Sir Rod Stewart, a national treasure and genuinely decent bloke, the man behind a slew of classics including Maggie May, You Wear It Well, Sailing, You're in My Heart, The Killing of Georgie (and covers of I Don't Want to Talk About It and The First Cut Is the Deepest) and much, much more in a career spanning six decades, is 80 years old today!
As a child, he lived above his father's newsagent shop in Archway, North London, and had ambitions to be a footballer.
Yesterday, he and his extended family kicked off his 80th birthday celebrations in grand style, enjoying a luxurious 10-day getaway aboard a $150 million super yacht in the Caribbean.
Not bad for a lad from a Scottish family whose musical career started off busking in Leicester Square...
As another weekend hoves into view it's only fitting to play, by way of a tribute, the spiky-haired-one's biggest-selling hit - and Thank Disco It's Friday!!
Have a great weekend, dear reader! Our gang's off to the panto at the London Palladium tomorrow (Oh, yes we are!)...
Many happy returns, Roderick David Stewart (born 10th January 1945)!
80! I remember a performance of his on Italian television in the '70s. He wore a zippered form-fitting jumpsuit and while on his knees sang directly to the camera as he zipped and unzipped the jumpsuit, all the way down to his pubes. Wish I could find THAT video!
ReplyDeleteHe certainly was (is?) a performer! Not the prettiest star, by any means, but knew exactly how to make himself appear sexy while singing provocative numbers such as Tonight's The Night... Jx
DeleteI adore many of his songs and have always loved his voice. He just keeps on keeping on. Disliked this particular song, as it ripped off another song (middle eastern, I think) and also sounded too much like the Stones at the time (Miss You). But have always been in his corner. And he endured. Those American Songbook albums of his were a bore, but they sold tons and kept him in yachting gear! Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteThis song did indeed sample a couple of others - one Brazilian, one by Bobby Womack - but I don't think anyone minded, as all the profits went to UNICEF anyway. As for the similarity to the Stones - just about everybody hitched a ride on the Disco bandwagon in 1978/79...
DeleteIf anyone's a survivor, it's Rod - he's headlining the "Legends" slot at the Glastonbury Festival this summer! Jx
For some reason I have never been a huge fan of Rod Stewart I've never been able to get into too much of his music. And it's not from dis- like I just never enjoyed him ,I'm not sure why.
ReplyDeleteI've never considered myself a huge fan, either - but many of his songs just happened to be around when I was growing up, so they're sort-of "embedded". Having heard a few interviews with the man, and knowing how downright generous to good causes he has been with his money over the years, I have a new-found admiration for him. Jx
DeleteYes, Rod, I thought you were sexy then. I've never been a big fan but he'll be in my city soon and I wish I could see him simply because he's been around so long. Alas, I cannot afford tickets at the moment.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
It's such a shame live ticket prices are so extortionate these days. We were toying with the thought of seeing the return of Scissor Sisters, but then found out they're at the O2 Arena (formerly known as "The Millennium Dome") - where tickets start at £60 and head skywards from there. We didn't bother. [We saw them for free (after I won a contest) way back in 2006, anyhow - and Ana Matronic was still with them then!]
DeleteJx
Still have some of his"hits" I think. I know most of mine were cassette tapes, which went the way of all over-wound cassettes But when I get around to sifting our musical library I hope I still have some. Tonight's the night...
ReplyDelete...It's gonna be alright!
DeleteSurprised you still have something to play cassettes on, Dinah! Our old mini-stacking-system has been mouldering away under the front bay window since we moved in (as it was a convenient place to put it, then, like everything else that's put away like that, forgotten), but I very much doubt after all that neglect we'd get anything - CD or tape - to play on it!
Jx
He's lived life well, has our Rod, despite [or because of] the leopard print pants.
ReplyDeleteI know all the words to some of his tunes, and my first slow dance was swaying along to I Am Sailing with the boy of my dreams at a school disco.
Sx
He was the soundtrack to so many people's lives... Jx
DeleteHappy birthday Sir Rod. Rock icon and all-round Good Egg.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly is a "good egg". The more I hear of him, the more I like him. Jx
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