Tom's Talk Time!

Welcome to Tom's Talk Time - a place for all things news, entertainment, and social commentary!

[tomstalktime]

This photograph was shared online, showing an elderly woman gripping to a pole on a Sydney train as young commuters sat

It’s not often that I say I am ashamed to be a part of anything. I normally pride myself on my inclusivity and my ability to see the best out of situations. 

When I saw this snap this morning, my stomach turned. I physically felt sick. Numb, almost. This photo of an elderly woman hunched over and clutching to a pole on a Sydney train made my blood boil. It made me ashamed and disheartened to be included in this generation of young “Millennials”. A generation that is so full of selfish, narrow-minded narcissists. 

As a young person, like many of us, I worry about the state of this beautiful country. I worry about the self-obsession, insensitivity and lack of awareness often shown by my generation. I worry that we are running it into the ground -  not only by those that disrespect the elderly by refusing to stand on public transport, by not visiting their grandparents or by spitting and littering on the footpath, but by those who import cheap goods online and don’t care about supporting our local markets, buying Australian-made products, or championing our Australian economy. 

My heart hurts that a lot of young people don’t watch the news, glance at a paper or ask questions. It makes me sad that there is no balance or compromise. My stomach turns to see incredibly young girls - teenagers - left with such a prominent, unattainable definition of beauty as they continue to get sucked in to The Kardashians and spiral towards plastic surgery, lip injections and racy behaviour. Remember when the ‘Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge’ swept the internet? We saw young people - girls as young as six - suck on shot glasses to blow up their lips, sometimes leaving bruising and swelling. Really?

I just wish there would be a little more compassion. I wish younger people could slow down a little. Smell the roses, give somebody a wave. Talk to a stranger, offer to give somebody help.

Of course I have questions about this photograph - why did the photographer take the photo instead of asking the young people to stand up? Or maybe the elderly lady insisted she stood at the pole? Maybe there were seats behind the photographer? In any case, the photo works as an example of behaviours that are all too common today, and sometimes we need something like this to re-assess where we’re at as a society. 

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FORGET the much-hyped Horne and Mundine boxing match, RAC Arena was treated to its own version last night, with Shania Twain hitting the stage for her Australian comeback after marching through the crowd like a woman on a mission - ready to jump into her ring.

The packed Perth crowd roared at the sight of the country-pop superstar’s appearance at the back of the venue, as a female drummer in the middle of the audience pounded out the beat to Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’. 

Greeting hundreds of fans, Shania laughed and smiled as she ran down the stairs and across the arena, flanked by burly security guards, primped and primed, and ready to hit the stage in Australia for the first time in almost two decades. 

The night was jam-packed full of anthems audiences have come to adore. From Twain’s personal victory song “Life’s About To Get Good”, to “Up!” and “Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)” which dominated the first segment, to smash-hits “That Don’t Impress Me Much”, “You’re Still The One”, “From This Moment On”, and “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?”, for Twain, it’s all about relating her life through her music. She’s had setbacks - her parents both died together in a car crash, she endured a highly-publicised divorce when her husband and longtime musical partner Robert Lange left her for her best friend, and she’s suffered a string of vocal issues but she’s used those experiences to shape her music and her stellar career - and this world tour is her way of proving it. 

Her new album, ‘Now’, is the first studio recording she’s taken on in 15 years. It’s a comeback album, and while some of the lyrics tell a darker story, on stage, she’s there to celebrate. 

The tour is more of a greatest hits tour. It’s a celebration of the anthems that defined the 1990s and early 2000s and a nod to Shania’s well-deserved pedestal as the world’s greatest pop-country icon. Shania embodies what so many modern artists are lacking. She has an energy and a connection to the audience that is indescribable - she’s wholeheartedly present and at one with her music. It’s celebratory and powerful, with her showmanship taking centre stage. 

The iconic leopard print she wore in the “That Don’t Impress Me Much” video provided a visual theme for a lot of the show and her costumes were fabulous - country boots, cowgirl hats and all. 

As a kid, I used to jump out of bed on Sunday mornings to watch Shania on Video Hits -  and last night, to see her live, really was a dream come true. She’s a music dynamo, an entertainment veteran and a country powerhouse with a signature voice that leaves audiences craving more. 

Shania will perform in Adelaide on Sunday night before she heads to Brisbane, The Hunter Valley, Melbourne and Sydney 

Set List:

Life’s About to Get Good

Come on Over

Up!

Poor Me

Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)

That Don’t Impress Me Much

Any Man of Mine 

Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? 

Honey, I’m Home 

I’m Alright 

You’re Still The One 

More

From This Moment On

I’m Gonna Getcha Good

Party For Two

Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed 

(If You’re Not in it for Love) I’m Outta Here! 

Man! I Feel Like A Woman 

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I’m always amazed at how music stars can do the same thing night after night, spanning months, and in some cases, even years, when they’re on a global tour.

Last night was Katy Perry’s 98th show of her Witness World Tour — and I’m sure it was just as good as her first.

Music-lovers were welcomed into the venue with a giant eye-shaped screen behind the stage that flickered and looked across the room.

