Defining what exactly it is that Frisky and Mannish do is not an easy task. But this is what makes them so great. On their website, Frisky and Mannish themselves describe what they do as ‘titting around with pop songs’. I prefer to think of them as pop educators. They basically take pop songs and take the mick out of them, mix them up with other songs and create new lyrics. Their fourth UK tour came to the Lowry last week for one very outrageous evening.
‘But so what?’ I hear you cry, ‘That doesn’t sound anything special. Whilst on its own, the idea of pop parodying sounds doesn’t sound anything too inspiring, it is the personalities of the two, particularly Frisky that make audiences fall completely in love with them over and over again. Frisky’s persona: sexy, cheeky, incredibly posh (not to mention spectacularly buxom) coupled with an incredible belter of a voice that can impersonate any artist you might care to mention simply steals the show. This is not, however a failing of a double act but more of an intention. Their personalities complement each other perfectly: Frisky being the outrageous one that Mannish needs to control. Mannish too is not without his lovability: he is camp, mischievous and sexy too.
A particular favourite number was a rap version of Karen Carpenter’s Top of the World, proof that any song can be performed in the style of Graaahm (sorry, Grime). Another moment of brilliance was a compilation of angry heartbreak songs ‘the way they were supposed to be sung’ (in other words songs like ‘Someone Like You’ coupled with creepy stalker tones and sinister stares).
I could sit here all day describing and praising each and every song Frisky and Mannish performed. In short, go see it. You’ll sing, you’ll dance, you’ll laugh, you might even start to see the beauty of pop music.
