#N
Yes, it tells such a lot about the times. The 1940s, 1950s, when
he was so popular. It was when dancing, that kind of dancing was
so very important. It was where boys would meet girls.[laughs]#F It just goes to show how much thought is put into his songs, and his work in general. Likewise can be said of your new album, 'The Very Thought Of You'. Picking the songs in itself, can be viewed as being brave. You've put them together so that they'll blend into a concept.
#N Yes, through my life I've admired a certain amount of people. Going to the pictures and seeing Fred Astaire, and things like that. So, I thought that I'd sings a song about them. Then I'd sing a song associated with them.
#F Clive Gregson's 'On Friday's He'd Fred Astaire' paints such vivid images, it's surreal.
#N
Yes, it tells such a lot about the times. The 1940s, 1950s, when
he was so popular. It was when dancing, that kind of dancing was
so very important. It was where boys would meet girls.[laughs]
#F You're going back to the days when small towns and villages would have a dance hall to be proud of. It was an important aspect of life, meeting and going to the local dance on a weekend.
#N Sure, all the girls would stand on one side, and you would have the men onthe other. You couldn't be a wall flower.
#F It's interesting to see that there's a Loudon Wainwright song on the album. Did he write the song, 'Dreaming' for the project?
#N He gave me the song. I've been a fan of Loudon's for years and years. Like Richard Thompson, Billy Bragg and Elvis Costello and I think they write songs about meaning. Songs about human condition really.
#F Billy lyrics speak as if he was a Northerner, sings very much from the heart. Earthy and powerful.
#N It's working class, I see nothing wrong with working class anything. I'm from working class, [she says proudly.]
#F It touches more hearts than many seem to realise.'
#N Folk music is, a working class music. The Court's music and the ruling classes' music was in fact Spanish Opera, and French Ballet. Folk music, it was our traditional music.
#F Songwriting, is it something that you, yourself might consider getting more involved in?
#N I've done a few, I did one on the first album, but, I'll leave that to Eliza.
#F Talking of Eliza, 'Fallen Leaves' is a very fine song. I've not long finished a book on the late Marilyn Monroe about whom the song is about in part. Her, and the late Princess Di.
#N Marilyn and Princess Di both died young, and beautiful and will be always remembered like that. When Princess Diana died I just couldn't understand the hysteria about it, how it effected so many people who didn't know her. It seemed that she died when she was young and beautiful you know it puts her in a different category more or less. Eliza and I talked about this, and where she's buried on an island. Surrounded by water. It's a very mediaeval… No, it's not.
#F It's more like a fairy-tale.
#N ..yes, that's right. A fairy-tale. Like sleeping beauty. It's about people's perception of beauty. You're only beautiful if you disappear.
#F Which is a most sad thing. Norma, in you covering such a song it keeps you're music fresh, and abreast of today's world.
#N Well, in traditional music, you have to add to it. You have to bring in new stuff all of the time. Otherwise, it stagnates, ends up in a museum. And, what good is that. As nobody would want to sing it.
#F Has Eliza's success helped keep your desire to play sharp?
#N No, we're a family. I've always sang with my family, she just joined in! My sound man is my nephew, Oliver. He played with his mom on their two albums, and my son, who's not here tonight. He's a teacher, and has a little band of his own. He'll be with us when we play Sidmouth.
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