One time pop legend Normie Rowe has copped a verbal bashing after his cringeworthy appearance on a Coles telvision advert, but he claims it was all for the exposure.
“Our business thrives on some exposure and I guess that’s probably the tilter to accept one of those sort of things,” Rowe tabloid current affairs program Today/Tonight.
“When you get to a certain age there is a ageist thing about television,” he added. “There’s an eye-candy thing. It’s really hard – it doesn’t matter how good I’m singing or what great recording I’ve got, I’m not going to be seen on any of the Video Hits-type programs.”
In case you haven’t seen the ad, Rowe butchers (get it?) the song Shakin’ All Over with changed lyrics about the meat with “no added hormones” that Coles sells.
“The only way you could approach those lyrics was over-the-top, hamming it up,” he explained.
Rowe is hopeful with the advert’s career-boosting properties, ignoring the fact that this ad probably isn’t doing him any favours with those who hadn’t heard of him earlier: “Maybe it’ll spin over to the other stuff that I really do for a living. I’ve still got a four-octave range and I still don’t need an auto-tune to sing in tune.”
Haven’t seen the ad? Well here it is. If anyone knows what a “taste-bone” is, please e-mail me:
Here’s Rowe singing Shakin’ All Over on National Bandstand in 1965:
Rowe has shows booked all through 2012. Check him out at:
JANUARY
21 – Club Central, Menai, NSW
FEBRUARY
4 – Cootamundra RSL, Cootamundra, NSW
24 – Leopold Sportsman’s Club, Geelong, VIC
MARCH
9 – Go!! Show Gold, Palais Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
10 – Alpine Hotel, Cooma, NSW
17 – VVAA Box Hill Melbourne Black Tie Dinner, Box Hill, Melbourne
18 – Go!! Show Gold, QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, QLD
23 – Go!! ShowGold, Riverside Theatre, Perth, WA
APRIL
1 – Go!! Show Gold, Adelaide Festival Theatre, Adelaide, SA
13 – Gladesville RSL, Gladesville, NSW
14 – Richmond RSL, Richmond, NSW
28 – Wingham Services Club, Taree, NSW
MAY
25 – Bomaderry Bowling Club, Bomaderry, NSW
JUNE
15 – Murray Bridge Community Club, Murray Bridge, SA
16 – Stonyfell Function Centre, Stonyfell, SA
22 – Watsonia RSL, Watsonia, VIC
23 – Portsea RSL, Portsea, VIC
OCTOBER
1 – 13 Normie ‘The Northcote Boy’ The Musical, Musical Theatre, Melbourne, VIC
14 – 23 Rock The Boat Cruise on Rhapsody of the Sea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia
27 – Moorabbin RSL, Moorabbin, VIC
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