Hey, that's far out so you heard him too...
Boy George beat the competition hands down with his appearance on 'Popstars in Their Eyes' last night. George is used to stiff competition (sorry George, couldn't resist...snigger) but even he looked surprised when Matthew Kelly announced that "David Bowie" was the winner. With the help of the wonderfully accommodating Susans, who transcribed all the talking bits, here's a rundown of events for those of you who missed it:
We were first shown a bit of film that supposedly masked the true identity of pop star number five...even though there was absolutely no mistaking George's distinctive voice and his erm...face! During this piece of footage of George DJing etc., he explained a bit about why he deserves his self-appointed position of Number One David Bowie Fan.
BG: I chose this person because I have been a fan of his since I was 11 years old. I used to sit outside his house. I have been to every single concert he has ever done. I have remained a fan all my life, I am just in awe of him and I have got a lot of respect for him.
The scene cuts to George in the television studio with Matthew, who then showed him a couple of Boy George's from the regular 'Stars in Their Eyes' series, to which George responded:
BG: I am always flattered when people do me on 'Stars in Their Eyes', and, I always get phone calls from all my friends telling me to 'turn over, you're being done'.
MK: This is a real labour of love for you tonight isn't it? You have admired this man for years and years since you were a teenager. What is the greatest change that is going to happen to you tonight?
BG: Erm, well I'm gonna shave off my eyebrows. (Audience gasps of disbelief)
MK: That's a big sacrifice, and I know you've worked really hard, you've put the makeup together yourself, you've put the clothes together yourself. Tell me a bit about this man.
BG: Well he was born in Brixton in 1947, he has two different coloured eyes, he floated his songs on the stock exchange and made a fortune, and he also refused to be put in the 'Rock n Roll Hall of Fame', so..quite a controversial chap.
MK: Not unlike yourself.
BG: Absolutely.
MK: Tell us who you are going to be tonight George.
BG: Tonight Matthew, I am going to be David Bowie.
Then it was on with the song. It was obvious how much work the boy had put into this performance, and in fact how nervous he was. He needn't have been. Even though 'Starman' is a song that George has been used to singing, Culture Club released it as a single and performed it on their last tour, this performance was unusual for him in that he was singing it as David Bowie and not as himself. After the song, George teetered over to Matthew for another brief chat:
MK: You know what's happening now...David Bowie's phone is going like mad. They're ringing up and going 'quick quick you're on'.
BG: My legs are shaking, I'm almost falling off these heels. Girls I don't know how you do it.
MK: This is fantastic. And it's a fact that you have always wanted to be David Bowie, in fact you did say you should have an 'A' Level in this man.
BG: It's the only thing I passed at school was 'A' Level Bowie.
MK: Was it everything you hoped it would be?
BG: Absolutely, and more.
MK: And for us too.
After a tense moment while the counting of the votes was completed, a victorious but stunned Boy George was back onstage with Matthew:
MK: Oh I'm so thrilled!
BG: YOU'RE thrilled!
MK: You know David Bowie watches this program don't you?
BG: Well I hope he does.
MK: No he likes to know who is going to be him. And I think you've probably thrown down the gauntlet now because I think David, perhaps you could come on and perhaps be George?
In no time at all a beaming Boy George was back on stage to perform the song again as the show's winner. But this time with a new-found confidence boosted by the fact that he knew he had pulled it off, and was now singing to an appreciative audience. Oh how we do love a happy ending. Very well done George.
What next? David Bowie singing 'Plastic Palace People' as Scott Walker? Well you never know!