Cliff Richard’s 100th album: a testament to naff appeal

CONFIRMING the endurance of naff, Cliff Richard’s 100th album is released on Nov 8, just weeks after the death of Lou Reed, 71.

As of one of the 20th century’s most influential musicians dies, one of cheesy-listening’s most prolific singers trots out more of the same. Naff is unending.

Richard, 73, is a trim, tanned, shiny-toothed figurehead for naff. He is the polyester slacks of pop, the beige leather sofa of easy listening, yet people buy his stuff — how else to explain the 100th album? (It’s an album of cover versions, called The Fabulous Rock ’n’ Roll Songbook, although trading standards might want to look into the misuse of both the terms ‘fabulous’ and ‘rock ’n’ roll’ ).