Knowing when to quit

I don't think it's ageist to say someone should give up if they can't perform to a reasonable standard any more.
It's only ageist if judgements are made without any foundation in fact.

I did feel a pang for Billy Connolly when he was on the TV awards programme the other evening. So sad he's been brought low by PD at the age of 73, especially as he'd always been such a flamboyant entertainer...

Others, such as Brucie, just don't know when it's time to hang up their toupés

(should be 'toupées'!)

Where does Mary Berry get all her stamina?

The answer has to be CAKE!

She doesn't look as though she eats much cake...

I have to disagree with anyone dismissing Rod Stewart. I've seen him twice in the last four years and he's still very much a showman, seems to have boundless energy, and comes across as an all round nice guy. And he can still belt out those songs of his that suit his sexy distinctive voice. Same with Tom Jones. And Leonard Cohen, according to friends of mine who saw him a couple of years ago I saw Eric Clapton last year and he's still got it, apart from coming over as a miserable sod.

I cringe if I see Paul McCartney coming into view....

She doesn't look as though she eats much cake.

No, it's probably sheer will power that keeps her going.

I would be like the side of a house faced with all that CAKE!

Toupet ;)

Agreed about Macca- since the Olympic debacle, I just can't watch him!

We went to see Elton John and wouldn't go again! No longer floats my boat, in fact it is well and truly grounded in his case.

I went to see my ultimate favourite Dr Hook last year was so very disappointed as his voice had really deteriorated. Just wish I had just remembered him when he was in his prime.

Rod Stewart is so much better now than when he was younger. I did like a couple of his old songs, but in the last 10 or 15 years he's tried different styles and it was a surprise to me to find he was pretty good.

Paul McCartney is an embarrassment.

Not a Stones fan, but Mick can still perform.

Completely agree about Brucie. For years I thought he should stay on Strictly until he thought it was time to go, but the last 3 years in particular were dire. He refused to wear an ear piece so the producers could speak to him - unheard of on live shows these days - so Tess basically had to keep him on track throughout the show. He refused to use an autocue because he wouldn't wear his glasses, so huge written signs were used until the last few years, when he did use the autocue with extra large text. This meant his delivery wasn't smooth because not enough text could be on view at one time. He covered this with jokes about his age. He was great with the studio audience before the show started, but in show business he has a reputation for being arrogant. His one man show At Christmas he looked so poorly after his operation. He's the last of the great all round British entertainers, but he just didn't know when to quit. I love Tess and Claudia doing the show.

Leonard Cohen is brilliant.

I suppose if people pay to go and see someone perform, they think they can still m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶e̶y̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ entertain you.

If people are going to pay money to see someone perform, that someone's performance ought to be of a reasonable standard.
The paying public don't know what standard it will be until after they have paid and then seen the performance.

Last year we went to see Georgie Fame, one of my teenage favourites and I am happy to report he was great. His two sons accompanied him musically. His memory is spot on (more than can be said for me) and he recounted the story of all the artists he knew in the 60s and 70s - what a fascinating story.

In fact we are re-booking to see him when he returns to this area in April.

I agree about Leonard Cohen. Could not believe he could perform like that at over 80 - though I have read he is not going to do any more touring.

Some of them still seem to "have it". Others not so.

Tom Jones still "has it" for me. His voice is not quite as it was, but he still has that naughty twinkle. Mick Jagger "has it", although I'm not a fan. Paul NcCartney? No. Tina Turner? Yes. Shirley Bassey? Yes!

Brucie? No. Wogan? No. David Attenborough? Yes.

I guess they'll go on as long as there's an audience. And money to be made.

Totally agree with your list of 'yes' and 'nos'. Same list for me.

I agree with your list too gettingonabit, although I can't comment on Tina Turner. I was thinking about Shirley Bassey after my last post because she was great on the Strictly Christmas special. That led me to think about all the older singers who have appeared on Strictly over the years and how obvious it was that many were passed their best. Andy Williams came straight to mind, he was embarrassing to watch.

It's worth mentioning though that even if someone is singing live, it's pretty common these days to sing to a backing track and that gives a false impression of how good a voice really is as it smooths it out.

Wilmas yes, true about the backing track. I guess this applies to competitors on X Factor and the like. Mainly backing track; very little vocal input.

Shirley Bassey is great - what a performer. I think Rod Stewart still has a pretty good voice (although I don't like his jazz stuff), and Tom Jones.

I find it quite uncomfortable watching famous singers whose voices are obviously past their best. It's very sad to see them struggling and, whilst I can understand their desire to keep doing something they love, it's a shame that our memories of their earlier performances are over-shadowed by later more shaky ones.

Having said that, I thought the 79-year old man who sang a jazz standard on the Voice two weeks ago was very good and had great timing.

A friend of mine plays tennis with Tommy Steele and apparently he's pretty good.

He used to be very good at squash in his young days. I hope he doesn't play that now.

I think he was more of an entertainer than a singer. Very good one too.

Has anyone actually told Paul McCartney that he's past it? Surely one of his children would have broken it to him by now - or is his ego so big he won't accept it? So sad really - but the same for many great performers.