Talulah Does the Hula

Talulah Does the Hula
Talulah Does the Hula, photo by Jeannie O'Brien.
Talulah Does the Hula, photo by Jeannie O'Brien.
Background information
OriginDublin, Ireland
GenresPop
Years active2008–2011
Past members
  • Paula Cullen
  • Caoimhe Derwin
  • Lauren Kerchner
  • Jessie Ward
  • Michael Winder
Websitetalulahdoesthehula.com

Talulah Does the Hula were a five piece pop band from Dublin, Ireland.

Members

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  • Paula Cullen – Vocals, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar, Tambourine
  • Caoimhe Derwin – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards,
  • Lauren Kerchner – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
  • Jessie Ward – Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards
  • Michael Winder – Drums

Band

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Talulah Does the Hula's members include Paula Cullen and Caoimhe Derwin formerly of The Chalets; Jessie Ward and Lauren Kerchner formerly of Neosupervital. The band formed in early 2008 and performed their first gig in Dublin in October 2008.[1] They are noted for the fact that all four girls sing both lead vocals and harmonies and also swap instruments on nearly every song they perform.[2] The band took their name from a New Zealand court case in which a 9-year-old girl was made a ward of the court so she could change her given name of Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii.[3][4]

In 2011, Michael Winder moved to England and the band decided to call it a day under the Talulah moniker. The remaining four members went on to form a new group, September Girls in September 2011.[5]

Releases

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The band released their first single in June 2009, a double A-side with the tracks "Bad Boyfriend" and "Those Girls." Jim Carroll of the Irish Times reviewed the single, saying it had "Sugar-sweet harmonies", "Swinging, gum-chewing, swaggering suaveness to knock your pop socks off" and "Sunny-side-up melodies ripped, recycled and respun from beneath the armpits of giants such as The Shangri Las and The Ramones".[6] The single was chosen as "Single of the Fortnight" by Hot Press Magazine[7] and the video for "Bad Boyfriend" was nominated in the "Best Newcomer" category at the Irish Music TV Video Awards in November 2009.[8]

The band's second single, another double A-side with the tracks "Don't Panic", "Real Friends" and a remix of "Bad Boyfriend", was released on 7 May 2010.[9] The video for "Don't Panic" was nominated in the "Best Styled Video" category at the Irish Music TV Video Awards in November 2010, where the band also performed live.[10]

In 2010 the band had music on and appeared on several Irish Television programs. In February 2010 they performed a cover of "Da Doo Ron Ron" on the RTÉ Two program, Podge and Rodge and they also had recurring live performances on RTÉ Two program, The Rumour Room. In September 2010 they performed "Don't Panic" on long-running Irish chat program, "The Late Late Show".[11] In October 2010 their song "Those Girls" was selected as the theme tune for the RTÉ program, "Fade Street".[12]

The band released their third double A-side single with the tracks "They Say" and "Tomorrow's Yours" on 14 July 2011.[13]

References

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  1. ^ State Mix No. 5: The Expert (MJEX) State Magazine, 14 October 2008
  2. ^ Talulah Does The Hula / Disconnect 4 State Magazine, 29 June 2009
  3. ^ Byrne, Niall (30 July 2009). "State Mix #9 – Talulah Does The Hula". State. Roger Woolman. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  4. ^ Parents lose custody of girl for naming her Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii guardian.co.uk, 24 July 2008
  5. ^ http://www.myspace.com/talulahdoesthehula/blog/544549036 [dead link]
  6. ^ Talulah Does the Hula: swinging, gum-chewing, swaggering suaveness Irish Times, 7 July 2009 (subscription required)
  7. ^ Hot Press' "Pick of the Fortnight!" and iTunes!!! Talulah Does The Hula Blog, Myspace, 16 July 2009
  8. ^ Irish Music Television Archived 24 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Talulah Does The Hula Blog, Myspace, 4 May 2010
  10. ^ Harmless Noise, Entertainment.ie
  11. ^ Q&A with September Girls meg.ie, 1 October 2010
  12. ^ Talulah Does The Hula give away Fade Street theme! Hot Press, 13 November 2010
  13. ^ Talulah Does The Hula Blog, Myspace, 14 July 2011
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