2015 Archives

Songs that shaped our summer set list

In the lead up to our summer concert, ‘Key Changes’, alto Cilla drops a few hints about what songs you can expect from our set list on Saturday…
The Pink Singers official theme for our summer concert on 11th July is something we’re calling ‘Key Changes, Songs that Shaped the World’. Our themes are a way of trying to organize ourselves and give a vision to what we’re doing and every so often we go for high principles lest we forget that singing in a LGBT choir is, broadly speaking, a political act. It’s not an overtly political act any more and it seems most of our choir members spend their lives in tolerant urban milieus, however the Pinkies did start out with a stronger political agenda at a time when we couldn’t imagine how the human rights argument for same sex marriage would gain such traction (see Pink Singers ‘Singing the Changes’ exhibition info). Overt political protest songs seem to be out of fashion as what we are pleased to call ‘politics’ has become more complex and multilayered. Our upcoming concert reflects this change.

I was thinking of saying the politics that shape the world and the songs that go along with it are more subtle but I can’t. Or at least I can’t say it’s universally subtle. We’re singing ‘Happy’ from a cartoon that features minions (though nobody is going to dress up as a minion, which didn’t occur to me until just now (it is very likely a good thing though)). The ever lovely tenor Simon Harrison is giving a knock out performance that might not be best described by the word ‘subtle’ – but it’s political in the Aristotelian sense (here’s my nod to Greece) which means we’re broadening out from party politics and issues and looking at songs that, when they came out, were challenging for their time and now, in some quarters, are still challenging. In our current atomised world identifying what is truly anti-establishment isn’t easy, it all depends on context.

We’ve come up with a good mix though: we have songs that question assumptions about gender identity, racial barriers and feminism. There’s a good mix of straightforward protest songs, we have Billy Bragg and the Suffragettes which I’ve now realized sounds like the name of a new band. A good name too, if I do say so myself. And we’re singing a wonderful arrangement by Pinkie bass Chris Chambers of Nirvana’s ‘Smells like Teen Spirit’. As a native of the States, I tend to respond to people who criticize American culture as being overly optimistic and cheerful by telling them to have a listen to Nirvana’s wildly popular and influential song. It goes a next step beyond complaining about the government. It’s saying we’re so powerless and isolated there is no point in even trying to change the world to make it better. It’s the best angry existential protest song ever. I think we’re either in support of, or maybe we’re totally against someone named Bolero or maybe we’re against doing a Bolero I’m not clear but we feel passionate whatever the cause is. As Pinkies we’re not all gloom and doom and we balance this with a bit of fun so, ‘clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth’.

We’re relying on arrangements from choir members which is wonderful because we seem to keep growing new members (plus our lovely conductor) who arrange for us. And we have a wide variety of soloists stepping up to take a turn in the spot light. Who knows what shape the world is getting to be, I think it started out wonky and its probably getting wonkier (I don’t care I like this new word and I’m using it) but one’s thing’s for sure, we’re evolving in to a pretty diverse bunch of creative people.

Pinkie prep – five days to go!

With just five days to go until the next Pinkie concert, soprano Charly takes us on her journey of choral and choreography cramming and the preparation every Pinkie goes through before the big day…
“Digga digga dig ah da da…..” … as I’m sitting on the train on my way home.
“Bow, bow, bow” … as I walk past a crowd at a bus stop.
“entertaaaaain us!” … whilst I’m scanning my organic baby leaf spinach at the checkout till.
Leading up to a pinkie concert, funny looks on public transport or walking down the aisle in the supermarket are not the only things a pinkie will experience whilst prepping for this weekend’s Key Changes concert. There is the late night lyric cramming and choreography practice, last minute trips to the shops to get that perfect outfit, hair cuts, leg waxing (and that’s just the boys), flapjack making, spray tans, shoe polishing, nose hair plucking and a sudden panic and desperate hunt for the iconic pinkie rose.

Can you guess which number we're rehearsing here? — Can you guess which number we’re rehearsing here?

This is now my seventh season in the pinkies and each concert seems to get more and more exciting. Even writing this now with a few days to go I’m getting butterflies about the big day; I’m literally counting down the hours. Despite this, I am certainly no seasoned pro and I still get ridiculously nervous and excited. Performing on stage, as a Pink Singer, is really quite something; it’s such a fantastic feeling. Getting to that point when all the hard work, sweat and tears of the last five months suddenly all comes together; the notes are hit, the pitch is right, we snap those moves all at the same time. I feel so proud of being a pinkie and so proud of my fellow choral chums who have become my surrogate family these last three years. I also absolutely love performing. I remember when I left secondary school I was destined to be the new Emma Thompson with my A-Level Theatre Studies in my hand (well, that’s what it said in my sixth form leavers’ yearbook) but since school I did no acting and actually very little singing. So, getting to perform with the Pink Singers means my dreams are finally coming true and it involves three of my favourite things – singing, dancing and acting.
This season, I have really enjoyed hearing the stories behind some of the music we are singing. The theme of this summer concert is Key Changes – Songs That Shaped The World and there have been some excellent songs chosen by members of the choir, which highlight some of the interesting events throughout our history. During rehearsals, some pinkies have been giving us a low down on the research they have been carrying out about the songs. I’ve been left with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye or for others a feeling of overwhelming pride hearing about the struggles people have had to face in past generations and how they fought for their rights. Music carries a lot of history and I’ve certainly learnt a lot this season through our rep choice.
The song I am mostly looking forward to performing is Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Relax’; the arrangement by our very talented Chris Chambers is absolutely brilliant and the choreography is awesome…if I do say so myself. We have already performed it in Mallorca and Brighton this year and it’s gone down a storm. It’s going to be aca-mazing with the whole choir performing it.
Right, I’d better get back to practising. Hopefully I’ve managed to whet you appetite so hopefully see you there, I’ll be the one hamming it up. Now where is that pink rose…

The Pink Singers in solidarity with Greece in Referendum 2015

The Greeks have been pushed to a referendum on 5th July 2015 regarding their country’s finances in which no one will win. The Pink Singers visited Greece to sing at Athens Pride just over 4 years ago in June 2011, and we were moved by the generosity and friendship of our Greek LGBT brothers and sisters. We have not forgotten and want to say that we stand by them in this time of crisis.

