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Private Notes
A celebration of the hits of one of the greatest and biggest-selling stars of all time that looks back Whitney Houston’s best performances at the BBC.
This selection of songs, wrapped up in one of soul music’s biggest-ever voices, captures how the world sat up and listened when Whitney burst onto the scene in 1985 with Saving all My Love for You. Taking us on a journey, hit by hit, through the 80s, 90s and 00s, this playlist is an absolute must for all her fans, reminding us why audiences fell in love with her time and again, and why her early death in 2012 was such a tragic loss to the world of music.
A look back over the decades at some of the brightest and best BBC moments from legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. This compilation features performances from the early 1970s of hits like Sweet Caroline, Forever in Blue Jeans and Solitary Man, and appearances on a range of BBC programmes including Wogan, The Shirley Bassey Show, Later... with Jools Holland and, of course, Top of the Pops.
Alongside all the hits are some rarely seen interview clips that capture Neil’s feelings about his enduring career and show how his dislike of fame has always sat in conflict with his passion for performing the songs that he and his fans love so much.
Neil Hannon looks back on his career with The Divine Comedy in this eccentric documentary, scripted by Hannon himself.
He invites us into his ‘mind palace’, the place inside his head where his career lives, populated with props and costumes, inspirations and muses, to remind both himself and us how it all began
To mark Burns Night, Jamie MacDougall hosts an evening of musical celebration with Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson and Robyn Stapleton accompanied by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Featuring Robert Burns classics such as Ae Fond Kiss, My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose and Auld Lang Syne.
Recorded at the London Palladium and hosted by Sheridan Smith, this joyous celebration of musical theatre is packed with showstoppers from the West End’s biggest productions, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and guests including Elaine Paige, Michael Ball, Amanda Holden, Nicole Scherzinger, Josh Groban and Lea Salonga.
Idina Menzel and Elaine Paige reveal the Top 10 songs from musicals, as voted for by BBC Radio 2 listeners, and there’s even a special performance from Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s next big show, Cinderella.
Director Julien Temple turns his lens towards the London-Irish punk and Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan in this revealing documentary. Interviewing his sister and father – who are at turns incredulous and dismissive of the singer’s fame – Temple traces MacGowan’s beginnings on the 70s punk circuit, his stint in a psychiatric unit and his battles with alcohol and substance abuse. MacGowan is a reluctant interviewee but famous fans such as Bobby Gillespie and Johnny Depp help draw out his legend.
A collection of classic performances from the BBC archives to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, featuring some of the Emerald Isle’s finest and best-loved musical acts.
This selection reflects the huge impact that music from Ireland and Northern Ireland has made across the globe, with performances from U2, Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison, The Pogues, The Corrs and The Cranberries. And it reminds us of the island's dominance of the world of pop, with the likes of boyband behemoths Boyzone and Westlife.
Documentary showcasing American legend Billie Holiday, capturing her depths and complexity through the voices of those who knew her best.
Handel’s much-loved masterpiece comes from the stunning London Coliseum in a version created by English National Opera specially for audiences at home. Petroc Trelawny and saxophonist-composer YolanDa Brown present this imaginatively staged, socially distanced production of Messiah, featuring the famous Hallelujah chorus, with the ENO Chorus and Orchestra and a stellar line-up of some of opera’s most exciting talent. Celebrated soloists including countertenor Iestyn Davies and mezzo-soprano Christine Rice are joined by rising stars Nadine Benjamin, Anthony Gregory, Nardus Williams, John Findon, William Thomas and Benson Wilson, while the conductor is renowned Handel expert Laurence Cummings. Although now more commonly performed at Christmas, Handel wrote Messiah as an Easter work, and its themes of hope and rebirth after dark times resonate strongly as we emerge from lockdown.
Paul Weller joins forces with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and multi-talented arranger and conductor Jules Buckley for a special one-off concert of his music.
It features songs drawn from Paul’s long career – with classics from his early days fronting The Jam through the 80s with The Style Council – and majoring on his four decades as a solo artist, including material from his most recent album.
Presented by Edith Bowman and filmed at London’s Barbican Centre, the concert also includes performances of some of Paul’s best-loved songs by three very special guests - Boy George, James Morrison and Celeste. With behind-the-scenes footage and specially shot interviews, this is Paul Weller’s music as never heard before.
