Ten songs into her 60-minute Algoma Fall Festival performance Friday evening, Carole Pope busted out the highly controversial – at least it was in 1980 when it was released – Rough Trade hit, High School Confidential.
“I feel really pervy singing this song because I’m 107 years old and it’s about obsessing over someone in high school,” she joked with the Sault Community Theatre Centre audience.
Not quite 107 years old, but always outspoken and one of the country’s first openly gay pop stars, ‘The Pope’ fronted Rough Trade from its formation in the mid-70s through to the late 80s when the band members officially parted ways. She took time Friday night to joke and introduce each song, often discussing its origin. This included Lesbians in the Forest, a collaboration with fellow outspoken Canadian, Peaches, who also cites Pope as a massive influence.
“One of the stupidest songs I’ve ever written, and I love it,” Pope said of the track.
The evening’s setlist featured both Rough Trade singles and selections from Popes solo catalogue, including All Touch, Johnny Marr, Viral, Francis Bacon, Transcend, Crimes of Passion, This is Not a Test, My Flame, I Want to Live, and Shakedown which was featured in the 1980 Al Pacino film, Cruising.
The 47th annual Algoma Fall Festival continues with upcoming performances from Andrea Beaton, Troy MacGillivray, and Wendy MacIsaac; De Temps Antan; and The Fretless. For more information, please click here.