Waiting for the gift of sound AND vision...
The BFI is to screen the recently unearthed performance of The Jean Genie from Top Of The Pops which was originally broadcast on January 4th, 1973. (11.28.2011 NEWS: THE JEAN GENIE ON TOTP FROM RUMOUR TO REALITY)
The complete performance of take three of The Jean Genie is scheduled to be shown as part of the ongoing BFI Missing Believed Wiped series.
The footage will be shown at the end of the evening when it will be introduced by the genius that kept it safe all these years, John Henshall. I believe John will be conducting a brief Q&A after the screening too.
If you can get along to the NFT on London's Southbank on Sunday December 11th, you're in for a real treat. A shirtless David looks amazing as he shakes maracas and blows on the harmonica while interjecting an occasional yelp of enthusiasm..
The Spiders are also on top form and Ronno uses the opportunity to show everybody how it should be done. Not sure who else was on the show that day, but I feel for anybody that had to follow that!
The performance is closer to the live rendition than the recorded Aladdin Sane version, with David even dipping into the Love Me Do harmonica motif.
It also feels like the song is played a few beats faster than the studio recording with a cocksure energy and confidence obviously bolstered by all the recent success.
Anyway, here's the full evening schedule...
Missing Believed Wiped - Session 2: Music
Sun 11 Dec 18.15 NFT1 p8
Oh Boy! (Extract) (ABC 1959)
Rolf Harris Show (BBC 1969)
International Guitar Festival (Satellite TV 1984)
Extracts Showtime (ATV 1978)
Extract: Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band
Top of the Pops (BBC 1973) Extract David Bowie - The Jean Genie
Running Time: Approx. 100min
Introduced by Dick Fiddy.
Joint tickets available £13, concs £9.75 (Members pay £1.50 less).
As I post this there are still plenty of tickets left, so hopefully see you there.