Shirley’s mum feature

Mrs. Eliza Mendi and her daughter Shirley on the 1972 This Is Your Life Show

Today’s Video Showcase is dedicated to Dame Shirley’s mother Mrs. Eliza Jane Mendi. She encouraged her daughter to step into show business and they had a very good relationship. Mrs. Mendi passed away in 1981 at the age of 80.

For the video click left or right

As a small bonus for this blog we managed to get our hands on the original script from the 1993 episode of This Is Your Life that Dame Shirley was on. Read below a hilarious part about Dame Shirley and the US Navy that unfortunately was edited out of the show!

Together

On YouTube appeared this wonderful video of one of my very favourite songs of Dame Shirley ‘Together’ from the Never Never Never album. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. The song was written by Graham Gouldman.

Cover art for the Never never Never album with picture by Lord Snowdon

Cool Cymru (Cool Wales)

The Noah’s Ark Appeal:

Until recently, Wales was the only country in Europe that did not have a dedicated children’s hospital. Determined to change the situation and ensure that children in Wales should have access to the same care as other children throughout Europe, a group of dedicated people began a campaigning for a dedicated Children’s Hospital for Wales.

Their tireless lobbying finally resulted in the National Assembly’s approval for the project to go ahead with the money for the building to be raised through a charitable capital appeal.

The Noah’s Ark Appeal was set up in May 2000 to raise the money needed to build the first phase of the first children’s hospital for Wales. Many people, across Wales and beyond, were spurred into action to support the cause. At the beginning of the Cool Cymru Collection process Terry Morris approached the charity with an idea that would celebrate Welsh talent through an iconic photography collection and benefit the hospital financially. It proved to be a rewarding relationship.

The first phase of the Children’s Hospital for Wales opened its doors to its first patients in February 2005. In stark contrast to the rundown paediatric wards, the Children’s Hospital for Wales is bright, welcoming and child-friendly; it has been built with a child’s perspective in mind. Floor patterns lead the way along each of the themed wards and nurses’ stations are illuminated from below to guide children back to their rooms.

Interactive art features on the walls of the hospital have the effect of making the hospital bright and cheerful and also a distraction from illness. Parents’ needs are also catered for with pulldown beds for overnight stays and dedicated kitchen and rest areas.

Without the support and generosity of so many people, including star names, the Appeal couldn’t have achieved what it has so far. However, it is vital that the Noah’s Ark Appeal continues fundraising to support additional projects and facilities at the hospital to provide world-class care for generations of sick children in Wales.

The Cool Cymru Collection book offers fans the chance to own a part of the project, the royalties from which will be donated to the Noah’s Ark Appeal for the Children’s Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

The book, published by Graffeg, is a behind-the-scenes look at how the photographic collection has been created, documenting the journey photographer Morris has taken in building the series of portraits. It also has exclusive interviews with the celebrities themselves, including Charlotte Church, Gavin Henson, Bryn Terfel and Dame Shirley Bassey.

The book will go on sale at the official launch for the Cool Cymru Collection where the original signed portraits will be auctioned for Noah’s Ark.

Touring exhibition:  starting at WMC Cardiff.

The Cool Cymru Collection celebrates the great and dynamic talent in Wales, and as part of that celebration a duplicate set of Terry Morris’ iconic photographs will be touring around Wales in 2007 to give you the chance to see the beginning of Wales’ first Hall of Fame. The Collection will be launched to the public at Wales Millennium Centre on November 24th 2006 and stay housed there until 2007 before embarking on a journey around the country.

The book:

Terry Morris and Dame Shirley Bassey in office suite 112 of Chelsea Harbour’s Chambers (South ) building

Shining star Dame Shirley Bassey has enjoyed more than half a century of showbiz succes

Terry Morris scatters diamonds loaned by jeweller Asprey onto the floor of his makeshift Chelsea Harbour studio

Members of an ITV Wales film crew look as Terry Morris and Dame Shirley Bassey talk ideas

Let’s see what we’ve got here. Dame Shirley Bassey has a sneak preview of her pictures

The shooting with Dame Shirley Bassey took 45 minutes, Terry capturing many frames filled with the doors he’s shipped in to Chelsea from Llanelli

Dame Shirley Bassey looked sexy and mysterious in her black Vivienne Westwood dress

The Cool Cymru Collection book – Special offer 50% off.

Take an incredible journey with Terry Morris on his quest to create Wales ‘s first photographic hall of fame. Enjoy his celebrity portraits and delight in the stories behind each shoot.

This book documents how the photographer used great skill and unyielding determination to meet the challenge of getting some wonderful Welsh idols to sit for him for free.

Journalist Andy Pearson’s first-hand commentary is a great read. His celebrity interviews and incisive insights into Terry’s thought processes provide a lively complement to the pictures.

The Cool Cymru Collection book features Charlotte Church, Gavin Henson, Bryn Terfel, Rhys Ifans, Joe Calzaghe, Ryan Giggs, Dame Shirley Bassey, Ioan Gruffudd and Stuart Cable.

