Latest news with #ShirleyBassey
South Wales Argus
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
The top five events happening in Gwent this weekend
On Saturday, June 21, from noon to 10pm, the first-ever 'Pub By The River' pop-up bar and micro-festival will take place on the bank of the River Usk. (Image: Supplied) This event will offer a stunning view of the river and promises a fun day with live music, a British barbeque, and a selection of beverages. Marquees will be set up in case of bad weather. The Big Pit in Blaenavon is set to host 'The Big Bash at Big Pit' on the same day from 10am to 6.30pm. (Image: Supplied) This event, which had a successful run last year, will feature live music, food, drink, craft stalls, and the world-famous underground tour and museum. Entry is free for all. Chepstow Castle, known as the oldest post-Roman stone castle in the UK, is also hosting a needle felting workshop on June 21. (Image: Supplied) This workshop will be led by fibre and clay artist Emma Bevan from Woven Earth Studio. Participants are asked to bring a photograph or image of something that has inspired them. The £10 ticket covers the workshop and general admission to the castle. Tintern Abbey will be hosting a falconry event on June 21 and 22. (Image: Supplied) Visitors will have the chance to see birds of prey up close, learn about the history of hawking, and watch the birds fly, weather permitting. Talks on the birds of prey and their place in history will also be given. On Sunday, there is 'O Gymru - A Celebration of the Music of Wales,' presented by Lleisiau Torfaen Voices, South Wales' leading choir. (Image: Supplied) This event promises an evening of the finest choral music of Wales, bringing to life traditional songs and hits from legendary Welsh artists like Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and Bonnie Tyler. It is described as a night that will "stir the heart and lift the spirit." These events, each unique in their own right, offer something for everyone in Gwent this weekend. Whether you're a music lover, a fan of the great outdoors, or interested in historical crafts, there's something to enjoy.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tom Jones reveals he 'almost collapsed' while recording iconic James Bond theme tune
Tom Jones recently revealed he 'almost collapsed' while recording the iconic theme tune for the James Bond movie Thunderball, which was released in 1965. The Welsh singer, 85, was recruited last-minute to conjure up a number incorporating the movie's name after Shirley Bassey and Dionne Warwick's attempts were axed by producers for exceeding the opening credits length. Ultimately, composer John Barry and lyricist Don Black placed their bets on Tom, who is renowned for his powerful baritone voice. However, Tom has confessed belting out the song's climactic high note left him close to passing out in the recording booth. Sharing the nerve-wracking incident on Radio 2's Sound of the 60s with Tony Blackburn, Tom said: 'John Barry, who wrote the music, and Don Black did the lyrics, From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'So John Barry said, "Hold the note as long as you can because the music is going to go on longer than that, so don't try to hold it until the end. So just hold it as long as you can and then forget it." I forgot to take a big enough breath.' Tom went on to reveal that the original lyrics were meant to be 'he strikes like thunder' before taking a deep breath and belting out the word 'ball'. He explained: 'But I didn't, so I hit ball and I'm going, and I'm going, and I close my eyes, and I go a little flat towards the end there. You'll hear it just at the end, tapering off, because I couldn't hold it any longer. Recounting the aftermath of singing the last note, he added: 'When I opened my eyes, the room was spinning, so I had to grab hold of the booth I was in to steady myself. I almost went down.' During an interview with Far Out magazine, songwriter Don also recalled how Tom 'got a head rush' while singing the final note of the song. He said: 'The thing I remember most is Tom Jones' recording of the song in which he fainted on the last note. He got a head rush or something. The Bond songs I describe as the lure of the forbidden. It should have the whiff of a boudoir about it.' Explaining his inspiration behind the lyrics of the tune, he added: 'With Thunderball, the first thing I did was look it up in the dictionary. So I scratched my head and used it as a code word, you know, "He strikes like Thunderball". Tom was chosen to perform the James Bond theme tune just a year after achieving chart success with his hit It's Not Unusual. However, Thunderball only reached number 35 in the UK Top 40. Tom has had a stellar career with an impressive tally of 36 UK Top 40 hits and 19 US Top 40 successes. His significant contributions to the music industry were recognised when he was knighted in 2006. However, his version of Thunderball didn't quite hit the mark according to Classic FM, which ranked the song as the fourth-worst James Bond theme in 2022. On the other hand, Shirley's timeless hit Diamonds Are Forever from 1971 was crowned the best James Bond theme by the same publication. The legendary singer, 88, also provided the vocals for Bond themes Goldfinger in 1964 and Moonraker in 1979.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The incredible inspiration behind Queen Elizabeth's dazzling Diamond Jubilee concert outfit revealed by her former dresser
