Cheesy sometimes on TV? Sure.
Funny? Often.
Lacking in good taste? Alas. Although he has very god taste in men, I almost forgot. (Trying to keep the irrelevant bits out.)
Competing for the campest TV host and guest on British TV? Absolutely.
A victim of his own success? I won't shed a tear.
Not the greatest champion of gay rights? Celebrities may have a responsibility, but hey, he's getting a lot of exposure on mainstream, public TV. And he's an entertainer, not a politician. Not to mention he has done his bit (poster campaign, openly gay celebrity...)
Good-natured? You gotta grant him that.
Chummy with David Tennant in particular? I'm sure you guys don't disapprove.
Giving, and generous with his fans? You bet.
Completely narcissistic? Look who's talking.
Self-imbued? Lifelong habits are hard to shake.
Anyway, pride and even arrogance are almost necessary qualities in a SINGER, which is what he's always been.
There's a thread about John Barrowman's worst, I thought it would only be fair to start one about his best - besides Captain Jack. I know, I said this sort of thing belonged in TV & Media. Just trying to balance things out a little. I disagree with no one in that "cheese" thread, but I'm sad about it.
In spite of quite a few unhappy choices of songs, JB happens to be a really good singer and although not everything is available online, here's a glimpse of my favourite.
The only complete album I found online so far (on deezer.com - no download, free and legal): John_Barrowman_Swings_Cole_Porter
It's the musical Anything Goes, in which JB starred on stage 4 times.
Special mention to "I Happen To Like New York", it's the one he sings best.
The video of the pop single (written for JB) from Music, Music, Music: What_About_Us
This latest album Music, Music, Music (titled after the 3 genres featured: "straight pop", as he puts it, music theatre/easy listening, and country/pop) is not bad. Decent covers of many pop hits.
Special mention to the City of Angels soundtrack cover "Angel".
Short excerpts on amazon.co.uk: Music,_Music,_Music
(Not trying to peddle, here. I hope this is okay. Anybody got a link to a non commercial site with that stuff, be my guest.) It also features, in tiny size, the making of the What About Us music video ("making of" vid available on YouTube).
Six_songs_from_the_album_Another_Side
I recommend to skip the first song "All Out Of Love" or at least its beginning (I don't care if it was a hit) and favour "Feeling Good" (Nina Simone cover) above all.
Then "Your Song", and "Heaven" (I used to listen to Bryan Adams, so I like that one). Others might prefer "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic". For the teenage parties nostalgics (or Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom, for instance), there's "Time After Time".
Warning: all that sweetness (most songs in this album) can be a little sickening to a rock'n'roll-oriented heart. You must be not allergic to 'easy listening', or favourably prejudiced.
Please post links to his other work as a singer if you know where to find it. (If it's any good.
)Out of the lyrics of Cole Porter's "I Happen To Like New York", here's an excerpt about unconditional love:
PS: I'll get annoyed if anybody else says he looks like Tom Cruise. Even Tom Cruise doesn't look like Tom Cruise any more!
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