BBC RADIO 2: LOVE SONGS WITH MICHAEL BALL
SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2024
Last Sunday Maestro Michael Ball took to the airwaves and wrote a new concerto for LOVE SONGS. While giving his listeners great music, he added his personal touches throughout the show. Little anecdotes here and there which related to a particular song or to the person he was speaking to on the phone. He satisfied everyone – those who tune in for the beautiful music and those who listen simply to enjoy the one-of-a-kind Michael Ball. This new show has proven to be quite a challenge for Michael and his producer Ste Softley, but they’re on top of it now!
“Hello, my lovelies.” And that beautiful voice fills the airwaves. “I’m sooo glad you’re here with me this Sunday morning. Hope you’ve had a good week. We’re kicking off with a bit of Yvonne Elliman, because if I can’t have you, I don’t want nobody, baby!” And, yes, he plays ‘If I Can’t Have You.’ “How has your week been?” Michael continues afterwards, “because mine, I’ve got to tell you, has been full on. I told you last week it was my mum’s 90th, and we went up to North Wales, six and a half hours there and back each way in a transit van, the entire family … and she did the zip wire … at 90 years old … in addition of course to her very first tattoo on her forearm, the Welsh dragon is proud, and I’m proud. What a wonderful way to celebrate, Mum. But that’s not all. After this show I’m hotfooting it to the airport to fly over to Paris to see Grace Crompton, my granddaughter, playing with the girls in Team GB’s rugby sevens in Paris at the Olympics. We’re bursting with pride. I can’t wait to see you, my darling, and good luck, girls. Good luck, Team GB … Right. Back to today’s show. I’m going to be hearing from you. Your special day. Because this is a pretty special day for me.”
On the Love Line, Michael speaks with Panpan who describes her special day – actually many special days with her friend (Sorry, I tried to get his correct name – Dongjow, I believe. How I wish I could get it exactly right) in London. Michael says he loved the email Pampan sent to him, so beautifully crafted and so articulate, and one line in particular: He’s truly painted my last few months in London in the most vibrant colors. “It gives everyone such a great understanding of the relationship you had with each other,” Michael says, “Did he make London come alive for you?” Yes, she responds, and describes the things they did, including trying cuisines from different countries. Her favorite? Algerian. Michael probes into the relationship – Is it romantic? (Michael, you devil, but I was wondering the same thing!). She goes into some detail about it, which I will leave for you to hear for yourself. What a charming young lady she is, gracious and thoughtful. Panpan asks Michael to play “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell, and Michael gushes, saying Joni Mitchell is his favorite.
Michael again promotes Radio 2 in the park in September, giving the weekend’s lineup, including Sunday. “And this, of course, will also be the day when I make my debut as a superstar DJ (he says this with a giggle and SUCH delight) … Oh, yeah. Yes. Michael Ball’s Broadway Bangars is happening on Radio 2 in the Park, in Preston, and if you come and join me in the tent, bring your best singing voice, bring your best musical theatre attitude and be prepared to get involved. We’re going to have so much fun! And I can neither confirm or deny that I might be dragging some of my Radio 2 family onto the stage with me for an almighty finale. Scott Mills, you got me into this mess. I will track you down, I will drag you onto that stage. Perhaps a clue there as to what I have in mind. And knowing Scott, he’ll be well up for it!”
When Michael gets to some emails, all wonderful, one screams out to be described because of Michael’s reaction. Here’s the email Michael reads: “Dear Michael. You mentioned that your mother recently got a tattoo of a Welsh dragon at the age of 90. Well, my wife Caroline who’s 66 has a tattoo of —“ Michael bursts out laughing — “has a tattoo of—“ Michael’s laughing so hard he’s having trouble reading this! — “your initials on her bum. She’s been a huge fan of yours —“ Michael is now losing it — “since 1991 and I’ve been a Baller husband ever since! Best regards, Martin.” Michael is still laughing. “Oh, that is fabulous,” Michael chokes out between giggles. “I’ve made it onto Caroline’s backside. Does it get any better than that? I don’t think so. Have this one on me, Caroline. Here’s Hozier’s ‘Too Sweet’ because you are too sweet.” Thank you, Michael, for treating us to one of your famous ‘giggle fits.’ I loved it! We all did.
