Sarah Brightman was a child who always knew what she wanted: To Be A Famous Artist
On 14th August Sarah Brightman was born in London England at 6am in the morning on a Sunday, and raised in Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, oldest of six children born to Grenville (Builder / Architect) and Paula (nee Hall) Brightman. (Dancer) Sarah was the oldest of 6 children her brothers and sisters being Joel, Jay, Nicola, Claudia and Amelia (Violet). Around 1963/64 Sarah begins dancing lessons at the age of 3. Later Sarah attended three performing arts schools, among them Elmhurst Ballet School, which she dropped out of from at the age of sixteen, and Arts Homepic31Education School in London.
In 1970 the principal play in Berkhampstead was A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, the title role (a spastic child) played by nine-year-old Sarah Brightman who stole the honours.
At
the age of 14 on November 6th 1973, Sarah made her theatrical debut in the musical 
I and Albert at the Piccadilly Theatre, London, playing one of Queen Victoria’s daughters -Vicki. “Andrew (Lloyd Webber) came to see that musical and he remembers me. It’s curious to think of him as an adult having watched me as a child!” said Sarah (from Hello! Magazine dated 13 May 1989.)
1976 & 1977 – in her late teens Sarah was modelling for Biba Cosmetics and Vogue.
Around 1976 / 1977 Sarah joined the dance group Pan’s People. Sarah replaced Cherry Gilespie and the ironic thing was that she only went along to the audition in order to provide some moral support for her friend. “I had no idea that I would walk out a Pan’s Person” said Sarah.
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At 16 she has realised the fantasy dreams of thousand teenage girls by joining ‘Pan’s People’, the select group of nubile dancers who until last year regularly appeared on Top of the Pops on BBC television. She is also modelling for Vogue and was chosen by Biba to advertise their cosmetics — all unheard of achievements for a girl who took her 0’levels (passing five) only last year.
But life as a Pan’s Person has its ups and downs. Sarah and her five colleagues recently turned down an opportunity to fly to Greece to pose on a yacht for the sex magazine Penthouse. ‘They would probably have been asked to take their tops off,’ explains Penthouse associate editor Neville Player. ‘It wouldn’t have been much use to us if they didn’t.’
Sarah auditioned for Pan’s People after going to stage school in London. ‘My mother always wanted her daughter to dance, and she decided I was the right shape and everything and put me into it,’ she says. She answers questions about her hobbies with all the aplomb of a Miss World entrant. ‘Gosh … I’ve always wanted to fly, and I would like to learn to glide. I also want to be a singer and make records.’ She lives at home in Berkhampstead with her parents and two brothers and two sisters. Does she find drooling men a problem? ‘I’m too young to be pestered. I make it very clear that I’m only 16, and they soon leave me alone.’ ” from Fanfare: Unauthorized Biography of Andrew Lloyd Webber by Jonathan Mantle.
Then at 18, in 1978 Sarah joined Arlene Philips’ raunchy dance group Hot Gossip. Sarah Brightman first came to the public’s attention as lead singer of ‘Hot Gossip’ who had a regular slot on Kenny Everett’s TV Show.
The Late Kenny Everett’s show was very popular and the dance slot was well known for being fairly raunchy for prime time TV in the 70s. Hot Gossip and Sarah danced to hits of the day, and a very good job they did too!!
It was while singing and dancing with them that she made her first top 5 hit single with I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper with the B-side Do Do Do. I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper is well know for being a rather dodgy video – but you must remember they only had a few hour to make it in. I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper made it to number 14 out of 100 in VH1’s Worst Videos Ever!
My thoughts on this of this – well it’s a good song, typical of the era – Star Wars and Flash Gordon are mentioned, Star Trek is hinted at – the space race was in full swing. Is it good – well yes, a but cheesy but listenable to. I’d give this 4 Stars (out of 5).
The B side Do Do Do – is a very take it or leave it – I’d leave it well alone – out of 5 Stars – 1
More info on this here – I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper Info
