More nostalgia with Peter and Gordon

By some quirk of fate, 2005 has turned out to be the year when nostalgia ruled the concert scene. Maybe it is a desire to go back to what are considered better times. Maybe it is the older generation asserting its influence over their children or their grandchildren. Why not? They are the ones with money to spend. So instead of spending these on tickets for their kids at rock concerts, they are spending it on themselves to listen to the music they grew up with.

We had The Cascades, the Beach Boys, Teri de Sario and Michael Bublé who is young but sings like a crooner of the Sinatra generation. The Stylistics will be back this December. January has the Spiral Staircase and The Lettermen lined up. I do not know if anybody is arriving in February but March will have Pat Boone, the guy whose romantic baritone gave Elvis Presley stiff competition through songs like Friendly Persuasion, Love Letters in the Sand, April Love and so many others. Then in between all these there will be Peter and Gordon.

Peter Asher and Gordon Waller will be reunited for the first time in over 30 years at the Peter and Gordon World Reunion Tour. This will play at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Thursday, Dec. 1 and will be followed by the more intimate dinner show at Hard Rock Café, Makati on Saturday, Dec. 3. Tickets to the Araneta show are priced at P2200, P1800, P800, P500 and P200. These are available at Ticketnet outlets at SM department stores. For reservations to the Hard Rock show, call 893-4661 to 64.

Privilege is the word that instantly comes to mind while recalling the careers of Peter and Gordon. They met as students in the prestigious Westminster School for Boys. They were signed to a recording contract only a short while after forming their duo Peter and Gordon. Then on their first time out with a single, they got to do a song composed by no less than Beatle Paul McCartney, who was then dating Jane Asher, actress-sister of Peter. World Without Love was an instant hit and they came to be known as the Everly Brothers of the British Invasion.

A privileged existence though was not the only reason why the mop-topped boys found it easy to reach the top. Peter and Gordon were excellent vocalists who were also wizards with the guitar. They also proved to be quite versatile and can go from teddy boy cuteness – World Without Love, Nobody I Know – to music hall novelty – Lady Godiva, Sunday for Tea, to cover versions like True Love Ways by Buddy Holly, I Go to Pieces by Del Shannon and To Know You is to Love You by the Teddy Bears and even to middle of the road ballads like Somewhere with great ease.

Peter and Gordon went on to other things after only a few years together. Peter established himself as an A-list music producer and talent manager while Gordon went on to become an actor in musicals. But I think I can honestly say their music has withstood the test of time. Truth to tell, I got the same kick I did when I first heard their songs in the ‘60s when I listened to them again while writing this piece. These guys are good.

American Music Awards

The 33rd American Music Awards kicked off the award-giving season with a star-studded bash in Los Angeles last Tuesday, Nov. 22 and it was such a treat to get it live via Star World. The AMA is considered a strong gauge of the popularity of pop stars because the winners are chosen by the public. Ballots are put out in strategic areas and fans fill them up to cast their votes. That is why categories are called Favorite Pop-Rock or Favorite Soul-R&B or whatever. In a way it is a preview of what might be a more commercial Grammy Awards where winners are selected by the members of the recording academy. 

Here now are the winners at the American Music Awards and the Favorites in the US for 2005.

• Favorite Pop-Rock

Male, Will Smith; Female, Gwen Stefani; Group, The Black Eyed Peas; Album, American Idiot by Green Day

• Favorite Soul-R&B

Male, R. Kelly; Female, Mariah Carey; Group, Destiny’s Child; Album, Destiny Fulfilled by Destiny’s Child

• Favorite Country

Male, Tim McGraw; Female, Gretchen Wilson, Group; Brooks & Dunn; Album, Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw

• Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop

Male, Eminem; Female, Missy Elliott; Group, The Black Eyed Peas; Album, Massacre by 50 Cent

• Favorite Adult Contemporary: Kelly Clarkson

• Favorite Latin Music: Shakira

• Favorite Alternative Music: Green Day

• Breakthrough Award to New Unsigned Artist: Sugarland

• Mobile Text-In Award: Kelly Clarkson.