RIP Laura Branigan - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 08-30-2004, 03:40 PM

Laura's discography

1982 Branigan
contained "Gloria" (#2) and "All Night With Me" (#69)

1983 Branigan 2
contained "Solitarie" (#7), "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" (#12) and "Deep In The Dark" (dance hit)

1984 Self Control - her biggest selling album
contained "Self Control" (#4), "The Lucky One" (#20) and "Ti Amo" (#55)

1985 Hold Me
contained "Spanish Eddie" (#40), "Hold Me" (#82) and "I Found Someone" (#90, remade by Cher and went top 10)

1987 Touch
contained "The Power Of Love" (#26, remade by Celine Dion and went #1) and "Shattered Glass" (#48)

1990 Laura Branigan
contained "Moonlight On Water" (#57) and "Never In A Million Years" (Adult Contemporary hit)

1993 Over My Heart
contained "Love Your Girl" (dance hit)

1995 The Best Of Branigan
her greatest hits, but also contained a remake of Donna Summer's "Dim All The Lights"

she had released a few one-off singles since, but her last studio album was 11 years ago

Nighthawk76 · 08-30-2004, 05:05 PM

I guess when I think of Laura Branigan I think of the scene in Flashdance where Alex's friend, Jeannie, is participating in the ice show and the song playing is "Gloria" by Laura Branigan. Also, when that song was big there was a little girl who lived down the street from me named Gloria.

Dean Winchester · 08-30-2004, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dukey
I guess when I think of Laura Branigan I think of the scene in Flashdance where Alex's friend, Jeannie, is participating in the ice show and the song playing is "Gloria" by Laura Branigan. Also, when that song was big there was a little girl who lived down the street from me named Gloria.

the sad irony is that the actress who played Jeannie also died of the same thing Laura died from

USTVFanFromUK · 08-30-2004, 08:43 PM

It's sad she had to die espically at an age like 47.

But to be honest I never really cared for her music at all. I always thought Celine did The Power Of Love much more justice than Laura ever could.

Dean Winchester · 08-31-2004, 03:09 PM

my friend Rob, who is probably the biggest Laura Branigan fan you'll ever meet, emailed me this

10 Reasons Why Laura Branigan Was Cool

1. Without a doubt, Branigan will always be remembered for her 1982 hit "Gloria." While the song was maligned by hipsters and punk rockers at the time (partially because it was so omnipresent — it spent 36 weeks on the Billboard charts), it's one of the most memorable Top 40 songs from that era.

2. Branigan got her start with none other than the king of cool, Leonard Cohen. Branigan scored a gig as one of Cohen's back-up singers and toured with him throughout the late '70s.

3. Driven as both a singer and an actress, Branigan knew from an early age that she wanted to perform. Not just some hack singer, she honed her craft early on, attending the Academy Of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan.

4. Branigan was almost a Bond girl. Originally tapped to sing "All Time High," the theme to Octopussy, she ultimately lost out to Rita Coolidge.

5. Branigan translated her fame to a minor acting career, appearing in the TV show CHiPs and the movie Mugsy's Girl.

6. While some may debate the actual coolness of this fact, Branigan was smart enough to work with a young Michael Bolton before he managed to find his own fame. Bolton co-wrote Branigan's 1983 hit "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You."

7. Beating out Celine Dion by a long run, Branigan recorded a kick-ass version of the Jennifer Rush hit "The Power Of Love" in 1987 that puts Celine's version to shame.

8. It was hard to see a movie in the '80s without hearing Laura Branigan on the soundtrack. Her songs were present in flicks like Ghostbusters, Flashdance and Coming To America.

9. After her husband Lawrence Kruteck died in 1996, Branigan all but retired, although she was working on a comeback. She returned to the studio in 2001, released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2002 and appeared as Janis Joplin in the musical Love, Janis.

10. Above all, Laura Branigan was an amazing singer. She had an impeccable flare for choosing songs and delivered each track with drama and passion. She will be missed.

Nighthawk76 · 09-01-2004, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
the sad irony is that the actress who played Jeannie also died of the same thing Laura died from

Really? I didn't know this. When did it happen?

Lee · 09-01-2004, 11:54 PM

Here is a piece of interesting trivia:in late 1987, at the same time
Laura Branigan had her last top 40 hit "Power Of Love", Michael
Bolton had his first top 40 hit as a singer, "That's What Love Is
All About"

Dean Winchester · 09-02-2004, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dukey
Really? I didn't know this. When did it happen?

Sunny Johnson (Jeannie) died barely a year after Flashdance came out, in June 1984.

Dean Winchester · 09-02-2004, 01:07 AM

also, Laura had her last charting single, Moonlight On Water, when Michael Bolton's #1 rendition of Laura's How Am I Supposed To Live Without You was still on the chart.

Nighthawk76 · 09-02-2004, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
Sunny Johnson (Jeannie) died barely a year after Flashdance came out, in June 1984.