6 Music presenter Craig Charles celebrates arguably one of the greatest albums ever recorded - Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ which turns 50 this year.
In November 1981, with Under Pressure topping the charts in the UK, Queen arrived in Montreal following dates in Japan and their record-breaking tour of Latin America. It was to be the only concert by Queen that was ever shot on film. Always a great live band, with arguably the greatest frontman of all time in Freddie Mercury, they excelled themselves with the cameras rolling.
Using music, archive and new interviews this is the story of 2 Tone – a unique musical phenomenon that exploded out of Coventry in the summer of 1979. 2 Tone not only dominated the charts and got the nation dancing to a ska beat, it played a vital part in the movement against racism in Britain and beyond. Including a rare interview with Jerry Dammers, the architect of 2 Tone, and contributions from other key players, the film explores the music style and ethos of the genre, and charts the remarkable story of how this independent ‘do it yourself’ record label from Coventry, went on to have a global impact and a unique place in popular music. 2 Tone’s distinctive look and sound, heavily influenced by 1960s Jamaica, was the brainchild of Jerry Dammers, founder and keyboard player of The Specials. Along with fellow Coventry band The Selecter, The Specials spearheaded 2 Tone from their hometown. The record label also went on to launch the careers of other bands too including Madness and The Beat.
Jerry Dammers reveals how he came up with the ideas behind the 2 Tone revolution. Calling for unity at a time of growing racial tension in the UK, this was music with a message, featuring multiracial bands. With the unlikely blend of Jamaican ska and punk rock, the film explores how a brand-new musical genre came seemingly out of nowhere and went mainstream overnight as legions of fans adopted the rude boy/girl image and propelled the bands up the charts. It also considers why Coventry was the perfect place for the movement to begin. But it wasn’t just about the message – it was about fun, and live gigs renowned for their energy. The last 2 Tone release, ‘Nelson Mandela’ by The Special AKA saw Jerry Dammers' anti-racist message go onto a global stage and was in his words, ‘the culmination of 2 Tone’.
The film also hears from Jerry’s bandmate in The Specials, Neville Staple; Pauline Black and Neol Davies of The Selecter, proud Coventrian and one time Special’s manager Pete
On 19th September 1981, Simon & Garfunkel reunited for a free public concert on the Great Lawn of New York City's Central Park, raising awareness and funding to help restore the world’s most famous urban park.
The duo had rarely performed since their breakup in 1970, but their music continued to resonate with the city from which they came. This unforgettable performance, which drew one of the largest audiences ever assembled for a single concert, features all of Simon & Garfunkel’s greatest hits as well as selections from their solo catalogues, newly arranged with an expanded 11-man band.
Songs performed include Mrs Robinson, America, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Boxer, Old Friends, The Sound of Silence and Late in the Evening.
To celebrate Beyonce reaching her fortieth birthday, this gift to her fans takes a trip through the archives for a selection of the best of Queen Bey at the BBC. The collection shows why we are all Crazy in Love with her and features several iconic live performances, with hits like Naughty Girl, Irreplaceable and of course Single Ladies, underlining how she has become one of the biggest musical stars on the planet.
It’s time to Canuck n’ Roll as we celebrate Canada Day with a trip through the best of the BBC’s music archives, exploring some of that great nation’s finest music stars. It’s a collection encompassing song-writing legends like Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang and Leonard Cohen, with added pop perfection in the shape of Justin Bieber and Avril Lavigne. You Oughta Know, we’ve also got Alanis Morisette, Arcade Fire, Nickelback and Bryan Adams, and with some added Celine Dion, Michael Buble and Shania Twain, the one thing you won’t be saying is: “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”
Cerys Matthews takes us on a journey through the archives to celebrate one of Britain's greatest drummers and his musical projects and passions.
Including a Later… with Jools Holland performance from his side outfit The ABC & D of Boogie Woogie, a recently recorded jazz session for BBC Four, and a Rolling Stones gem.
A musical celebration for International Pride Month, with a collection of the BBC archives' biggest stars - including Kylie, Elton John and Lady Gaga.
Our Pride playlist features controversial classics like Relax and Smalltown Boy; enduring anthems like Born This Way, I Will Survive and Glad to Be Gay; and the unforgettable sounds of disco, Dolly and Dusty. These are the songs and performances that helped to create some of the entertainment world’s greatest icons - capturing the delight, desire and defiance of the Pride movement, whilst also dominating the charts.
