Should singing be banned from countdown

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:17 am

Lesley Garretts singing on countdown seems to have sparked some divided opinions

So I just wondered what others think

I find it toe curling for some reason

Ian Fitzpatrick · Post by **Ian Fitzpatrick** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:31 am

Best to ask Susie, sitting next to a soprano in full throw makes the body tingle no matter whether in the studio, a hall or a church.

Derek Hazell · Post by **Derek Hazell** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:33 am

My dad's body tingles whenever he sees Lesley Garrett - singing or otherwise!

Clive Brooker · Post by **Clive Brooker** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:15 pm

It has to be "No". If the guest were, say, Bryn Terfel, I would be very disappointed if he didn't sing a couple of times at least.

I've been watching recordings this week so I've only seen LG's contributions in silence at 16x normal speed.

Alec Rivers · Post by **Alec Rivers** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:41 pm

Clive Brooker wrote:I've been watching recordings this week so I've only seen LG's contributions in silence at 16x normal speed.

Same here. x12 and the cringeworthiness is gone.

Derek Hazell · Post by **Derek Hazell** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:05 pm

Alec Rivers wrote:x12 and the cringeworthiness is gone.

Alec Rivers · Post by **Alec Rivers** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:18 pm

Spot-on, Derek!

John Bosley · Post by **John Bosley** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:29 pm

I would not object to LG being on Countdown as long as she was banned from singing and we had her stupid grin erased - and her silly cheesy comments.

Sue Sanders · Post by **Sue Sanders** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:21 pm

I feel LG as a whole package is 90% of the problem. The fact that she also performs opera smugly and for...so....cocking....long... is just the straw etc. But don't ban singing altogether. What about J Digance and the very special (no not special needs) Stickleback Song?

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:31 pm

Sue Sanders wrote:I feel LG as a whole package is 90% of the problem. The fact that she also performs opera smugly and for...so....cocking....long... is just the straw etc. But don't ban singing altogether. What about J Digance and the very special (no not special needs) Stickleback Song?

LG isn;t a bad guest, apart from the warbling ,I admire her enthusiasm for her craft and her general cheeriness.

Also, Sue, do you mean Richard Digance

Davy Affleck · Post by **Davy Affleck** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:34 pm

What next - football guests playing keepie uppie when they are on?

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:50 pm

Davy Affleck wrote:What next - football guests playing keepie uppie when they are on?

Ok guys, what's the most inappropriate famous-for thing that DC guests could have done?

I'm going for money-saving-obsessed knob Martin Lewis, I'd like to see him command total silence for five minutes as he completes a balance sheet and profit and loss account.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:52 pm

It's a slippery slope isn't it. Start allowing DC guests to exercise their professional skills on the programme, and before you know it Paul Zenon will be doing magic tricks, Dr Phil Hammond will be demonstrating CPR, Martin Lewis will be giving out money-saving tips and Tim Vine will be telling jokes. I mean please.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:00 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Davy Affleck wrote:What next - football guests playing keepie uppie when they are on?
Ok guys, what's the most inappropriate famous-for thing that DC guests could have done?

I'm going for money-saving-obsessed knob Martin Lewis, I'd like to see him command total silence for five minutes as he completes a balance sheet and profit and loss account.

Ron Atkinson could abuse some ethnic minorities in the audience.

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:07 pm

Delia Smith could make us an omellette

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:12 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:It's a slippery slope isn't it. Start allowing DC guests to exercise their professional skills on the programme, and before you know it Paul Zenon will be doing magic tricks, Dr Phil Hammond will be demonstrating CPR, Martin Lewis will be giving out money-saving tips and Tim Vine will be telling jokes. I mean please.

Well at least Jonathon Ansell didn't sing when he was on

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:27 pm

Lesley says something like "I'd like to talk about ...... today" but actually only speaks for about 10 seconds then bursts into song. I actually thought today she would just give a nice opera-related anecdote. Alas, no.

I think they should get Jamie Oliver on with a portable stove.

Alec Rivers · Post by **Alec Rivers** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:31 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:Ron Atkinson could abuse some ethnic minorities in the audience.

Mint.

James Robinson · Post by **James Robinson** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:48 pm

Marc Meakin wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:It's a slippery slope isn't it. Start allowing DC guests to exercise their professional skills on the programme, and before you know it Paul Zenon will be doing magic tricks, Dr Phil Hammond will be demonstrating CPR, Martin Lewis will be giving out money-saving tips and Tim Vine will be telling jokes. I mean please.
Well at least Jonathon Ansell didn't sing when he was on.

I was waiting for someone to mention Jonathan "G4" Ansell. Good lord, what was anyone thinking of that day, when he was chosen to come on!

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:39 pm

Lesley Garrett should be banned from Countdown. Thread locked.

Darren Carter · Post by **Darren Carter** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:39 pm

I normally record the show and then fast-forward the DC guest unless it's someone interesting, but after the furore on here I played it to listen and it was bloody awful.