Back on the Love Line, Michael speaks with Lisa who wants to talk about her friend Helen. “Helen has been a loyal fan of yours for 30 years,” Lisa says. “She doesn’t miss any of your concerts.” Michael responds with gratitude, “Nice.” Lisa continues, “She’s even got a lovely cardboard cutout of you as you walk into her house.” Michael is stunned. “Stop. Seriously?” he asks. “That must frighten the neighbors.” Lisa goes on, “She wears T-shirts that say ‘If you don’t want Michael, you can’t come into my house.” This tickles our host. “Do you know what? I’m L-O-V-I-N-G Helen,” he teases, “probably even more than you!” Lisa continues to tell Michael what a massive fan Helen is, all the items she has with Michael’s image on them. Michael is one giant giggle as he listens before bursting out with “I’m just obsessed with Helen! This is fantastic.” Finally, Michael turns the conversation back to why Lucy wants to honor her friend Helen. Michael then does “a surprise call from Ball” to Helen. When she answers, she is adorable, in awe of Michael. It’s a delightful conversation. Listen and enjoy. What a truly FABULOUS segment this was!
Next, Michael speaks to Nick Crown on the Love Line. “What a great name,” Michael says. “Is that your stage name?” Nick laughs, “No, no. No relation to royalty either,” getting a laugh from Michael. Nick says he and his wife Joy are celebrating their Ruby Anniversary with their entire family in Norfolk. Nick explains their history. Their early days are quite funny, which produces a cascade of giggles from Michael. When Nick talks about their time at a roller disco, Michael injects more than a bit of knowledge about what a last song at a disco should be. “At the end of the disco, you have the snog song, the song where if you haven’t copped off, then you ain’t gonna.” Oh, what a wicked laugh, Michael! And a very knowledgeable laugh. Michael plays Kenny Rogers “We’ve Got Tonight” for them, which made me wonder if Michael was remembering his own long ago days at a disco.
Love Songs Track List: Yvonne Elliman “If I Can’t Have You”; Texas “In Demand”; Coldplay “feelslikeimfallinginlove”; Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now”; Gabrielle “Dreams”; Ten Sharp “You”; Richard Marx “Right Here Waiting”; Hozier “Too Sweet”; Amil Stewart “Friends”; Bruno Mars “Count On Me”; Ashford & Simpson “Solid”; Beyoncé “Most Wanted”’; Kenny Rogers “We’ve Got Tonight”; Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love”; Zac Enron & Zendaya “Rewrite the Stars”; Daniel Bedingfield “If You’re Not the One”; Sabrina Carpenter “Please Please Please”; George Michael “Jesus to a Child”; Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved”; Ben King “Stand By Me”
Love Letters. Michael speaks with Poppy who talks about her nanny who helped her mum raise her and her sisters after their dad passed. Nanny is from Wales, and we know how Michael feels about Welsh women, having loved his Welsh grandmother so very much. “Welsh women, they’re strong. I’ve got them in my family. They will cope with anything.” Michael places the call to Nanny Margaret in Wales, who immediately guesses he’s calling because of her granddaughter. Poppy reads her moving letter, such a beautiful tribute to her grandmother. Wow. I needed several tissues as I listened to this, and Michael is quite emotional, too, deeply touched by the letter and Margaret’s beautiful response. This is my favorite ‘love letter’ Michael has brought to the show thus far because it’s so moving and heartfelt on all parts, including Michael’s. This is always the segment where we get that glimpse of Michael’s big heart and see how he so easily wears that heart on his sleeve.
The Last Dance. Today it’s for Dick and Brigine who tell him they love Michael’s LOVE SONGS on Sunday mornings. He plays Ben King’s “Stand By Me” for them, a lovely way to close another great show
“Be safe. Be positive. And always try to be kind.” I never get tired of hearing those words from Michael, his signature closing.
Today’s show was superb for many reasons, but mostly for this: It was replete with beautiful music, but it was also about Michael. Michael isn’t just any DJ, spinning songs for the listening public. He’s Michael Ball, legendary West End star and recording artist. It’s rare for Michael to put himself in the spotlight on the radio, but today it fell out that some of the calls were ABOUT him, and it was lovely to finally see and hear. We also got a rare glimpse into Michael’s personal life and his love for his family. He’s so proud of his adventurous mum Ruth and his talented granddaughter Grace. It’s this other side of Michael that makes him unique, those moments when he’s not a celebrity, he’s just a ‘regular guy’ boasting about his family. Michael has slowly made LOVE SONGS his own, his laughter as musical as the gorgeous songs he plays, his personality now the framework for everything that is to come. Bravo Michael (and Ste) for giving us so much to enjoy on Sunday mornings. A job well done.
The Love Song of the Week is Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting For You.” Such a beautiful song: