The Telegraph uses the occasion of Laura Brannigan’s death from an aneurysm to give her a decent obituary and also to throw in a couple of good snarks at others:
(co-written with Michael Bolton, who would have more success with it as a poodle-haired solo artist in 1989).
in 1994 she recorded a duet with David Hasselhoff, the Baywatch star, whose music is popular with Germans.
Poodle haired? Popular with Germans?
In
The one song that made me fall totally in love with Laura Brannigan was “The Power of Love” from off her ‘Touch’ album. I like Celine Dion but that’s one song she should have left alone. The sheer ecstacy of listening to her gut-wrenching plea for her love is pure heaven. The world suffers a great loss! Oh, although you never knew me, how I miss you, dear Laura!
I was totally shocked and disheartened when I heard that Laura had passed. The song that made me fall in love with her was “Gloria” .I dont think she was really given her due for her raw talent. She will be missed.
She was amazing! Leave poodles alone. Many sport poodle hair.
I hardly know where to start, I remember listening to miss Brannigan many years ago and having a fans crush on her, she was so beautiful to both look at and to hear. Over the years I always wondered why She had not become a bigger star than what she was, and what had become of her. I do not know that anyone ever put as much of herself into a song as she did. Then today I was talking to a friend about our favorite singers and I mentioned that I had loved Laura Brannigan and that I wondered what ever happened to her. Thats when he told me she had passed away in 2004. I told him he must be mistaken, then he showed me an article on the web about her. I was devastated, it was like someone punched me in the stomach. Never has an artists passing ever made me want to cry. I shall miss her terribly as I am sure many others will. She truely was a magnificient gift from God. To her family I send my heartfelt condolences. Thank you for raising such a wonderful young woman and Thank you even more for sharing her with the rest of us who loved her too. Excuse me while I put on one of her cd’s and say a prayer for her.
Hi
Steve here in the UK. I have only just ( 2006 ) found out that Laura had died in 2004. Bluddy heck it blew mw away. I remember the great classic Creatures of the night. It was fantastic. I was looking to download a video of it when i found out about her death. I cant beleive it. She was great and i will always remember her. She was on Automan too. Steve
I can safely say that the song that caught my attention was Gloria. After I listened to several other cuts from her albums, I was bitten.
And when Laura bit you, you stayed bitten!! And smitten!!! I saw her at the Greek Theater in the 80’s, and she was “drop” dead gorgeous. She always was in my eyes, and from some of my favorite video taped shows, one of the sexiest women God ever put on earth!!
I loved her dearly. I never got to meet her, but I was sent a personally autographed foto of her early on before she became untouchable.
One of my most treasured possessions. The gift Laura gave us was her music and her love through her music. Who could ask for more?
I had the pleasure to see Laura in Concert in Atlantic City at Trump Marina Hotel/ Casino in mid 90’s. I enjoyed it very much. The next day I was at A.C. Airport to send my daughter off on a visit , and Ms Branigan was also there in the airport. I didn’t want to bother her for her autograph- I now regret that. In her obituary somewhere on the Internet, there was a poem which end with something about : “Irish eyes will watch over you”. Does anyone remember seeing that and could they let me know where I can find it. Thanks, Ray
i dont know where to begin or what to say really.laura to me epitomised and ouzed raw tallent. her voice was original and her looks were worthy of gracing the front cover of any leading magazine.as for her songs i still play gloria over and over again but my all time favourite has to be self control as thats the song that came on the radio as i was in the process of loosing my virginity. in fact it hadnt finished by the time i did so i guess i was lacking in the self control dept.i was dumbfounded today(26/09/06)when i searched the web looking to see if she was due to release any new material, only to find out that she had passed away on 26/08/04.i will never forget now tho as august 26th is also my birthday.to the family, deepest sympathy, to the ppl who ignored her for so many yrs and decided to promote techno pop. i hope yr well proud of yrselves.cheers. gary
I must be the last to hear this beautiful lady has gone from this world. Thank God I still have her wonderful voice to listen to forever. I love her song “Forever Young” (recently re-released, but nowhere near Laura’s version). It sends a wave of joy over my heart to listen to the feeling Laura put into it. I never met her, I never saw her perform live and the only pictures I have of her are on album covers, but I will keep her in my heart as long as I live. Sincerely.
I remember powerful first recording, “Gloria”. It was great. I also love “Tiamo”. She could really sing. I don’t know why she was never a bigger recording artist. I really feel bad she died. I will miss her. She was too young to go.
laura will be sadley missed. I was lucky to see her concert in Atlanta many years ago. Gloria will always be my favorite, but she had a distinct sound. We all miss you. jack
what a voice, she was a true entertainer. i fell in love with her at “Gloria”. so shocked and saddened when she passed away. i have her the best of cd and it is awesome. her voice brings me to tears. what a job she must be doing in heaven.
i have never heard another singer put so much emotion and raw power into their music.
It sounds bloody absurd,but i only found out about Laura’s passing today,after a chance viewing of a German info-tainment program in Spain,when Laura’s song Self-Control’s was shown with a running commentary about “the late Laura Brannigan….”-BOY!! Did it come as a shock!!! I may not be a loyal fan,but I’m from the ‘old-school’ batch-where talent,quality and humbleness matter more than some young punk shaving her head bald and has to attend re-hab sessions and make it to the entertaiment-world news(haven’t we have enough of these spoilt Tramps already??!!)…
Gloria,Solitaire and especially Self-Control remain close to the heart as they came at a time when I was entering my teens and i even helped choreographing a dance performance in school to the tune of the latter,though nothing beats The Power of Love that is my all time favourite.And no matter who sings a re-make,even if its another powerful singer like C.Dion,it’ll Never be the same as the original version.
