Champagne Charlie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Champagne Charlie was originally a nickname given to Champagne merchant Charles Heidsieck

Champagne Charlie may also refer to:

• Champagne Charlie, a popular music hall song.
  • The nickname of George Leybourne who introduced the song to the London music hall.
  • Champagne Charlie, a play that reflects the 1860s London music hall rivalry between George Leybourne and Alfred Vance.
  • Champagne Charlie, a musical film, based on the play, made in 1944.
  • Champagne Charlie, a made-for-TV movie of Charles Heidseick's life starring Hugh Grant, made in 1989.

[edit] Modern usage

Subsequently, it has become to be used as a soubriquet for anyone who lives a "champagne lifestyle" in a metropolis, especially if they are from the provinces and sometimes in a derogatory sense implying that the person concerned has lost touch with their roots. In early 21st century Britain it was applied to Charles Kennedy, the leader of the Liberal Democrats.

It has also been used to describe the Scottish footballer Charlie Nicholas.

"Champagne Charlie Is My Name" was also recorded in June 1932, with different lyrics, under the name of Blind Blake (Ragtime and Blues guitar wizard and singer Blind (Arthur) Blake). It is this version of "Champagne Charlie" which was recorded and popularized again by Leon Redbone on his album "Champagne Charlie" in 1978.