You said on
that programme "have you been here before?" that you became more spiritual after
having a visit from you father shortly after he passed away, and I’m unable to
remember whether you said that you believe in after life, or not.
(Submitted By Jane 06/06/05)
Hi Jane,
My dad passed away in
December 1999. About six weeks after, I was dreaming about children on holiday and my dad
walked into the dream and pushed through the children as if to say ‘it’s my turn
now’. He was dressed in his army uniform with his peaked cap on (my dad was in the 2nd
world war); nothing unusual there, you might think, but I had never seen my dad in his
army uniform. I hadn’t even seen photos of him. He was young in my dream, probably in
his late twenties. When my dad died, he was 83. When I was born he was almost 40 – in
other words, I had never seen him that young, either.
My dad was a great dancer,
but I only ever danced with him once, on the night of our wedding. It was as if he wanted
to have one last dance, because he took me in his arms and danced with me. It was the most
fantastic feeling, I felt completely exhilarated! I was still in bed, of course! Then
something happened that really confirmed for me that it was my dad and not my imagination.
I could see a hand reaching
towards me and my hand was stretching up to hold it. Once again, it didn’t actually
happen as I was in bed with my arms under the covers but I could see it happening, as
though my spiritual body was what I was watching. Then when our hands touched, it was like
an electric shock running through my body that made my heart race. It was the most superb,
warm, glorious feeling I have ever felt. Then it was over.
So Jane, in answer to your
question, yes, I believe in an after life.
Thanks for
making a fizz fan very happy again! Good luck to the girls, tell Natty that she did well
taking the exam, don't think I could do it. Keep fighting for the school - maybe if all of
the registered members on this board all emailed Kent Council, they may give in!
(Submitted By Katharine 07/04/05)
Thanks for your support,
Katherine. I’m happy to say that the appeal was successful and we managed to get Kyla
and Natalie into the school we wanted. Yahoo! They leave Ightham this Friday – gulp!
There’ll be tears!
Hi Cheryl,
THANKS for answering my question. It certainly made my day! Your a STAR!
Another question for you:- With so many of the previous questions concerned with your past
experiences and successes. I'd like to ask, What are you plans for the future ahead? Any
there any goals or ambitions (both professionally and personally) that you would like to
still achieve? You have so many 'irons in the fire' i.e. autobiography, children's poetry
, the jazz album. Where do you find the time to do them all?
Submitted By Paul 10/04/05)
Hi Paul,
Plans for the future? Goals?
Ambitions? D’you know, my only real ambition was to win the Eurovision Song
Contest or to run for Britain in the Olympics. Well, I don’t think I’ll be doing
the latter and I’ve already done the former, so all my ambitions are now for my
children.
I have aims, I suppose. Like
you said, the autobiography, the poetry, children’s stories, the jazz album. You ask
where I find the time to do them all. The truth is, they’d all be done a lot sooner
if I actually got my finger out and did them. You see, I have all these ideas, but
I’m not very good at getting motivated. They’ll happen eventually, I suppose!
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for everything you did in Bucks Fizz. Your music along with Dollar's helped me
through a difficult patch in my childhood....it just gave me an escape which was nice at
the time. Your 1st 3 albums were great by the way. Anyway recently I've started listening
to your music again!
Anyway 2
questions.....
1. I saw the picture on the "Talking In Your Sleep" single. You all looked
really hot and unhappy on the photo...particularly you and Jay. Was that a particularly
bad time & day for the group?
2. Are you at all tempted to see "Night of a 1000 Jay Aston's" in Bethnal
Green....I did and it's actually really funny and entertaining! Although I was told Jay
herself was planning to go to it herself, so if you both found yourself there on the same
night it might get a bit much.
Anyway glad life with you is going well and thanks again for everything.
(Submitted By Rob 17/04/05)
Hi Rob, glad we helped
get you through difficult times when you were younger.
The Talking In Your Sleep
video was great fun to make. I don’t remember there being any ill feeling at that
time, although a lot of what went on happened without my realising it. I can’t
remember whether we had the photo shoot on the same day or not, but in the 80’s,
photographers used to like to take posey sullen shots rather than smiley ones. Maybe
that’s why we looked miserable!
I should have gone to see
"Night of a 1000 Jay Astons" ‘cause it sounds like fun, especially as it
was in my old patch, Bethnal Green. I just didn’t get round to it. I see a lot of my
mates from school, so we should have organised a girlie night out! I wonder what would
happen if I ever came face to face with Jay? I’ll only know when that day arrives,
which I’m sure it will eventually.
