Post by jon2 on Jun 28, 2005 21:46:10 GMT 1
Gay.com caught up with her on the eve of her new single Crazy Chick's release to talk tabloid intrusions, risk-taking and why the English are to blame for her not speaking Welsh.[/color]
A 4 page on-line Charlotte interview on uk.gay.com
Charlotte Church speaks![/color][/b]
Ben Townley
Gay.com UK
more articles by Ben Townley uk.gay.com/byauthor/btownley
From harmonising to hell raising, who would have thought that the angelic Charlotte Church would become a tabloid favourite within five years
Gone are the velveteen dresses and faux-saintly poses that adorned the million selling classical albums, and in their place are coming of age drunken paparazzi shots, kiss and tell stories and a gob that seemingly can't help getting her into trouble (and the tabloids).
Not that these will result in black marks from pop-watchers; rather the wild-child antics are the most exciting developments to hit the charts in years, putting the rock and indie insurgents to shame. No wonder Liam Gallagher loves her.
Because, while the Top 40 is leaden with ring tones, slushy R&B and carbon copies of the (pretty admirable) Girls Aloud formula, Charlotte has returned to take her place as the one true pop heir.
Gay.com caught up with her on the eve of her new single Crazy Chick's release to talk tabloid intrusions, risk-taking and why the English are to blame for her not speaking Welsh.
To check out the video for Crazy Chick, click here.
The new single is a pretty different sound – is it more reflective of your own music tastes?
Well, I’ve always loved classical music when I was singing it – and still now. But, no I wouldn’t say it is more reflective. I just wanted to do something different. If I kept on releasing classical albums, I don’t think they would have sold as well and therefore not as much money (laughs). I just thought, let’s take a risk and have a bit of fun with life.
Did you want to do that then – take a bit of a risk? I think that has shocked people.
Really?
Yeah, people are shocked by the single at least.
I know people thought I would stick with the dance stuff, or maybe do something a bit world music-ey. I think the album is a reflection of everything I’ve listened to over the years and, you know, I’ve got a massive range of music tastes: I love really cheesy 80s stuff, Sting and the Police, Price, India Arie, Jeff Buckley.
I love all the modern R&B stuff, you know Destiny’s Child, Ashanti. I listen to everything. So the album is…some of it is quite bluesy, some if it is a bit electro, some of it is a bit world music, some are just nice ballads. Every song on it is different to the one before.
You sound pleased with it.
Yeah, definitely. I co-wrote 8 out of the 12 songs, and it wasn’t just adding a few lyrics. I was really there from the first chords that were strummed to the finished product.
Is it the end of an era then?
Not necessarily. But if I went into classical music, I’d have to be more disciplined with myself and stop smoking and things. Never say never though.
There’s a lot been made about your smoking in the press…
God yeah. Robbie Williams wrote me a poem when I was about 14 and that's been everywhere. There was a line though: please don’t start smoking, when you have my live vocal you’ll know I’m not joking. But yeah, I ignored that good advice unfortunately.
But smoking does add a nice raspiness though, doesn’t it?
Noooo. It will ruin it eventually. So I’ve really got to give it up, right now.
Other than telling them not to smoke, what advice would you give to any young girls set to be the “next Charlotte Church”?
Keep your family around you. No-one else is gonna put their hand in the fire for you, bar your family, when everyone just wants to take the piss and use you and try to make as much money as they can.
So keep your family and friends by your side. You've gotta look after your voice and make sure you’re not worked too hard, otherwise you’ll become bitter and resentful. Like me. Joke.
Just to keep your feet on the ground and keep people around you who you love and don’t take nuts from no-one.
Is that the same advice you’d give yourself at that age?
Yeah. Although I think I kind of listened to my own advice. I keep my family close and remember what’s important to me. I keep really grounded. I’m not one of these artists who’ll do anything and work themselves into the ground to get a number one. Obviously I want this to work and I’m very proud of it, but I’m more interested in my own personal happiness and my own sanity.
Has staying in Wales helped you? Is that part of the plan?