To mark St George’s Day, join BBC Four for a trip through the archives and a selection of songs celebrating English history, landmarks and places. This eclectic mix features a huge array of musical styles and tastes, ranging from Elton John to Maddy Prior and Joe Strummer, as well as one of English football’s oddest cheerleading combinations in The Spice Girls and Echo & The Bunnymen.
Gary Barlow brings together a top group of artists and musicians to perform classic songs from past and present. The ensemble comprises Jamie Cullum (piano and vocals), James Bay (guitar and vocals),
Mica Paris (vocals), Guy Chambers (keyboards and musical director), Tom Fletcher (guitar and vocals), Danya Fisher (bass) and Donavan
Hepburn (drums), and of course Gary on keys and vocals. Gary also welcomes special guests Anne-Marie and Craig David to the show to talk about their careers, reveal their musical heroes and perform new versions of classic tracks.
A collection of the some of the finest female voices and performances ever broadcast, showcasing those special superstars who, thanks to a combination of tonsils, talent and temperament, are so much more than just singers.
Featuring the likes of Whitney, Beyonce, Mariah, Grace, Cher, Aretha, Tina, Diana and Adele: it’s a list of leading ladies all music fans are on first name terms with - and all crazy in love with too.
At the end of a decade when the world was in crisis and inspiration needed resurrecting, an influential duo released a masterpiece of popular music, Bridge over Troubled Water. Through darkness and light, the album takes its listeners on an emotional ride that echoes its era, and has proved to be a work that continues to inspire an audience the world over. Its symphonic hymn of a title track became an anthem for a generation.
This film tells the story behind what is widely considered Simon and Garfunkel's greatest work. The influential duo's last studio album has its legacy shrouded in rock'n'roll mythology, complete with legendary tales of inspiration, innovation and separation. Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and their collaborators share the journey in their own words and reflect back on its impact 40 years later, using never-before-seen film, photos and memorabilia.
Between 1989 and 1994, Nirvana introduced a new and exciting brand of rock music to the UK – one that changed the musical landscape and influenced a generation of British youth.
Thirty years on since the release of their seminal album Nevermind, this documentary examines the special relationship between Nirvana and the UK – including the role Britain played in paving the way for their global success.
Featuring rare and unseen archive footage - as well as home movies shot by the band themselves - the film charts Nirvana’s rise from their very first British tour, performing in pubs and tiny gig venues, through to legendary (and infamous) TV appearances on The Word and Top of the Pops that helped cement their status as one of the biggest rock bands on the planet, taking ‘grunge culture’ from the underground to the mainstream.
The word 'diva' is used to describe otherworldly talent - a term bestowed upon the best of the best in the world of opera. But somewhere along the line, the meaning got polluted by the male-dominated world of showbiz. In this programme, Ana Matronic reclaims the word by presenting five legendary artists.
First broadcast on the centenary of his birth, legendary jazz trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong in performance.
The first all-access documentary - which was years in the making - about the legendary icon, Frank Zappa. It conveys the scope of his prodigious and varied creative output and the breadth of his extraordinary personal and political life.
The documentary team was granted exclusive access by Frank's wife Gail to a vast collection of unreleased music, movies, incomplete projects, unseen interviews and unheard concert recordings. Much of these were deteriorating and in danger of being lost forever.
A collection of classic hits from the stable of one of Britain’s greatest and most successful music producers, the legendary Trevor Horn.
From his early days as frontman with The Buggles right up to recent collaborations with the likes of Robbie Williams, this film examines how Trevor has become the go-to producer for acts keen to tap into the musical genius that defined the sound of the 1980s.
Featured artists include Yes, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Grace Jones, ABC, Seal and Pet Shop Boys, and of course the song that kicked things off for the MTV generation, Video Killed the Radio Star.
Following the ups and downs of Del Amitri's 1996 US tour on the back of their hit single Roll To Me. With the tour in full swing, the pressures and exhaustion caused by cobnstant touring sent singer Justin Currie into a downward spiral that would take him back to his roots in Partick.
Guy Barker and the EFG London Jazz Festival Orchestra are joined by a fantastic host of guest singers as they perform jazz classics drawn from the world of film.
