2nd November (Issue 1197) - The Courier

24 Monday 2 November 2009 THE COURIERCULTUREwith Mary Wilson3am GirlsMegan Sclater& MaudieOppenheimColumnists> Jake Winter chats toThe Supremes’ Motowngreat at the launch of herexhibition at TheShipley Art GalleryMary Wilson is one of those musiciansyou didn’t know you knew. IfI was to mention Diana Ross & TheSupremes, would that ring somebells?While the Beatles were the Kingsof the 60s music scene, The Supremeswere the Queens of the Era.They strove for 18 years to delivertheir Love Child to the world’s eagerears. They sang at the head ofthe Motown emergence, a label thatsurfed the likes of Jackson 5 andMarvyn Gaye to popularity in theethnically divisive times of 1960sAmerica.Wandering around her new exhibitionin Gateshead I asked herabout The Supreme Dream.What will you remember mostabout Newcastle?It rains, the people are lovely. TheSupremes came here in 1965 andthe crowd were up dancing in theaisles- totally into the music, thiscity’s wonderful.You’ve just opened an exhibition.Have you got a message that youwanted to communicate throughthe collection?The whole of the exhibit is based onthe fashion; and the fashion is basicallypretty much just the backdropfor the overall story of the rise of theSupremes and Motown from povertyto fame.It shows America in the 1960s andhow the change in the social environmentfor ethnic groups madedreams come true.Did you feel any pressure being the whole movement for racial andsexual equality in the 60s?Obviously the period helped us becomeextremely popular because ofhow we started, as I said poverty,and women were not really promi- really a man’s world, even thoughtoday it’s equal, we’re not really‘equal’ to men, but still we have positions.Women have become ‘huge’ politi- their own companies, they’ve reallymade a tremendous leap to equality.I think in those days The Supremescontributed to that becausewe were three women, we weren’tone woman becoming popular, wewere three, we were a concentrationof women’s movement, and Ithink that’s one of the things TheSupremes contributed to, we helpedwomen move forward.Is there one song The Supremessang that sums up the dream youwere involved in?Our early songs were ‘bubblegummusic’– Baby Love. They were Boymeets Girl; falls in love; then heartbreak.But in the late sixties music startedspeaking about what was going on, cerebral lyric.With Love Child we were becomingsocially relevant in terms of ourlyrics. As the times change, the socialclimate changed so the lyricsthat more technical side tetetetetetedoooowa. These were changing asthe times changed.A lot of the bands in the sixties,like the Beatles, started off withvery simple messages, then over thedecade really developed a deepermeaning to their music. Then in theseventies it just seemed to stop.It went from being more of a lyricaland musical style to craziness.In the 70s and 80s people were justtotally freaked out. Drugs came intothe picture, psychedelic type things, What’s the hardest thing you’velearnt?It didn’t have much to do with themusic. In learning about other people,the way they can control yourlife, you learn about yourself. Firstlife’s always about you, then yousee other things that aren’t aboutyou, and that teaches you more.Do you still get recognised walkingdown the street?When people ‘really know’ TheSupremes, they know it’s Mary Wilson.Although it’s not like it used tobe - I take off all the make-up, I dresscasually.People do tend to look at me as ifthey know me, maybe as if I work atthe grocery store down the street.I am very happy I can walk out unnoticedunlike Michael Jackson. Ican have a life.If I ever want to get noticed all Ihave to do is put on my make-upand a fancy dress and immediatelypeople know I gotta be a Supreme.What music’s playing in your car atthe moment?JAZZ! Nat King Cole. He has hisown style, he was someone who inspiredmany people, I grew up withthat song [Nature Boy]. I didn’tknow what the meaning of that songwas [“The greatest thing you’ll everlearn is just to love and be lovedin return”], but you knew it meantsomething deep. When I grew up, Ifound out what it really meant.Is that the same with the songs ofThe Supremes, do you hear themnow and interpret them in a completelydifferent way? something more that I understand. be” doesn’t mean anything withoutsomething to look back on.Do you listen to much modern music?When I get into a car, if it’s on one ofthose stations with ‘Now’ music on,I immediately turn it off.I don’t like listening to it. I grew upwith rock and roll and that’s what Ilike to listen to.Music is not as musical anymore.As long as it’s musical I can enjoyit.If you could interview anyone youwanted who would you choose?I would like to interview ArethaFranklin. I know her voice, and I’min love with that.What’s the hardest thing you’velearnt?Make sure you have a passion forwhat you want to do.If you work hard and you’re nothappy about the work, you’re not ahappy person. You have to enjoy it.I love performing; when I get up onstage I just have a ball. You may betired, but you’re happily tired.The Story of The Supremes from theMary Wilson Collection is on at TheShipley Art Gallery, Gateshead,now until January.Go to www.twmuseums.org.uk/shipley for more details.This week we decided to rendezvousin the new ‘Game On’ night at TigerTiger.Typically, our Wednesdays revolvearound the wonder that is Basementand Legends. Since the move fromBlu Bambu at the beginning of termhowever, this new night for Tigerhas been receiving so much hype ourtypical haunts have been feeling a littleempty.We intended to meet up before enteringthe maze that is Tiger, but as sooften is the case things don’t alwaysgo according to plan.Here we have two very differingaccounts of the same night, with ferventtexting and seeking each otherout a common theme.Megan: Well my night startedoff with the scuba diving social, thetheme of which was Rubik’s cube, althoughI didn’t participate. Not mycup of tea.I followed the group to the North an oompa lumpa pull down histrousers allowing everyone to see farmore than they bargained for), Basementand then on to Bar 42 beforeNaturally we had our timings bumped into others so all was well.Continued with the trebles, whichwere not having their regular effectas I was feeling oddly sober,but still managed to dance along toB*witched with the best of them.Eventually we decided to move onto Tiger and with my ‘game on’ passwas looking forward to my free entry,alas nobody informed me you goin through the hell that is Sam Jacksto get this free entry.Anyway, eventually got in Tiger mend this) and bumped into loads offriendly faces and managed to have agood boogie even without the buzzthat alcohol brings.The night ended for me whensome random tool decided to pin meto a wall hoping for a kiss, when hewas refused he proceeded to tickleme senseless, and while my friendsdragged me away he came oncemore only to lift me up and spin meround before he got the message. Interesting,to say the least!Maudie: Now perhaps my nighttook a different turn because unlikeMegan I had the aforementioned alcoholbuzz.On entering I pretty much lost everyoneI went out with and struggledingly though this was not a concern.Instead, I spent a lot of time barrellingabout and jumping on thosebut either way I like it!My most exciting moment thoughwas seeing a friend from school who and still I recognised his face amongstthe crowd.plays professional rugby-and thatI’m 5’2”!)Now Tiger is not the kind of night,in terms of music and maze like venue,that I usually enjoy, but on thisnight the people and the buzz meantit was so much fun.It’s not something I would do everyweek for fear of getting very bored,but I may be returning next time attachedto my Megan so as not to loseeach other for once!“People know I’ve gotta be a Supreme” - Mary Wilson shows off her moves at the new Motown exhibition at The Shipley Art Gallery