Absolutely, people just take the piss out of me there and that's good, you know. It does keep me grounded and give you a reality check.
You know, you’re not the most important person in the world, you’re not the best singer in the world and you’re definitely not the coolest girl in the world. And I get told that quite often (laughs). So yeah, it keeps me realising that I’m good, but I’m not the best. There’s always room for improvement.
Do you family take the piss out of you quite a lot, then?
Yeaah. They’ll be like (with venom) ‘well that vocal was nuts’. My Nana says ‘I hated that outfit you wore on Top of the Pops, you looked like a heffalump. Never wear three quarter length trousers again’. Thanks Nan. I love you too.
Does that help toughen you up, because the media have been pretty hard on you.
The media has toughened my skin up by themselves, to be honest. I mean, any criticism from my family is much better than something off a stranger. Actually, it should be the other way round. But criticism from my family I can take, because they’re honest. Criticism off strangers is maybe just to sell papers or maybe say something a bit nasty because their editors told them to.
It does piss me off sometimes. But, it doesn’t affect me.
It’s quite weird because they targeted you from such a young age.
Yeah. I just don’t get it. I don’t get the hype. It's just ridiculous. When I went to the Glamour awards a few weeks ago, loads of people were there: Usher, Backstreet Boys, Rachel Stevens. And the press followed me all night. All night. All of them. Just following me.
And I was like, ‘Look guys, I'm not going to get drunk and fall out of a club tonight. I’m going home early and having an early night’. But they followed me anyway. I don't get it at all.
There is a gap in your image though: the tabloids show you as this binge drinking, chain smoking hell raiser. While the public just see you as growing up and kind of recognise that.
Really? Oh I hope so. I really do. I mean, I smoke, which is dreadful. I drink, maybe once a week. It’s not excessive, like. I drink, I get drunk once a week. I have real fun. I dance my socks off. And I have a dreadful hangover on a Sunday morning. And that’s about as exciting as it gets. I wouldn’t call that wild child antics. I'd be quite pissed off if that was the wild child antics for today. What happened to rock and roll man?
Well, talking about the rock and roll lifestyle. Liam Gallagher says he loves you and also the indie music media has given you a good response. Is that kind of response important to you?
Yeah definitely. I mean, with what Liam Gallagher said about me, that’s helped me no end. And also, I'm really chuffed because he doesn’t have anything good to say about anyone, but the fact he has something good to say about little ol’ me. And Oasis. ARE. LEGENDS. I mean, they are amazing musicians, amazing songwriters. So it's great to get respect off them. So stuff like that is important to me.
Doing like Smash Hits and Top of the Pops, blah blah blah, that’s great, but it's part of the pop treadmill. But to get a good response from magazines that are all about the music. All about the real person. It's quite important.
What about the gay icon tag?
Yeah that was amazing. Just because my Auntie Caroline is a singer, and she used to sing in all the gay pubs and clubs around South Wales and if it was, like, an afternoon thing, my mum would take me as well and I would get up and sing.
I've been around gay men and lesbians all my life and although I use the word ‘f*g-hag’ in the wrong context for my mum, because she’s not a desperate or lonely old lady, trying to be glamorous by hanging on to gay men, we both just get on well with gay men – and gay women. To have that extra support is great. I'm really chuffed.
Well apparently you’ve pushed out other icons, like Kylie and Madonna…
I don’t think I've pushed any of them out, no. They’ve always got something up their sleeve.
What do you think of them?
I think they're brilliant. Great artists, very very clever women, very savvy. Wicked songs. You know, just quite honest about who they are. You don’t see them standing up saying ‘We’re the best singers in the world, you shall love us’.
Also there’s the reinvention thing.
Yeah that’s really clever. I don’t… I can't even dress myself properly. I buy nice clothes then I just can't put them together. But they are two really stylish women. Well actually, Madonna is going a bit bizarre at the moment, with her adidas tracksuits and flat caps. But hey. She’s Madonna. She’s allowed.
I like to think I could do the reinvention thing, but there’s only so much you can do with…big cheeks and flat hair.
