Diary

31 October 2009

Neil Tennant opens his diary

I apologise in advance for bringing up a much-discussed subject but I’ve been away. ‘Under the carapace of glittering, hedonistic celebrity, the ooze of a very different and more dangerous lifestyle has seeped out for all to see’ creates such a surreal and ghastly image, almost Dali-esque, it would make an excellent title for a contemporary artwork. One reason for the outraged reaction to Jan Moir’s article about Stephen Gately is that it was written in such a powerfully creepy style. The reality is that after the break-up of Boyzone, Stephen was a hard-working show business survivor with a modest way of life. The carapace was a cheerful smile, the reality uncertainty and hard work. In my experience, it’s true of most performers.

We’ve contributed a song called ‘The performance of my life’ to Shirley Bassey’s new album. It has a relevance to Stephen Gately, being about the gap between the celebrity surface and reality, and the consolation of work:

‘A brave face, stiff upper lip,
Will do the trick
Look, the mask is firm,
The face is mine
It seems fine
Until the final day,
I’ll play this part the only way I can
For to live
I have to give
The performance of my life.’

It might look a bit corny written down, but the Dame breathes into it a thrilling pathos and the authenticity of 50 years of show-business experience.

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Shamim E. Haque

November 3rd, 2009 4:59pm Report this comment

Greetings from Dhaka, Bangladesh! It was amazing to get a glimpse of the superbly engaging and humane mind of Neil Tennant. Thanks for sharing with us your thoughts and feelings and the range of issues that crossed your mind while on tour. I agree fully with your sentiment about the lady who was using the video camera in concert. I have had the fortune to enjoy, almost the divine pleasure, of hearing you sing. Can't imagine why people must be so bent and insistent on making their own show while another major show (i.e. a concert) is under way. All the finer points of life and art are missed in our bids to place ourselves as mini celebrities. I think it is an interesting manifestation of present day pettiness helped and empowered by the miniscule broadcast and media convergence devices we call the mobile phone.
Thank you Neil for sharing your diary with us.

elmer palomino

November 6th, 2009 2:34am Report this comment

thanks Neil and chris for visiting my country....Peru land of the inka's.
thank you very much from the peruvians fans

elmer palomino

November 6th, 2009 2:44am Report this comment

thank you very much Neil and Chris for visiting my country...the land of the inka's.. your fans of Peru

Luis Quiroz

November 6th, 2009 6:38pm Report this comment

Hi Neil
Many thanks for your comments respect to my country and food...
Is a pain that my daugther Neila Christine and me don't had the opportunity of know us ...but not problem I hope that in a next arrive of you will be possible.
Many Regards and dont forget that you have pend the Tour to Machu Picchu...

Regards

LUIS Q.

Stew Gough

December 31st, 2010 8:08am Report this comment

Interesting you say Cameron is in evitable and avoidable. Thanks to Tony Blair and the fat Scottish guy who followed him I wont be ticking the square that says Labour this year for many a reason . However this left me with the two main opponents. Now I agree with having a nuclear deterrent and the lib dems don't so straight away that meant I had to tick the box that said Conservative .... However i don't care much for the Tories or Cameron for that fact an I dint kno many who do so I guess that your view there was correct ! However I hope u have great times in Poland an a happy new year.

Thanks for letting us read !

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