Right on 9 o’clock, the lights went out, the screen parted, and the Californian pop star made her entrance - flying into Perth Arena on a Sci-Fi like object and summoning her army of Perth fans with the verse to ‘Witness’.

Giant dice appeared on-stage and she smashed out ‘Roulette’, before leading into  her 2013 hit ‘Dark Horse’, where she told the audience she knew some of them only came to hear that song.

‘Chained To The Rhythm’ was next, with Perry dancing around lanky figures on stage while her dancers paraded behind her, fit with giant televisions over their head.

I’m not the biggest fan of her newest catalogue, so thankfully all her original hits came next — a perfectly cheesy ‘Teenage Dream’, followed by ‘Hot and Cold’ which saw her rock out on a pink guitar, before giant flamingos bombarded the stage for ‘Last Friday Night’ and ‘California Girls’.

In honour of her 10-year anniversary of her debut hit single ‘I Kissed A Girl’, giant red lips convulsed above the stage as the first part of the song took on an electrical makeover, before Perry encouraged us and her band to “bring it back to the original”.

Another costume change, and Perry glided amongst giant roses to the more mellow ‘Déjà Vu’ and ‘Tsunami’.

A highlight was ‘Bon Appétit’, which saw her spread across a giant leaf with oversized salt and pepper shakers drenching her in glitter seasoning.

My favourite costume, a silver sequinned extravaganza, saw Perry float around Perth Arena atop of a giant Saturn, strumming her guitar and encouraging us to sing the “first three words” in ‘Wide Awake’.

She thanked all the parents in the room for letting their children stay “wide awake”, and apologised for the sugar-induced behaviour they were likely exhibiting, whilst thanking punters for spending their “hard-earned money and time” to spend a Wednesday evening with her.

The intimate “Into Me You See” was perhaps the most stripped-back we’ve ever seen Perry — there was no sensory overload, heavy production, bells or whistles — it was just a singer and her fans, singing a raw and emotional ballad.

Smash-hits ‘Part of Me’ and ‘Swish Swish’ followed, which lead into a basketball game with ‘Jason’, a Dad she hand-picked from the audience.

Her first farewell was to ‘Roar’, an empowering anthem that had fans of all ages on their feet, before they begged for an encore.

Sailing above the audience on a broken clock, Perry returned donning a princess-like dress to ‘Pendulum’, before being deposited into the clutch of a giant hand at the end of the stage for her final farewell — the global smash hit that gave Perry her name — ‘Firework’.

The show was filled with plenty of banter, with Perry showcasing a lame attempt at an Australian accent, doting over kangaroos and frothing over meat pies. She pointed out the man that stamped her immigration pass to get into Australia, and laughed out how she couldn’t bring her beloved dog into our “small island”.

Vocally, Perry is undeniably strong — she puts her back into it and she oozes joy on stage. This tour has re-confirmed her rightful place atop of the pop sphere, and should serve as a beautiful reminder of her decade of success going from a church-performing young girl, to a fierce musical goddess who is dominating arenas right across the globe.  

Set List:

Witness Roulette Dark Horse Chained to the Rhythm Teenage Dream Hot N Cold / Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) California Gurls I Kissed A Girl Déjà Vu Tsunami E.T. Bon Appétit Wide Awake Into Me You See Power Part of Me Swish Swish Roar

Encore: Pendulum Firework

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It's no secret that I love P!nk. She autographed my wrist for a tattoo last time she was down under, and I'm heading to three of her four Beautiful Trauma tour shows at Perth Arena. I am, hands down, a FANATIC.

Going into the show, I had high expectations.

In the past, her concerts have been an all-in-cumbersome, gravity-defying, vocally impressive music extravaganza with pint-sized P!nk swinging from the rafters.

It’s been a while since the 38-year-old was in her home away from home, the land down under, and this time around she flew in as a mum-of-two. 

Not that I ever doubted it, but my goodness, if she ever went anywhere then she is back – and she made sure we knew it!

Bursting onto the stage on top of a swinging chandelier, the songstress set the scene with her 2001 hit Get This Party Started, followed by a slickly choreographed title track of her most recent album, Beautiful Trauma.

Vocally flawless and with the dynamism to challenge pop stars half her age, P!nk stunned in a gravity-defying, electric and soulful display spanning two hours, jam-packed with hits from her stellar career that had adoring fans of all ages on their feet.

There’s no denying it – P!nk puts her back into it, and delivers with a level of authenticity and a wholesomeness that Aussies love.

Highlights included her new single Secrets which saw a Cirque-Du-Soleil-inspired aerial extravaganza with P!nk and chiseled dancer Khasan Brailsford suspended high above the catwalk, with nothing but a rope supporting them as they twisted, flipped and pulsated to the music. .

Just Give Me A Reason saw the songstress a top of a bed raised above the stage, belting her notes in the pitch-perfect style she so effortlessly portrays.

During Just Like Fire the theatrics continued, the heat of live flames spitting across the stage.