Would you like their careers then?
I wouldn’t mind their career at all. For both of those artists, they both didn't have credibility at the start and now they've got credibility and massive record sales. So that's fine by me.
What about the Cool Cymru stuff? There's a lot of talk about you and Gavin as the golden couple of Wales…
Well, it's two things Wales is famous for: Rugby and Singing. We've got it covered, you know what I mean? Imagine the babies…they can sing and run. Yeah, I'm ridiculously patriotic. I'm really proud to be Welsh. Though I am ashamed of myself that I'm not a better ambassador, because I can't speak welsh. I feel quite ashamed about that.
Not a lot can, can they?
Yeah, just not us south Walians. It all boils down to, once again, your English King.
It's all our fault?
Your King thwarted our Prince Llewellyn and we had to hide in the hills and they made us all speak English. That's why the south half can't speak Welsh.
Looking back to the past, you've sung in front of quite a lot of famous world leaders and been credited with slagging off George W Bush.
I never get involved in politics, because I always end up saying something that's not relevant, it's stupid and everyone thinks 'why the hell is a 19 year old singer getting involved in politics'. But in my experience of him…I just didn't like him. I thought he was really impersonal. Whereas with Bill Clinton, he made an effort, he made you feel like he wanted you to be there.
But with George Bush, it was just a bit like 'ok, I can't really be bothered with this'. He was quite cold and impersonal. And he asked me what state Wales was in, which pissed me off no end.
What about the new Pope?
Yeah I would sing in front of him. He's the head of the Catholic Church, I am a Catholic. I didn't say I hated him, but I don't understand why he said Harry Potter was satanic. It has good morals, it's a good story, good vs. evil, and good wins. I don’t see the problem.
What about the future. Where do you want to be in 5 years time?
I don’t know. I've no idea. I'm so excited - I wish someone could show me now. But who knows. If this album sells well, hopefully I'll still be singing.
Click here for more Charlotte Church info
uk.gay.com/article/3783 (page 1)
uk.gay.com/article/3783/p=1 (page 2)
uk.gay.com/article/3783/p=2 (page 3)
uk.gay.com/article/3783/p=3 (page 4)
A 4 page on-line Charlotte interview on uk.gay.com
Charlotte Church speaks![/color][/b]
Ben Townley
Gay.com UK
more articles by Ben Townley uk.gay.com/byauthor/btownley
From harmonising to hell raising, who would have thought that the angelic Charlotte Church would become a tabloid favourite within five years
Gone are the velveteen dresses and faux-saintly poses that adorned the million selling classical albums, and in their place are coming of age drunken paparazzi shots, kiss and tell stories and a gob that seemingly can't help getting her into trouble (and the tabloids).
Not that these will result in black marks from pop-watchers; rather the wild-child antics are the most exciting developments to hit the charts in years, putting the rock and indie insurgents to shame. No wonder Liam Gallagher loves her.
Because, while the Top 40 is leaden with ring tones, slushy R&B and carbon copies of the (pretty admirable) Girls Aloud formula, Charlotte has returned to take her place as the one true pop heir.
Gay.com caught up with her on the eve of her new single Crazy Chick's release to talk tabloid intrusions, risk-taking and why the English are to blame for her not speaking Welsh.
To check out the video for Crazy Chick, click here.
The new single is a pretty different sound – is it more reflective of your own music tastes?
Well, I’ve always loved classical music when I was singing it – and still now. But, no I wouldn’t say it is more reflective. I just wanted to do something different. If I kept on releasing classical albums, I don’t think they would have sold as well and therefore not as much money (laughs). I just thought, let’s take a risk and have a bit of fun with life.
Did you want to do that then – take a bit of a risk? I think that has shocked people.
Really?
Yeah, people are shocked by the single at least.
I know people thought I would stick with the dance stuff, or maybe do something a bit world music-ey. I think the album is a reflection of everything I’ve listened to over the years and, you know, I’ve got a massive range of music tastes: I love really cheesy 80s stuff, Sting and the Police, Price, India Arie, Jeff Buckley.
