Happy Hearts – The Songs of Andy Williams opens Saturday 17th October at Toulouse Lautrec, exploring the music of Andy Williams. Learn more about what you can expect:
1: Where did the inspiration come from to create this show?
I’ve been a fan of Andy Williams’ music ever since he had a second wave of popularity in the late nineties. Several of his songs were used in car adverts, which put him back into the charts, and ‘Happy Heart – The Songs of Andy Williams’ starts with me going to see him live on my twenty-first birthday at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. I’ve wanted to do something based around his songs ever since, but various people talked me out of it over the years, saying easy listening music wasn’t popular any more. Coming out of the pandemic made me ignore all of that and finally get my act together.
2: What can audiences expect from Happy Heart beyond the songs themselves?
We’ve tried to make the show a little bit interactive, so there are opportunities to sing along (if you want) and quite a few moments that showcase my slightly silly sense of humour. Andy’s music has always made me feel relaxed and at ease, so hopefully the show will evoke that atmosphere and give people a space to leave their troubles at the door.
3: What makes Andy Williams’ voice so special to you?
Andy Williams had a really impressive vocal range and there’s a tenderness that’s not always present with some of the other well known crooners or ‘Rat Pack’ singers. The majority of his recordings were made at a time when you couldn’t really fix things ‘in post’, so on most of his records, you’re hearing highly accomplished performances made in one take. Record companies had the budget for orchestras, brass sections and choirs, so they sound really sumptuous. Even without all the bells and whistles, his voice still has a warmth and intimacy that’s hard to match.
4: Has your relationship with these songs changed as you’ve got older?
As you move through life, lyrics change their meanings and you might understand songs in different ways or associate with them in ways you wouldn’t have done twenty years earlier. Some of my favourite songs in the show are the more reflective, poetic numbers and I certainly relate to songs like “Try to Remember” or “Solitaire” differently in my late forties than in I did in my early twenties. Before I got into Andy Williams’ music, I was utterly obsessed with David Bowie, and in my teens I’d listen to several of his albums a day. I find it weird that I now listen to Andy’s music all the time and hardly ever listen to Bowie at all.
5: You describe the show as a ‘warm wave of pure nostalgia’. What do you think nostalgia offers us?
The songs we’ve chosen were written in a way that songs aren’t written now, so they instantly evoke a sense of nostalgia and times gone by. I’ve been really touched by some of the audience reactions to the show so far, whether it reminded them of watching the Andy Williams show with relatives who are no longer with us, or hearing the songs when they were growing up. It takes people back to earlier times, when perhaps they didn’t have the same worries that they do now. There’s a sense of safety there that we don’t always get to feel.
6: What has been the most enjoyable part about creating Happy Heart – The Songs of Andy Williams?
It’s been great to work with my friend Michael Roulston once again. He’s been my closest musical collaborator for almost twenty years and always elevates anything I bring to the table. He’s also been instrumental (pardon the pun) in pushing the script further, as his years working with many of the UK’s greatest cabaret artists means he knows how to land a joke. The show simply wouldn’t be the same without him. ‘Happy Heart’ isn’t a tribute act per se, but it is an homage to Andy Williams and his music, and it genuinely means a great deal to me to share that with other people. These songs make me feel happy, and I hope they might make you feel happy too.
Happy Hearts – The Songs of Andy Williams opens Saturday 17th October at Toulouse Lautrec. Many thanks to Marcus Reeves for answering our questions. Book your tickets here!
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