A Word With Petula Clark

Petula Clark had built a successful singing career in Europe when Tony Hatch brought her the song “Downtown,” which was released in 1964.

“I already had a big career in France, Italy and Germany. Then I recorded ‘Downtown’ and that changed everything for me, personally,” Clark told Pollstar. “There was a whole lot of stuff going on as well, [like] The Beatles. I suddenly found myself in the middle of that whole thing and part of what was called ‘The British Invasion.’ 

“It somewhat swept me off my feet and complicated my life because I wasn’t a young, unmarried girl having all the fun and games Marianne Faithfull was having. I was married to a Frenchman and living in Paris with two little girls. I was living a very different kind of life.”

“Downtown” became an international sensation, which led to a string of Top 10 hits including “I Know A Place,” “Don’t Sleep In The Subway” and “Sign Of The Times.” 

Clark, who’s been performing since she was a young girl, went on to star in films “Finian’s Rainbow” with Fred Astaire and “Goodbye Mr. Chips” with Peter O’ Toole and major theater productions on Broadway and London’s West End.

But with multimillions of albums sold, international acclaim and two Grammy Awards, fame is a part of life but not taken for granted.

Clark was in New York rehearsing for her first full U.S. tour in support of her latest album, Living For Today, when she talked to Pollstar about the path her career has taken and what’s in store for her fans. 

How did your career in the French music industry come about? 

It was just kind of a fluke, really, like a lot of things in my life. I went to Paris for one show at the Olympia Theater –  that’s a little like The Palladium in London.  It’s a huge theater and I didn’t even realize how important it was. I didn’t really want to go. I didn’t speak any French. But they kept calling me, so I said okay. I sang three songs in English and they went absolutely crazy! 

Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage/Getty – Petula Clark

The next day, I was in the office of the man who runs the record company in Paris and he said, “Did you see what happened last night? You should make a record here!” I said. “Listen, I’m not interested. I have my life in England, I’ve got my boyfriend, my sports car. I want to go home.” And then the lights went out in his office – this is the truth – and there were no windows. So he called somebody in and this person stood on the desk and changed the light bulb. He was the most gorgeous man and I said to the boss, “Who’s that?” He said,” He’s our public relations man. If you do record something, he’ll take care of you and show you around Paris.” I said, “Okay. I’ll think about this.” And that’s how I met [my husband.] 

A few weeks later, I came back with a really bad French record but I didn’t care. And the next thing I knew, I was a huge star in France almost without trying.

When “Downtown” and your subsequent songs became major hits, were the powers-that-be expecting you to hit the road? 

Well, it wasn’t very easy. As I said, I already had commitments, contracts that I had signed and two small children. I couldn’t just walk away from all that. On the other hand, it has to be said that when America beckons, you go! (laughs) It became a very complicated way of life. I was flitting around from one continent to another trying to keep two careers going and a marriage with children going, too. I thought I was “Super Woman,” and for a while I guess I was. (laughs) It’s not easy but that’s what I was doing.

When it gets to why haven’t I done a tour [of the U.S.] before, I couldn’t go out on tour in America. I was already touring France and Europe. So, I did things in [Las] Vegas. I would do a concert here and there, like in Chicago and San Francisco, but not a full-blown tour.

Was it difficult at all to adjust to film or theater pacing for you as a performer?  

I’ll tell you, every part is different. Making a record is very different from singing live. Being in a show like “Sunset Boulevard” is very different from doing my own show and movies are very different from theater. You’re constantly having to adapt and that’s part of the fun of it.

You know, I’m still learning all the time. I learn from working with brilliant artists and just everyday people. The learning process is never really finished.

You’ve been writing your own songs for a while now, haven’t you? 

Yes, more and more. That’s something that’s come to me fairly late. I used to think I was more like an interpreter of other people’s songs, and that was fine. Then Tony Hatch, who wrote all those great songs like “Downtown” for me, encouraged me. He said, “Come on, you can do this.” I have more confidence in myself as a songwriter than I did before. I do quite a lot of my own songs in the show now.

What can your fans look forward to seeing in the show that you’re touring now?

Harry Herd/WireImage/Getty – Petula Clark
Petula Clark performs at The Anvil in Basingstoke, England, Oct. 6, 2016.

I think the people that come and see it will leave having a bit more of an idea of who I am. 

I’ll obviously sing the great songs like “Downtown” because they are great songs and I still enjoy singing them. I probably sing them a little bit differently but not that much. Then I‘ll be doing songs from my new CD and I’ll be playing piano on one. I’ll be doing something from “Sunset Boulevard,” I expect. I just go onstage and fun.

That obviously shows, with the lengthy career you’ve built internationally.

I think in many ways I’m privileged to still be doing something I enjoy so much. How many people can say that? Of course, there’s a lot of hard work, too. It’s not all shining light and lovely. That’s part of the gig.  

My whole career has been sort of organic. I’ve never gone out looking for work. People come to me with an offer for something and either I’ll accept it, or I won’t. From the outside, it might look like it’s all planned and there’s some great idea behind it, but I just do what I fancy, which is nice.

I’ve written a song called “Living For Today,” which is the title song of the [new] album. I think I’ve been living like that for a long time – living for today.

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