Sue Sanders · Post by **Sue Sanders** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:49 pm

Marc Meakin wrote:
Sue Sanders wrote:I feel LG as a whole package is 90% of the problem. The fact that she also performs opera smugly and for...so....cocking....long... is just the straw etc. But don't ban singing altogether. What about J Digance and the very special (no not special needs) Stickleback Song?
LG isn;t a bad guest, apart from the warbling ,I admire her enthusiasm for her craft and her general cheeriness.

Also, Sue, do you mean Richard Digance

Yeah - or...'J' to his friends

I went to school with a John Digance and I just can't get him outta my head! Fuck off Kylie!

D Eadie · Post by **D Eadie** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:12 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:It's a slippery slope isn't it. Start allowing DC guests to exercise their professional skills on the programme, and before you know it Paul Zenon will be doing magic tricks, Dr Phil Hammond will be demonstrating CPR, Martin Lewis will be giving out money-saving tips and Tim Vine will be telling jokes. I mean please.

At last, the voice of reason in an ocean full of diarrhoea.

God forbid a DC guest does what they are famous for.

Allan Harmer · Post by **Allan Harmer** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:49 am

D Eadie wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:It's a slippery slope isn't it. Start allowing DC guests to exercise their professional skills on the programme, and before you know it Paul Zenon will be doing magic tricks, Dr Phil Hammond will be demonstrating CPR, Martin Lewis will be giving out money-saving tips and Tim Vine will be telling jokes. I mean please.

At last, the voice of reason in an ocean full of diarrhoea.

God forbid a DC guest does what they are famous for.

[/quote

Well said Damian - We all like different things and I am sure that a lot of the core viewers will appreciate LG, whereas they may dislike some of the younger DC guests.

CD is a broad church and a little tolearance wouldn't go amiss.

I haven't seen the LG slot yet as I mainly watch recordings but at least she has a fair pair of lungs which appeal to the older male CD viewer. i.e. me!

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:01 am

Charlie Reams wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:
Davy Affleck wrote:What next - football guests playing keepie uppie when they are on?
Ok guys, what's the most inappropriate famous-for thing that DC guests could have done?

I'm going for money-saving-obsessed knob Martin Lewis, I'd like to see him command total silence for five minutes as he completes a balance sheet and profit and loss account.
Ron Atkinson could abuse some ethnic minorities in the audience.

This post caused me to bust out laughing while at work on the phone to a guy whose son had just died.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:33 am

D Eadie wrote:the voice of reason in an ocean full of diarrhoea

I may ask to have that inscribed on my tombstone.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:37 am

D Eadie wrote:the voice of reason in an ocean full of diarrhoea

It's a brave man who opens his mouth while swimming in an ocean of diarrhoea.

Phil is right though.

D Eadie · Post by **D Eadie** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:33 am

Charlie Reams wrote:
D Eadie wrote:the voice of reason in an ocean full of diarrhoea
It's a brave man who opens his mouth while swimming in an ocean of diarrhoea.

Phil is right though.

On the subject of diarrhoea, that profile pic Charlie.

You weren't were you?

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:40 am

D Eadie wrote:On the subject of diarrhoea, that profile pic Charlie.

You weren't were you?

No, but the woman getting on the bus in front of him just had.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:36 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:It's a slippery slope isn't it. Start allowing DC guests to exercise their professional skills on the programme, and before you know it Paul Zenon will be doing magic tricks, Dr Phil Hammond will be demonstrating CPR, Martin Lewis will be giving out money-saving tips and Tim Vine will be telling jokes. I mean please.

It's not that no guest should ever excersise their professional skills, but that people find this Garrett woman particularly annoying when she does so. That is the point, so you are still wrong.

Martin Smith · Post by **Martin Smith** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:46 pm

I guess C4C users aren't a typical cross-section of Countdown viewers - being younger than average we're less likely to appreciate opera. Or smugly-delivered anecdotes which amount to little more than cues to sing. Personally I skimmed through all her interludes after Monday, but I know many dislike Digance and Hammond, not to mention the many sports or pop-music related guests. Would her sections have really been any better if she hadn't sung? I'm not convinced, because I found her arrogant and dull.

Phil Makepeace · Post by **Phil Makepeace** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:25 pm

I'm happy to have singing on Countdown, but only if it's Jason Larsen.

Andy Thomson · Post by **Andy Thomson** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:42 pm

Martin Smith wrote:I guess C4C users aren't a typical cross-section of Countdown viewers - being younger than average we're less likely to appreciate opera.

Sorry Martin - I don't think age has anything to do with appreciation of opera. I was born in 1954 so I was part of the pop generation of the mid-60s onwards. I have avidly followed the music scene ever since and at 55 I still keep up to date with most of the new music. But being a fan of pop music certainly didn't mean that I couldn't appreciate other forms of music. From an early age, I loved the big band sounds of Glenn Miller, in the late 60s and throughout the 70s I listened to progressive rock and heavy metal, in the late 70s I played in a punk band, I've enjoyed funk and reggae, I've always enjoyed classical music and I've been listening to opera since my late teens. So, no age is not a determining factor in my book - it's having an open mind and appreciating quality, irrespective of the genre.

