Here's the last of the Ruby Flipper routines from their residency on Lena Martell's 1979 TV show. This time Lena's singing In the Ghetto written by Mac Davis, and of course most famously sung by Elvis.
This is essentially a solo dance performance, with the rest of the team in a strictly supportive role. It's great to see these rare examples of the gitls work, but I can't help feeling that Flick has hardly been inspired in this whole series.
12 comments:
nice to see Okon getting a main role, I thought he'd disappeared from the troupe the last few routines.There's a a big Black Power salute at the end. Flick stereotypically goes for Okon as the main man to fit the narrative of the 'story' she's telling with the dance and, in fact, there's not much dance at all but lots of action-miming with dramatic gestures.
It has indeed been fascinating to see the resusitated version of Ruby Flipper (many thanks to Patti4Pm, for his fine efforts to track down and get hold of these)but this fry up has generally left me cold.Overall,these routines in Lena's series often seem quickly put together with little attempt at being creative. Looking at all the routines in this series the choreography is pretty dull and lazy and as YMG says unimaginative. It's very clear that Flick Colby was giving most of her energy and time to the weekly demands of Top of The Pops Legs and Co stuff at the same time (though to be fair, the insipid and lifeless cover versions of songs that Ms Martell has been doing do not exactly lend themselves to inspirational choreography.
What strikes me most of all is the absolute contrast of the choreography of the Original Ruby Flipper from 1976 and of this poor tribute band three years later. The name of a troupe IS important and after watching the Lena show routines, I'm now even stronger of the opinion that Flick Colby should have used a different name for this troupe. It's not fair on the Original Ruby Flipper and reflects badly on their name, because of the generally poor standard of these Lena dance routines. The originals were clearly the best in this case.
Bye,Bye, Ruby Flipper Mark 2.
Whatever next, Ruby Flipper (well kind of) making political gestures. Im not sure im too keen with that, as there normally such a happy-go-lucky lot arnt they. Was this a song they should have been involved with, i dont think so.
Anyhow, the raised clenched fist is now considered a human rights salute and not specifically just a Black Power salute, possibly to keep the PC gang happy.
Yes thanks to PattiforPM and YMG for bringing us these clips. Overal theres a slight tinge of disappointment, guess when you think of the name Ruby Flipper, one naturally conjures up memories of 76, with there exuberance and bright fun routines. These have been very dark in comparison, suppose that reflected Lenas brand of singing. I definately think the best of these thats been shown, was the first, the Legs & Co inspired, `Together In Blue Jeans`.
As for the name,`Ruby Flipper`, well it was a poor choice and surely Flick and Ruth could have come up with something else.
Ryan,
did you have one of those Black Power salutes sewn into your jacket in your Northern Soul days? Apparently the black clenched fist was a symbol for Northern Soul.
Most of these RF routines have passed me by, as they have been mostly forgettable, so I'll have to look at them to see which is my favourite.
Well, I've just rewatched the six RF Mark 2 routines and for me 'All You Need is the Music' is the one that is the best one.
Just had another thought. Perhaps Flick Colby was instructed to deliberately keep the dances toned down and bland, so as they couldn't upstage Lena (who was supposed to be the main attraction) in any way.
There are no more Lena's music clips and perhaps it's just as well
Well I enjoyed them P4pm so it is a big thank you from me, even if not so much from him.
As the Flippers Mk2 were only providing backing support comparing these with TOTP routines is a bit unfair, while suggesting that the choreography was lazy, so many years after the event and without full knowledge of the circumstances, is in my eyes unforgivable.
Yes, thanks PattiforPM from me too. You have been very generous in sharing these clips with us. They have seem to have caused a lot of consternation amoungst members, im not sure why, i guess the name of the troupe didnt help. But they have provided us with some of the few missing pieces from our jigsaw of the TOTPs dancers and they deserve there place on the blog. I hope the critisism they have recieved in certain quarters, you have not been too offened by. By and large the critque has been well channelled and the connection with the original Flipper is unfortunate, but understandable, considering the name. Anyhow, thanks once again.
I think what I meant to say, of course, was that a few dance routines in this series were 'imaginationally-challenged' and any other adjective I previously used is just not politically correct enough for my own taste.
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