Kay Harker and Cole Hawlings Picture accessed via BBC There are few things more Christmassy than the opening few bars of the theme tune to The Box of Delights . In fact, the tune is based on Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony and had been used in radio adaptations of the same novel years earlier than the 1984 television series. Clearly, everyone already knew that you just couldn't improve on that sound to evoke the magic of Christmas which - for me and for many - is so wonderfully explored in John Masefield's story. As a viewer, one of the things I enjoy most about the television series of The Box of Delights is the acting. Child actors are precarious things: too sweet and they're almost unbearable to watch, not sweet enough and they're unbelievable. They must walk that fine line between the two, and it is a perilous one! Most young actors fall into the first category, where their on-screen presence is almost dangerously saccharine. Not so the child actors ...
For more than a decade, Derek Philpott and his son, Dave, have been writing to pop stars from the 1960s to the 90s to take issue with the lyrics of some of their best-known songs.
But then, to their great surprise, the pop stars started writing back...
Dear Mr Pop Star contains 100 of Derek and Dave's greatest hits, including correspondence with Katrina and the Waves, Tears for Fears, Squeeze, The Housemartins, Suzi Quatro, Devo, Deep Purple, Nik Kershaw, T Pau, Human League, Eurythmics, Wang Chung, EMF, Mott the Hoople, Heaven 17, Jesus Jones, Johnny Hates Jazz, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Chesney Hawkes and many, many more.
When I agreed to review this book and be part of the blog tour for the launch, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. This book's subject and way of writing is most unusual...but it works!
What a great hobby to write to celebrities, and greater still that some of them would reply, often matching the cheek and wit that was initially sent to them. I found myself thinking, when I was reading through this super book, what some of the celebrities would think if they read it. I feel sure that most would remember such an unusually pedantic piece of mail!
I found it particularly amusing when I knew the song that was being discussed. A connection to the song provides an extra understanding and humour to the already hilarious book.
This isn't a book I could read cover to cover. It lasted me several days, dipping in and out whenever I could between lessons or at lunchtimes.
["You've brought your kindle to lunch!" Cried a colleague of mine. "Am I so boring?"
I wonder if some readers out there will understand me?]
The format of the book is clear, easy-to-read and clever. The pages look like letters which portrays the whole theme and idea of the book.
Well, Christmas is coming up quite soon, and this book would make a fantastic present for that troublesome family member who is difficult to please but has a devilish sense of humour! I will keep this in mind...
You can buy the book from Amazon here.
Oh Crowvus, where to begin??
ReplyDeleteI'm sure celebs get a lot of deranged email, but the distinct advantage that we had was that we primed them first! rough this super book, what some of the celebrities would think if they read it. I feel sure that most would remember such an unusually pedantic piece of mail!
Yes we love that you found it amusing that when you knew the song but we liked making the reader work for it!.
So, yes it's a BIG DIPPER and sorry to have made your lunch unsocialable!. Love too that you appreciate the effort that went into the presentation:)
Thank you, thank you thank you!! It’s been a delight corresponding with you in the weeks and weeks leading to this glorious appraisal and you have been encouraging and supportive throughout. Just massive kudos not just for spending your valuable time and assets, but also for such a sublime critique that delves right to the essence and heart of our insane little world… Best and Highest, Dave and Dad Philpott (shaking off the pseud temporarily)