Two letters make a big difference. Because at first it looks as if the “Night of the Proms” could become a mood potpourri like before the two-year pandemic break Kool & The Gang as party guarantors for the boomer generation, with a radiant returnee to the Proms, Amy McDonald, with rediscoveries of the big hit parade era, Nik Kershaw and Carol Decker, with a fresh newcomer Matt Simons, with a typically atypical young classical star Yolanda Brown, and as always with the show’s musical heart, “Mr. Music” John Miles. But here it says “jr.” behind.
The visitors of the previous “Night of the Proms” tour stops saw that everything changes. Because John Miles senior died a year ago after a short, serious illness at home in Newcastle. His death left a huge void in the pop-meets-classic parade. He’s been a fixture on hundreds of the shows since their early days in Antwerp in 1985, right up until the years when he toured as musical director and lead guitarist with Tina Turner. He was band boss, “friend and good soul”, accompanied stars from Andrea Bocelli to Anastacia, sang himself with an amazingly rich voice about “Bohemian Rhapsody”. queen and with his own song of the century “Music (was my first love)” he delivered the pop symphony anthem of the Proms and thus also a sure emotional climax of the large orchestrated spectacle.
Similarly, on previous shows in ’22, tears flowed as a lone mic stand was lit and Miles’ voice sang from the tape of Sinatra’s “My Way.” The loyal Proms crowd sees itself as family, mourning but also taking his son John Miles Jr. warmly when the one on the piano intoned his father’s hymn.
Now it’s time for the son: John Miles jr. represents his father, who died a year ago, the creator of the song “Music (was my first love)”.
(Photo: mTwoMedia/Marc Metzler)
The audience was also very touched when Yolanda Brown reported that she had just found out about her grandmother’s death. She taught her, taught her everything – and that’s quite a lot. The Briton, who is presented here as a “classical soloist”, is one of the biggest jazz climbers in her country; the saxophonist was the first to win the “Mobo Award” twice in a row. The 40-year-old is Chair of Britain’s largest music charity and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of East London.
Saxophonist Yolanda Brown is the classical soloist at this year’s Night of the Proms.
(Photo: mTwoMedia/Marc Metzler)
Proms may hail from the promenades, but celebrity is their draw. And the artists achieve this popularity primarily through hits that anyone can whistle along to, but which usually get a completely different impact when spruced up by the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra and the Choir Fine Fleur. Kool & The Gang as the main number in 2022, a good 25 songs made it into the top ten. The soul-funk evergreens “Celebration”, “Get Down On It”, “Ladies Night” and “Fresh” have driven party generations onto the disco dance floors since the late 1970s and influenced hip-hop pioneers.
By Nik Kershaw, who later also wrote for Elton John, the radio listener still remembers “Wouldn’t It Be Good” or “I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” and Carol Decker’s one-hit Wonder with T’Pau “China in Your Hands”. Scotland’s Amy McDonald, on the other hand, has five albums packed with committed folk since 2007’s snappy number one ‘This Is The Life’, and there’s a lot more to come from Matt Simons than his one-time summer hit ‘We Can Do Better’.
“Kool & The Gang” turn the Night of the Proms into a disco.
(Photo: mTwoMedia/Marc Metzler)
Alexandra Arrieche conducts the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra with her usual passion.
(Photo: mTwoMedia Marc Metzler)
Night of the Proms, Fri., Dec. 16, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 17, 8 p.m., Sun., Dec. 18, 3 p.m., Munich, Olympiahalle