I lost my heart to a ...
October 10, 2012 9:03 AM   Subscribe

Sarah Brightman, multi-million selling singer, actress and songwriter, has taken her medical and will soon start training to become the 7th or 8th 'Space Tourist', visiting the ISS in 2015.

More from BBC news. It is possible the media will make much reference to Sarah's most well known song.
posted by Wordshore (49 comments total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Wouldn't her most famous song be something from the ALW repertoire?
posted by kmz at 9:10 AM on October 10, 2012


kmz: doubtful. I've just asked my housemates to name a Sarah Brightman song. They immediately chorused 'Starship Trooper'. But yes, she did have a heck of a good run of material working with her ex-hubby.
posted by Wordshore at 9:15 AM on October 10, 2012


Then she really WILL be an angel of music.
posted by schleppo at 9:18 AM on October 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


Yeah, 'Starship Trooper' was my first thought upon reading this, too.
posted by Snyder at 9:22 AM on October 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


lifestyles of the rich and the famous...
posted by rebent at 9:23 AM on October 10, 2012


Sooooooooooooooooo envious (but in a good way).
posted by ambivalentic at 9:26 AM on October 10, 2012


Can they leave her there?
posted by KathrynT at 9:26 AM on October 10, 2012 [12 favorites]


I only really know her from the ALW days, but seeing that video reminded me of something I seem to have had buried deep in my psyche (probably on purpose). I hope she has a successful flight.
posted by blurker at 9:28 AM on October 10, 2012 [2 favorites]


Uh, small confession from a 1970's boy. It was the triangulation of that video, the videos and posters of Kate Bush, and seeing Princess Leia in Star Wars, all around the same time, that made me confusingly realise that there was something more ... interesting ... about women than just being the adult version of annoying girls. That's more than enough detail. Thanks, Sarah, Kate and Carrie.
posted by Wordshore at 9:30 AM on October 10, 2012 [4 favorites]


hmm. what IS "close encounter three"?

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
posted by Mars Saxman at 9:39 AM on October 10, 2012


Your move, Susan Boyle.
posted by roger ackroyd at 9:40 AM on October 10, 2012 [12 favorites]


Have they checked if the space station windows can withstand her incessant tra-la-la-ing and her fellow astronauts haven't smuggled a steak knife on board?
posted by MuffinMan at 9:45 AM on October 10, 2012


“would be the first paying customer since Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte who donned a red clown's nose during his 2009 trip ... Russia has sent seven private passengers to the International Space Station, each of them reportedly paying at least $20 million. American investment manager Dennis Tito was the first to make the journey in 2001.”

To think - the old-school military pilot astronauts had difficulties adjusting even to mission specialists colleagues, and the Russians still haven’t sent many women into space. I’m sure all the professional astros are just thrilled by the outright tourists. (Remember the flight with the Saudi “royal"? As the crew also included a [more legitimate IMO] French astronaut, I heard it was referred to as the Frog and the Prince.)

OTOH I do kind of like the idea of artists in space. (Speaking of which, as a theatre nerd, I too really only associate her with her ex-hubby's musicals.)
posted by NorthernLite at 9:49 AM on October 10, 2012


There are actually eight types of encounters with aliens. The third type of encounter is seeing an alien in or around a ship. The other types are defined by what types of umm probing is involved and if the alien probes the human or vice versa.
posted by Ad hominem at 9:49 AM on October 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, SARAH.
posted by entropicamericana at 9:50 AM on October 10, 2012


the ALW repertoire

I invariably refer to the composer as "Andrew Floyd Webber". It's a small, token resistance - but it makes me feel better.
posted by Egg Shen at 9:50 AM on October 10, 2012


I invariably refer to the composer as "Andrew Floyd Webber".

Hey, I do that too!
posted by Floydd at 9:55 AM on October 10, 2012 [9 favorites]


I love Sarah Brightman, and this delights me.

I did not realize, however, that people still instantly associate her with the Starship Trooper song, or with Andrew Lloyd Weber. That evokes an instant sigh from my soul.

