Uneasy lies the head...
Posted by David Hepworth on 17 February 2008 - 6:04pm.
Aretha Franklin was understandably miffed last week when the nitwits who write the cue cards at the Grammys had Beyoncé introduce Tina Turner as "the Queen Of Soul". Eny fule know there's only one holder of that title. You say the "Queen of Soul:, people know who you're referring to, just as they did with the Godfather of Soul.
What other performers have earned, had bestowed upon or aspired to similar honorifics?
Bookmark/Search this post with:
- More from David Hepworth.
- Login or register to post comments
Prince of Pop?
Didn't Michael Jackson insist on being introduced as such at some awards function or other (at which, if memory serves me correctly, he was only there to present (rather than receive) an award - and thus had to be presented with some spurious 'lifetime achievement' award which was made up on the spot?)
Or did I imagine all that?
King Of Pop
At the height of his success he was pathetically desperate to be referred to as such. So desperate in fact that he would turn up anywhere he could be hailed as such. Hasn't quite entered common parlance, has it?
Michael's grip on reality
was such that some years ago he was being introduced to give an award and was described as "the artist of the millennium". He came out, assumed that he was receiving rather than giving and went on with the usual bollocks along the lines of "when I was just a boy in Indiana, I could never have imagined that I would be being named as the Artist Of The Millennium" and so forth. Then he looked around for his statuette... for an award that never existed. I assume that whoever was really supposed to be receiving the gong Michael was presenting went home a bit miffed.
And the person who made the original introduction? One Britney Spears. I'm sure it's on You-Tube somewhere - classic viewing.
That's the one I meant!
I knew I didn't imagine it!
If I can get this to work ...
It is on YouTube.
Ah, but...
...Beyonce only introduced Tina Turner as 'the Queen', not the 'Queen of Soul.' Big difference.
Quite True
And Beyonce mentioned Aretha Franklin in her introduction to Tina Turner anyway. It's not like she's been written out of history, which is the impression you get from all the noise surrounding this 'story'.
Maybe she intended to introduce her...
as 'the Acid Queen', but a focus group survey conducted at the last minute convinced her advisers that it might have alienated her target demographic.
Twin titles
Johnny Ray was bestowed with a couple of royal titles in the 50s: 'Nabob of Sob' and 'The Prince of Wails'. Not sure if the second was meant to raise any questions about his parentage being connected with our royal family. He was one of the first singers to stir up female hysteria, and got to make a movie with Marilyn Monroe. Not bad going for a white, deaf blues singer who had to wear a hearing aid onstage.
How about:
Van Morrison: The Sultan of Sulk
Andrew Ridgely: World's Greatest Wingman
Or:
Art Garfunkel - Worlds most famous guitar tuner
Here's one:
Alex James - Pops smartest Cheesemaker.
I seem to remember reading
I seem to remember reading that Phil Collins' hit 'Against All Odds' was introduced as someone else's song at an awards ceremony. Probably not an earth shaking matter for most members here, I'd imagine, though...
I love the
Pope of Mope for Morissey (as invented by Word) - I wish that could be widely used as a title for him by all.
Obviously there's The King himself and The Human Riff for Keith Richards is some kind of significant honour for him I would have thought, and Bill Wyman has his Rhythm Kings, but we've already agreed self given honours do not count, although I think Grandmaster Flash may be deserved.
Isn't...
Robbie Williams widely known as 'The Argos Norman Wisdom'?
OK, just planting seeds folks.
Actually no...
He's The Fat Dancer Out Of Take That.
In 2004 his song me and my
In 2004 his song me and my monkey was really popular in Greece and im sure in other countries around europe i came back to the states and didn't hear it once. Anyway i just got some reading festival tickets so i'll be in the UK for a little whiel this summer.
Broooce
is The Boss.
He always loathed the nickname 'Whizzer''
Springsteen is sometimes referred to as the ‘Flannel Headed Rock Rogue from the U.S.A''...personally, I'd attach the prefix ''faux'' before ''rogue''.
As for Thom Yorke...he was christened with the nickname ‘The Cambridge Fidget'' by the independent publication, ''Fact''. Apparently that's how he is now summoned by his bandmates.
Rik James? He's 'The Funky Damsel''.
Can we
have Liam Gallagher as the Nabob of Yob - or has his newly married status obviated that?
The Schlock of Wedlock?
The Schlock of Wedlock?
Surely
That Dick From Oasis should cover all bases?
Hasn't Paul Rodgers...
...recast himself as the Soul of Rock?
The marvellous...
...Bessie Smith was crowned ‘Empress of the Blues'. If her niece Ruby's recollections are to be believed, her travelling royal court was styled after that of the debauched Roman Emperor, Caligula.
I decree that henceforth Joss Stone shall be referred to as ‘The Usurper of Soul', having, with no legitimate claim to title, used her crass mimicry of a vocal style, and strategic placement of beaded necklaces and toe rings (the Crown Jewels of Soul) to fuel a giddy assent into the higher echelons of that renowned aristocracy.
I also think the time has come to rechristen Michael Jackson ‘The Exiled Tyrant of Pop.'
The captain
Didn't Andy Partridge get to wear a special hat giving his title at times in XTC?
Roger Waters
'the creative genius behind Pink Floyd'
Hmm... snappy.
Rock n roll doctor
Lowell George was the Rock 'n' Roll doctor - the man to meet, should you like country with a boogie beat.
There are lots
The Chairman of the Board (Frank Sinatra)
The King (Elvis Presley)
The Tycoon of Teen (Phil Spector)
The Godfather of Soul (James Brown)
The Godfathers of Punk (The Troggs)
The Prince of Darkness (Miles Davis)
The King of Swing (Benny Goodman)
The Killer (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Mr Showmanship (Liberace)
Mr Piano (Joe Henderson)
Mr Guitar(Bert Weedon)
Lady Day (Billie Holiday)
The Queen of Country(take your pick: Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette or Dolly Parton)
The Troubled (Amy Winehouse)
That Twat Sting
Round at a friend's house at the weekend I was reading the sleevenotes to some Vivian Stanshall CD (think it might have been Henry At Rawlinsons End) which, in an otherwise sober, normal sleeve-note made a passing reference to "that twat Sting", as if that's how everybody knew him.
Archie, you left out "The Modfather". And does "The Walrus Of Love" count?
Give me a break
I'm still reeling from having found myself typing the words "Joe (Mr Piano) Henderson".
What the heck...
is a Nabob anyway?
androgynous
The Thin White Duke
but (thanks to Danny Baker) I prefer 'The Dame'
Who could possibly forget...
Lee Ritenour's monicker, 'Captain Fingers'?