As always, the ballads were there - For Now, Barbies and I Am Here were standouts with goosebumps enthralling the crowd as P!nk sung her heart out.

Raise Your Glass and Blow Me One Last Kiss were fitting songs to end with, before one last gravity-defying stunt.

So What saw P!nk scale the roof of the entire arena - twisting and twirling and waving to punters in the nosebleed section.

There's no denying that P!nk's roadshow is the tour to beat for 2018 - and her sold-out crowd at Perth Arena certainly agreed, as they chatted enthusiastically about their favourite moments, smiles aplenty, whilst leaving the venue.

P!nk will perform again at Perth Arena tonight, Friday and Saturday. 

She'll continue across Australia until the end of August.

Set List:

Get the Party Started

Beautiful Trauma

Just Like a Pill

Who Knew

Revenge

Funhouse / Just a Girl

Smells Like Teen Spirit(Nirvana cover)

Secrets

Try

Just Give Me a Reason

I'm Not Dead

Just Like Fire

What About Us

For Now

Barbies

I Am Here

F**kin' Perfect

Raise Your Glass

Blow Me (One Last Kiss)

Encore:So What

Glitter in the Air

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FILLED with gusto and a showman style like no other, veteran entertainer Robbie Williams launched into the Perth leg of his Heavy Entertainment tour with a level of intensity few performers can achieve.

Before he even step foot onto the arena stage, the crowd was given a fine taste of his extravagant ego that would linger throughout the show, with the chanting of the "National Anthem of Robbie": One day he will be knighted/ And his work will be done/ He'll stand proud and fearless/ His face forever young/ God bless our Robbie/ He is so well hung

Under bright lights, lasers and smoke machines, rock star Robbie emerged to the title-track of his album and tour, donning a navy kilt with red and white stars and looking like the ultimate performer – muscles and tatts aplenty, a spring in his step and a cheeky grin on his face.

Smash hit Let Me Entertain You followed and true to its name, he delivered and the crowd roared.

Paying homage to other artists, Williams sauntered around the stage singing an acapella mashup of favourites Nat King Cole, the Bee Gees, Amy Winehouse and Cole Porter, before launching into a euphoric version of George Michael’s Freedom.

Something Stupid which he made famous with Aussie Nicole Kidman followed, as Williams invited a female fan onto the stage, caressing her whilst sitting on her lap and glittering his renowned bad-boy sex appeal. 

It’s easy to forget Robbie has two decades as a solo performer under his belt – but one night with him, and he sure can prove it.  

Light on with his newer material, the show was a gift of greatest hits, jam-packed full of classics: Monsoon, She’s the One, Rudebox, Better Man, Angels and Rock DJ

In a special touch, Robbie was joined on stage by his father, Peter Williams, for a rendition of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. Sentimentally, he spoke of watching his Dad sing the same song at a young age and dreaming of one day doing the same.  

Perhaps what was most sensational was the old-fashioned rock star appeal he’s so famous for. He is the ultimate showman – and a natural entertainer. Foul mouthed and full of ego with absolutely no filter, he walks with a smug spring in his step and swears like a trooper. But amongst the arena spectacle – the scantily clad dancers, the songs about sex, drugs and rock and roll - is a 44-year-old entertainer with a twinkle in his eye and a mission to entertain – and that he certainly did in spades. 

Set List:

God Bless Our Robbie

The Heavy Entertainment Show 

Let Me Entertain You

Monsoon

Minnie the Moocher

Freedom 90(George Michael cover)

Love My Life

Livin' on a Prayer / Rehab / Take on Me / The Best / Kiss / U Can't Touch This / Don't You Want Me / Stayin' Alive / She's the One

Come Undone

Never Forget (Take That song)

Millennium

Somethin' Stupid

Rudebox

Kids

Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond cover)

She's the One

Feel

Rock DJ

Encore:

Better Man

Angels

Down Under (Men at Work cover)

My Way( Claude François cover)

Better Man / She's the One / Feel / Angels

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ED Sheeran is one of the biggest artists in the world right now. He’s conquering stadiums across the globe in his individual, distinctive way – locks of red hair, jeans, a t-shirt, loop pedal and a guitar. There’s no glitz, no glam and no spectacle – it’s just a young man from England playing his music. Real, authentic music.

Supporting the four-time Grammy Award winner was Australian icon Missy Higgins who declared she was expecting her second baby. Higgins was handpicked by Sheeran himself (his childhood ‘crush’), and she oozed a mixture of razzle dazzle and good old Aussie soul. 

Bursting onto the stage, Ed dived into the show with Castle On The Hill, an autobiographical anthem about his early days in the UK, before launching into Eraser, and encouraging the crowd to dance and “let go”. 

Sheeran delivers his lyrics with a robust sense of conviction. It’s easy to forget he’s playing to 59,999 other people, and not just to you, as he glides through spine-tingling melodies and commands his way around his guitar, showcasing an old-school raw talent and boy-next-door charm.

Highlights of the show included hits like Dive, which saw the stadium come alight with mobile phone torches and screaming fans, and Bloodstream, a visually and vocally intense song with an impressive build and a spectacular light show. His encore hit was last year’s chart-topper Shape of You which transformed the stadium into a writhing club for three-and-a-half minutes.