(I also forgot that I don't usually go into Metafilter threads about musicians, anymore. Even here, it brings out the 15-year-old brat in so many people.)
posted by Coatlicue at 9:58 AM on October 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


Cast members of Repo the Genetic Opera that are going to space: 1
posted by Sticherbeast at 9:58 AM on October 10, 2012 [6 favorites]


"And evil Darth Vader he's been banished to Mars"

"Last night, Darth Vader came down from Planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out, that he'd melt my brain!"
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:01 AM on October 10, 2012 [2 favorites]


I'd honestly never heard of her, but the Grand Google says she's worth about $52 million. If I had only (I know, but wait) $52 million, I don't think I'd blow $20+ million of it on one trip into space. But maybe she plans on recording a bunch of space-themed songs while she's up there and making some of the money back.
posted by pracowity at 10:06 AM on October 10, 2012


pracowity: "I'd honestly never heard of her, but the Grand Google says she's worth about $52 million. If I had only (I know, but wait) $52 million, I don't think I'd blow $20+ million of it on one trip into space. But maybe she plans on recording a bunch of space-themed songs while she's up there and making some of the money back."

and that way she can write it off as a business trip!
posted by boo_radley at 10:08 AM on October 10, 2012


"Only $52 million.."

What the hell man.
posted by dobie at 10:09 AM on October 10, 2012


I guess it's Time to Say Goodbye.
posted by Lutoslawski at 10:12 AM on October 10, 2012


She'll actually be the 8th or 9th. The count is fuzzy because Charles Simonyi has gone twice. List of Space Tourists. If I had an extra billion dollars lying around, I'd go too, but I'll take a conciliation prize that Charles gave me a ride in his Lamborghini once.
posted by Xoc at 10:14 AM on October 10, 2012


For astronauts' and aliens' sake, thank god there's no sound in vacuum.
posted by Lutoslawski at 10:15 AM on October 10, 2012


There are actually eight types of encounters with aliens. The third type of encounter is seeing an alien in or around a ship. The other types are defined by what types of umm probing is involved and if the alien probes the human or vice versa.

Ahhh, so this is what happened to La Brightman. An encounter of the "other" category. It all makes perfect sense. I mean how could anyone seriously want to shag AWL without having been hypnotised or something? Can you actually imagine that without feeling nauseous? He's obviously calling her back into outer space by devious mind-fuck means so he can rattle her bones again.
posted by gallus at 10:21 AM on October 10, 2012


Down to her last $32 million post space trip. Time to fire up the kickstarter...

Actually, good luck to her. If I had the money, to see Earth from space, I would without hesitation. Worth the risk and the expense.
posted by Wordshore at 10:33 AM on October 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


If I had only (I know, but wait) $52 million, I don't think I'd blow $20+ million of it on one trip into space.

Seriously? I totally would. What else is money for? I mean $32 million is lots - she'll be living like a queen for the rest of her life regardless. So why not go to fucking space if you have the chance? I mean.... wow.

Can you tell I was one of those kids who grew up wanting to be an astronaut?
I even went to Space Camp.
Twice.

posted by Mars Saxman at 10:37 AM on October 10, 2012 [7 favorites]


The long-awaited revival of space-disco is at hand...
posted by Mad_Carew at 10:37 AM on October 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


If had $21 million dollars, I'd blow $20 million of it to go to space.

That's not even a decision I have to think about making.

Hell, if I had $19 million, I'd go a million into debt to get into space.

Hell, can I just go now with (checks) $572.35 in the bank?
posted by kurosawa's pal at 10:38 AM on October 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


That Starship Trooper thing you all keep talking about...that's not an actual song, is it? You're all just trolling me, right?

Oh...dear god.
posted by ShutterBun at 10:57 AM on October 10, 2012


So why not go to fucking space if you have the chance?

There are so many things to do on Earth. So many places to see. So many people and other animals to meet. And many years of life ahead. I'm betting a trip to space won't cost that much in a few years and will offer a better time. A trip into space right now costs an awful lot of money for a chance to share a cramped bus and weird plumbing with a couple of Russian pilots.
posted by pracowity at 11:03 AM on October 10, 2012


That she can afford to drop 20 million on a space trip is surprising. Has the majority of her wealth come from music royalties?

I was a kid in the early 80's and she was briefly famous for Starship Trooper and being ALW's wife and muse but I haven't heard any of her music anywhere since but looking at her wikipedia entry it seems she is a MASSIVE global superstar.
posted by Brian Lux at 11:06 AM on October 10, 2012


My only real memory of Sarah Brightman is watching her climb all over Andrea Bocelli and make him so nervous I thought he was going to faint in a number they did together on one of those 'lets throw some tenors against the fourth wall and see if the audience sticks' things PBS used to specialize in. Laughed myself silly.
posted by jamjam at 11:12 AM on October 10, 2012


A trip into space right now costs an awful lot of money for a chance to share a cramped bus and weird plumbing with a couple of Russian pilots.

