non PC, but that encouraged people to go and see it.
It was at the Cannes Film Festival and caused such a storm that it sold out and people had to be turned away at the box office, so the film was given extra viewings.
Here is the trailer to it :
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| Created by Deano Hollett Huly 2012 |
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