By John Q. Sanchez on April 27, 2007 | Share & Save | Link | Print |
It turns out that 60s chanteuse Petula Clark, whose mega-hit, “Downtown,” is assuredly playing on an oldies station somewhere right this minute, has at least one other song to her credit. (In fact, according to Wikipedia, “she is the most successful British female solo recording artist to date.” Wow! Take that Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, Lulu, et. al.)
“A Sign of the Times” isn’t the same song as Prince’s, or the Belle Starrs’, and though it’s pleasant and peppy, an hour from now you won’t recall how it goes. But you’ll probably still remember this mod production number starring Petula and her backup prancers. Watch out for Miss Thing on the right hand of the screen, who gets so into it he loses his hat and then almost falls out of his one-legged flamingo pose. This clip is dedicated to FoF’s New Mexico listeners—Petula’s wearing your state flag. —John Q. Sanchez
Bonus beats: Petula performs her signature song on “Top of the Pops,” with another energetic ensemble.
RcktMan says:
April 28, 2007 at 03:15For the love of GOD, pick up that HAT!!! LOL!!!
Great videos. Petula’s so perky.
DragonflySC says:
April 28, 2007 at 13:41That was CANDY for me!!!! God bless Petula… we love her, even if the dancers upstaged her with their fancy moves!
PirateBooty says:
April 30, 2007 at 22:35Don’t forget “Don’t Sleep in the Subway” and isn’t Madonna the most successful British female solo recording artist to date or so she’d like to pretend. =P
dollyboyd says:
May 2, 2007 at 11:26Oh she had many more hits than only those two. Many were in the top ten. Here is a list of ones that I remember.
Downtown
A Sign Of The Times
I Know A Place
Round Every Corner
You’re the One That I Love
(Nothing Could Ever Change) My Love
I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love
Color My World
This Is My Song
Don’t Sleep In The Subway
Petula Clark was also a middleaged woman when these were on the radio.
pepper says:
May 3, 2007 at 16:29I have more of Petula’s stuff on my ipod than anyone else, except maybe Dusty. Petula’s “Legendary 1968 TV Special” is out on DVD. It’s a lot of fun, right down to the Plymouth automobile promotions. This is the show where she caused a huge scandal by taking the arm of her special guest, Harry Belafonte, during a duet. There’s some interesting commentary regarding the scandal, too.
tralfaz says:
May 8, 2007 at 15:55Pet was really rockin’ in that Downtown number. I take exception to the comment that an hour later we won’t remember “Sign of the Times”. I heard it when the song was young and new, and 40 years later it’s etched in the music library section of my brain, in cherry flavored notes of hot pink.
John Q Sanchez lives in Brooklyn, New York. He went to art school with
Fausto Fernós in the mid-90s in Chicago where he wrote for local
publications including Babble, edited by Jim Pickett. He's worked at
several high-profile magazines in New York and was an editor for the
web-zine Blair. He's fascinated by oddball divas, bombastic child
stars, and the everyday person capturing their unique performances for
an online audience.
View all entries by John Q. Sanchez
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Marc Felion | November 21, 2008
Too bad I just found this link otherwise I would have asked about it- fecal transplants: http://scienceblogs.com/aetiol ogy/2007/12/fecal_transplants_ to_cure_clos.php...
Marc Felion | November 21, 2008
Thanks Rhea but a cougar was just shot and killed in the city of Chicago in the springtime. I’m sure there is some funky stuff going on in Africa but yes, we...
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In Marc and Fausto’s defense, they aren’t necessarily being ethnocentric when they’re asking about leopards in Africa; they’re being the mouthpiece...
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I loved the interaction between Eric and Adam. Too funny! I wish there were more stories of mixed-sexuality BFFs– it’s good to see that not all hetero men...
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John In Ely says:
April 28, 2007 at 02:31Someone must have been paying attention, as this looks like the slightly less butch version of “Greased Lightning” from the film, “Grease”.
Pet Clark is great. From my observations, however, there are a lot of people who do not heed her warning to “Don’t Sleep in the Subway”.