There was
always a big Bucks Fizz and Dollar rivalry, but I liked both. I thought their material
with Trevor Horn was brilliant in particular, & changed the direction of British pop
music in a understated way. Did you like their music, and did you ever meet them?
(Submitted By Ropa51 17/04/05)
I totally agree with you
about Trevor Horn; he was a fantastic producer and very innovative. I thought Dollar were
very good and met them a couple of times doing Top of the Pops and shows like that (I
think!). They were the little pretty ones in Guys and Dolls, a 70’s band that had
quite a bit of success. They left that band to form Dollar. I never really had much to do
with them though, even when Mike worked with David.
Hi Cheryl,
I, like many others on this site, knew that you were far to good for Price-Drop, but why
did you leave? I only ever tuned-in when you were on! You often had me in stitches, as you
tried to keep going, describing an item, which was usually describable in 30 secs - but
poor you, had to keep going for 10 Min's or so!
Do you remember
selling that pack of men's pants? The pack included black, grey and white. You were doing
so well.... until you decided to tell us that men didn't like white pants... because they
could see the skid-marks!
Submitted By Terry 13/07/05)
Terry
I hated doing Price-Drop. I
hated the journey there (it is recorded in Acton, a million miles away from where I live)
and I hated the fact that I was working on a channel that I would have spat at a couple of
years earlier! Trouble is, when you’re not offered the work you really want, you have
to take what’s left. I have a mortgage and a family to pay for, like everyone else. I
can’t afford to be that choosy!
The people were really nice,
mind you. But it was flippin’ hard work! You’re on for three hours, and in each
hour you get two one-minute breaks and one three-minute break – just enough to have a
wee if you’re quick. They estimate that it takes eight minutes to sell each item but
some – like the skiddy pants – took longer! I remember trying to sell 300 sets
of pink/lilac latte mugs at 12.45am. I mean! Who wants to buy pink latte mugs at 12.45!
And I had 300 bloody sets of them! The price dropped reeeeally low!
I had worked there for just
under a year, when they asked me to leave – yes, I got the sack! They employed me to
try and lift their profile and they assumed that I would sell more than there other hosts,
but it didn’t make the slightest difference. And they paid me far more than the
others, so they weren’t making the extortionate profit that they wanted. Whenever I
tune in to watch now (which is rarely) I feel really sorry for the hosts, who try there
hardest to make the item sound really interesting when usually it’s a boring piece of
cheap rubbish! Some of the stuff is OK, mind you.
Hi Cheryl,
l hope you are well and happy just wanted to know if you have any TV appearances planned
with Cheryl, Mike and Shelley or on your own. I was mad I missed you on hells kitchen, how
did it go? Also I would like to know if you are still doing weight watchers and what is
your secret of staying so young looking, can I buy it?
(Submitted By Gill 24/04/05)
Hi Gill,
Hells Kitchen was
fab. Gary Rhodes is a really good friend of ours, so he made sure we had a superb meal
– all three courses!
No TV appearances
are lined up for me, Mike and Shelley at the moment. We’ll keep you and all the other
Fizz fans posted.
I haven’t done
Weight Watchers for ages now, although my mother-in-law is doing it and has lost loads of
weight. I am currently overweight (again!) and am trying to lose just by cutting down. I
have no will-power, that’s my problem!
Thanks for the
compliment about being young-looking. Make-up was a wonderful invention! My mum had great
skin so maybe I’ve inherited that from her, but I’ve also never been a sun
worshipper. The sun definitely makes your skin age prematurely.
Hi Cheryl,
Can you remember what your reaction was when you were told about Mike lapsing into a coma
& the subsequent operation? Thankfully someone up there decided that it wasn't time
for him to entertain the angels just yet!
Love to Natty & Kyla - any news on the school yet, or do you want us Fizz fans to
bombard Kent Education dept with emails!!! Give them my love & wish them a very happy
11th Brithday! Tell them not to worry about high school, by the time the first week ends,
it feels like you've been there forever - GO GET EM GIRLS!!!!!
(Submitted By Katharine 21/07/05)
Katherine
When Mike lapsed into a
coma, I was in Lala land myself. As you probably remember, we both went through the
windscreen and, although I didn’t suffer from brain damage as Mike did, I still
bashed my head and was kept under constant surveillance. When they told me Mike may not
come through, I remember telling the doctors that he would be fine. It wasn’t a
premonition, it was just me with cuckoos in my head. It was at least a week to ten days
after when the realisation hit me and I cried and cried.
