99 Red Balloons – bravo to Wentworth Music and its roster of talented musicians for elevating their game and putting on an uplifting rock concert.

On the final Saturday of February, a full house at Kelowna Community Theatre got to sit back and be entertained by youthful exuberance in a show entitled “One-derful – a Tribute to the One-Hit Wonders from the ‘70s and ‘80s.” It wasn’t jukebox karaoke, it was students of all ages, genders, and races at Wentworth Music belting out songs and jamming on every instrument imaginable.

Neat School of Rock format. Terrific execution. Play that funky music, young phenoms.

There was also a philanthropic angle to the festivities. This was the 11^th year and 21^st concert production that the Wentworth students have put on to raise money to benefit the local community through the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. Proceeds are specifically steered toward supporting youth issues and dealing with access to mental health services, education, housing, and employment opportunities. Youth mental illness is the second-largest hospital care expenditure in Canada.

Most notably, the partnership of Wentworth Music, Interior Savings, and K96.3 Classic Rock has raised more than $146,000 through these concert events. The ringleader is Noel Wentworth, Vice President of Education at Wentworth Music. Halfway through the concert, he delivered a captivating quote about his students and staff: “we are the makers of music and dreamers of dreams.”

 

 

 

Hosting the song-fest was Rickie Tyler, afternoon and early-evening deejay at K96.3. Much to her credit, Tyler introduced each song and every student who participated in each song. The playlist was extensive (20 songs) and the student names were too many (each song had specific performers). To me, at the final curtain call, it looked like Mrs. Partridge from The Partridge Family (who remembers that ‘70s TV show?) expanded her brood to about 100 kids and they were all musically inclined.

During the more than two-hour show, I put on my nerd fedora and noted every one-hit wonder played. Here they are in order, with the singer or band. Try humming a few verses of these oldies-but-goodies:

Funky Town……..by Lipps, Inc.

Fantasy……..by Aldo Nova

Missing You……..by John Waite

Tainted Love……..by Soft Cell

99 Red Balloons……..by Nena

Video Killed The Radio Star……..by The Buggles

I Ran……..by A Flock Of Seagulls

Hot Child In The City……..by Nick Gilder

New York Groove……..by Ace Frehley

The Warrior……..by Patty Smyth and Scandal

Mickey……..by Toni Basil

Play That Funky Music……..by Wild Cherry

Come On Eileen……..by Dexys Midnight Runners

I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight……..by Cutting Crew

Wouldn’t It Be Good……..by Nik Kershaw

Easy Lover……..by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins

Stuck In The Middle With You……..by Stealers Wheel

Spirit In The Sky……..by Doctor and the Medics

This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide……..by The Kings

Your Love……..by The Outfield

Two final notes. Look for Saturday night’s show on KelownaNow.com. This summer, the Wentworth Music students will mark Canada’s 150^th Birthday with a similar show celebrating all Canadian rockers.