Perhaps what was most disappointing was the quality of the sound and lack of visuals at the highly anticipated new stadium. Whilst Ed is vocally on-point, his faster vocals and on-stage banter just didn’t cut through, and two big stadium screens remained black for the complete show – a real shame for punters at the back of the stadium, who would have grappled to see.

Missing were earlier hits like Lego House, Drunk and Give Me Love and a Beyoncé or Andrea Bocelli audio cameo in Perfect.  

The Australasian leg of his Divide tour will see the showman perform at 18 stadiums in total. In Australia, he’s surpassed ticket sales history and will play to 1 million people across the country – no small feat for a solo man with his guitar, wearing the same old jeans. 

 Set List: 

Saturday 3rd March 2018 - Optus Stadium, Perth

Castle on the Hill Eraser The A Team Don’t / New Man Dive Bloodstream Happier How Would You Feel? (Paean) Galway Girl Feeling Good / I See Fire Photograph Perfect Nancy Mulligan Thinking Out Loud Sing 

ENCORE:

Shape Of You

You Need Me Man, I Don’t Need You

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Growing up as a young gay boy, I can remember feeling overwhelming confusion, frustration, and at times, shame, over my sexuality.

Looking back, I can recall how I gravely tried to avoid discussions and debates, and how deeply consuming my negative thoughts became over the prospect of 'coming out'. I remember having showers where the hot water and tears would blend into one, as I questioned why I thought in a particular way, and came to terms with what I initially perceived as a restrictive and unsettling future.

It's now 2017, and over time I've come to the realisation that hard wood grows slowly. I have accepted that period of unrest in my teenage years and now view it in a positive light. In fact, I'm thankful that it has provided me with the necessary tools to draw from in tricky situations, and fervently believe that it has helped craft me into the person that I am today. 

I am a proud gay man who has spent a long time working on putting my negative feelings to bed, accepting myself, and, in the process, having the privilege of becoming a pillar of strength to others. I believe that I should have every opportunity to marry the person I love, as should everybody. 

As the debate heats up and as the propaganda and hurtful untruths intensify (as we’ve already started to witness), my heart bleeds for our younger brothers and sisters who are only just beginning their journey of discovery. With posters lining the streets that project the slogan ‘Stop the Fags’, I worry at the type of message we are sending. Where is the measure in this debate? That  period of my life was painful enough, without the entire country debating my right to equality. 

Tomorrow is the final day to update your enrollment details on the Australian Electoral Commission in order to cast a vote in the upcoming plebiscite survey. I urge everyone, particularly those who don't have an opinion, or who are undecided, to please vote yes. I live in hope that we can open our hearts to acceptance and love, and continue to let light into our lives. My motto is to remember that a flower is a flower, it doesn't have to try to bloom, and light is light - it just knows how to fill a room. I yearn for younger people to appreciate that it gets better (and SO much easier), and remind them that there is a myriad of support from all sorts of people outside.

You are what you are, and you are beautiful. 

Love will always trump hate. 

Update or check your enrollment details here: http://www.aec.gov.au/enrol/

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MOVE ON, MARGARET:

I've been lucky enough to meet former tennis champion Margaret Court on a number of occasions. I've always found her intelligent, warm and friendly, and have taken delight in hearing the trials and tribulations of her rise to the top of the tennis court. I appreciate her accolades as an Australian sportswoman and I think it is fantastic that Australia boats an arena in honour of a sports star who held what was once a lovely legacy, however I can’t help but be dismayed at her blatant bigotry and consistent attempts at battling against the gay community.

For 20 years, Ms. Court has proclaimed her opposition to homosexuality and as a Christian pastor, she's placed a high level of importance on marriage being an act held between a man and a woman. In 2012 she told The Australian newspaper that she 'helped' gay people within her church: "I help them to overcome. We have people who have been homosexual who are now married," she said.

In an open letter published today, she has made yet another racket across Australia,announcing that she will stop flying with QANTAS "where possible" in protest of the airline's support of marriage equality.

"I am disappointed that Qantas has become an active promoter for same-sex marriage," she told The West Australian.

"I believe in marriage as a union between a man and a woman as stated in the Bible. Your statement leaves me no option but to use other airlines were possible for my extensive travelling."

I am saddened that this former sports hero continues to dedicate her time and effort into pushing for such negativity. In a world with so much division and strategic destruction, the fact that somebody such as Margaret actively uses her time to promote disunity and encourage conflict simply baffles my mind. It infuriates me that she continues to use her religion as a means to justify and excuse her vindictive and discriminatory behaviour on such a shameless scale. It makes me sad that a person with such a great standing in our country continues to let herself down with such outdated values and antagonism.

