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I will best remember Marianne Faithful (who died on Thursday) for her song As Tears Go By. It was the first composition by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to become a hit single. Locked away by manager Andrew Loog Oldham and told not to come out before they had a decent song, a ballad needed a female voice and Marianne was it. Released in 1964 when she was just seventeen. The first hit record for the Rolling Stones sung by someone else. It still sounds great today. Then three more top ten singles in 1965.
The picture above is from the film Girl on a Motorcycle. I think that shows Marianne at her iconic best. She appeared in films and in the theatre, all described in the many obituaries on line. I thought the portrayal of her in the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Redlands was the best thing in the show. Here is what I said in my review.
But what can I say about Emer McDaid as Marianne. She brings that almost upper class strength yet at the same time a heart tugging vulnerability. And she can sing. Her three songs include the wonderful "As Tears Go By" and finally leaves Nigel and the stage with the hugely emotional "This Little Bird". I thought her friendship with Nigel was all made up, but apparently not.
