https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/entertainment/rising-star-karaoke Archives

Ladies Marmalade from America to here

2nd April 20222nd April 2022 funtime65

Now I’m back home doin’ 9 to 5, livin’ the grey flannel life, but when I turn off to sleep, memories creep. More, more, more Ladies Marmalade from America to here.

I was a bit of a gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, Dada myself in CityWalk’s Rising Star Karaoke Bar in Orlando.

When despite the acclamations of the MC that my rendition of the Patti Labelle classic was ‘how to do a chick’s song’…

I actually murdered it, while my hosts taped me for posterity.

Daddy Marmalade

All of which nostalgia came flooding back as I watched Daddy’s Little Girl nail Lady Marmalade with her dance troupe in Tranent in East Lothian in Scotland.

Lady Marmalade, of course, is a celebration of Creole and bordillo culture ‘in old New Orleans.’

Though it morphs into Moulin Rouge by the time Lil’ Kim, Christina Aguilera & Pink! got their hands on it.

I know it was for the film Moulin Rouge, but I hazard that Lady Marmalade would only ever have worked a sizzling city like Norleans.

Norleans

Now those of us who criss-cross the Oo Es of Eh to cover its travel fairs especially look forward to when it is Norleans‘ turn.

We still wait, and for the time being we make do by smiling at the pictures of our old pal and Travel legend JP Thompson.

As he decked himself head to toe in kitsch carnival clothes for a Bourbon Street parade.

Why then he took shy when calls went up for karaoke volunteers that night in Orlando we’re still interrogating him to this day.

Now we’re all living with Covid one of the staples of a party holiday, the karaoke is thankfully back.

Karaoke memories

Fab four: Terry, Bernard, Claire and Ray in Portugal

Our first was in the fun surroundings of Cabanas in the Algarve, Portugal (and we keep going back)

When ‘Leeds Ray’ and myself whip-cracked away into the theme from Raw Hide.

More Booze Brothers us than Blues Brothers.

Nor did either of these embarrassments put me off getting up again and again.

But with age has come experience and I lowered my range to channel my inner Chuck Berry.

And Memphis Tennessee on board MSC in the Norwegian fjords.

Our duet

Tag team: With The Scary One in the fjords

On none of these occasions has the Scary One joined me on the Mic.

Although I guess she might plump for Hit the Road, Jock.

Whatever your karaoke song of choice, whether Ladies Marmalade from America to here, enjoy.

America, Countries, Culture

Rainy Days and Songdays – Lady Marmalade in Orlando

11th May 202010th May 2020 funtime65

I still feel to this day that I was stitched up… in Orlando.

Our hosts Natatlie and Fiona had plied us all with Hurricanes at Pat O’Brien’s bar https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/dining/pat-o-briens and shots at Rising Star both on CityWalk https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/entertainment/rising-star-karaoke.

And then invited us to fill out a form from the menu of songs and submit our requests for the karaoke bar.

Now this karaoke bar is like nothing I’ve ever seen. There must have been about 2,000 people there.

There was the compere who could sing and throw shapes and two leggy lovely backing singers.

I knew I was in trouble when fellow Glaswegian Bev who was in our party declared that her karaoke song was Rainy Days and Mondays by The Carpenters.

If I was a Carpenter

And if you feel you can do justice to just about the greatest female voice in pop history in Karen Carpenter then you can clearly sing.

Walking on water: The Lowes Portofino in Orlando

It all came flooding back to me this week when I followed Bev on her Sbowbiz Lion website http://www.showbizlion.com where she was singing like a nightingale, this time a moving version of Judy Garland’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Again aiming high and nailing it.

And thanks for the shout-out and here I’m only too happy to reciprocate.

Back to Orlando and my new pal introduced herself as ‘Bev from Glasgow’ giving it the obligatory ‘Hello Orlando’.

Before working the compere and the backing singers into her routine, moving those arms like pistons as she rocked the place with Tina Turner’s Proud Mary.

Of course I would have to be next, singing Patti LaBelle’s Lady Marmalade.

Nailing a girls’ song

The compere kindly told the crowd after I’d murdered the song that ‘that was how a man sings a girls’ song.’

