You Make Me Feel Like Dancin'

April 15, 2006 8:55 AM

A Dramatic New Portrait of Leo Sayer"Leo Sayer is ebullient, passionate, and immensely talented. He is the ultimate people person, enthusiastically embracing life. A neighbour of his who is familiar with both my work and Leo's told me that Leo would be the perfect subject for a portrait. So I wrote and asked, it was as simple as that." Sadly, Tony Johansen's portrait of Leo Sayer didn't win this year's Archibald Prize. Then again, neither did this.
posted by Biblio (19 comments total)

Johansen has entered every year since 1997, without winning. He actually brought a lawsuit against the gallery that awards the prize in 2004, crying foul because the winning portrait wasn't done with paint.

I knew nothing about any of this drama until I stumbled upon his site the other day and atually thought it was some sort of joke.
posted by Biblio at 9:00 AM on April 15, 2006

Lautrec, Caravaggio, and Gauguin supported me at the times when it seemed too much to bear. Unfortunately they could not help me with the artist's demons who came at night to whisper despair and depression in my ear...while he was painting his portrait of Leo Sayer? Good god.

I really think this might deserve the batshitinsane tag.

Nice weird post for a rainy morning.
posted by tula at 9:35 AM on April 15, 2006

That made me feel like dancing.
posted by Decani at 9:42 AM on April 15, 2006

I was trying to figure out why the Pierrot. Wikipedia to the rescue:

At the time of his initial chart breakthrough in Britain, with his debut hit "The Show Must Go On", he wore a pierrot style outfit and make-up, but dropped it soon afterwards, and his now distinctive curly hair is widely recognisable. In fact, it is from his hair that he acquired the name Leo [he was born Gerard Hugh Sayer], as it was said to make him resemble a lion.

Nice post!
posted by Aknaton at 10:01 AM on April 15, 2006

That made me feel like dancing.
posted by Decani at 10:42 AM MST on April 15 [!]

Yeah, there was ham and there was turkey
There was caviar
And long tall glasses
With wine up to y'are
And somebody grabbed me
Threw me out of my chair
Said "before you can eat
You gotta dance like fred astaire"
You know I can't dance
you know I can't dance
You know I can't dance
you know I can't dance
I can't dance
posted by m@ at 10:22 AM on April 15, 2006

We save them from the Japanese for this ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:29 AM on April 15, 2006

I love this more than I can say.
posted by obloquy at 10:56 AM on April 15, 2006

I'll admit that I remember some of Leo's songs...and liked them. Please don't tell anybody! :>

When I need you
I just close my eyes and I’m with you
And all that I so want to give you
It’s only a heartbeat away

When I need love
I hold out my hands and I touch love
I never knew there was so much love
Keeping me warm night and day
posted by bim at 11:00 AM on April 15, 2006

Hey, I remember dancing to "You make me feel like dancin'" in a dance recital when I was 8. I remember something about rainbow colored suspenders and satin gym shorts over our leotards and tights. In fact, 25 years later I can't even think of that song without counting along: "You got a cute way of walking...a-5, 6, 7, 8!"

I will have to see if I can dig up a picture of this atrocity at my mom's tomorrow. Then I will render it in oils, move to Australia and win that Archibald sucka!
posted by Biblio at 11:08 AM on April 15, 2006

Leo's guest appearanc on SCTV was one of the better musical guest intergrations that they did, beaut eh?
posted by edgeways at 11:57 AM on April 15, 2006

"The Show Must Go On" is my favorite Three Dog Night song (sorry to say, I've never heard Leo's version, but I've seen photos of him in costume performing it). I've often wondered if Richard Simmons is a Leo Sayer fan, as he seems to have adopted his "look."
posted by Oriole Adams at 12:32 PM on April 15, 2006

Oh...my...god...Three Dog Night. I used to blast their CD's and drive everyone crazy. Mama told me not to come....but I digress. :)
posted by bim at 1:09 PM on April 15, 2006

And of course, "Mama Told Me Not To Come" was written by Randy Newman. Now, if someone can just find a copy of Newman covering Leo Sayer, the circle completes itself.
posted by stacyhall1 at 2:09 PM on April 15, 2006

Separated at birth ?
posted by tula at 2:38 PM on April 15, 2006

Whenever I dig through the old LPs in thrift stores, there's always Leo Sayer albums, which makes me wonder if anyone who ever owned a Leo Sayer album actually kept it.
posted by cropshy at 6:18 PM on April 15, 2006

I first saw Leo Sayer on The Old Grey Whistle Test, presented by 'Whispering' Bob Harris in 1973. It was a surreal performance with the high pitched voice and Pierrot costume. He lives in Sydney now and pops up all over the media. He comes across as a nice guy. I went to the Archibald today. So did many, many other people. So frustrating to try and get a good view with people walking in front of you to read the information plaques mounted on the walls by the side of the paintings.
posted by tellurian at 1:33 AM on April 16, 2006

Little-known (?) fact: Leo Sayer co-wrote most of Roger Daltrey's first solo album.
posted by pracowity at 10:56 AM on April 16, 2006

in February 1977 got the biggest accolade of all, a coveted Grammy award for best Rhythm & Blues song - “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”

So are those Grammy awards committees retarded or what?

R&B hits in 1977 included:

Rose Royce - Car Wash
Thelma Houston - Don't leave me this way
Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
Marvin Gaye - Got to give it up

and the best slow-dance grope tune of all time,
The Floaters - Float On:

"Capricorn, and my name is Larry.
I'm looking for a woman who's obscenely hairy."

How the hell does a trite pop song like Leo's even compete in a line up like that?

Damn Grammy people aint got no funk...
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:41 AM on April 17, 2006

I love this post more than just a little. (Gotcha!)
posted by squirrel at 3:41 PM on April 17, 2006