I love all the modern R&B stuff, you know Destiny’s Child, Ashanti. I listen to everything. So the album is…some of it is quite bluesy, some if it is a bit electro, some of it is a bit world music, some are just nice ballads. Every song on it is different to the one before.
You sound pleased with it.
Yeah, definitely. I co-wrote 8 out of the 12 songs, and it wasn’t just adding a few lyrics. I was really there from the first chords that were strummed to the finished product.
Is it the end of an era then?
Not necessarily. But if I went into classical music, I’d have to be more disciplined with myself and stop smoking and things. Never say never though.
There’s a lot been made about your smoking in the press…
God yeah. Robbie Williams wrote me a poem when I was about 14 and that's been everywhere. There was a line though: please don’t start smoking, when you have my live vocal you’ll know I’m not joking. But yeah, I ignored that good advice unfortunately.
But smoking does add a nice raspiness though, doesn’t it?
Noooo. It will ruin it eventually. So I’ve really got to give it up, right now.
Other than telling them not to smoke, what advice would you give to any young girls set to be the “next Charlotte Church”?
Keep your family around you. No-one else is gonna put their hand in the fire for you, bar your family, when everyone just wants to take the piss and use you and try to make as much money as they can.
So keep your family and friends by your side. You've gotta look after your voice and make sure you’re not worked too hard, otherwise you’ll become bitter and resentful. Like me. Joke.
Just to keep your feet on the ground and keep people around you who you love and don’t take nuts from no-one.
Is that the same advice you’d give yourself at that age?
Yeah. Although I think I kind of listened to my own advice. I keep my family close and remember what’s important to me. I keep really grounded. I’m not one of these artists who’ll do anything and work themselves into the ground to get a number one. Obviously I want this to work and I’m very proud of it, but I’m more interested in my own personal happiness and my own sanity.
Has staying in Wales helped you? Is that part of the plan?
Absolutely, people just take the piss out of me there and that's good, you know. It does keep me grounded and give you a reality check.
You know, you’re not the most important person in the world, you’re not the best singer in the world and you’re definitely not the coolest girl in the world. And I get told that quite often (laughs). So yeah, it keeps me realising that I’m good, but I’m not the best. There’s always room for improvement.
Do you family take the piss out of you quite a lot, then?
Yeaah. They’ll be like (with venom) ‘well that vocal was nuts’. My Nana says ‘I hated that outfit you wore on Top of the Pops, you looked like a heffalump. Never wear three quarter length trousers again’. Thanks Nan. I love you too.
Does that help toughen you up, because the media have been pretty hard on you.
The media has toughened my skin up by themselves, to be honest. I mean, any criticism from my family is much better than something off a stranger. Actually, it should be the other way round. But criticism from my family I can take, because they’re honest. Criticism off strangers is maybe just to sell papers or maybe say something a bit nasty because their editors told them to.
It does piss me off sometimes. But, it doesn’t affect me.
It’s quite weird because they targeted you from such a young age.
Yeah. I just don’t get it. I don’t get the hype. It's just ridiculous. When I went to the Glamour awards a few weeks ago, loads of people were there: Usher, Backstreet Boys, Rachel Stevens. And the press followed me all night. All night. All of them. Just following me.
And I was like, ‘Look guys, I'm not going to get drunk and fall out of a club tonight. I’m going home early and having an early night’. But they followed me anyway. I don't get it at all.
There is a gap in your image though: the tabloids show you as this binge drinking, chain smoking hell raiser. While the public just see you as growing up and kind of recognise that.
Really? Oh I hope so. I really do. I mean, I smoke, which is dreadful. I drink, maybe once a week. It’s not excessive, like. I drink, I get drunk once a week. I have real fun. I dance my socks off. And I have a dreadful hangover on a Sunday morning. And that’s about as exciting as it gets. I wouldn’t call that wild child antics. I'd be quite pissed off if that was the wild child antics for today. What happened to rock and roll man?
Well, talking about the rock and roll lifestyle. Liam Gallagher says he loves you and also the indie music media has given you a good response. Is that kind of response important to you?
