RADIO REVIEW:FAME CAN be a two-faced beast. You need to keep an eye on it. At best, it's a "frenemy" who will wrap you in a warm embrace, then bitch about you when you're out of the room. Cork-based family showband Crystal Swing's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Showin the US on Monday came to most Irish ears first via radio thanks to the interweb. Even the strait-laced Morning Irelandhad it as their "And finally . . ." story on Tuesday. Ireland's answer to the Von Trapps had arrived.
The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show(Today FM) broadcast clips from Mary Murray-Burke and her children Dervla and Derek on the talk show. They sang He Drinks Tequilaand Murray-Burke played the synthesiser keyboard. "Who are those eejits in America making us sound like awful muck savages?" said one texter, who was either a) insecure, b) jealous or c) both. Back home, Dempsey read another text: "Perhaps Mary was inspired by Kraftwerk." That's a German electronic band from the 1970s.
Simon Delaney came on to plug the new talent search programme he is presenting for RTÉ. The conversation quickly turned to his ups and downs as a performer. Delaney said that as a jobbing actor it’s good to keep his fingers in more than one pie.
Dempsey wondered if he'd ever consider a visit to Carrigstown. "Of course I'd do Fair City," he replied. But, Delaney added, in the 12 years he has been a professional actor, "I've never had an audition for the Abbey." That's the problem with climbing the showbiz ladder. Unlike Everest, one is never sure if there is a top.
To be satirised by Mario Rosenstock's Gift Grubis one way of being celebrated. Unless you're a politician. On Tuesday, a fake Feargal Quinn was giving media advice to a fake Brian Cowen. "Okay, Brian. I'm not so sure about the tracksuit," Quinn says. "You said informal," Cowen replies. "What's that box on your shoulder?" Quinn asks. "Those are me sounds," Cowen says. Cowen takes the mic at a supermarket to make some price announcements. "Special offers!" he says. "Wages: were €28,000, now down to €18,000 going forward. Interest rates: were 3.5 per cent, now up to 4 per cent. Our pensions: now worth an unbelievable half nothing."
On Today FM’s news at midnight on Tuesday, Aingeala Flannery, her voice as smooth as a tin of Golden Syrup, reported that Tourism Ireland paid for Crystal Swing’s economy return flights to LA. (It was worth it: the band was on air for nine minutes.)
On The Ray D'Arcy Show(Today FM, weekdays) on Thursday, Crystal Swing popped up again and changed the words to their signature tune: "He drinks Tanora. She talks dirty in Irish." D'Arcy read texts wishing them well, saying they were down-to-earth and a lovely family. Mary Murray-Burke said, "For anyone who is begrudging us out there, we're in it for a long time." Crystal Swing and Kraftwerk – for the win!
Tom Dunne(Newstalk 106-108, weekdays) pointed out on Wednesday that there are many showbands out there that could help lead Ireland out of the recession. He wasn't being serious, but he did sprinkle a pinch of salt over the Economic Social Research Institute's forecast of a return to growth in 2011. "How many corners can we turn?" he said. He has a point: we have already turned enough to end up right back where we started.
In a recession-and-strike-plagued Britain of 1981, the pre-war glamour of Granada's adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisitedhelped lift the spirits of a world-weary nation. (A bit like Gift Grub. Sort of . . .) On The Reunion(BBC Radio 4, Sundays) Sue MacGregor was joined by cast members Jeremy Irons, a little-known actor in those days, Anthony Andrews, Claire Bloom and Diana Quick. Irons recalled, "At that age one blithely thought it was just another bit of work." But he said it was a "rare time". It cost £10 million and two years to make 11 50-minute episodes, at the time the most expensive series ever made. This nostalgic reunion compelled me to go out and buy the DVD.
"You went into Bridesheadrelatively unknown and came out a star," MacGregor said to Irons. "I know, I know," Irons replied, his deep voice gloriously, theatrically jaded. "Lucky boy." That was twice in one week I had a hankering for Golden Syrup.
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