Elaine Paige says she may never sing at live shows again after her voice changed for good
Elaine Paige explains in a new interview how she lost confidence a little and singing at live shows may be in the past for her
Elaine Paige is promoting a new album after she started singing again
Dame Elaine Paige says she has not returned to live singing after the menopause changed her voice. The 78-year-old actor and BBC radio host has not performed live since the covid lockdown.
And explaining why as she promoted a new LP, Elaine said: “My singing voice is not as high as it was. As you get older, with the menopause and so on, things change and it’s out of your control.
“I don’t want to do the big, thumping musical theatre ballads any more. Those days are behind me. This album is more reflective and soothing. I wanted to do something within my ability now, at this stage of my life.”
Speaking to Saga Magazine about going back into the studio, Elaine admitted she did so with some reservations, although things worked out well once she began singing again and the album called Miscellaneous Paige is finished. She has not sung in public since December 2020, when she performed in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the London Palladium.
Elaine Paige seen here singing at a Royal Variety Performance in 1981(Image: Getty )
Elaine said: “I was concerned I would not still have a voice. I was terribly nervous, because I was not confident, having not sung since the pandemic. The voice is the same as any muscle, if you don’t use it, then it’s going to disappear. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself.”
West End and musical theatre legend Elaine officially received her Damehood from King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle in November last year.
Looking back she said: “I was really nervous. This well of emotion came over me just before I had to walk forward.
“As I looked the King in the eye, I couldn’t speak. He said to me, ‘Keeping your hand in, are you?’ But he’s got quite a quiet voice and I’m now a little hard of hearing – which is one of the reasons why I don’t perform live any more – so I thought, ‘Did he say what I think he said?’ There was a beat before I answered him and said, ‘Oh yes.’
“I sort of stumbled though saying, ‘Yes, I’m making a new album at the moment. I’ll send you a signed copy when it’s finished, if you like’. We talked about my charity work then that was it. It all happened so quickly. But it was an extraordinary thing. Overwhelming, to be honest.”
Elaine has never married but she insists she has “no regrets” and her life is good. She also insists her generation are lucky as they have enjoyed life to the full.
She said: “Yes, we did everything, didn’t we? Sex and drugs and rock’n’roll. I do think my generation has really had the best of everything. Everybody seems angry and aggressive today. We were much more laid-back. Maybe it was because we were smoking dope and listening to wonderful music. Today, they don’t even drink, do they? I don’t think they have sex either, as far as I can make out. They don’t eat much of anything, they’re all vegetarian.
“Listen, what do I know about the youth today? Nothing. But it seems to me we embraced everything that being young is about: freedom and experimentation and joy. We were the lucky ones.”
* The first single ‘Only a Lifetime’ from Elaine’s forthcoming new album, ‘Miscellaneous Paige,’ is released on Friday May 22. The full interview with Elaine is in the June issue of Saga magazine.