That's sad. I actually watched Flasdance last night after reading your post concerning Sunny Johnson's death. She was way too young to die.

Dean Winchester · 09-02-2004, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dukey
That's sad. I actually watched Flasdance last night after reading your post concerning Sunny Johnson's death. She was way too young to die.

I agree, another thing that is surprising is just how long ago her death was too. I mean, Flashdance has probably been seen many many times after she died yet people watching it don't realize that Jeannie's dead, and has been dead since a year after the movie came out.

this is a website that discusses Sunny's brief life and tragic death, she was only 30 years old
Find A Grave - Sunny Johnson

Another example of this that surprised me was the guy who played Buck in Who's That Girl, I had no idea he died in 1987 even tho I'd seen the movie many many times.

Nighthawk76 · 09-02-2004, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the information Buffy. I checked out the sight. It was a nice tribute to her.

08-30-2004, 03:40 PM	#16
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	Laura's discography 1982 Branigan contained "Gloria" (#2) and "All Night With Me" (#69) 1983 Branigan 2 contained "Solitarie" (#7), "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" (#12) and "Deep In The Dark" (dance hit) 1984 Self Control - her biggest selling album contained "Self Control" (#4), "The Lucky One" (#20) and "Ti Amo" (#55) 1985 Hold Me contained "Spanish Eddie" (#40), "Hold Me" (#82) and "I Found Someone" (#90, remade by Cher and went top 10) 1987 Touch contained "The Power Of Love" (#26, remade by Celine Dion and went #1) and "Shattered Glass" (#48) 1990 Laura Branigan contained "Moonlight On Water" (#57) and "Never In A Million Years" (Adult Contemporary hit) 1993 Over My Heart contained "Love Your Girl" (dance hit) 1995 The Best Of Branigan her greatest hits, but also contained a remake of Donna Summer's "Dim All The Lights" she had released a few one-off singles since, but her last studio album was 11 years ago

08-30-2004, 05:05 PM	#17
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	I guess when I think of Laura Branigan I think of the scene in Flashdance where Alex's friend, Jeannie, is participating in the ice show and the song playing is "Gloria" by Laura Branigan. Also, when that song was big there was a little girl who lived down the street from me named Gloria.

08-30-2004, 08:43 PM	#19
USTVFanFromUK Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 553	It's sad she had to die espically at an age like 47. But to be honest I never really cared for her music at all. I always thought Celine did The Power Of Love much more justice than Laura ever could.

08-31-2004, 03:09 PM	#20
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	my friend Rob, who is probably the biggest Laura Branigan fan you'll ever meet, emailed me this 10 Reasons Why Laura Branigan Was Cool 1. Without a doubt, Branigan will always be remembered for her 1982 hit "Gloria." While the song was maligned by hipsters and punk rockers at the time (partially because it was so omnipresent — it spent 36 weeks on the Billboard charts), it's one of the most memorable Top 40 songs from that era. 2. Branigan got her start with none other than the king of cool, Leonard Cohen. Branigan scored a gig as one of Cohen's back-up singers and toured with him throughout the late '70s. 3. Driven as both a singer and an actress, Branigan knew from an early age that she wanted to perform. Not just some hack singer, she honed her craft early on, attending the Academy Of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. 4. Branigan was almost a Bond girl. Originally tapped to sing "All Time High," the theme to Octopussy, she ultimately lost out to Rita Coolidge. 5. Branigan translated her fame to a minor acting career, appearing in the TV show CHiPs and the movie Mugsy's Girl. 6. While some may debate the actual coolness of this fact, Branigan was smart enough to work with a young Michael Bolton before he managed to find his own fame. Bolton co-wrote Branigan's 1983 hit "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You." 7. Beating out Celine Dion by a long run, Branigan recorded a kick-ass version of the Jennifer Rush hit "The Power Of Love" in 1987 that puts Celine's version to shame. 8. It was hard to see a movie in the '80s without hearing Laura Branigan on the soundtrack. Her songs were present in flicks like Ghostbusters, Flashdance and Coming To America. 9. After her husband Lawrence Kruteck died in 1996, Branigan all but retired, although she was working on a comeback. She returned to the studio in 2001, released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2002 and appeared as Janis Joplin in the musical Love, Janis. 10. Above all, Laura Branigan was an amazing singer. She had an impeccable flare for choosing songs and delivered each track with drama and passion. She will be missed.

09-01-2004, 11:54 PM	#22
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	Here is a piece of interesting trivia:in late 1987, at the same time Laura Branigan had her last top 40 hit "Power Of Love", Michael Bolton had his first top 40 hit as a singer, "That's What Love Is All About"

09-02-2004, 01:07 AM	#24
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	also, Laura had her last charting single, Moonlight On Water, when Michael Bolton's #1 rendition of Laura's How Am I Supposed To Live Without You was still on the chart.

09-02-2004, 08:33 PM	#27
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Thanks for the information Buffy. I checked out the sight. It was a nice tribute to her.