It would not be an understatement that I grew up loving these two women, on very different entertainment platforms. Cilla Black was a legendary British singer, TV Host, Author and Entertainer. Cilla did it all. Born Priscilla White, Cilla Black (nice switch) beamed literally and figuratively into my living room with her TV series and her infectious personality; warmth, humour and her beautiful voice (as well as her dancing and sketches) made her the ultimate threat in show-biz. Much loved in her homeland, her persona and that gorgeous accent, travelled well downunder and Aussies adored her too. Unbeknownst to me back then, Cilla was a major star in the pop world, having racked up multiple hits beginning in the mid 1960's.
Marcia Hines is an adopted Aussie, having migrated from America as a teenager and never left and we are so eternally grateful for that choice. Marcia was our Queen Of Pop - winning the crown 3 consecutive times in the mid 1970's. Her sublime voice and her initially shy persona endeared her to viewers of the fledgling program 'Countdown' which charted the rise of Marcia Hines as it began in late 1974 and Marcia earned her first hit single the following year with a great cover of 'Fire & Rain'. But it was 'From The Inside' that gave the singer her first Top 10. Marcia Hines had her own TV series, toured extensively and was a chart mainstay for the rest of the decade and into the 1980's. Things got a little quiet there for a while, but Marcia reinvented herself time and time again, and became the face and spirit of the 'kind judge' on Australian Idol winning her a new generation of fans. Marcia continues to record, perform and be the fabulous woman and icon that she always has been. Age seems not to have wearied her.
'From The Inside' was composed by Artie Wayne who had an incredible 250 songs recorded by other artists including The Queen Of Soul and The King of Pop (Aretha and Michael). I've heard various renditions of it; some gospel,, some folk and of course pop. Cilla Black's version was never released but it is a thing of beauty and displays her sensitivity but also her power on record. Marcia's interpretation as mentioned above was her first Top 10, and the 2nd single from her debut 'Marcia Shines' a clever word play on her name. I have to say at the outset, for me, this is no battle, but it is fascinating to listen to two great vocalists treat the same song in different ways. I have adored Marcia's recording since it was released in late 1975 and I have seen and heard her perform it some quarter of a century after it was released and she still imbued with such freshness, power and dexterity vocally, and it moved me enormously to be in the same room as my idol performing this incredible song. I did get to meet her once, although very fleetingly, but I was suitably starstruck! And I wrote to her years later, and upon her instruction, her agent sent me a copy of her book 'Life - Things To Get You By' which is beautiful set of tips and guides to navigating life. It was an incredibly generous gesture.
The superstar Cilla Black sadly died in 2015 at the age of 72 after suffering a fall in her home. A nation mourned as this lady was a fixture in the entertainment world for 6 decades. Thankfully her vast discography lives on. Cilla Black is most emphatically missed.
For 47 years I have simply loved 'From The Inside'. It never gets old or tired and I still incredibly get goose bumps hearing it. There's very few songs that I can say have that magic for me. Whether in the hands of the legendary British entertainer Cilla Black or Aussie music royalty, Marcia Hines, 'From The Inside' is a truly great piece of contemporary music and I am pleased to share it here.
Негізгі бет Superstar Battles: CILLA BLACK V MARCIA HINES From The Inside
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