Michael Ball (born Michael Ashley Ball, on 27 June 1962 in Bromsgrove, England) is a British actor and singer, best known for musical theatre roles such as Marius in Les Misérables, Alex in Aspects of Love, and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Although born in England, Michael Ball is half Welsh, and says jokingly that he considers himself "Wenglish" and proud to be British [1]. He studied Drama at the Guildford School of Acting and graduated in 1984. His first major break was a star part in the production of The Pirates of Penzance at the Opera House, Manchester. Next came a brief stint in Rep. Cameron Mackintosh saw him and cast him as Marius in Les Misérables. Next came Raoul in the second casting of Phantom of the Opera, and Alex in Aspects of Love, both in London and on Broadway, and Giorgio in Stephen Sondheim's London production of Passion. Alone Together was Michael's one man show first performed at The Donmar Warehouse (which was reprised in 2004 for the Singular Sensations season at the Haymarket). In 2002 Michael took on the role of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which was largely considered his comeback role. In 2005, at 10 days' notice, he replaced Michael Crawford, who had to leave the show due to ill health, as Count Fosco in The Woman in White, and gave a popular and critically-acclaimed performance.
Other performances include singing at the BBC's St David's Day concert, at the Les Misérables Tenth Anniversary Concert in 1995, and the fiftieth birthday party of Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1998. He is a dramatic baritone known for his range, expression and power.
Michael is an accomplished concert artist and tours frequently around the UK. He has also performed concerts in Australia and America. Since reaching the top of the British charts with "Love Changes Everything" (from Aspects of Love) Michael had small successes with follow up singles but in the main he has concentrated on releasing albums, all of which achieved Gold status within weeks, and in the case of The Movies album in 1998, Platinium in 7 weeks{was released Oct 26th confirmed Platinium status in interview on 12 Dec}. Michael represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, singing the song "One Step Out of Time", which finished second.
Michael has also turned his hand to presenting both on TV and radio and has presented The National lottery, Children in Need and This Morning, and had his own series on TV and radio (Ball over Broadway on BBC Radio 2) (which is in its fourth season), The Greenroom, and several specials for BBC Radio 2 on subjects such as Nat King Cole, Cameron Mackintosh, and Cy Coleman.
In September 2005, Michael made his NYC Opera debut as Reginald Bunthorne in Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience with the New York City Opera.
In October 2005 Michael released his latest album "Music". The album went into the UK charts at number 11, and spent 10 weeks in the top 75. The album finished the year the 99th best selling album of 2005.
In November, 2005, Michael returned to Broadway as Count Fosco in The Woman in White, which transferred from London's West End. However, he was forced to leave the show due to a reported viral infection caused by the fat suit required for the role, which reportedly raised Ball's body temperature by several degrees during the show. The suit is also thought to have been the cause of Michael Crawford's premature departure from the show in London. The show closed early, in part due to the health problems of Ball and leading lady Maria Friedman.
Michael spent the first quarter of 2006 on complete vocal rest, following the illness that caused him the leave Woman In White on Broadway. By the middle of July, Michael had taken part in the Royals Court's celebratory performance of The Rocky Horror Show, recorded a new album (called "One Voice", due for release on 30 October 2006) and made a guest appearance on Julian Lloyd Webber's album "Unexpected song". Then came the summer concerts at Aberdeen, Bath, Southport, Oakley Hall and Cardiff. In August, Michael sat in for Michael Parkinson on his Radio 2 show. He was interviewed for Radio 3's "Stage and Screen" programme, and recorded a tribute to Anthony Newley at Hackney Empire, also for Radio 2. Michael then took part in 'Proms in the Park' in Singleton Park, Swansea. He sang two tracks from his forthcoming album, 'One Voice'; the title song and 'Hero'. Michael also sung show stoppers, 'This is the Moment', 'Anthem' and 'Love Changes Everything'. In November, Michael will be releasing a new DVD containing all the best songs from his 'Live in Concert' DVDs. They will be split into five sections: Musicals, Love Songs, Personal Favourites, Party Time and Unplugged. The DVD will also include a brand new "Unplugged" session which Michael has recorded with just 4 other musicians in the studio especially for this DVD. It will be released on November 20 2006. Six days later he will join Petula Clark in concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. (In 2004, he co-starred with her in a production of Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard at the Cork Opera House in the Republic of Ireland, which was later broadcast by the BBC. Michael has lots of promotional activities coming up at the end of the year with the release of his new album 'One Voice'.
It has been announced that Ball will be taking the lead role in Kismet in June/July 2007 for the ENOdetails can be found on the English National Opera website.There will also be a tour but exact dates are not known yet{Michael confirmed this during his Stage and screen interview}.
He is currently sitting in for Johnnie Walker on his Sunday afternoon BBC Radio 2 show.
