Sheena Easton - SHEENAnews

60 SECOND INTERVIEW

Sheena Easton, 41, was born and raised near Glasgow and spent weekends singing at dancehalls until Esther Rantzen's show, The Big Time, lifted her from obscurity and gave her a hit - 9 To 5. The singer, who now lives in L.A., has just released a new album of disco covers, Fabulous.

Interview by Victoria Moore

How are you enjoying what is being billed here as a comeback?

Every time I show up to do something here it's considered a comeback. If I came into town and they didn't call it that, I'd be disappointed.

Your album sounds fun or, a 'spandex-shrinking glitterball of an album', as your press release calls it

That's what it is, a lot of party-assed fun. I've done things before that are personal statements and can be emotionally revealing. This is just a big old fluffy dance record. It's the sort of album you can stick on at a party - you can crank it up and you don't have to skip tracks.

Does it bring back memories?

Oh hell, yeah. The single Giving Up Giving In, I remember watching the Three Degrees on Top Of The Pops doing it.

What brings back the 1980's for you?

Reagonomics is the first thing that comes to mind - what with the presidential election just now. The thought we might have George W. Bush! Reagonomics was horrendous. I hope that part of the 1980's doesn't come back. Politics aside, I think of big, fun, ugly, over-the-top fashion. It wasn't exactly the most tasteful or flattering but at least you could have a good time. And I think of larger-than-life. It was an expansive decade. Big was better.

And now you're back in disco-heaven?

Disco is just pop music you can dance to. I'm definitely a pop artist at heart. If I was still at school, I'd be looking at Britney Spears and dying to be her. I would be looking at her thinking: 'She's so fabulous'. I'd be worrying about not being able to dance, though.

What do you mean, not being able to dance?

I'm a terrible dancer. The worst. I've been really lucky to have been a pop star and gotten away with a twenty year career of flicking and wiggling. That's my style of dancing. I wiggle my hips, flick my hair, and surround myself with fabulous dancers who are doing all the hard work. I just don't have the talent. I wiggle around and I'm grooving but I don't look good. I don't look cool. When I was younger, the hip-hop style of dancing came in. Oh geez. That just confounded me because it was steps. And break dancing...and all that Michael Jackson moonwalking. When I look at Michael or Janet Jackson videos - I do love to watch her videos. I think they have such a fabulous talent. I don't have that. Thankfully I was able to sing.

If you could choose to be able to do one thing that you can't, is that what you'd pick?

No, I'd like to be able to play an instrument fabulously. Or painting. Dancing would be pretty far down the list.

Do you feel more American than Scottish?

I was born in Scotland but left there when I was 20. I have lived in the United States for half of my life, my entire adult life. I am an American citizen. So I feel an amalgum of both. I chose L.A. as my adult home. I have my two small children who were born and raised there and where my babies are is my home.

Describe yourself in three words

Mother, grateful and blessed.

Motherhood must have turned your life on it's head

I became a different person. I was not interested in having kids in my 20s. If I'd suddenly become a mother I'd have been horribly dismayed. Once I wanted to be a mother it was all I wanted to be. That part of my psyche kicked in and that was it. It completely transforms you. It's the most amazing, deep love. I'm just passionately in love with my kids.

Do you get excited about seeing them?

Oh yes. People always say in films and novels:'Sometimes when I look at you it's painful.' I used to wonder what that meant. Now I understand because I look at my kids and it hurts my heart. Sometimes, I just have to go over and touch them. It's like I would die that minute if I couldn't put my hands on them. I'm a survivor. I'll survive anything. It's how I'm genetically programmed. And there's nothing I couldn't cope with - loss of possessions, loss of my voice - anything. But I would never survive losing my children. What would be the point of living? If I have no children what would be the point of living. I don't need to be here. It sure puts things in perspective.


		UK 'METRO' MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2000