Singer, TV personality and platinum selling recording artist Jane McDonald has just released her new album, The Singer of Your Song, on her own record label. The album is her first in 6 years and was recorded in London, Surrey and Prague. The Singer of Your Song has been produced by Nigel Wright with Jane as executive producer, and includes two of Jane’s own compositions ‘When I Look At You’ and the title track ‘The Singer of Your Song’, which is a tribute to her loyal and dedicated fans.
Jane’s new album features 14 tracks in total, including classics such as The Rose, God Only Knows, We’ve Got Tonight, Yesterday When I Was Young, If You Go Away and Love Is All and, due to phenomenal demand, and the fantastic response to her 2013 UK tour, Jane is delighted to announce a 35 date tour of the UK with The Singer of Your Song Tour 2014.
During a break in rehearsals I was able to chat with Jane for a while, so I started by saying…
I’ve just listened to the title track from your album, The Singer of Your Song and what a lovely song it is…
Oh thank you, I’m so pleased that you like it because, when it’s one of your own songs, you can’t help but wonder what happens if nobody likes it. When I was writing it I was sat at the piano and my PA came in and he sat down behind me and I said, “Look, I’ve written this song. Could you let me know what you think?” I started to play it and, halfway through, I turned around and he was in floods of tears and I thought, that’s exactly the sort of reaction I’m after.
Well, it worked with me as well.
Oh, I think I might be being a bit cruel, but I’m so pleased. I’m not pleased that you were in tears, but, you see, it’s a song that’s sort of made to make you reflect a little bit and also I’ve written it for my fans because, quite seriously, I wouldn’t be here without them. I absolutely love ‘em to bits and it’s my tribute to them really because that’s what I am, the singer of their songs because they come along, each night to hear a song, or several songs or maybe that special song that they like and that’s why I wrote that song, and made the album and why I’m doing the tour this year.
Is it really a 35 date tour you’re doing?
Yes, I know, it’s mad isn’t it, but there’s not that many of us doing this any more but I just think, right, here we go again. I’m already working on 2016, me. I’ve got one of those minds that, when something’s up and running, I go into “autopilot” on that and I’m on to the next year and the year after. So, I’m already writing the next album and already working on the next tour, the 2015 tour.
I suppose I’m a bit of a control freak really and I think, with the industry like it is, you have to be like that. It’s a very fickle industry and you have to be two steps ahead of everyone else. The industry changes so much I mean, I’ve been in it for about 17 years now and it’s changed so much, even in the time I’ve been in it and you’ve got to watch what’s going on around you.
A lot of the music industry is so “instant” now.
Totally, and I must admit, social media has worked very well for us, without a doubt. Getting things online really helps. You can download so much now and it’s so much easier than having to get dressed, get in the car or on the bus, and head into town to get the CD from the shops. It’s a completely different world to how it used to be but I have two different types of fans, those that like to download everything and those who still like to go out and buy the hard copy – and I have to cater for them both.
Looking at the tracks on your mew album, I’d like to make the comparison between you and Shirley Bassey.
I’m very happy with that comparison, thank you, but I’m not sure that she would be!
Why is it, when Simon Cowell is on the X-Factor, his biggest insult is to call someone a “cruise ship singer”.
You know, I sometimes watch those type of shows and I think to myself, I wish I was sat on that panel cos they don’t know what they’re talking about. Something that I have done all my life is entertain, put on a show, work an audience, make albums and be “out there” doing it, but when you go on the panel for a show like that you have to find out what makes that person tick, have they got 100% commitment to what they are going to do. With him it’s just one person’s opinion and there could be thousands of people sitting at home who love what you do.
Do you think your Cruise TV show helped the massive increase in the number of British people who go cruising?
Without a doubt. You know, I have had so many letters to back that up. I had the head of Celebrity Cruises marketing call me, after the programme went out, and they told me that requests for their brochures had increased by 75%. That’s not a bad endorsement, but it did rather open the floodgates. When I was doing it, all those years ago, a cruise was something that you saved up all your life for and it was a once in a lifetime holiday – but now it’s a once a year thing for some people.
So, if you’re already planning 2016, what can we look forward to?
Well, there will be a new album. Although I have the new album, The Singer of Your Song, out now and there’s a deluxe version of that, with a load of dance mixes on it, coming out soon but I’m already working on the next “new album” and that one’s going to be all my own songs.
I’ve been writing for a good many years now, but I’m known as a covers artist and I’ve sort of let that happen because nobody knew what else I was doing. I’ve gradually started sneaking my songs in now. I always give the fans everything they want to hear, and then I sneak one of my songs in as well and that’s how I’ve managed to play my music over the last 17 years.
Is it important to you that you still get out there and “put on a show”?
If you’re not going to give the fans a proper show, what’s the point? No, that’s just not me. I know that half my budget for the tour goes on the outfits, the staging and the beautiful light show that we have, but that’s so important. I really glad that you picked up on that because I have all the gowns specially made to the highest quality because that’s showbiz! It’s great when you hear a gasp when you walk on, but then you realise that the gasp isn’t for you, it’s for the frock!
Jane’s full national tour starts in Weston Super Mare on September 5th and comes to our region later, with performances at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Friday 19th September and on Sunday 5th October at the Theatre Royal, Brighton. Full tour details are available at www.jane-mcdonald.com