Documentary that provides a fascinating portrait of Keith Jarrett, whose music straddles classical and jazz. With contributions from those he has worked with, his family and from Jarrett himself.
Brit Award winner Sam Fender goes in search of a musical hero from another era - the late, great, Alan Hull of Lindisfarne. Sam is amazed how few people, outside of his native north east, know much about his hero’s work. He’s now on a mission to win back Hull’s place in music history.
In this film, he traces the career of the man whose words and music put Newcastle and supergroup Lindisfarne on the musical map in the 1970s. Alan continued to write classic songs until his early death in 1995. He spoke of love and life, championed the underdog and the misunderstood, and celebrated working-class people and his hometown - both of which he loved with a passion. Alan lived and wrote through turbulent times - writing eloquently about the troubles in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and the miners’ strike.
Sam digs out great archive interviews, performances and unseen footage, and meets friends, family and bandmates who knew Alan Hull best. Sam also hears from top stars like Sting, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Dave Stewart and Peter Gabriel. All were huge fans of songs such as Lady Eleanor, Fog on the Tyne, Winter Song, Clear White Light and Run For Home. But he also finds that Alan inspired an entire new generation of musicians like Kay Greyson: a young rapper from Tyneside. To his surprise, Sam discovers ‘Hully’ also took the lead role in an acclaimed BBC TV primetime drama. He reveals a complex man - a political animal, a drinker and an agitator, beset by his own insecurities but someone who could break hearts and inspire minds with his lyrics and melodies.
A compilation of TV appearances from the post-Beatles career of Britain’s most successful singer-songwriter. This playlist shows how the Fab Four’s split didn’t stop the hits and features some of Paul McCartney’s most popular songs and iconic performances on some of the biggest BBC shows of the past five decades, from Top of the Pops to the Electric Proms. Alongside tracks like Band on the Run, Jet, Coming Up and Live and Let Die, there is rarely seen backstage footage, interviews and a range of familiar faces, including a recent encounter with die-hard Beatles fan Bob Mortimer.
A look at Christmas with the talented Kanneh-Mason family, seven brothers and sisters who are taking the classical music world by storm. Coming home to Nottingham to celebrate, their unique seasonal celebration is an exciting fusion of family traditions from the UK, Sierra Leone and the Caribbean. They perform their favourite festive music such as Mary’s Boy Child, We Three Kings, Santa Baby, Sugar Plum Fairy and In the Bleak Midwinter, as well as versions of Bob Marley’s Who the Cap Fit, Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and Eric Whitacre’s The Seal Lullaby
The sound of Phil Collins is in the air tonight as we take a trip through the BBC’s archives with the man who, against all odds, went from being the drummer in Genesis to one of the biggest solo performers of the 1980s and 90s. This collection features Phil’s performances on a range of BBC shows, from Top of the Pops to Parkinson and The Two Ronnies, as well as the hits that saw him top the charts multiple times here and in the US, including You Can’t Hurry Love, A Groovy Kind of Love, One More Night, I Missed Again and Two Hearts
Filmed live at the Barbican in London, this major new production of the classic musical comedy features an all-star cast led by renowned Broadway actress Sutton Foster, reprising her Tony-winning performance as Reno Sweeney, alongside the award-winning Robert Lindsay and Felicity Kendal, as well as beloved West End legend Gary Wilmot. A heart-warming romance, featuring spectacular dance routines and some of theatre’s most memorable songs.
When the SS American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention head out of the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love- proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, a comical disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail. This hilarious musical romp across the Atlantic, directed by the multi-award-winning Broadway director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall, features Cole Porter’s joyful score, including I Get a Kick Out of You, You’re the Top and the show-stopping Anything Goes.
The finest film themes and scores from the Berliner Philharmonie. Expect Jaws, Superman and Star Wars.
Years & Years singer Olly Alexander throws a spectacular New Year's Eve party as we build up to the midnight moment. Olly performs many of his hits and some surprise cover songs as well as duetting with a special guest, pop superstar Kylie Minogue.
This collection of Lady Gaga's appearances on a selection of BBC programmes from over the years underlines why she's considered one of the most creative and innovative stars of the 21st century.
