It has been called the worst record of the 1980’s, but I love it. In the late 80’s I was working on The Evening Standard as a photographer. On a slow news day we’d go and hang out outside the offices of a ‘hit factory’ production company – Stock Aitken and Waterman in London.
There were always interesting people going in and out of their offices, and often it would merit a quick photo, if nothing else was going on.
One afternoon I was hanging out on the pavement outside the offices, and the two girls came out. It was purely a chance encounter, and although I did know their single I didn’t know the girls at all.
As it happened I was lighting up a cigarette. At that time I regret to say we all smoked. Linda saw me, walked up to me and asked if I had a spare smoke. I gave her one and the three of us spent a while chatting in the sunshine.
The impression I got was that they were just having fun and not really interested in a music career, which was just as well as it was a one hit wonder. However, they really just seemed a couple of sweet young girls living the dream while it lasted.
Years later, in 2007, they did do a reunion video, below, in which they re-enacted the original dance. This time they were quite a bit older, but their fun attitude and presence comes right through. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
They seem to have disappeared from the public eye these days. However, I am always left feeling that if more performers had their attitude the business might be a lot more authentic. Linda and Aisling cared even less about what the critics said than I do. Their sense of fun seems to live on. Wherever they are I hope they’re still as joyful as they were thirty years ago.
🙂
Fiona