Thanks for your good wishes
to Natalie and Kyla. As I mentioned earlier, we fought tooth and nail (whatever that
means) to get them into the school that we thought was right for them, and we won the
appeal. Yippee! They’re a bit nervous about going to secondary school, but looking
forward to it, just the same.
They had a fab birthday
– it’s always nice around that time of year. I took them to my beloved Bluewater
to shop, see a movie and eat at TGI’s, then they had a sleepover with two friends
each in a shed in the garden! They loved it! Then the following weekend we had a garden
party for kids and grown-ups. It was all great fun.
Hi Cheryl !!!
You are fantastic
& versatile & amazing singer !!!, I love specially you vocals in spanish,my
question is: You remember this recordings with affection?.
Thanks for all great songs, in special "Yo se que es amor" (It's got to be love)
& "Todo Ha Terminado" (Now You're Gone).Thanks so much !!!
(Submitted BY Argentinafan 08/05/05)
Fantastic? Versatile? An
amazing singer? Why do I think you’re writing about someone else?! You’re very
kind and obviously a little hard of hearing! No seriously, thank you very much for those
massive compliments.
I well remember recording
our Spanish album. We learnt the lyrics parrot fashion, a bit like they way they teach
young children how to read. Phonetic, I think it’s called. I think the songs sound
really romantic in Spanish – it’s such a lovely language. And I agree with you,
"Yo se que es amor" and "Todo Ha Terminado" are beautiful songs.
Hi Cheryl,
How is the Jazz album coming along, will it be any time soon, what sort of jazz will it
be, traditional, or more modern funky jazz, you know what, I think you'd be fantastic
doing a bit of swing music, I remember the boogie woogie bugle boy on eggs n baker, it
really suited your voice, and OOooohhhh those uniforms!!! (ooops! i wont go there)
(Submitted By Mark Wood 16/06/05)
The jazz
album….hmmm….well, I’m still talking about it. It will not be trad
jazz, as in Acker Bilk and that sort, it will be smooth jazz. I will be trying it out at a
few gigs later on in the year.
I loooooved doing Boogie
Woogie Bugle Boy on Eggs ‘n’ Baker. ‘Specially ‘cause I could do all
those fantastic harmonies.
Hi Cheryl.
A couple of questions, firstly you mentioned that you didn't like miserable songs (songs
to cut your throat by) you said, you mentioned that "Rules of the Game" was one
of those songs... do you really think rules of the game is a miserable song, it's a very
up tempo number, very catchy it's one of my favourites (mainly cause you sing it), where
did you get that voice from at the beginning, was it painful, as you never used to sing it
like that on tour.
Now for the crawly
bit, I think you are one of most versatile singers I have ever heard, you can belt out a
great rock song , then sing a beautiful ballad, and your harmonies are absolutely
fantastic some people say Bobby is the voice of bucks fizz, but I honestly think you are.
Secondly Cheryl I
was wondering about your autobiography, you always say how forgetful and scatty you are,
how are you remembering details etc, did you used to keep diaries, or notes about your
bucks fizz years etc.
P.S. I saw you at Maidstone. I just have to tell you I really enjoyed the gig it was
sooo good, and your version of Heart Of Stone was absolutely fantastic, Cheryl it blew me
away, why was this vocal not yours originally?
(Submitted By Mark Wood 27/06/05)
Mark Wood (again!)
The reason I don’t like
‘Rules of the Game’ is because of that ridiculous voice I had to use, plus, if
you listen to the lyrics, they are quite depressing! Having said that, thank you for
liking my voice. I am one of those people who isn’t all that impressed with it. I
suppose my voice is quite versatile in some ways, but I will always be happier
singing harmony than singing lead. Having said that, I have really enjoyed singing
‘Heart of Stone’ with Shelley and Mike in the few gigs we have done so far.
As far as Bobby’s voice
is concerned, I believe he has a wonderful voice that sounded even better when Mike sang
with him. I wish, in retrospect, that all our singles had been the same format as the
early hits – you know, the boy/girl thing. Maybe we would have had more success, who
knows?
My autobiography – yes,
I have kept diaries, not ones with private stuff in but ones with dates in. However,
looking back, those dates remind of things so they are very useful. Don’t hold your
breath for the book, though. I have a feeling it will be some time coming!
Firstly it was
Soooooooooo good to see u at Wembley Arena on H and N unfortunately due to getting the
wrong tube and some poor sod jumping under a tube by the time we arrived---knackered and
outta breath- you guys were already on, but at least we caught the last 3 numbers!!!
I asked u last time to get cracking on your autobiography in time for BF 25th
anniversary...any news? With BF 25th coming up next year any chance of a celebration one
off gig of all 4 of you (I'm sure TDP would be interested)
If You Can't stand is one of my all time faves any memories of it?