So, in an open letter to Margaret, I would like her to know just how sorry I feel. You see, Margaret, I am sorry that you don't have the pleasure of choosing to embrace diversity within your life. I’m sorry that you hold onto such a dark and blinkered negativity, and I am sorry that you are lowering your legacy with thousands of Australian people. I am sorry that you haven’t been able to find religion within its modern sense and I am sorry that you have lost my respect. Luckily for me, I am NOT sorry that I can now choose to fly Qantas as a guarantee that I don't happen to bump into a prejudiced bigot like you!

[tomstalktime]

My Mother, My Rock: A letter to the most important woman in my life –

“My mother by chance, my friend by choice” is perhaps the finest phrase I have ever heard. It’s simple, but it is true, and as each Mother’s Day rolls by, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have a mother like you. 

The endless number of hats you wear is inspiring. No matter whether you are playing the part of the guardian, the provider, the listener, the teacher, the best friend, the superior, the therapist, or the carer, you do it with such grace and poise, dedication and thoroughness  

This Mother’s Day I wish to thank you for your selflessness and your sacrifices. Your resilience and fortitude in the hurdles you have faced is commendable, and seeing you juggle endless balls in the air and keep your finger on the pulse is not only inspiring, but it is rewarding. You simply move mountains, and for that I am tremendously grateful.

This Mother’s Day I wish to thank you for being proud of my accomplishments and accepting of my failures. I wholeheartedly acknowledge you for building me up into a man capable of expressing myself and my emotions, a man unafraid of vulnerability with a strong sense of self and a firm grasp on the world. Your openness and adaptability continues to allow you to kick so many goals, both professionally and personally, and it is through this that I have been able to shape my own values, ethics and beliefs.  

I thank you for your resilience and your unwavering willpower. Your zest for life is both infectious and admirable and it is extraordinarily encouraging to watch you carry out your duties as a solo mother whilst maintaining an ultimate level of composure, stability and perspective. You’ve worked, strived and balanced to keep the wheels turning and although at times it is chaotic and overwhelming, nothing is ever too much and you stride ahead with diligence and a smile on your face. 

Thank you for our daily phone calls and for answering with the same level of enthusiasm each time the phone rings, despite what is going on in your world or how many times I have already spoken to you about something. Those moments are special, and whilst in the grand scheme of things they may seem trivial, it’s days like Mother’s Day that remind us how lucky we are to have someone at the end of the line. 

I’m utterly inspired by your courage and tenacity, and the strength of character you continue to show in this crazy carnival that we all call life. Thank you for sprinkling me with your magical dust of unconditional love and for consistently holding me up – you are my guiding light and inspiration, and to be your son is both a pleasure and privilege.  

[tomstalktime]

SHE'S fresh from winning five Grammy awards and and on Tuesday night, British singing powerhouse Adele took to Domain Stadium for her first performance on Australian soil. 

 The 65,000-strong crowd helped her belt out her smash hit 'Hello' as she emerged from underneath a 360 degree circular stage in an exquisite sequinned purple gown, especially designed for the Australian and New Zealand leg. 

 “Oh my god, there are so many of you,” she cackled in her thick cockney accent, in what would become the first of many authentic and hilarious interactions with the crowd. Looking visibly emotional and nervous at the sheer size of the stadium and the thousands of singing fans, 28-year-old Adele walked around the circular stage waving and greeting everyone as they gave her a welcome that was ten years in the making. 

 The set list was strong and consisted of all her signature hits and a variety of album tracks from her three award-winning albums 19, 21 and 25, as well as the Oscar-winning James Bond theme song, Skyfall, fit with a 40-piece male choir. Her vocals are nothing short of impressive and there's no denying that she sounds even better live than what she does on record. It was captivating to sit in a stadium that was bursting at the seams, yet feel like I'm in her lounge room singing a bit of Tuesday night karaoke. That's the power of Adele - her charm and humbleness shines through and her natural ability to have a chatter is a welcomed part of the show. 

 A highlight of the evening was when the songstress received a welcome to the land down under when a cockroach and a dead fly joined her on stage. "There's a cockroach on on the bloody stage, but I'm not going to freak out because you're all used to it, there's a f---ing cockroach on stage," she said, walking over to her cup of tea and hot honey, only to cry out, "there's a f---ing fly in my tea," before falling into her signature cackle and opting for water instead.

 It's clear that Adele's space in the music industry is absolutely untouched. She's at the top of her game and in just her late twenties, her voice is undoubtedly the best in the business. The power and conviction in lyric after lyric, note after note is enough to give anyone goosebumps - I sure as hell can’t wait to say 'hello' to her again very soon. 

 Adele: Perth Setlist (28/02/17)

 Hello

Hometown Glory

One And Only

’ll Be Waiting

Rumour Has It

Water Under The Bridge

I Miss You

Skyfall

Don’t You Remember

Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan Cover)

Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

Sweetest Devotion

Chasing Pavement

Take It All

Set Fire To The Rain

Encore:

When We Were Young

Rolling In The Deep

Someone Like You

[tomstalktime]

 Kylie Minogue, ‘A Kylie Christmas’

KYLIE Minogue is an artist that oozes joy. Whether it’s because of her 30-year career in the entertainment industry, her role as camp queen and gay icon or her spectacle of a show, there’s no doubt that an evening in Kylie’s presence will leave you sitting on top of the world.