BTW - so far as I can recall, Lesley Garrett only sang one operatic aria during her stint last week, O Mio Babino Caro; the rest of the songs she sung were from musicals. Not quite the same thing.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:48 pm

Andy Thomson wrote:so far as I can recall, Lesley Garrett only sang one operatic aria during her stint last week, O Mio Babino Caro; the rest of the songs she sung were from musicals. Not quite the same thing.

I think when you're categorising music the style of performance is far more important than the background or origin of the song.
If you played a speed metal version of a Britney Spears song, I'd call that speed metal, and not pop. I wouldn't expect pop fans to have any more time for it just because it isn't 'true' speed metal.

Alec Rivers · Post by **Alec Rivers** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:12 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:speed metal

Isn't that just a wall of noise with piercings?

Lucy Gowers · Post by **Lucy Gowers** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:29 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Andy Thomson wrote:so far as I can recall, Lesley Garrett only sang one operatic aria during her stint last week, O Mio Babino Caro; the rest of the songs she sung were from musicals. Not quite the same thing.
I think when you're categorising music the style of performance is far more important than the background or origin of the song.
If you played a speed metal version of a Britney Spears song, I'd call that speed metal, and not pop. I wouldn't expect pop fans to have any more time for it just because it isn't 'true' speed metal.

So if Daniel Barenboim were to play the repertoire of Chas and Dave, would Gertcha and It's Lucky for Spurs when the Year ends in One become classical pieces?

Derek Hazell · Post by **Derek Hazell** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:39 pm

Will you be reviving this poll, Marc?

Davy Affleck · Post by **Davy Affleck** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:43 pm

Stick to crap jokes and stay away from the Krapaoke Tim

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:44 pm

Derek Hazell wrote:Will you be reviving this poll, Marc?

That football song did make me groan.

Derek Hazell · Post by **Derek Hazell** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:24 pm

Marc Meakin wrote:
Derek Hazell wrote:Will you be reviving this poll, Marc?
That football song did make me groan.

What about if they're singing offscreen?

Sue Sanders · Post by **Sue Sanders** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:31 pm

Derek Hazell wrote:
Marc Meakin wrote:
Derek Hazell wrote:Will you be reviving this poll, Marc?
That football song did make me groan.
What about if they're singing offscreen?

Ah - not strictly karaoke as I did it in a recording studio (all be it in some bloke's basement ) My real karaoke is much more in the Tim Vine stylee and can be horrible, I'm proud to say!

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:33 pm

Derek Hazell wrote:
Marc Meakin wrote:
Derek Hazell wrote:Will you be reviving this poll, Marc?
That football song did make me groan.
What about if they're singing offscreen?

I wonder if you could put Sue's vocals on one of Alec's tunes

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:37 pm

Although I cannot carry a tune in a bucket I do have a party piece whereby if you give me a first name, then I will be able to sing a sing containing that name, instantly

D Eadie · Post by **D Eadie** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:51 pm

Marc Meakin wrote:Although I cannot carry a tune in a bucket I do have a party piece whereby if you give me a first name, then I will be able to sing a sing containing that name, instantly

Let me guess..........the lyrics that come just before you name the person, they wouldn't be "Happy Birthday dear.....(insert name) ", would they?

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:57 pm

D Eadie wrote:
Marc Meakin wrote:Although I cannot carry a tune in a bucket I do have a party piece whereby if you give me a first name, then I will be able to sing a sing containing that name, instantly
Let me guess..........the lyrics that come just before you name the person, they wouldn't be "Happy Birthday dear.....(insert name) ", would they?

Yeah, I have won many a bar bet with that one.
I no longer do the 3 songs from a £20 note trick as it resulted in a broken nose

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:58 pm

D Eadie wrote:
Marc Meakin wrote:Although I cannot carry a tune in a bucket I do have a party piece whereby if you give me a first name, then I will be able to sing a sing containing that name, instantly
Let me guess..........the lyrics that come just before you name the person, they wouldn't be "Happy Birthday dear.....(insert name) ", would they?

Cheeky... I'm going to use this as a 'real hustle'.

Sue Sanders · Post by **Sue Sanders** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:06 pm

Marc Meakin wrote:
Derek Hazell wrote:What about if they're singing offscreen?
I wonder if you could put Sue's vocals on one of Alec's tunes

That was recorded in a studio and is a very simple song to sing. My true colours are revealed at Karaoke. Jeff's comment to RR was right - karaoke isn't about being able to sing. ( http://www.picasaweb.com/sooztooz - 'Karaoke' album )

Marc Meakin · Post by **Marc Meakin** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:21 pm

Sue Sanders wrote:
Marc Meakin wrote:
Derek Hazell wrote:What about if they're singing offscreen?
I wonder if you could put Sue's vocals on one of Alec's tunes
That was recorded in a studio and is a very simple song to sing. My true colours are revealed at Karaoke. Jeff's comment to RR was right - karaoke isn't about being able to sing. ( http://www.picasaweb.com/sooztooz - 'Karaoke' album )

Very brave of you.
I don,t think I would have the cojones to share my "Come on Eileen" with anyone

Should Singing be banned on countdown