Desperado
Michael Ball Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you come to your senses
You've been out riding fences for so long now
Oh you're a hard one
But I know that you've got your reasons
These things that are pleasing you will hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy
The queen of hearts is always your best bet
Well it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the things that you can't get
Desperado
you know you ain't getting younger
Your pain and your hunger are driving you home
And freedom, oh freedom
Well that's just some people talking
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime
Sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losing all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away
Desperado
Why don't you come to your senses
Come down from your fences
Open the gate
It may be raining
But there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you
Let somebody love you
Before it's too late
The lyrics to "Desperado" tell the story of a person who is lost and isolated from others. The singer is urging this individual, who is compared to a desperado or outlaw, to come to their senses and abandon their destructive ways. The person has been "riding fences" for too long, perhaps indicating that they are a loner who spends a lot of time on the boundaries of society. They are "hard" but "pleasing" things that will ultimately hurt them, and they are preoccupied with what they can't have rather than appreciating what they do have. The queen of diamonds is a warning to this individual not to pursue something that will ultimately lead to their downfall. The queen of hearts, on the other hand, represents a safer bet.
As the song progresses, the singer encourages the person to recognize that their isolation is painful and that it's time to let someone love them. The idea of freedom that the person is chasing is just empty talk, and their isolation is actually a prison. The winter imagery of the song conveys a sense of bleakness and despair. The feeling of being lost and isolated is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives, and this song speaks to that universal human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Desperado
Addressing someone who is desperate and urging them to take a more sensible approach to life
Why don't you come to your senses
Asking the person to reconsider their current course of action and think more rationally
You've been out riding fences for so long now
The person has been wandering aimlessly for an extended period of time
Oh you're a hard one
The person is stubborn and resistant to change
But I know that you've got your reasons
The person has their own motivations for their behavior, even though they may not be apparent to others
These things that are pleasing you will hurt you somehow
Indulging in things that bring temporary satisfaction may ultimately lead to harm or regret
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy
Advising the person to avoid high-risk situations and not take unnecessary chances in life
She'll beat you if she's able
Consequences can be severe if one takes unnecessary risks
The queen of hearts is always your best bet
Suggesting that choosing safer options is often the better course of action
Well it seems to me some fine things
Commenting on the person's apparent good fortune and material success
Have been laid upon your table
The person has been given many opportunities and blessings in life
But you only want the things that you can't get
Despite having many advantages, the person is still unsatisfied and constantly seeking more
Desperado
Again addressing the person who is desperate and lost
you know you ain't getting younger
The person is getting older and should consider making changes before it is too late
Your pain and your hunger are driving you home
The person's dissatisfaction and desires are leading them back to their original starting point
And freedom, oh freedom
Commenting on the elusive nature of freedom and how it is often misunderstood
Well that's just some people talking
Freedom is a concept that means different things to different people
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
The person's sense of isolation and loneliness is preventing them from experiencing true freedom
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime
Asking if the person feels vulnerable and exposed
Sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
The person is experiencing a prolonged sense of hopelessness
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
The person is lost and confused in their current state of mind
You're losing all your highs and lows
The person has lost their sense of emotional balance and is experiencing a dulling of their senses
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away
Reflecting on the strange, cyclical nature of emotions and how they can come and go over time
Desperado
Urging the person to reconsider their current path
Why don't you come to your senses
Repeating the earlier statement, emphasizing the importance of rational thinking
Come down from your fences
Stop being so resistant to other people and new experiences
Open the gate
Be more receptive to the world, let go of preconceptions and embrace new possibilities
It may be raining
Acknowledging that life can be difficult and unpleasant at times
But there's a rainbow above you
Despite the hardships, there is always something positive to focus on
You better let somebody love you
Encouraging the person to be more open to love and relationships
Let somebody love you
Repeating the earlier statement, emphasizing the importance of connection
Before it's too late
Implying that if the person waits too long, they may miss out on important opportunities in life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Glenn Lewis Frey, Don Hugh Henley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@suzannebenz8928
Dear Michael. SO Talented!!!!
@lynbaker7901
Michael ball is wonderful, love him.
@Pacabelle
Gorgeous rendition!!
@handsdown101
So adorable. Little Michael! Such a talented and huge voice, always.
@noreen2k9
A few lyrics wrong but God I love this guy...........best voice in the world!!!!
@deutschesmaedchen
I don't get how anybody could dislike his singing
@mylabenton5506
You have been the greatest for 25 years now or more but those successful yrs has not been. Easy we are aware of you deserve the best of all Congratulations now. For your hard work has made you great. Perhaps the greatest of all personality and a lot of CLASS YOU HAVE SHOW. I PERSONALLY LOVE YOU THE BEST OF ALL SINGERS AND WILL TELL EVERYONE. EVEN AT MY AGE 83.
@mylabenton5506
Yes. Love changes everything ONE STEP AT A TIME BUT YOH HAVE WON. (. THE. IMPOSSIBLE. DREAM. YOU ENTERTAINED ME SINCE I FIRST HEARD YOU SING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR. TALENTS AS A STAR OF ALL IN MY HEART. MYLA FROM VEGAS
@BlanchFury
See...just goes to show we can express our opinions and still get along. A lesson for the rest of the world!
@BlanchFury
Luv ya dude...