  Last night, for the second year in a row, Melbourne-born Kylie turned London’s Royal Albert Hall into her very own Winter Wonderland for the mighty ‘A Kylie Christmas’. Fit with a neon Christmas tree, giant disco glitterballs, falling snow and floating love hearts as well as a Santa hat on every seat, the extravaganza was everything you would wish for through the festive season. Alongside Kylie was a full orchestra, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and a flurry of dancers, backup singers and pop instrumentalists. 

Of course, a Kylie concert isn’t complete without a multitude of costumes. Last night’s were largely designed by Dolce & Gabanna (who were also in the crowd), and included a red cape, a floor-length ball gown with gloves, a rainbow mini dress, a gold slip as well as a figure-hugging black glitter suit. Minogue joked at one point that she was out of breath, not because of the singing and dancing – but because of the quick changes she did backstage. Not dissimilar to a formula-one racing car tire change, one might suggest. 

The performances were outstandingly over the top and featured Christmas classics as well as a variety of her stellar, chart-topping hits alongside some impressive disco covers including Night Fever by the Bee Gees and Celebration by Kool and the Gang. Opera singer Katherine Jenkins joined Kylie for gay anthem ‘Your Disco Needs You’, fit with giant rainbow flags and an assortment of scantily-clad male dancers with muscular torsos. The duet with John Grant for her nineties hit ‘Confide In Me’ stood out as a classic and left the screaming crowd in silence as they watched a sense of raw emotion and striking vocals unfold on stage. 

The diversity in the audience speaks volumes about Kylie’s appeal as an artist and her longevity in her career. While a large portion of the crowd were predominantly gay middle-aged men, there were plenty of older men and women, as well as several grandparents who would remember Kylie’s debut, as well as small children who are learning what it’s like to jump on board the Kylie Minogue juggernaut now. 

I just can’t get her out of my head. Kylie really did make it the most wonderful time of the year and watching her showcase what Aussie talent has to offer has reinforced my patriotism and made me even prouder of what many have described as “our greatest export”. It gave me such delight to see our soap star turned pop princess, pint-sized Kylie, right in the centre of the extravaganza, commanding the stage and belting out her decades of hits in those exquisite costumes and signature head pieces that we have all come to love and adore.  

SET LIST

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Wonderful Christmastime

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Christmas Wrapping

At Christmas

Come into My World

Confide in Me (with John Grant)

The One

Better the Devil You Know (with Olly Alexander)

Celebration

Stay Another Day (East 17 cover)

Your Disco Needs You (with Katherine Jenkins)

100 Degrees

Spinning Around

Christmas Lights

The Loco-Motion

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Santa Baby

Can't Get You Out of My Head

Everybody's FreeTo Feel Good (Rozalla cover)

Night Fever (Bee Gees cover)

Love at First Sight

All the Lovers

ENCORE:

Silent Night

Especially for You

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day

[tomstalktime]

PARENTS: Your Christmas ‘Lie’ is the Key to a Happy Childhood 

I read an article yesterday that blew my mind. It left me baffled. Dumbfounded. Confused - and then angry. Really angry. 

The article was published in The Telegraph and featured two psychologists encouraging parents to re-think whether they should "lie" to their children about Father Christmas, citing a loss of trust between parents and their children as the reason behind it. 

"All children will eventually find out they've been consistently lied to for years, and this might make them wonder what other lies they've been told..." the article read. "Children must all find out eventually that their parents have blatantly and consistently carried on a lie for a number of years. Children may find out from a third party, or through their parents getting bored of the make-believe and making a mistake; both might affect the trust that exists between child and parent." I understand that the issue of when, where, how and exactly what to tell kids about the man in the big red suit and his trusty reindeer is tough. Heck, I distinctly remember crying when I first found out the truth. Despite those few moments of tears though, it didn’t damage my memories. It didn’t force me into a position of not wanting to celebrate Christmas anymore and it certainly didn’t make me lose trust in my parents.  

Some of the happiest moments of my childhood occurred on Christmas Eve. What harm is there in allowing a child to go shopping in preparation for an exciting visit from Santa? Why should we brutally take away that eagerness of letter-writing, carrot chopping, fruit mince pie decorating and stocking hanging? What about the delight of waking up on Christmas Day to discover that he’s been! The man from the North Pole has flown all the way inside and left gifts and crumbs behind him. Nothing can beat those moments. They’re simple. Pure. Important. 

Why are we so adamant at forcing our children to grow up so quickly? In a world that is so full of hatred and immersed in the continuous loss of innocence, why is it that we want to rob children of something so blissful and happy? I can’t help but think that it comes down to this generation of modern parents. The PC police. The over-analysers. If something isn’t broken then don’t fix it… Let’s attempt to permit our children to enjoy their childhood for as long as possible and start worrying about the harder aspects of life. Father Christmas is simple. Leave it that way.

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RONAN RULES: Irish superstar gives London crowd the time of their lives in his iconic 'Time Of My Life' world tour.