Cathy Macdonald and Niall Iain Macdonald warmly welcome you to a great Hogmanay ceilidh with special guests. They bring in 2022 in great spirits with plenty of entertainment and songs from the likes of Iain 'Costello' MacIver and New Tradition, South Uist singer and piper Chloe Steele, Emma MacLeod from Scalpay who won the Traditional Gold Medal at the Inverness Mod, Iain 'Spanish' Mackay and the Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band. Adding to the festivities are recorded pieces of music from Stornoway Town Hall including tracks from Wille Campbell, the Lewis and Harris Youth Pipe Band and singers from the island's choirs known as Lewis Gaelic Choir. And a ceilidh would not be so enjoyable or complete without a song or two from ‘Boydie’ MacLeod, Innes Scott and Uilly MacLeod who you might recognize as Peat & Diesel. A great sing-along is guaranteed!
Ever since its premiere in Turin in 1896, La bohème has been a huge hit with audiences across the world. Within two years, it had been seen in Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Prague, Berlin, Manchester and beyond. With over 500 performances chalked up at Covent Garden alone, this opera is one of the most popular and enduring in the repertoire. Poverty and passion collide in a story of friendship and fellowship, love and loss.
In this performance from 2020, Sonya Yoncheva stars as the doomed seamstress Mimì, with Charles Castronovo as Rodolfo, who falls in love with her at first sight. Simona Mihai and Andrzej Filonczyk perform the roles of the on-off lovers, Musetta and Marcello.
Richard Jones’s period production brings to life the garret flats and shopping arcades of 19th-century Paris, with designs by Stewart Laing, pitting the rags of the bohemians against the riches of the swanky shopping arcades and restaurants of Paris.
This performance is conducted by Emmanuel Villaume.
Turn back time on a journey through the BBC archives to celebrate singing superstar Cher with a selection of songs and chat show moments featuring many of the her greatest hits.
A look back at a selection of magical Madonna moments on various BBC shows, from her first Top of the Pops appearance with Holiday in 1984 right up to the present day.
A collection of performances from one of the greatest singers and live performers in modern music - the legendary Tina Turner. This selection of tracks comes from appearances Tina made on various BBC programmes over the years, featuring some of her biggest hits from the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
The extraordinary story of Freddie Mercury’s battle with Aids and the groundbreaking tribute concert Queen staged in his memory after he died.
To mark 25 years since Geri, Emma, Victoria and the Mels first exploded onto the world stage, we take a trip into the music archives to uncover the performances that every Spice Girls devotee really, really wants to see again.
These are the Fab Five’s finest appearances on a range of BBC shows from over the years and includes all the favourites, from their breakout number one Wannabe through to their final release as a girl band, Headlines. Our playlist also contains a selection of the hits the girls enjoyed when they’d said ‘Goodbye’ and launched themselves as solo stars.
To celebrate St David’s Day, this trip through the BBC’s music archives features a selection of tracks from some of the most important and innovative Welsh artists of the past few decades.
The programme includes performances by Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, Marina and the Diamonds, Stereophonics, Feeder, Shakin’ Stevens, Bonnie Tyler, Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Tom Jones.
An electric Tina Turner performance from Arnhem, Netherlands, in 2009, as part of her blockbuster 50th Anniversary Tour.
During 2008 and 2009, Tina completed 90 shows in over 40 different cities across North America and Europe, celebrating 50 years of being in music. She performed to over a million adoring fans throughout the tour, in a set that contained some of her most-loved songs, including The Best, What’s Love Got to Do With It, Proud Mary and many more.
The legendary band’s huge international status and punishing touring schedules meant that over the years they made surprisingly few appearances on programmes like Top of the Pops, and tragically for their fans, several of those performances were either lost or never recorded.
Songs featured take us from the band’s first ever UK hit, Seven Seas of Rhye, through to These Are The Days of Our Lives, Queen’s last hit before Freddie’s untimely death, as well as all the biggest hits, including the iconic Bohemian Rhapsody, frequently voted the nation’s favourite ever song.
From Texas to Travis, Annie Lennox to Lulu, and Primal Scream to The Proclaimers, this collection of the best of Scottish rock and pop is the perfect way to celebrate St Andrew’s Day. With performances from a range of BBC shows across the decades, this selection also features the likes of Emeli Sande, Simple Minds, Sheena Easton and Deacon Blue.