With half a million people packed into The Mall and millions more watching from home, Buckingham Palace became the dazzling backdrop to a historic concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. As pop legends took the stage to mark her remarkable 60-year reign, the palace was illuminated with stunning projections. The concert, which honoured each decade of the Queen's reign through music, featured a star-studded lineup, including Sir Cliff Richard, Elton John, Shirley Bassey and Kylie Minogue. Arriving partway through the event to cheers from the crowd, Elizabeth made a striking appearance in a gold lamé cocktail dress, designed by her long-time senior dresser, Angela Kelly. The look was inspired by the gilded figure of Victory that sits atop the Queen Victoria Memorial just outside Buckingham Palace. As Kelly explains in her book Dressing the Queen: 'The fact that the Queen was appearing on stage at a concert suggested a theatrical mood. 'For those of us working in Buckingham Palace the Queen Victoria Memorial is a familiar friend and it was the golden figure on top of the monument that gave me the idea for the colour of the Queen's dress.' The iconic monument was reimagined as a circular stage, setting the scene for a night of music that spanned Elizabeth's six-decade reign. Her dress - a period piece in itself - was crafted from fabric originally purchased overseas in 1961. It was richly trimmed with antique gold lace and embellished with Swarovski crystals to catch the light under the stage spotlights. In place of traditional jewellery, which was deemed too formal for the concert setting, an elaborate embroidered appliqué provided decorative flourish. Originally designed to drape down the left side of the gown, it was later moved to the right - at Elizabeth's request. Kelly recounts: 'At an earlier stage we had put it on the opposite shoulder; it was the Queen's decision to change it around, and absolutely right that we did.' The evening culminated in a dramatic moment when Her Late Majesty lit the final beacon on The Mall by plunging the Diamond Jubilee crystal into a ceremonial tube - triggering a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the London skyline While Prince Philip was hospitalised with a bladder infection, other members of the Royal Family - including Prince William, Catherine and Prince Harry - joined in the lively performances, singing along and waving Union flags in rhythm with the music. Queen Elizabeth appeared visibly moved as Prince Charles delivered a heartfelt and humorous speech honouring his mother, joking that if the crowd cheered loudly enough, the Duke of Edinburgh might be able to hear it from his hospital bed. The evening culminated in a dramatic moment when Her Late Majesty lit the final beacon on The Mall by plunging the Diamond Jubilee crystal into a ceremonial tube - triggering a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the London skyline. The next day, the Royal Family attended a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral, where the Queen addressed her family and the nation through a speech she had recorded in advance from her private chambers.
Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Elton John calls Labour ‘absolute losers' over AI
Sir Elton John has called the Government 'absolute losers' over its plans to regulate AI. The singer, 78, described one Cabinet minister as a 'bit of a moron' for not forcing tech companies to disclose which content they are using to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. Hundreds of news and creative organisations, including The Telegraph, backed a campaign to make the AI development process more transparent. Sir Elton said the companies were 'committing theft, thievery, on a high scale'. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said he felt 'incredibly betrayed' by the Government and alluded to taking legal action. This week, ministers rejected an amendment to the Government's Data Bill, which was proposed by Baroness Kidron, to force companies to notify copyright holders if their work is used to train generative AI models. Creatives such as Robbie Williams and Dame Shirley Bassey have argued that without the 'transparency' clause, their content would effectively be stolen. Sir Elton warned that the Government is on course to 'rob young people of their legacy and their income', adding that Sir Keir Starmer and his Cabinet were 'just being absolute losers... about it'. He said the Prime Minister needed to 'wise up' and singled out Peter Kyle, the Tech Secretary, as 'a bit of a moron'. 'We'll fight it all the way,' he said, indicating that he and other artists would take legal action. Sir Elton continued: 'The House of Lords did a vote and it was more than two to one in our favour. 'The Government just looked at it as if to say, 'Hmm, well the old me can afford it'.' Mr Kyle had previously supported rules that would have required copyright holders to 'opt out' if they did not want their content to be used by AI. But the Government has softened its stance and said it would produce a policy proposal on how to manage AI within a year of the Data Bill being signed into law. Its opponents have said this means AI companies will be given carte blanch to use copyrighted content in the meantime without the owners knowing. Some tech companies have previously been found to have used pirated content from the internet to train AI services, which creatives believe will reduce the demand for human-generated music, books and art. Government softens stance Last week, Baroness Kidron's amendment passed in the House of Lords with a majority of 147 peers, marking a significant defeat for the Government. However, ministers stripped out the amendment when the bill returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday after arguing that it would place a financial burden on the Treasury. The Commons holds the exclusive right to allocate public funds in UK law. A Government spokesman said ministers want the creative industries and AI companies to 'flourish, which is why we're consulting on a package of measures that we hope will work for both sectors'. They added that it was 'equally important that we put in the groundwork now as we consider the next steps'. The spokesman continued: 'That is why we have committed to publishing a report and economic impact assessment – exploring the broad range of issues and options on all sides of the debate.'
Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Tech firms must tell newspapers when they use material to train AI, under Lords plan
Tech companies will be required to tell musicians, artists and newspapers when they use their material to train AI models under an amendment backed by the House of Lords. The Government suffered a defeat on Monday from peers who argued that its Data Bill did not do enough to protect creatives from 'theft' by AI firms. The amendment, which will now return to MPs for consideration, would force tech companies to strike licensing deals with content creators to use their work or face legal action. The debate came after more than 400 artists and industry groups, including Sir Elton John, Robbie Williams and Shirley Bassey, signed a letter urging Sir Keir Starmer to do more to protect the arts. Lord Black, who is the deputy chairman of the Telegraph Media Group, said the 'centuries-old right' to copyright protection was in danger because the Government is 'legalising theft' and allowing AI to 'plunder someone else's work and profit from it'. During the House of Lords debate, he argued that AI posed an 'existential threat' to a free press, by allowing companies to steal news companies' content to train their models. He said: 'AI has the capacity utterly to destroy independent news organisations because it feasts off millions of articles written by journalists without any attribution or payment, destroying the business model that makes the free press possible. 'Without action this day, news will die in the cold darkness of cyberspace where no legal framework exists – the advertising which supports it taken by the platforms, its content stolen by AI. There will be only a husk left.' News organisations are especially at risk of copyright violations by tech companies, many of which are looking to develop their own AI news services. Several of the UK's largest news companies, including The Telegraph, signed the letter to Sir Keir urging him to introduce a requirement for tech companies to inform the creators of content they have used. 'Threat to democracy' Lord Black added: 'The term 'existential threat' is bandied around too much. But this is not crying wolf. 'Unless we introduce transparency, control over content and fair remuneration within a dynamic licensing market, the threat to free media is genuinely existential. As a consequence the threat to democracy itself is also genuinely existential.' The amendment, by Baroness Kidron, would require AI companies to publish details of copyrighted material they use to train models, and make it accessible to content owners upon request. Ministers have effectively abandoned earlier plans that would have given AI companies the power to train their models on copyrighted content unless the owner 'opted out'. Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, is now considering a new licence-based model. The latest version of the Data Bill requires ministers to draw up a policy on AI and copyright within a year. However, the signatories of the letter argue that the process will take too long, and they will be forced to 'give our work away at the behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies' if ministers do not act sooner. The open letter by the artists published on Saturday urged the Government to 'put transparency at the heart of the copyright regime'. It was also signed by Tom Jones, Eric Clapton, Dua Lipa, Lord Lloyd Webber and members of Coldplay. The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology has said it will consult on a 'package of measures that we hope will work for both sectors' and that 'no changes will be considered unless we are completely satisfied they work for creators'. But Baroness Kidron said that transparency was required so the Government could enforce existing copyright legislation, telling peers: 'We do not need to change copyright law. 'We need transparency so that we can enforce copyright law, because what you cannot see, you cannot enforce.' She added: 'If this Bill does not protect copyright now, by the time they work out their policy there will be little to save.' Baroness Jones, a Labour Lords minister, said the Government would not support the transparency requirement and that it would not be a 'silver bullet' to prevent copyright violations against creatives. During Monday's debate, peers also backed an amendment put forward by the Conservatives, which would require public bodies to record sex data rather than gender data. The party argued that 'confusion' among police officers, nurses and prison officers had often led to them recording gender data rather than sex data. The amendment was backed by gender critical feminist campaigners, who said the current rules do not allow patients to know the sex of their doctor, only their gender. It is likely to be defeated by Labour MPs when it returns to the Commons in the coming weeks.