How was it decided who'd sing lead on each track and how was it decided which songs would
be singles?
Finally (!) do you think the BF sound became too 'samey' in the last couple of years. Most
tracks were Bobby (great singer tho) backed by you three. My opinion is it became a bit
bland!
Can I just say thank you for the past 25 years of great music, Great gigs , laughter and
tears. I've met you several times and you've been nothing but fantastic! THANK YOU
(Submitted By Ajh2ajh 15/06/05)
Shame you only saw the
last 3 numbers at Wembley but at least you made it before we’d finished.
Autobiography – read
above.
Blimey, 25 years next year!
It would be good to have all four of us, but that’s up to Bobby.
I like If You Can’t
Stand The Heat too. Jay was very proactive on that one. Not only did she choreograph it,
but she also designed the outfits – you know, those chamois leather ones. I may not
have seen eye-to-eye with Jay a lot of the time, but she certainly had a good eye for
fashion and could dance.
In the early Fizz days it
was taken as read that the boys would do a bit and the girls would do a bit, then, for
whatever reason, Bobby was given most of the leads. We were basically told what tracks
would be singles, we really didn’t have much say in our career at all.
If you have a four-piece
vocal group, you should use them all vocally, in my opinion. As I said above, I wish we
had stuck to a winning formula instead of going down the lead singer route.
Hi Cheryl, me
again,
Once again thank
you so much for doing this for your fans, I can't think of many pop stars who take the
time to do this, were so spoiled, and we love it. YOUR A STAR.
1. Would you
encourage your girls to go into the pop business. If not why wouldn't you ?
2. Of the pop stars / groups that are around now is there anyone you like / dislike. and
why ?
3. You have done
so much in your career is there anything left that you haven't done and would love to do ?
4. If you were just starting of now in the pop world would you do any of these pop idol, x
factor type shows.
5. What is the proudest moment of your career. (not including your girls as that’s a
given, you come across a great mum)
(Submitted By Paul 16/06/05)
Paul (Edinburgh)
The girls can do whatever
they want to. My lovely parents, both quite Victorian in their way, left it up to me to
make the big decisions in my life. When I told them I wanted to leave my safe, well-paid
job to be a singer, they gave me their blessing. They knew it was something I had always
wanted to do and that I could go back to being Rita Crudgington – secretary, when I
had had enough of the music business.
I intend to be the same, although Steve would guard them against it. He says, quite
rightly, that it is too precarious. You have to be soooo lucky to be successful. He’s
spot on, there. Still though, if it’s in your blood and you can’t rest until you
give it a shot, then you’ve just got to do it.
Daniel Bedingfield –
I think he’s wonderful! If You’re Not the One is one of my favourite tracks of
all time. I really like Joss Stone, but I think Dido is over-rated.
I would have loved to have
played the part of Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady. Now I’ll just have to wait and see
if Kyla or Natalie get the chance!
If I was just starting I
would definitely go on those pop idol/x factor type shows, trouble is, I
wouldn’t get past the first round! My nerves would let me down.
Getting a standing ovation
when I sang "Mary’s Boy Child" acapella (without instruments) with my
sister when I was 17. Since I’ve been a professional singer, my proudest moment was
winning the Eurovision.
Please will you
consider doing some gigs in the Highlands of Scotland especially Inverness as it is too
far for me to travel to Glasgow or Aberdeen.
Looking forward to hearing the new album.
(Submitted By Julie 20/06/05)
Julie, I will happily
come up to the Highlands of Scotland to do gigs – if we’re offered them. When we
did the Here & Now tour, we didn’t do Scotland, Wales or Ireland. When we talk to
promoters in the future, I’ll mention it.
Hiya Cheryl,
Just a quick one this time,
What was your
biggest disappointment whilst in Bucks fizz?
Also
Have you and the girls been watching the new Dr Who? If so what do you think? If you could
jump in my TARDIS where and when would you like me to take you? Would you change anything!
Phew! Love as always you smasher you!
PS what was the name of you boat?
(Submitted By The Doctor 22/06/05)
Hi yourself! My biggest
disappointment was not having a hit with I Hear Talk, for two reasons; one, it deserved to
do better, and two, it would have meant the world to Mike who was critically ill at the
time. The other disappointment was that New Beginning didn’t go to No. 1. It really
should have.
Yes, Kyla, Natalie and I love
the new Dr. Who. I wonder what the next one will be like?
If I could jump in the
Tardis, I’d like it to take me back to the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the
Round Table (if they existed!). Would I change anything? I’d put central heating in
Camelot!