And a couple on our boat trip back to our hotel, the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/places-to-stay/loews-portofino-bay-hotel, were gracious enough to congratulate me on my efforts. Americans really do do manners well.

As a postscript myself and my Sunday paper workmate and showbiz writer Eoin Murphy did The Killers and Mr Brightside later in the week.

I was lucky enough to get back to Orlando the following year to bookend my Aaawlando… Orlando, the rollercoaster capital See off Voldemort, then for a beer at Moe’s and http://www.universalorlando.com trip.

With Why I love The Donald and http://www.visitorlando.com.

But whether the word had been put out to stop me singing again but we didn’t take in the Rising Star on that trip.

Eoin had occasion to interview Brandon Flowers a couple of years later when he told him about our duet to which The Great Man just rolled his eyes.

So he knows me then.

Killer tune

And maybe some day soon I’ll telll you about how I was so nervous at the possibility of meeting him (Brandon that is, not Eoin) that I queued an hour and a half before everyone else and almost lost my place because I had to keep going to the hotel.

A hero with a cloak: At Harry Potter’s favourite pub with the butter beer

Alas, it wasn’t Brandon who was playing but another less well-known singer.

I had hoped to meet him in Las Vegas, a city I love and have unfinished business in Strip… the light fantastic and http://www.lvca.com this year but alas that wasn’t to be but there’s always next year.

Watch out for the boys’ new album Imploding the Mirage which comes out on May 28.

While I can’t imagine that nobody has offered my old pal Bev a contract. I’d pay to see her, but I wouldn’t blame her if it wasn’t mutual.

MEET YOU ON THE STAGE

America, Countries, Deals

Holidos and don’ts Rollercoasters

20th January 202028th June 2025 funtime65

Every holiday has its ups and downs and thrill-seeking holidays have more than most, it’s Holidos and don’ts Rollercoasters.

Of course you’re probably a big fan of the corkscrews otherwise you wouldn’t have booked this type of holiday.

Well, maybe, but then it could be a family holiday and Himself or Junior are the rollercoaster junkies.

Me, I’m a nervous rollercoaster but I will put myself forward.

But as tempting as it is may be you ought to miss out on the bacons, sausages, eggs, omelettes, pancakes and muffins.

Particularly if you’ve been down at the Irish duelling piano bar Pat O’Brien’s in Orlando.

And CityWalk’s Rising Star karaoke club. Doing giant Hurricane cocktails and shots.

Been there, done that

In my unforgettable trips Aaawlando… Orlando, the rollercoaster capital and Why I love The Donald with https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us and https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_GB/.

Motion sickness tablets: Right you get to the rollercoasters and your tummy starts doing somersaults.

You want to go on but you worry that you’ll bring up your breakfast over that cute excited little girl in front of you.

And that’s where motion sickness tablets come in handy.

Choose your rollercoaster: Don’t be a hero.

My old pal Colin is as tough a bloke as you’ll meet and will run through brick walls on a football field.

But he doesn’t like big dippers. That’s fine, there are plenty of attractions, funky characters and food… on the ground!

While some of us love a corkscrew or a loop the loop while others (me) like a vertical drop.

Harry’s game

And then there are those 4D carts like you get in Harry Potter which tilt and play with your senses.

To give the illusion that you are riding on your broomstick around Hogwarts Castle.

And playing quidditch with Ron Weasley.

The feeling of disorientation will pass, the memories never will.

All that was left were the glasses

For many of us (me) we feel safer if we have water to cushion the fall.

And so for me it was Wet ‘n Wild Orlando which alas closed in 2016.

Dropping down through a trap door down the chute and round some loops

Before thundering into the final splash was one of the most exhilarating rides of my life.

So, Wet ‘n Wild has gone, you’ve still got Aquatica.

And in California

Disneyland Park, Anaheim https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disneyland/?CMP=OKC-dlr_themeparks_gmap_38 has it all.

And now something else again which for you Star Wars fans is something else again… Stair Wars

The way to do any of these theme parks, of course, is priority booking.

And the people to do it with are Attraction Tickets www.attractiontickets.com.

MEET YOU ON THE BIG DIPPER