Hey that's not fair. The human excretory system is a masterpiece of engineering.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:29 AM on October 10, 2012


I'm trying not to knee jerk knock her - she does have an extraordinary voice, and clearly she has some unusual passions - but the promotional youtube in the "taken her medical"' link is pretty much drivel, isn't it?

She comes across as a self-absorbed kook!
posted by Jody Tresidder at 11:32 AM on October 10, 2012


Wordshore, don't worry about the overshare. I'm pretty sure a lot of men in the 70s realized they were gay watching that video too.

Speaking of the gay agenda, I couldn't believe that I was unaware of "I Lost My Heart To a Starship Trooper" until this moment and then was going to make a joke saying that I was proud that Russell T. Davis hadn't managed to work it into his run on Doctor Who -- or even as a background song for on Doctor Who Confidential.

But, alas, Google reminds me that Torchwood was less subtle.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:33 AM on October 10, 2012


Torchwood was less subtle.

I'm pretty sure that statement is true in any context.
posted by kmz at 11:53 AM on October 10, 2012 [2 favorites]


Good for her. If I had $52 million I think I'd do it, but I don't really think I could take the claustrophobic Soyuz capsule, reliable as it is. I think I'll wait until there's something a bit less cramped to make the trip even.

I wish Bjork would do this just for the totally crazy shit she would say about it. Also, I'm sure she'd have a pretty wacky flight suit.
posted by bondcliff at 11:58 AM on October 10, 2012


With growing desperation I struggled on with the Zvezda toilet gas/liquid separator pump, knowing that the digestive health of everyone on the station depended on my expedience. Foul aromas filled the air as my colleagues abandoned their posts to inhabit opposite ends of the station. The damn gasket kept squeezing out the side of the primary fitting, and the bulkhead rivets scraped my knuckles mercilessly every time I reached behind the vacuum couplings with an increasingly slippery wrench. Barely holding back a stream of expletives never before uttered beyond the atmosphere, I thought things could not possibly get any worse. Suddenly, I became aware of a faint and unfamiliar sound.. singing, coming from the cupola. I paused, furrowing my brow with growing dread, as the words became clear...

'Calling occupants, of interplanetary craft...'
posted by CynicalKnight at 11:59 AM on October 10, 2012


The long-awaited revival of space-disco is at hand

I hope she performs "Serious, Sirius Space Party" while she's up there.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:43 PM on October 10, 2012


Has the majority of her wealth come from music royalties?

I imagine Andrew made a nice settlement after the divorce.
posted by BWA at 1:04 PM on October 10, 2012


Hell, if I had $19 million, I'd go a million into debt to get into space.

Yep in a Alpha Centuri minute.

Bigelow Space Hotel
will hopefully soon be an option.
posted by sammyo at 3:25 PM on October 10, 2012


I wouldn't surprised if it's not all from her personal fortune... she probably has sponsors willing to kick in some money.

And yes, she is a world-famous performer, and she largely has Andrew Lloyd Webber to thank for her fame...he saw her in the chorus in Cats, married her and wrote the role of Christine in Phantom of the Opera for her. But the rest of her career has all been on her own.

Yes, I am an unapologetic fan, and have been for many years.
posted by lhauser at 5:47 PM on October 10, 2012


ShutterBun: That Starship Trooper thing you all keep talking about...that's not an actual song, is it? You're all just trolling me, right?

I can one-up that. I was part of a group that performed this song at a Karaoke competition. I wore my 18' long Doctor Who scarf and floppy hat. If I were just trolling you, I'd tell you how we did...

Also, now I wish I'd made my MeFi user name Arcadia X-ray X-ray Delta Niner Niner Zero.
posted by Mad_Carew at 6:05 PM on October 10, 2012 [1 favorite]


wrote the role of Christine in Phantom of the Opera for her. But the rest of her career has all been on her own.

Yeah, she really had to claw her way from the top.
posted by tzikeh at 7:26 PM on October 10, 2012 [2 favorites]


I can one-up that. I was part of a group that performed this song at a Karaoke competition. I wore my 18' long Doctor Who scarf and floppy hat. If I were just trolling you, I'd tell you how we did...

This sounds like one of those situations where you win just by competing!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:53 PM on October 11, 2012


Yeah, she really had to claw her way from the top.

Cuz she was a Cat, get it?
posted by ShutterBun at 12:03 AM on October 12, 2012


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