Showing posts with label Flower Drum Song. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flower Drum Song. Show all posts

Sunday, 19 May 2019

Like a filly who is ready for the race



We're in full "recovery mode" here at Dolores Delargo Towers after hosting a fabulous (and very late) party last night for the Eurovision Song Contest - more on that later, no doubt - so it is quite a joy to discover that today is the 80th birthday of the lovely Nancy Kwan.

As if I'd ever need an excuse to (once again) feature this camp classic...


I'm a girl, and by me that's only great!
I am proud that my silhouette is curvy,
That I walk with a sweet and girlish gait
With my hips kind of swivelly and swervy.

I adore being dressed in something frilly
When my date comes to get me at my place.
Out I go with my Joe or John or Billy,
Like a filly who is ready for the race!

When I have a brand new hairdo
With my eyelashes all in curl,
I float as the clouds on air do,
I enjoy being a girl!

When men say I'm cute and funny
And my teeth aren't teeth, but pearl,
I just lap it up like honey
I enjoy being a girl!

I flip when a fellow sends me flowers,
I drool over dresses made of lace,
I talk on the telephone for hours
With a pound and a half of cream upon my face!

I'm strictly a female female
And my future I hope will be
In the home of a brave and free male
Who'll enjoy being a guy having a girl... like... me.

When men say I'm sweet as candy
As around in a dance we whirl,
It goes to my head like brandy,
I enjoy being a girl!

When someone with eyes that smoulder
Says he loves ev'ry silken curl
That falls on my iv'ry shoulder,
I enjoy being a girl!

When I hear the compliment'ry whistle
That greets my bikini by the sea,
I turn and I glower and I bristle,
But I happy to know the whistle's meant for me!

I'm strictly a female female
And my future I hope will be
In the home of a brave and free male
Who'll enjoy being a guy having a girl... like... me.


A drag queen standard.

Feeling better now...

Nancy "Ka Shen" Kwan (born 19th May 1939)

Wednesday, 19 May 2010

"When I have a brand new hairdo, with my eyelashes all in curl"



Happy 71st birthday today to the marvellous Nancy Ka Shen Kwan! (Who? I hear you ask...)

Nancy Kwan was a ground-breaking and influential actress in Hollywoodland. Although Hong Kong born and British Empire educated, she broke the mould of stereotypical "Oriental" screen portrayals as a genuinely Chinese screen temptress in The World of Suzie Wong, and went on to great acclaim as (probably) the first Asian sex symbol in America. Her iconic style and glamour, and in particular her "asymmetrical bob" hairstyle by Vidal Sassoon, became the stuff of legend and was endlessly emulated and copied throughout the 1960s.

In spite of her long and glamorous career, and many film and TV appearances over six decades, it is mainly for one significant role that aficionados of musical campness most appreciate this diva. For it was Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song [the first all-Asian mainstream movie in cinema history] that allowed the lady to shine at her very brightest, and [despite her vocals being dubbed] it is for this song we will always remember Miss Nancy Kwan!


Nancy Kwan website