Georgia Jamieson Emms’ rendition of ‘Wouldn’t it be Loverly [to be left alone]’, from My Fair Lady, gets a charming interruption. PHOTO/YOUTUBE
ARTHUR HAWKES
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Classically-trained soprano Georgia Jamieson Emms has taken her talents to Facebook, where she’s been reimagining classic tunes and Disney favourites on her home piano.
The tunes are reworded to reflect her lockdown stresses, accompanied by her skilled playing on her piano – and occasionally the odd toddler making an impromptu visit.
Her rendition of the tune ‘Let It Go’ from the massively-popular Disney musical Frozen has gone viral, viewed almost 14,000 times by people all over the globe.
“I don’t care/What they’re going to say/Turn the TV on/I haven’t anywhere to be anyway,” is how she finishes the well-known chorus, after singing her encouragement to stay at home and not go out – all sprinkled with a good amount of humour and references to Jacinda Ardern’s polished looks.
Another covid-19-inspired rewording – ‘I Have Confidence’ sung by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music – has more than 14,000 views. Jamieson Emms regularly interrupts the lyrics to provide her own feelings to camera, often contradicting the optimism of Julie Andrews in quite hilarious fashion.
The video marks the first of Jamieson Emms’ comic musical numbers, which have, so far, been uploaded every day.
Jamieson Emms grew up in Featherston, where parents Garrick and Marguerite run the Longwood Estate. She sang professionally in Germany for several years before returning to New Zealand to found the opera troupe Wanderlust. She also performed at Martinborough Town Hall after the large refurbishment.
The viral success of the videos has proved an accidental marketing tool, leading several interested parties to check out the Wanderlust opera company and voice their desire to get involved.
“What has been really cool is the number of people that have been drawn to our page and become aware of our opera company, just because I’ve been doing these little videos,” Jamieson Emms said.
“That’s been so awesome for us.”
All Jamieson Emms’ videos are available on the Facebook page Wanderlust Theatre, and also on YouTube.
I was expecting something from you along thous lines.