The Ghost of William Shatner
Underword staged a special event on Wednesday 23rd February 2011, as part of the City of Literature Let’s Get Lyrical campaign. The venue was The Caves, Niddry Street South, Edinburgh.
A diverse line-up of readers answered the question: can the lyrics work without the music? Each chose one song that meant something special to them and performed that song as spoken word. Was it heartfelt? Angry? Ironic? Passionate? In “a funny voice”? You can find out at the comprehensive archive of the event put together by Colin Fraser and Chris Scott.
The Ghost of William Shatner was a charity event in aid of Nerine Shatner Friendly House, a home for women in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. One lucky audience member won a life-size cardboard standup of William Shatner from his Captain Kirk days.
Readers
- Gavin Inglis — The Queen and the Soldier by Suzanne Vega
- Alison Summers — Where Do You Go To My Lovely by Peter Sarstedt
- Kirsty Neary — Climbing Up The Walls by Radiohead
- Laura Hainey — A Town Called Malice by The Jam
- Colin Fraser — Barbie Girl by Aqua
- Rob A. Mackenzie — Jacky by Jacques Brel
- Roland Gulliver — Political Science by Randy Newman
- Morgan Downie — Rocket Man by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
- Rosie Phenix-Walker — When I’m Cleaning Windows by George Formby
- Ali Maloney (Harlequinade) — Communication by Mario Piu
- Neil Williamson — Come Down In Time by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
- Judith Miller — Our Mutual Friend by The Divine Comedy
- Gavin Inglis (reprise) — I’ve Got Pictures Of You In Your Underwear by Ballboy
- Jane McKie — Big Ship by Cardiacs
- Michael Pedersen — Effervescing Elephant by Syd Barrett
- Andrew C. Ferguson — Visions of Johanna by Bob Dylan
- Gillian Tasker — Neverland by The Knife
- Mark Harding — Backwater by Brian Eno
- Siân Bevan — We Are The Champions by Queen
- Anita Govan — I’m The Slime by Frank Zappa
- Andrew J. Wilson — We Call Upon The Author by Nick Cave
- Fiona Lindsay — Tell Me There’s A Heaven by Chris Rea
- Craig Senior — Midget by Dead Cat Bounce
- YAJ — Cows With Guns by Dana Lyon
- Peggy Hughes — Copacabana by Barry Manilow
- Nick-e Melville — The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
- Stephen Barnaby — Ra Ra Rasputin by Boney M
