“I look at my role as being a friend of Canberra Hospital, I can bring some pleasure and happiness sometimes to people who are really in difficult times in their lives.”
With backing music from a Bluetooth speaker, Sayer croons his way around the cancer wards, making a human connection with everyone he comes across.
Canberra Region Cancer Centre Operations Manager Caroline McIntyre says Sayer’s visits are typically kept a surprise for patients and staff.
“He’s always come in so discreetly,” she says.
“Normally it’s just very quiet, he comes up in the back lift and says hello to literally everybody.
“Some of them are doing it tough, and to have a little bit of joy and light – it really gives them a lift.
“What makes me happy is to see people getting chemo on their feet dancing.”
Jamming with Jimi Hendrix, Countdown and the Troubadour
Originally a graphic designer by trade, English-born Leo Sayer rose to pop prominence in London in the late 1960s, as a singer-songwriter – and was soon adopted by Australia as an honorary son after his first tour here in 1974.
He went on to become an Australian citizen in 2009.
Sayer was a regular on ABC TV’s Countdown during the 70s and 80s, performing chart-toppers like “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”, “When I Need You”, “More Than I Could Say” and “Orchard Road”.
He blushingly admits they were wild days – when he didn’t always live up to his “good-guy” public persona.
“It was mad, I mean, Top of the Pops in England, Countdown over here,” he says.
“You were mobbed by the fans, I remember being dragged out of a limousine the first tour that I came here, and then speaking to crazy people like Molly Meldrum on TV and trying to sort of like take it all in.”
It seems hard to believe – the petite, well-spoken singer, with a mane of curly hair that inspired changing his name from Gerard to Leo – beating off mobs of screaming fangirls.
Sayer circulated in superstar company, becoming close friends with former Beatles George Harrison and Paul McCartney, collaborating with Roger Daltrey of The Who, and even sharing a sly cigarette or two with John Lennon and Yoko Ono who had a flat above his design studio.
“I met Jimi Hendrix right at the start of his career. I actually jammed with him, playing the harmonica, and him playing the guitar,” he says.
Recalling his 1975 opening night at the famous Troubadour Club in Los Angeles, he looked up to see an intimidating line-up of fans in the front row.
“It was David Bowie, Elton John, and ‘The Fonz’ [Henry Winkler].”
Alongside them: John Cleese, Mick Jagger, Bernie Taupin, and comedian Marty Feldman.
“We never thought it would last, we were adapting to things around us, writing songs about things that are around us,” he says.
“And we thought they were only for our generation — so the amazing thing is my music’s become like a fine wine, where you lay it down and years later, it becomes a collector’s item.
“We’re in an age where the music that I make, young kids are actually latching onto it now, and they’re finding that that generation and that style of music we made is as current now as anything.”
Sayer’s health battles, still spreading hope at 76
Leo Sayer says his hospital charity work caps off a career dedicated to providing joy through music.
“It’s a nice piece of synchronicity really, because I was born in the grounds of a hospital in Shoreham by Sea in Sussex, near Brighton in England,” Mr Sayer said.
“I suppose I’ve always felt comfortable in hospitals and being around hospitals.
“Growing up, my dad was a hospital engineer, Mum was a nurse, my sister was a matron.”
Sayer has health struggles of his own, including three stents in his heart, which help him have a genuine connection to the hospital patients he entertains.
“[My music] is providing something that isn’t taking away from any of the treatment that’s going on. It’s providing something that’s just putting a smile on peoples’ faces.
“Music is communication and that’s what this is all about, we’re communicating, we’re making people feel better.
“We’re not healing people with music, but we are making them feel better about their healing.
“To sell out Canberra Hospital will do me fine.”
Your Opinion Doesn’t Matter To Me. She’s The One I Want To Share My Life With!
In a society that often seems obsessed with youth and superficial beauty, Keanu Reeves’ recent public appearance with his gray-haired partner offers a fresh and in-depth look at real love. This performance is not just a moment of personal joy for Reeves, but also a powerful symbol against conventionality beauty standards and ageism in relationships, which invites us to reconsider our biases and cultural programming.
Stereotypes
The surprising news of Reeves’ choice to share his life with someone who defies society’s beauty standards speaks volumes.
This choice not only challenges the stereotypes that influence our perceptions of relationships, but also highlights how public figures can help broaden our view of love and relationships.
“I want to share my life with her,” Reeves declared, a phrase that should resonate deeply with those who believe that love goes beyond physical and settles in the souls of those involved.
This counterbalances the superficial view often promoted in media and entertainment, where love is often reduced to visual appeal and youth.
Characters
Reeves’ choice to openly demonstrate his love for his partner, regardless of her age or hair color, sets a powerful precedent.
As a public figure, his action has the potential to shift norms and expectations around relationships and attractiveness.
Celebrities play an undeniable role in shaping societal attitudes; their choices can serve as catalysts for important discussions and changes, such as those surrounding ageism and the true value of emotional connections.
Their influence is far-reaching, and by using their platform to promote unconventional choices, they can make significant positive stimulate changes in society.
Social-Cultural
It is essential that we as a society reflect on the pressure we place on individuals to conform to certain relationship images.
Reeves’ relationship reminds us that love is much more complex and profound than what is often portrayed by the media.
It underlines the importance of shared experiences, values, and insights that underlie sustainable partnerships.
It encourages us to look beyond the superficial criteria that are often emphasized and recognize that the core of a relationship lies in the connection, communication and shared respect between partners.
Connection
Keanu Reeves’ choice to share his life with his loved one, regardless of external factors, highlights a universal truth: true connection knows no boundaries.
Love transcends age, appearance and other superficial characteristics that are often overemphasized in popular media.
This public appearance is a powerful reminder that in matters of the heart, the deepest and most satisfying relationships are rooted in mutual respect, understanding and a shared vision of life.
Main points of the article: Your opinion doesn’t matter to me. She’s the one I want to share my life with!
- Challenge of Stereotypes: Reeves’ choice challenges existing stereotypes about beauty and age and promotes a more inclusive view of love.
- Celebrity Influence: As a public figure, Reeves has the power to redefine societal norms and promote greater inclusivity through his personal choices.
- Reflection on Social Pressure: The relationship encourages a rethinking of societal pressures surrounding relationships, and encourages us to appreciate the true essence of connection.
- Essence of True Connection: The genuine love between Reeves and his partner redefines what it means to be in a relationship, regardless of physical or material considerations.
These moments, no matter how small, are the building blocks for a more loving and inclusive world.
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