Love Songs Recap – 11 August 2024

Last week I reflected on the fact that Michael is a master storyteller. Anyone who’s listened to his interviews, or especially his ‘book chats,’ knows what I’m talking about. His tales are riveting and often hilarious, filled with self-deprecating humor and surprising honesty. He hooks you right at the beginning with a great teaser, then strings you along with colorful details until he finally delivers the punchline with perfect timing and skill. Even when you’ve heard the story before, you can’t help but get sucked in again! Which is why he’s able to draw out the stories of his callers on LOVE SONGS so beautifully. It was a clever idea to use Michael’s gift for storytelling in this way, another prime example of Michael making this show his very own.

“Hello, my lovelies. Thanks for joining me this Sunday. Two hours for us to forget about the world and just enjoy each other’s company.” I detect a wistful tone in his voice. Even a bit of sadness. “So how are you doing? Been a funny old week, hasn’t it? Yeah. Amazing highs. The Olympics – Oh! So proud of Team GB. So proud. So very proud. But, you know, the news is full of strangeness, full of worrying things for all of us, and we’re all going to be affected, and we all need to take a little bit of time out for ourselves, and just kick back and relax and remind ourselves of the good things in life, the normal things in life and the people that we love. That’s what we’re going to do for the next 2 hours.” Hmm. An unusual opening for Michael, and I’m trying hard not to read too much into it. Possibly a reference to the cancellation of Taylor Swift’s concerts in Austria due to a terrorism threat? Yes, it’s a dangerous world these days.

Song Track List: George Michael ‘Careless Whisper’; Corinne Bailey Rae ‘Put Your Records On’; Sabrina Carpenter ‘Please Please Please’; Etta James ‘At Last’; Charles & Eddie ‘Would I Lie To You?’; All Saints ‘Never Ever’; Carpenters ‘Close To You’; Calum Scott ‘Roots’; Celine Dion ‘Think Twice’; Commodores ‘Three Times A Lady’; Simply Red ‘Stars’; Wyn Starks ‘Who Am I?’; Alanis Morissette ‘Head Over Feet’; Keala Settle ‘This Is Me’; BBMak ‘Back Here’; Lauren Wood ‘Fallen’; Teddy Swims ‘Lose Control’; The Drifters ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’; Spice Girls ‘Viva Forever’; Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton ‘Islands In The Stream’

As Michael reveals what’s coming up in today’s show, he’s more chatty than usual. I like it! It’s as if he’s talking to a friend, which is as it should be on the radio. As he reads some emails, he singles out a woman’s phrase in reference to her husband, “a brilliant life co-pilot,” which he loves! And he promotes once again BBC Radio 2 in the Park in September. “I’m going to be there on Sunday, making my superstar DJ debut – Michael Ball’s Broadway Bangars – I’d love to see you in the audience. I’m thinking, we’ll have a bit of LES MIS, some JOSEPH, a bit of GREASE, a bit of MAMA MIA, all your favorites will be on.”

After playing a Celine Dion song, Michael talks about watching her documentary. “It’s very moving and very powerful and quite upsetting. Having seen that and having seen her performance at the Olympics opening ceremony, I’m not ashamed to say I cried. She was incredible. I just love her.” You have to love this man who always wears his heart on his sleeve. And once again I detect a wistful tone in his voice.

A few weeks ago, Michael got a voice note from Carol who was about to get married. Michael read the note for the first time on her actual wedding day, so he called and left her a lovely message, knowing full well she wouldn’t pick up. Well, Carol got back to him and we hear their conversation. She ended up listening to the message on her wedding night with her new husband, playing it 3 times (I would, too!). They laugh and joke (lots of giggles) about Michael calling at the exact time she was walking down the aisle. At the end of the conversation, Michael thanks her for letting him be a little part of her special day. Sometimes this man is just so adorable.

Michael talks with Kate on the Love Line who wants to do a shout-out to her parents, who are just finishing up their summer education for students from around the world. These 2 amazing people are always helping others, and Kate lists some of their endeavors. “I love your family!” Michael proclaims with glee. Kate says they got recognized finally with the British Empire medal and were invited to the coronation. “They’re definitely someone to know,” Michael says. “Do you think they’d like a Call from Ball?” And he calls them. He gets the mother, Lynn, whose response to his saying it’s Michael Ball is “You’re kidding me.” Michael responds, “No, I’m not kidding you,” and lets loose with an explosive laugh. “Oh, yes, I know the laugh now,” Lynn says (Oh, that signature giggle!!). Michael praises all that she and her husband do, and they talk about the coronation, the conversation full of Michael’s infectious laughter. A fantastic, fantastic chat between these two. Don’t miss it!

Again, while reading emails, Michael is a giggle machine. Oh, how I love to hear that laugh. He is really ON today!

On the Love Line, Michael speaks with Emma, who talks about her special place, a spiritual place for her – Cornwall – a place she began visiting with her parents when she was a young girl. When her mum passed away in the 90s, she’d return to Cornwall with her dad and relive the memories of her mum. Then in 2019, her dad passed away in Cornwall while they were on holiday. After this, her marriage broke down, and she and her son Harvey were on their own. When she mentions her new husband, Michael is full of questions, wanting the details (our master storyteller at work), so Emma explains, Michael eating it all up eagerly! “You see,” Michael says, “you never know in life. You never know who or what is around the corner.” Emma says she took him (Adam) to Cornwall and while they were there they got married on her parents’ wedding anniversary. “Oh, I LOVE this story!” Michael says. “So here’s the lovely thing. All your life you’ve had this connection with Cornwall, this special place, and you were worried that the memories were going to be sad. And you’ve made a brand new connection, brand new memories, and many more to come.” How I love Michael’s outlook on life. “You give out positivity, and it comes back to you,” he says, finishing his chat with Emma. An absolutely beautiful conversation!

Love Letters. “This part of the show is the epitome of your dedications here on LOVE SONGS, a genuine, sincere, special admission of love for someone else in the form of a love letter that are being read out to that special person to remind them that they are valued, that they are appreciated and that they are loved,” Michael says before speaking with Pat. Pat is celebrating her sixtieth wedding anniversary with husband Michael, who’s generally known as Mike. “My family in Bridgewater call me Mike,” Michael admits. Sorry, but Michael just doesn’t seem like a ‘Mike’ to me. But then, my family called me ‘Debbie’ so I get it. Anyway, Michael calls Mike, who is quite surprised to hear Mr. Ball on the phone. Pat reads her gorgeous love letter, such a wonderfully detailed piece of writing, and at the end she reads her poem, written especially for him. “I’m a bloomin’ mess in the studio,” Michael (Ball) says afterwards. The other Mike is also emotional. “Did you have a dance at your wedding?” Michael asks. Pat responds, “No, we didn’t. They didn’t do that then. We went straight on honeymoon.” Michael bursts into raucous laughter. “You couldn’t wait!” More laughter. “You can keep that one to yourself, Lovely. This is a family show!” And still more laughter. What a great segment.

The Last Dance is for Colin and Sheena, who’ve been married a year. Michael plays Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ ‘Islands in the Stream’ for them.

And there you are have it. When you need a dose of love, when you need to laugh, when you simply want to listen to a master storyteller with a honeyed voice, this is the show for you. “As I always say, but I mean it this week more than ever,” Michael says in closing, “BE SAFE (there it is again). Be positive. And try, TRY to be kind. I’ll see you next week, God willing. God bless.” In return, I say: You too be safe, Michael, in your busy life, both at home and abroad. You are loved by so many, not just by your family and friends, but by legions of people around the world. So be safe, my friend …