More Than A Woman

A huge happy birthday to Pauline Black aka Belinda Magnus OBE DL, born 23rd October 1953.

Icon is such an overused and misused word these days, but there's no question in my mind that it applies to Pauline. As a 9-year old,  I was struck by this energetic, smiling figure in two tone garb with porkpie hat, bouncing around the stage with The Selecter on TV, performing their hits On My Radio and Three Minute Hero. It left an indelible impression. 

Pauline has never been just a singer or a woman fronting an otherwise all-male band, though. Actor, activist, author, TV and radio presenter... all amazing, though her part in The 2-Tone Story itself is historic. 

Luckily, director Jane Mingay has collaborated with Pauline to bring some of her rich history and four decades (and counting) career to the silver screen with a documentary titled - what else? - Pauline Black: A Two-Tone Story. It's currently running at selected UK cinemas and I've dropped the trailer in at the end of this post.

For your immediate gratification, however, here are just a few of many, many highlights from Pauline's career with The Selecter. And this is no nostalgia trip: last year's album Human Algebra showed both singing, songwriting and performing are as sharp as ever.

Following the tragic loss of Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson, The Selecter continues, Pauline rejoined by original drummer Charley 'Aitch' Bembridge. As my post from last June demonstrated, The Selecter live on stage is an unforgettable, joyous experience.

 

I'll hopefully get to find that out for myself, as The Selecter will be supporting Steel Pulse on their 50th Anniversary tour of the UK early next year. I mean, a once in a lifetime experience, right?

 

Have a great day, Pauline, you utterly amazing and inspirational person.