Frank Sinatra, old ‘Blue Eyes’ himself, had that touch of class that separated him from many other entertainers, past and present. “A selection of plants and flower arrangements would be appreciated,” for his dressing rooms read his performance contract. True his alcoholic beverage requests were somewhat more extensive. Presumably he expected be host to Dean Martin and other members of the famous ‘Rat Pack.’
But you would be mistaken if you imagined today’s ‘Brat Pack’ require similar service. In fact, much to our disappointment, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Taylor Swift are incredibly modest to the extent of not asking for any ‘plants and flower arrangements.’ Herbal teas, deli, vegetable and fruit platters are their thing, though why Ms. Swift requires ‘3 boxes Kraft Macaroni/Cheese’ you can but wonder. Then again the statuesque 5-foot-10 singer’s hobby is making snow globes. Ah well, as the somewhat more abbreviated Ms. Gomez says, “I’m young and I’m having fun.”
Elsewhere, songsters, alleged and real, have been considerably more demanding. For example, take a look at the coleopteran legend Sir Paul McCartney. He is obviously as his contract reads, “Very fond of flowers.” And he knows what he likes:
No trees, please! We want plants that are just as full at the bottom as the top such as palm, bamboo, peace lily, etc. No tree trunks!” 6-full and leafy (6 ft) floor plants, 2 - full and leafy (4 ft) floor plants); Flowers: Please stay away from weedy things. Ragweed and things of that nature are irritating to allergies. Please provide some weeping eucalyptus. Try to have some in our arrangements. Please fern foliage from a grocery store. $50.00 – One large arrangement of white Casablanca lilies with lots of foliage; $40.00 – one long stem arrangement of pale pink and white roses with lots of foliage; $35.00 – one arrangement of freesia. It comes in various colours so please mix them up. Freesia is a favourite; $35.00 – another freesia arrangement same as above; $35.00 – one arrangement of wildflowers of any colour and type; 6 loose gardenias for floating; 2-small (8” pot) gardenia plants that are in bloom only.
Not everybody needs the jungle effect. Christina Aguilera, who says, “I don’t like wearing underwear,” wants “plants, flowers” – along with “four votive candles with matches.” Back across the Atlantic, another knight, Sir Elton Hercules John (the former Reginald Kenneth Dwight) would like “4 large green plants; large arrangement of coloured flowers (no chrysanthemums, lilies, carnations or daisies).” Beyoncé Knowles asks for “two fresh floral arrangements” plus “rose scented candles.”
Jennifer Lopez will make do with white flowers (preferably roses or lilies), but must have white chaise lounges, white chair covers, white candles, white drapes, white sheets and Cuban food. A decade ago, J-Lo had an estimated fortune US$255-million – and her buttocks were insured for a cool $27-million.
Mariah Carey, whose legs are insured for US$1-billion, also like white flowers, in her case two dozen white roses. Then there are the vanilla aromatherapy candles, a $200 bottle of cabernet sauvignon. She has also made one of the most moronic movies of all time, the panned Glitter (2011). Two years later she embellished an ABC GMA appearance with four-letter words and a torn Versace gown.
Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, is downright lackadaisical with her “flowers are ok but not necessary.” Jerry Lewis requires two long-stemmed carnations be supplied as props. LL Cool J (James Todd Smith) specifies two long-stemmed roses and a bottle of baby oil in his dressing room and no animals are allowed. Prince (Prince Roger Nelson) would like jasmine and lavender scented candles as well as Yogi cocoa tea.
And then there is Lady Gaga, born Joanne Stefani Germanotta, the lass from Yonkers was called ‘Loopy’ by her father in childhood. The 5-foot-1 former go-go dancer demands all lavender bath products (both in scent and colour) as well as a mannequin with pink pubic hair. Rather unsurprisingly, in a 2011 interview, she admitted, ““I still smoke a lot of pot when I write music.”
Madonna (Madonna Louise Veronica), now a mature 56 ‘Material Matron,’ orders lilies and light pink or white roses cut to precisely 6 inches . . . and 20 international phone lines. But “I absolutely loathe hydrangeas,” quoth the diva at a Venice Film Festival press conference in 2011.
White and purple hydrangeas are the very thing Kate Perry orders up however, along with pink and white roes and peonies. If those flowers are not available, she will settle for “a selection of seasonal white flowers to include white orchids.” Unlike Jerry Lewis and LL Cool J though, ABSOLUTELY NO CARNATIONS – and all fruits and vegetables must be organic. Whether the baked beans she loves are also to be organic is not specified although she has revealed to be “going off like a firework” following indulging in them. And last July she tweeted sampling ‘acupuncture-treated sushi’ at Montreal’s Park Restaurant.
Like Paul McCartney and Elton John, although as yet unknighted, Bruce Springsteen wants two large floor plants and two table plants. His wife Patti Scialfa has her own backstage quarters that also include the same foliar decoration along with a ‘wine opener’ and 6 wine glasses’ – but strangely no wine.
Former Barbados model and beauty queen Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty) made it to the big time in 2005 when just 16 with the pop dance hit Pon De Replay. The demand for her, like her tattoos, has only increased since then. Nowadays she needs four small, clear square vases with white tulips, if in season but without foliage (second choice is white Casablanca lilies, again with no foliage, and third white freesia again – you guessed it – no foliage), plus one clear vase with Sterling Lavender Roses (if available) and a half-dozen Archipelago Black Forest candles.
Far from the stage and her Brooklyn antecedents, Barbra Streisand has been reported to insist that rose petals be floating in the toilet bowls of her hotel rooms. As for her other horticultural endeavours, as Mark Steyn once suggested, “It’s like Barbra Streisand farewell tours – there’ll be another along next summer.” Regardless, her book
My Passion for Design gives some hint of the remodelling at her California cliff top estate. Ivy and climbing roses cover otherwise innocently offending exteriors; the stone surfaces of winding paths were weathered to look as if horse hooves clomped on them; a “simple country stream” of concrete and reinforcing rod. “Everything you see on the ground was carefully planned to look natural.” Yes, even the pond with water lilies and black and white koi along with rose and vegetable gardens. “Just what God would have done if he had the money,” as Alexander Woollcott of Moss Hart’s country house after Hart added two wings and planted thousands of new trees.
Warbler Michael Bublé, who hails from Burnaby, British Columbia, doesn’t let his marriage to spectacular Argentine model Luisana Lopilato forget he’s Canadian. He asks for a local team hockey puck from wherever he appears. And a bottle of either Macallan or Oban ‘Premium Single Malt Scotch’; 1 bottle of red and white wine ($25 minimum); 5 bananas – just ripe, not overripe; almonds, dates; herbal, peppermint and caffeinated as well as organic green tea with kettle. Frank Sinatra would have been amazed.