Hi Cheryl,
Given that you're known to take part in reality tv, what are the chances of you taking
part in 'The Games' if you were asked ? What do you think would be your strongest/weakest
events ?
I would have
loved to have seen you battle it out with Charlie Dimmock and Linda Lusardi last year !!
(Submitted By The Games 27/06/05)
I was asked if I’d
be interested in doing ‘The Games’. I think it’s a bridge too far for this
aging pop star, though. I’d hate to embarrass myself by coming last in everything!
My strongest events would
probably be anything to do with sprinting, my weakest would be swimming.
Hi Cheryl, or
as REM might say 'Calling Cheryl Baker, calling Cheryl Baker'
You were a big
inspiration to me when I was growing up, what with your happy go lucky attitude, your
sense of humour and of course your songs and dance routines which I , along with all the
rest of us on this site, learned off by heart and practiced endlessly pretending we were
in the group.
You also inspired
me to different styles of music ,I think I read that you liked the group Chicago so of
course I brought the album and I loved it. I went to your fete in '86 at Bexley Heath, saw
your mum, and heard (in the rain) Donold Fagain's album Nightfly, of coarse brought it
,loved it.
So my question ,
at last, Is what music do you like ,old stuff, new stuff and who inspired you when you
were young. Oh I need to apologise to you cause when I met you once in Bang nightclub I
said to you "You don’t do much in the programme 'Super Dogs 'do you?"
everyone around seemed to gasp and I then realised it may of come across as rude but you
retorted "Yer my dog Malcom does more than me" Which I thought was a fab
response. Sorry to go on but you know how it is. Oh yes in response to you answer to my
question last time around, I would love to hear your daughter sing the high notes.
(Submitted By Gary 13/07/05)
So you came to my fete at
Danson Park. It was 1985, not 86, for the record. Donald Fagin’s Nightfly is a
fantastic album and I’m glad you like it. He was in a band called Steely Dan and I
still play all their albums. My early influences, such as Crosby Stills & Nash and my
lovely James Taylor I can play till the cows come home.
Currently, I am listening to
Daniel Bedingfield, Joss Stone, Busted (yes, I know they’re old hat now but I still
love them), Blue (Duncan is my dream toyboy!). Generally, I like ‘pop’ music.
Anything too heavy isn’t for me.
Hello Cheryl.
Thanks for
agreeing to answer questions from fans, its an amazing opportunity very much appreciated.
My question is which shows did you enjoy performing on the most. I was thinking that the
show 'Razzamatazz' always filmed really good performances, do you remember what it was
like to do that show? And another question (if i can be a bit cheeky) would be, are there
any dance routines that you enjoyed more than others? I think my favourite was 'If you
cant stand the heat' it looked quite effective and almost challenged you to see if you
could do it yourself!
Thanks very much lovely one.
(Submitted By Stuart 13/07/05)
Oh, that’s easy to
answer. Top of the Pops. You only got on TOTP if you had a hit single, so it felt great to
do it, especially when we were at No. 1! I remember Razzamatazz really well. It was
recorded up in Newcastle, so it always meant flying up and staying in an hotel overnight,
which meant that whoever else was on the show would be staying too, so we’d have a
bit of a jolly-up! Good fun!
Dance routines……as
I mentioned earlier, Jay was responsible for Can’t Stand the Heat…..my
favourite………well, did you ever see us do Soul Motion back in the 80’s?
Shelley and I had a routine that was a lot of fun, just wish we could remember it now! I
suppose out of all the singles, I like Land of Make Believe best because it reminds me of
Christmas and being No. 1 in the charts.
Hello Cheryl.
What I think is
so great is the amount of such genuine emotion that is felt for the group from us all. I
mean all the CD’s that have been released recently have been a labour of love for the
people doing them. And so greatly appreciated by us fans who seem to love the group more
and more as the years go on.
I was wondering
how you felt, when as time goes on so many groups are forgotten Bucks Fizz seem to still
manage to generate such loyalty and emotion/devotion. I mean you couldn’t know in
1981 that in the year 2005 you would be having a high charting album, created by genuine
people who love the group and championed by fans who have remained steadfast and loyal for
all that time.I really hope it makes you feel great, lovely one.
(Submitted By Stuart 13/07/05)
Golly, your comments are
deep and lovely! It is absolutely wonderful that we have such loyal fans who have stuck
with us through all these years. Where would we be without you? And you’re right
– who’d have thought, 24 years ago, that I’d be writing messages to fans
regarding our recently released albums? How fantastic is that?! It certainly does make me
feel great, lovely one!