7 reasons to go to a Pinkies' concert

Tenor Pete’s enlightening look at why – if you haven’t already – you should consider coming to see us in concert next week!

We are ridiculously good looking.

2. We promote equality and diversity. The Pinkies have marched in London Pride 33 years in a row. Read our latest post here.

We do acrobatics a-la Dirty Dancing.

You get to listen to one of Philip Rescola’s amazing intro speeches. (He’s been practising.)

We have mastered the craft of choreography.

No, seriously…

Better than a West End chorus.

We take ourselves really, very seriously. Take our current Chair for example:

At the end of the day, we are just bloody good singers.

So when are we next performing? Funny you should ask – it’s next Saturday!! Come see us perform Key Changes: Songs that Shaped the World with special guests Hinsegin Korinn.
Sat July 11 2015, 7:30pm, St John’s, Smith Square, Westminster.
Tickets are from £10-32 and are selling out fast. get yours here!

Pink rockabilly at Pride

Newbie alto and already-our-new-section-leader (yay!) Jeremy tells us about his first Pride experience as a Pinkie…
It was 1972, the 1^st of July, when the first official UK Gay Pride was held in London. Marches had taken place from 1970, traversing parts of North London, but it was on this day, chosen as the nearest Saturday to the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, that around 2,000 people converged on London. They came to march, protest and fight for the rights which are fast becoming our 21^st century reality.
Some of my fellow Pinkies were there, and I bet they could hardly have imagined what Pride would be like a little over 40 years later. We were certainly extremely happy and indeed proud that they were still there, and with us! Marching side-by-side with the giants whose shoulders we stand upon, was a special experience that I’m sure we’ll keep forever. The theme for Pride this year was ‘Pride Heroes’, with various ‘everyday people’ being rightly lauded for their work, visibility and stoicism in the moves toward equality.
I realise not everyone likes the way Pride goes now, but I guess it was ever thus, the day I see an entire community agreeing on one thing is a day I shan’t hold my breath for! For what it’s worth, it seems to me that a day where people seem to be smiling a lot more, where there is a greater diversity of gender expression and identity, and where couples of all sexualities feel able to do something as simple as holding hands without fear of violence , still has a huge amount of positive worth in it.
The day dawned bright and warm, and most importantly dry. Many of us had been caught in the downpour of Pride 2014, memories of soggy socks and drooping fairy wings had made us extra-happy to see the sun put in a strong appearance from start to finish. We marched together in the parade, banner billowing in the breeze and helium balloons with minds of their own causing scenes of general hilarity. We sang songs from seasons past and present, and the crowds obliged us beautifully by joining in. A notable favourite was the timeless classic ‘Relax’ by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, which has been quite brilliantly rearranged by our very own Chris Chambers, for our Summer concert on the 11^th July.
I had chosen the day to try out my new 1950s-style pink rockabilly skirt, and could be seen twirling and dancing a little ahead of the main body of Pinkies with a few others, handing out flyers and stickers to the friendly (and at times vaguely bemused) crowds. The optimism of the crowd was tangible. Only a day after the US Supreme Courts ruling on same-sex marriage, with Ireland’s joyful referendum outcome still ringing in our ears, it seems we are in a great position to be actually brimming with pride, whilst also mindful that we can’t hang up our marching boots just yet…
So, we danced, we sang, we acquired a parade gatecrasher with a lovely alto range, in short, it was a blast. At the march’s end, we received goodie bags containing gratuitous amounts of officially named (by our very own Kate Nichols and Chris Viveash) ‘Fancy Gay Coffee’, we headed straight to the crypt of St. Martins in the Fields to rehearse for our big moment. We appeared on the main stage in Trafalgar Square in the early evening. At 6.40pm, we were waiting backstage as I was changing into my red stilettos, as you do. I am now known as ‘Dorothy’ to many choir members… Anyway, there I was, with the shock of having just spent a penny in a portaloo still leaving my system, when the glorious Sandi Toksvig started practising her speech not three feet away from me. I had met her once before, when I was wearing pink glitter dress shoes, which Ms. Toksvig and I named my ‘Vagina Shoes’…but that’s another story.
Sandi was on just before us, giving the most rousing and heart warming speech I’ve heard in a long time, naming everyone there as her ‘Pride Heroes’. We completely agreed, they were the most exuberant and welcoming crowd we could have hoped for. The performance was over in a flash, good things always are, but we sang our hearts out and they seemed to enjoy it. Our classic rendition of ‘Vogue’ went down a storm (i’ve a sneaking suspicion there might have a been a few Madonna fans in the audience, but I may be wrong), and we rounded it off with a song thats coming up in our Summer Concert ‘Key Changes: Songs that Shaped the World’ at St. John’s Smith Square in London on Saturday the 11^th July. If you want to know what song, you’ll have to come to the concert…
This is my first season as a ‘Pinkie’, and I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. When I first marched at Pride a few years a go with another (brilliant) organisation, all I could think about were the many people I had met in my life who had done everything they could to stop me from being there at all. In 2015, all I could think of, and all I could see, were thousands of people who were happy to see us. Thank You Pinkies…I cannot wait until next time!
See more of our photos from the day here!

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