Yeah definitely. I mean, with what Liam Gallagher said about me, that’s helped me no end. And also, I'm really chuffed because he doesn’t have anything good to say about anyone, but the fact he has something good to say about little ol’ me. And Oasis. ARE. LEGENDS. I mean, they are amazing musicians, amazing songwriters. So it's great to get respect off them. So stuff like that is important to me.
Doing like Smash Hits and Top of the Pops, blah blah blah, that’s great, but it's part of the pop treadmill. But to get a good response from magazines that are all about the music. All about the real person. It's quite important.
What about the gay icon tag?
Yeah that was amazing. Just because my Auntie Caroline is a singer, and she used to sing in all the gay pubs and clubs around South Wales and if it was, like, an afternoon thing, my mum would take me as well and I would get up and sing.
I've been around gay men and lesbians all my life and although I use the word ‘f*g-hag’ in the wrong context for my mum, because she’s not a desperate or lonely old lady, trying to be glamorous by hanging on to gay men, we both just get on well with gay men – and gay women. To have that extra support is great. I'm really chuffed.
Well apparently you’ve pushed out other icons, like Kylie and Madonna…
I don’t think I've pushed any of them out, no. They’ve always got something up their sleeve.
What do you think of them?
I think they're brilliant. Great artists, very very clever women, very savvy. Wicked songs. You know, just quite honest about who they are. You don’t see them standing up saying ‘We’re the best singers in the world, you shall love us’.
Also there’s the reinvention thing.
Yeah that’s really clever. I don’t… I can't even dress myself properly. I buy nice clothes then I just can't put them together. But they are two really stylish women. Well actually, Madonna is going a bit bizarre at the moment, with her adidas tracksuits and flat caps. But hey. She’s Madonna. She’s allowed.
I like to think I could do the reinvention thing, but there’s only so much you can do with…big cheeks and flat hair.
Would you like their careers then?
I wouldn’t mind their career at all. For both of those artists, they both didn't have credibility at the start and now they've got credibility and massive record sales. So that's fine by me.
What about the Cool Cymru stuff? There's a lot of talk about you and Gavin as the golden couple of Wales…
Well, it's two things Wales is famous for: Rugby and Singing. We've got it covered, you know what I mean? Imagine the babies…they can sing and run. Yeah, I'm ridiculously patriotic. I'm really proud to be Welsh. Though I am ashamed of myself that I'm not a better ambassador, because I can't speak welsh. I feel quite ashamed about that.
Not a lot can, can they?
Yeah, just not us south Walians. It all boils down to, once again, your English King.
It's all our fault?
Your King thwarted our Prince Llewellyn and we had to hide in the hills and they made us all speak English. That's why the south half can't speak Welsh.
Looking back to the past, you've sung in front of quite a lot of famous world leaders and been credited with slagging off George W Bush.
I never get involved in politics, because I always end up saying something that's not relevant, it's stupid and everyone thinks 'why the hell is a 19 year old singer getting involved in politics'. But in my experience of him…I just didn't like him. I thought he was really impersonal. Whereas with Bill Clinton, he made an effort, he made you feel like he wanted you to be there.
But with George Bush, it was just a bit like 'ok, I can't really be bothered with this'. He was quite cold and impersonal. And he asked me what state Wales was in, which pissed me off no end.
What about the new Pope?
Yeah I would sing in front of him. He's the head of the Catholic Church, I am a Catholic. I didn't say I hated him, but I don't understand why he said Harry Potter was satanic. It has good morals, it's a good story, good vs. evil, and good wins. I don’t see the problem.
What about the future. Where do you want to be in 5 years time?
I don’t know. I've no idea. I'm so excited - I wish someone could show me now. But who knows. If this album sells well, hopefully I'll still be singing.
Click here for more Charlotte Church info
uk.gay.com/article/3783 (page 1)
uk.gay.com/article/3783/p=1 (page 2)
uk.gay.com/article/3783/p=2 (page 3)
uk.gay.com/article/3783/p=3 (page 4)