For more than two decades, Ronan Keating's career on the music scene has gone from strength to strength. From his 1993 debut as lead singer in Boyzone, one of the biggest boy bands in the world, he's forged a stellar solo career and sold an impressive 40 million records worldwide.

London's Hammersmith Eventim Apollo theatre was full to capacity with men and women alike last night, proving that that the boy from Dublin still has a firm grip and a superstar following as he tours his tenth solo album.

Looking sharp in a white t-shirt, fitted leather jacket, skinny black jeans and boots, Ronan, along with an eight piece band behind him, powered open with the title track of his latest album, 'Time Of My Life', followed by fan-favourite 'Lovin' Each Day' which saw the theatre rise out of their seats.

The set list comprised of the majority of the new album, as well as a strew of his collection of famous hits, including 'If Tomorrow Never Comes', 'Baby Can I Hold You' and Notting Hill's 'When You Say Nothing At All' – all sung back at him word-for-word, along with wild, exuberant cheers from the sold-out British crowd.

Ronan peppered the show with some fantastic Irish on-stage banter, which included several jokes, as well as backstories from the writing sessions for his new album, which took place on a couple of stools in his kitchen during 2015. This was re-created during the show, with Keating and his band performing an acoustic set in a semi-circle of stools and dimmed lights, telling the audience that he wanted them to imagine they were "there" and "part of the writing process".

It was here that the melodic power and thick Irish tone that we've come to know and love from Ronan shone through as he effortlessly glided through his songs, including 'Falling Slowly', taken from his debut on London's West End in 2014, when he starred in the iconic musical 'Once'.

The crowd were soon back on their feet for his closing set and his two-song encore, which included a cover of Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl',  his 2000 number one single, 'Life Is A Rollercoaster' and 'The Long Goodbye'

Ronan's strong vocals and outstanding musicianship are a credit to his solid effort of clocked up years of touring. His expertise and ease on stage are enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand tall, and a performance from him leaves you craving more. It's clear that it's all about the music for Ronan, and even with his hit songs performed thousands of times for the best part of two decades, it's refreshing and somewhat humbling to see him still having a blast up on stage with some impressive lead guitar work and a hint of dancing too.

Ronan has three more shows for the UK leg of his tour, before making his way down to Australia and New Zealand later this year where the tour will draw to a close.

Set List: Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, London, Thursday 29th September 2016

Time of My Life

Lovin' Each Day

Wasted Light

Landslide Breathe

If Tomorrow Never Comes

As Long as We’re in Love

The Way You Make Me Feel

She Knows Me

In Your Arms Baby Can I Hold You Falling Slowly My One Thing That's Real Last Thing on My Mind Let Me Love You Father and Son (Cat Stevens cover) Think I Don’t Remember When You Say Nothing at All Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison cover) Life Is a Rollercoaster Encore: One More Song

The Long Goodbye

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10-year old Perth boy Scott Guerini is doing some pretty impressive things. He's raised $100,000 for Telethon, and is walking to keep his cousin's memory alive. I sat down with him for a chat, and an exclusive one on one training session! Watch our interview here:

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WORKING HARD: How my single Mum kept the wheels turning.

MOST people make the mistake of assuming that I am worse off or “unstable” because of the background I have being raised by a single Mum - and let me tell you, that is simply not the case. For me, witnessing such a strong woman work hard and prove her resilience has been inspiring - my Mum has managed the ins and outs of juggling family life with a full-time career, as well as running a household and raising two children. Her vigorous work ethic has taught me a lot - and I know that I’m a harder worker because of it.

Growing up, I was influenced by a woman who had to make on-the-spot, snap decisions about life. There was no opportunity for time wasting and certainly no point in worrying about stuff that didn’t matter. Mum didn’t have time to agonise over her decisions, or seek the approval of others to assure us (and herself) that she was doing the right thing - she had no choice but to be quick, decisive, and level-headed to ensure the sailing would be smooth, and the wheels would continue to turn.

Seeing Mum juggle a million balls in the air is not only inspiring, but it has been rewarding - for almost fifteen years, she has had her finger in a million different pies, and she has continued to move mountains for my sister and me… and yet despite the tough grind and seemingly unforgiving uphill battle, she’s continued to provide a beautiful amount of unconditional love and support - something that my sister and I will be eternally grateful for. I’m not going to lie, we’ve had our moments, but seeing her flourish into a strong, sophisticated and independent woman has put our relationship in a healthy place - there’s a mutual level of love and respect, and a closeness that many single parent families can relate to.

Single mums are often incredibly close with their children. As a kid, family time quite often meant helping Mum with the dinner, doing the washing up, getting out in the garden together, watching her operate machinery and fix fences, helping her to lift and re-arrange furniture, all while generating important and meaningful conversations. There were no “kids” or “adult” chores - keeping the household running meant banding together as a family, and maintaining a diligent routine… all with my Mum, this hardworking and loveable figure at the helm, running the ship, and, I’m sure, going through a multitude of her own personal battles, trials and tribulations that many women are forced to face.