This glossy hardback is a fabulous gift for all lovers of Wales, celebrities. and both. It’s a stunning keepsake for those who visit the Cool Cymru Collection exhibition.

Cool Cymru Collection is published by Graffeg – publishers of photographic books about contemporary Wales. To order the book visit http://www.graffeg.com.

For more information about the Cool Cymru Collection book phone Graffeg’s Vanessa Kilcoyne on 029 2037 7312.

•Cool Cymru Collection
•Over 80 photographs
•Size 250 x 300mm
•160 pages
•ISBN 9781905582099
•Now only £12.50

For the video CLICK HERE or CLICK HERE

1992 Interview

Today an interview with Dame Shirley Bassey from a Dutch book by Sylvia Tóth when Dame Shirley was rehearsing for a charity concert for the Ronald Mc.Donald Foundation.

SCHEVENINGEN:
The world’s greatest female performer rehearses. The Kurhaus in Scheveningen houses a big star today. That is for all to notice. Maid service covers carefully the tables for the gala. Curious hotel visitors are kept at a distance, security is everywhere. In the hall are only people allowed who professionally have to be there. The Metropole Orchestra 32 men/women, playing under the direction of Michael Alexander, conductor of the singer’s repertoire for the evening. If Shirley Bassey arrives half an hour late, the tension palpable. High heels with tight leggings and a loose sweater, the star makes a resilient impression. She wears glasses, is remarkably slender and much smaller than you might expect. With a cup of coffee in her hand she places herself behind the microphone and immediately starts to sing. Softly at first, but soon, her matchless volume on full blast to hear and I’m wondering how a woman can produce so much power and sound quality. She does not move. With still  that cup of coffee in her hand, she sings her first songs. Then she gestures impatiently to the speakers on the left: there’s an echo. Also, she points in averse to the white-yellow flowers that adorn the edge of the stage. She appears to be allergic to the smell. The first problem can be rectified quickly, the second is more difficult. She shrugs and goes on and is unperturbed by her songs. Seemingly tireless, she works a full hour. So you feel anxious wondering whether she should spare her voice a bit. Striking is the musical rapport with her conductor. A word, a gesture is enough. If he stops, she knows why. I am completely under her spell. Many times I saw her at a concert in a style that only seem to fit her, in those glamorous gowns, arms spread. Beautiful hands like birds moving in a smooth line with her body, that with every movement, moves and shows a disciplined life style. She is known for emerging into her last song, the “encore”, wearing a long evening cape, often bringing her audience emotionally into a standing ovation. But this rehearsal, without all those cosmetics, is more impressive to me than the actual concert. The drive for perfection that she exhibits is striking, for example when she sings with the right effect in her voice: ”Impossible to live with you, but I know I could never live without you.” She sings with an almost business-like approach, but I am struck by her vocal dynamics. Just as suddenly as she stood behind it, she runs away from the microphone. Thanks the orchestra, takes her shawl and leaves the stage.  When I wish her much success for the show tonight, she thanks me kindly but aloof and says, “Knock on wood. but I know she doesn’t need it. Shirley Bassey knows her craft and is prepared.

The elevator takes me back, without stopping, on the ground floor.  I just said goodbye to Shirley Bassey in her hotel suite and because so many contradictory impressions have to be processed, I decide to take stroll. In the fresh breeze, I try to organize my thoughts. I met so many different Shirley Basseys tonight. The girl who seemed pleasantly surprised by a nicely wrapped gift which I put down for her: “Is that for me? Can I open it now? ” The experienced star, who in the beginning of our conversation answered in a kind of automatic  way but later gave me a glimpse into her life and her way of working. The ‘Golden Girl’ talked about her Goldfinger period,  being the only singer who sang 3  James Bond title songs. But she also showed being a true comrade because of her strikingly good, friendly relationship with Michael Alexander, her musical director. It gave me the impression that they are real buddies, and I grant it her, for she had her portion of loneliness.
Michael came into her room and she introduced me with the words: “Sylvia is writing a book about successful people. He responded quickly: “Oh, Sylvia, I’m in 339 if you need me.” Just in time he closed the door, because she almost angrily threw a pen at his head.
I looked at the running machine in the middle of the room. Even for this short stay, she kept to her training programs.
“I need to feel the fast pace of my heartbeat.” It explains her perfect condition. It brings tears to her eyes when the subject of her children comes up and the way she speaks boldly about her fears, moves me. The first half hour, she lets me sit with her on the couch. But then she said: “It’s hot in here, why don’t you take your coat off?” When we parted, she surprised me with two spontaneous kisses. Later I found myself gently singing the Beatles song: Something in the way she said ….

To listen to this exclusive and exceptional mini concert click the player below. From the Dutch radio program ‘Music all in’. 

For the video of the rehearsal click left or right

Belgium concert flyer from 1992