Gat Parties – a Whole Lot of Fun! Branigan
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24 The Pink Tongue SEPTEMBER, 2008 Branigan remembered Tim Hill on the European leg of his world A small hint of activity was in 1996 tour. Nineteen-seventy-nine saw when Laura dueted with David Has- “I WANT to touch people’s hearts, her signed by Atlantic Records selhoff on I Believe, a very average to get right down to their souls.” founder Ahmet Ertegun, but it was song which appeared on the Bay- Just after the fourth anniversary of only in 1982 that she burst onto the watch soundtrack. her untimely death, Laura Branigan music scene with Gloria and her In between recording albums, is remembered as one of the pio- debut record simply entitled Laura tried her hand at acting and neering female singers of the 80s Branigan. starred in two minor features – and an icon in the gay community. “I first heard Laura Branigan sing Mugsy’s Girls and Backstage. Her “Calling Gloria!” belts out a live in my brother Nesuhi’s apart- association with blockbusters was young Laura Branigan, swaying her ment. I immediately realised that prevalent in the 80s where she con- hips in spandex pants under a she had a great pop voice, in the tributed to the soundtracks of revolving mirror ball. classical sense,” said Ertegun in Ghostbusters, Flashdance and Com- “I look so well fed there!” she 2005. “Laura had an instinctive feel ing to America – all iconic films of chuckles as she watches the music for music and melody, and her that decade. video to her disco anthem, Gloria, delivery was sensational.” Laura had a great affiliation to the up-beat song that launched her A year later, in 1983, Laura the gay community and this was career in 1982. The tune spent a launched her second album, Brani- echoed in her version of a Spanish record 36 weeks on the Billboard gan 2, which produced two hugely track Mujer Contra Mujer from her charts and earned her a Grammy successful hits – one being How Am 1993 collection Over My Heart. Award nomination in early 1983. I Supposed To Live Without You, “The song epitomises the way I So, who was Laura Branigan, and written by a then-unknown Michael feel about gays and how unfair peo- where did she disappear to before Bolton, who himself took the song ple are who judge them,” said Laura her untimely death of a brain to the top of the charts. The other in one of her final interviews. “One aneurysm in August 2004. was Solitaire, a remake of a French of the most beautiful lines in the After graduating from the Acade- hit, with lyrics by Diane Warren. song is ‘and who am I to throw my of Dramatic Arts in New York, “My manager also managed stones, ’cos with my stones they’ll Branigan toured with legendary Laura, so I got in on the ground build a castle around them’. I feel Leonard Cohen as a backing singer floor of her career; she was the first who are we to judge people. We artist to sing my songs,” said War- should be true to ourselves.” ren. “I don’t know if she was appre- In the mid 90s Laura took a hia- pt, sept08, page 24, ciated as much as she should have tus from her career and devoted her musician – an incredible feeling. home in East Quogue, Long Island been.” time to caring for her husband Larry And no matter where I am it’s still at the age of 47. Next to Gloria, the highlight of Kruteck, who was diagnosed with the same; there’s a reason we call Post her passing, a renewed Laura’s career was the song of sur- colon cancer. He passed away in music the universal language,” interest in Branigan’s career has render, Self Control, the music 1996. Branigan once stated. become evident, so much so that video of which was banned by MTV During the late 90s, while Laura Laura returned to the studio in albums that have been out of print who deemed it too risqué and sexu- was mourning the loss of her hus- 2001 to begin work on a much- for the best part of a decade have ally explicit for television. band, she performed only the occa- anticipated new album, however an started being re-released. The year 1985 brought us Hold sional concert and spent most of accident set her back – she slipped And as for the new album, Kathy Me, which included the track I her time at home with close friends and fell off a ladder and broke both Golik, president of Laura’s manage- Found Someone, later to be covered and family. her femurs. Branigan earned herself ment company Other Half Enter- by Cher, and the up-tempo Spanish Laura had a genuine love for her rave reviews in 2002 as Janis Joplin tainment, assures devoted fans that C Eddie. Touch came out in 1987 and fans and she rarely concluded a live in the off-Broadway stage produc- the project hasn’t been put on ice. Branigan was back in the top 20 performance without taking time to tion of Love, Janis. Laura was a perfectionist in every M with a stirring remake of The Power greet and sign autographs. Her In 2004, two remixes and re- sense and the material in the of Love, which Celine Dion took to warmth radiated with words of love recordings of Gloria and Self Con- pipeline will match the standards Y number one six years later. and encouragement to the people trol hit the clubs and were a sure she always adhered to, so watch this K After Touch, there were two more she affectionately referred to as her sign that Branigan was again space! To find out more about albums and a greatest hits package “other half”. regaining the presence she once Laura Branigan, and to purchase in 1995, by which time music trends “When you’re on stage, the audi- commanded. her back catalogue, visit the official RIP: Laura Branigan were changing and her powerful ence becomes your other half. It’s Tragedy struck in 2004 when Laura Branigan website at four-octave voice went unnoticed. the ultimate high you can reach as a Laura passed away suddenly at her www.laurabraniganonline.com Gat Parties – a whole lot of fun! John French often collide with prissy -faced A: From the Athletic Club, we in music can be quite a challenge but the Gat Party? queens to hilarious effect. Tannies moved to Goodwood Showgrounds we make it happen and it has A: Most clubs play just one type of WHEN I moved to Cape Town six from behind the “Boerewors Cur- (now GrandWest Casino). The name become a very popular “jol” for all music. The people attending are not years ago, the legendary Gat Party tain” arrive dolled up to the nines remained the Gat Party. Brian was ages. Another reason why The Gat just club-goers and at this gig they was one of the most mind-blowing and dance the night away with their the venue organiser back then, but Party is so popular is that you can can dance to all sorts of music. There new experiences I encountered. young sons or gay dance instructors. the showground committee decided book a table and invite a group of is also always new talent on the Upon entering the “saal” at Theo The Pink Tongue chatted to Gat to cancel his contract. your friends, bring food platters dance floor to feast your eyes on (for Marais Park, I was amazed at the Party owner and organiser Deon Q: When did you come to own it? along, and have a party of your own. both sexes). spectacle that was swirling around in Nagel about the legendary gay A: Brian asked me to book the Q: Describe the type of people who Q: Are drugs and alcohol abuse front of me. About 600 people of all get-togethers. venue under my name after the can- attend your parties? ever a problem at the party? shapes, sizes and sentiments were Q: Where did the name “Gat cellation of his contract. We then A: We are all one big family and all A: This is not a place for skinning busy “wind-surfing’ with each other Party” originate from? went into partnership. However, due types of people attend this gig up a joint. Nobody gets out of hand around the dance floor! A: The name originated after host- to new competition, he decided to because of the great atmosphere with alcohol. I am happy as long as Tables at this popular Saturday ing a private party in the old Parow withdraw from the partnership. As a that is created. People feel very they all have a royally good time! night jol are placed laager-style Athletic Club (now a residential area result of the showgrounds being relaxed and at ease. They can just be Q: What music do you play on an around the dance floor and candles called Te Tijger) that was situated in sold, I had to find a new venue. The themselves and have fun. average Gat Party night? in 2l coke bottles decorate them. a quarry. We originally started hav- venue I found is Theo Marais Park in Q: Why do you think lesbians love A: From “langarm” music to com- Huge lesbians arrive carrying their ing private parties at this venue and Koeberg Road, Milnerton (next to the Gat Party? mercialised music, it all depends on cooler bags and “Bellville briefcas- it became so successful that Brian the Fire Department).