It may be a little late,but my deepest condolences to the family and,echoing what Gene Smith wrote above,Thanking you for sharing her with the rest of the world
Violet here in Scotland…i was just trying to find DVD of Self Control as its my favourite song of all times even got it as my ringtone on my phone and i swear if didnt even know she had died in 04.. what a shocker… im still in shock .. she was fab with an amazing voice. She will be missed. Her death wasnt publisized over here otherwise i would have known about it.
I sit at my computer tonight ripping cd’s to the hard drive of my new computer and come across the rock section and finally getting to the section with Laura’s cd’s. As I rip her songs to the drive it brought me back to the day that I heard about her passing. I was channel surfing, I came across MTV News, seeing her picture on the screen I stopped to hear the report only to hear that she had passed away and how. Man, did it ever blow me away and think that there would be no more “new” music coming from such a talented woman. I’m not musically talented by any extreme, hell I may not know music talent but I do like listenting to music and in my minds eye she sang with passion, energy, power and clarity. When she sings “Gloria”, “The Lucky One”, “Self Control”, “Solitaire” and the list could continue, it puts me back in my chair thinking, “God I miss this woman and the possible music that she would have produced”. Needless to say i was done ripping the “Self Control” cd awhile ago, it’s on it’s third time thru. I got online to find info on her (at one time i found the obit. and read it) to read while listening to her beautiful voice and found this site and read some of the other fans messages and saw that I could post a message. I want to thank the individual(s) for putting this web site together so that we fans can show that we’re still fans and most likely will always be fans. I know it’s been awhile since her passing but it’s still kind of strange that she’s gone. Laura you’re still missed and my God continue to watch over you. You must me making one heck of an angel.
I didn’t realise until today that Laura passed away on 26th August 2004. I only have one LP of hers; Self Control. I needed no other. She was brilliant. I have three copies of the song ‘Self Control’; the LP version, the single and the 12″ single. I still can’t believe that it has taken me nearly three years to find out that she is no more.
im a huge fan of laura branigan.i didnt know that she died till last week. i really think that she should have been very successful in her times, with her voice and looks. her voice i dont think any celine dion or madonna comes anywhere close to her. her voice was just heavenly and it had full feelings in it of what she wanted to convey.it is difficult not to be in tears when hearing her songs like “power of love” , “how am i supposed to live without you”, “forever young” to name a few.also a very beautiful woman.\, and the way she cared for her ailing husband leaving her singing career and performances even years after his death. a woman who truly had love in her heart and loved her husband dearly.inspite of the success she had she was not of the materialistic world.i pray to God may her tribe increase….a wonderful, beautiful artist and a very good human being.
I loved the lady, ,my first ever crush as a teenager was Miss Brannigan, and my god what a voice too.
Self COntrol is the first of her songs but I adore ‘Shattered Glass”.
The lady could sing the phonebook and make t sound great.
A sad loss indeed.
When I am in the gym at NY Sports Authority, I see a person singing one of her songs. I think it is “Self Control”. It is a blonde singer and the song goes “….. the people of the night…” . Isn’t this is a L B song? I was pregnant with our only child when she was big and I loved her style!!!! My daughter is now 24.
I am still shocked that such a talented person was taken away, I’m a eighties teen & every Laura song has many many memories for me. She was & will, always be a legend. Love FROM MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA
2007, I am shocked to read the death of Laura Brannigan.
I saw her perform at Sun City and was so moved by the passion she put into her songs. She sang Ti Amo and the tears rolled down her face as she sang.
On an interview she had on South African television she told how she told her husband that this place (SUN CITY) was a real dump, and that it was so primitive. She arranged for an olf VW Beetle to pick her hubby up from the airport and had it filled with empty cans.
When he arrived at Sun City and saw how magnificent it was, she just laughed and laughed because she played a joke on him
may her music forever be loved and late condolences to her family
Janine – South Africa
What a heartening lose it was to hear of Lauras untimely death, I had become a major fan of hers In 82 when Gloria came out. I was so shock to here of her sudden death to this day It seems like a dream, I was up home for my 25 year High school reunion at the time of her passing. And It was only early last year that I saw an article In People magazine about her untimely death. Dear sweet Laura I miss you very much you dont know what your music has meant to me Rest In Peace lovely Laura you are home dancing with the angels and giving a heavenly choir.
I was totally shocked and disheartened when I heard that Laura had passed. The song that made me fall in love with her was “Gloria” .I dont think she was really given her due for her raw talent. She will be missed.
Laura Branigan,
A soulful artist who sang of life with a beauty unmatched. Each song touches and moves — natural, strong, determined, and vulnerable. Heartbreaking and inspiring.
Ms. Branigan was beloved. Staff shared that Laura was his favorite singer and he was always in an expecially good mood when she was on the show. I was, too, as a college teen fortunate to be invited with a friend to Tonight Show rehearsals and taping. Lisa and I always asked to watch Laura Branigan in rehearsal and show taping. Her beautiful voice moved and inpsired. Heard Self Control before it was releases…straight to number 1. What a day…as the song still permeates in my mind. Laura was always nice…ready with big smile and kind greeting as she must have known how wonderful it was for us to be there.
To know Laura cared for her husband and mother as priority one — she was a real person who got life right.
The family and fans have so much to celebrate of Laura in her life…and a real appreciation for such a beautiful person. She evokes such great memories and certainly deserving of all accolades — induction to music hall of fame and star on the walk of fame, etc. As fans, let’s make it happen.
Laura shared so much with us and loved her family, friends, and music. She is the lasting talent of our generation. WE ARE THE LUCKY ONE! GOD BLESSES.
Laura Branigan was, quite simply,
the best!
We were/remain blessed to have had her
in our lives – her “other half.”
Love you LB now & forever!
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