Of course it wasn’t all squeaky clean - there were countless arguments and I’m sure, plenty of feelings of inadequacy on Mum’s behalf. Plenty of sacrifices had to be made in order to continue functioning as a successful unit, but I’m so proud of my Mum. It’s a chapter in the life of my family that has almost come to an end as my sister takes her final steps of graduating Year Twelve at the end of this year.

So, to the single mothers out there today - whether you’re young or old, experienced or new, I applaud you. You work your fingers to the bone and often go without the credit you deserve. Please continue to be resilient, and let your adaptability and cleverness shine through. While it may seem tough now, please know that one day, your children will grow up to appreciate it and your love will help them in ways that are indescribable. They will take your lead, with a fabulous example.

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Hitting Home| 

IT’S not every day that your friend becomes the centre of a worldwide news story. It’s not every day that you see a friend’s face and his name splashed across hundreds of online articles and news outlets. It’s not every day that you read an article with oodles of comments citing your friend’s name and criticising their actions… and it’s certainly not every day that your friend gets shot.

My high school friend, Toben Clements, has been caught in the middle of a worldwide media storm as one of the students from Curtin University shot during a holiday in the USA. As a news provider and someone with a keen interest in current affairs, I read, watch and listen to similar news stories on a daily basis… but what happens when they are concerning someone a little closer to home? Seeing my friend’s face plastered across newspapers, online news outlets and television stations was a necessary wake-up call… The people centred in these news stories are not strangers. They’re our sons, our grandsons, our brothers, nephews, our friends, students and our colleagues. They are human, and they have individual stories, personal triumphs and like all of us, they have their respective flaws. The manner in which we so effortlessly toss their names and their images around is somewhat disturbing, and it’s disappointing that it’s taken a friend to go through such a tragic ordeal for me to realise this.  

I’m certainly not saying to ban the broadcasting of names, or the identification of faces (I’d be put out of a future job if that was the case), and I am the first person to ask to view the images relating to a news story. All I’m asking is that we take the time to consider our reality. It’s easy to get wedged in the supplementary hype of news. As a society, we recklessly shape instantaneous opinions and are quick to point the finger and lay the blame. We consume news stories as if they are going out of fashion, and it’s time to stop and slow down. Let’s give ourselves opportunities to reflect on the faces behind the lens, and continue to work towards providing a factual and respectful platform for sharing information.

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Tom’s Talk Time: “Bedwetting Haunted My Childhood” 

It was constant, uncontrollable and embarrassing... as a child and even teenager, I had a severe problem with wetting the bed. It haunted me and tarnished my self-esteem, forcing me to pull out of school camps early, or return home before sleep-over parties had finished, blaming an early wake-up for swimming or having to go out with my family as the pathetic, fictitious excuse. It was dreadfully uncomfortable and something that I wouldn’t wish upon any child.

Bedwetting is something that has caused a lot of red faces on my behalf - and a lot of washing powder for my Mum! It seems that I tried everything - I went from wearing ‘pull-ups for big kids’ as I so effortlessly described them, to walking back and forth to the bathroom pronouncing the sentence “this is where I need to go when I need to go to the toilet” over and over again, often resembling a broken record. I tried charts where I would get a special golden star for a ‘dry’ night, and a red ‘X’ if my bladder had failed me. Seven consecutive stars meant I was allowed a treat in the next shopping expedition. I think that happened two or three times a year – the rest of the time, I just couldn’t hack it. As I got older, my desperation worsened, and I tried hiring a unique buzzer that blasted an alarm as soon as I was wet, as well as leaving home at the crack of dawn once a week to attend a series of specialist appointments. None of it worked. I felt I was going around and around in circles.   

Horrifically, I remember thinking that my problem would continue for an utter eternity. There were times that I’d wake up sobbing because my bladder had failed me yet again, and I distinctly remember crossing my fingers every night, and dreaming about the day that I would be cured. Luckily for me, at the ripe old age of fifteen or sixteen, crisis somewhat averted and I began to see the light at the end of what had been a dismally dark and long tunnel. It was a slow transition period, beginning with one dry night a week, before miraculously increasing to three, four and even five dry nights. By sixteen I was fully dry, and haven’t had another episode since.  

When I look back now, although I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feelings of shame, embarrassment and despair I felt as a bed-wetter, I can understand that it is something that has taught me a lesson. I have learnt to accept that in which I cannot control. I knew that I simply could not control that I went to bed dry and would wake up drenched, as if I had been thrown into a swimming pool and placed right back, undisturbed and snug in my bed. I didn’t choose for it to happen – it chose me, and really, there was no point in worrying to the extent that I did (I wish I knew that then). These things happen and it is how we deal with them that really count. When I look back, I’m somewhat thankful for the experience, as I have learnt to apply those coping mechanisms in situations I often find myself in now. Life cannot be controlled - and that is okay! The art of acceptance is a difficult pill to swallow, as is leaning to be patient, but I had no choice but to learn those two qualities - and I carry them with me today.  I have learnt honesty, and I have learnt that everyone has imperfections... and I suppose the best part is that I’ve learnt to always have some spare washing powder in case of another emergency!