Topp Twins
{{Short description|New Zealand folk singers, comedians, and activists (born 1958)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Topp Twins
| image = The Topp Twins.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Jools and Lynda Topp at a screening of Untouchable Girls in September 2009
| landscape = yes
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|05|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Huntly, New Zealand
| genre = Comedy, country, folk, yodeling
| years_active = 1981–present
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://topptwins.com/ The Topp Twins Official Website]
| current_members = Dame Julie Bethridge Topp
Dame Lynda Bethridge Topp }}
The Topp Twins (born 14 May 1958){{Cite news |title=The Topp Twins |periodical=Christchurch City Library |access-date=13 September 2007 |url=http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Music/People/T/ToppTwins/ }} are the folk singing and activist sister comedy duo of New Zealand entertainers Jools and Lynda Topp. They are known for their country music influenced style, live shows and television performances. They often perform as characters, the most notable being the roles Ken & Ken, and Camp Mother & Camp Leader.{{Cite news |title=Characters: Camp Mother & Camp Leader |periodical=The Topp Twins Official Website |access-date=11 August 2021 |url=http://topptwins.com/characters/camp-mother-and-camp-leader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524101228/http://topptwins.com/characters/camp-mother-and-camp-leader |archive-date=24 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}
Career
{{Further|Lynda Topp|Jools Topp}}
The Topp Twins have performed as a country music-singing comedy duo since the 1970s. They started singing together and performing when they were children. Busking in Auckland on Queen Street in the 1980s was formative to their dynamic as entertainers with a regular Friday night appearance.{{Cite web|title=Jools Topp|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/jools-topp/biography|access-date=17 June 2020|website=NZ On Screen |language=en}} They were singing political songs of protest, about topics such as Māori land rights at Bastion Point and Nuclear Free New Zealand.{{Cite web|last=Van Beynen|first=Jack|date=3 June 2018|title='The rebels got their medals': Topp Twins Jools and Lynda made Dames|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/104404597/the-rebels-got-their-medals-topp-twins-jools-and-lynda-made-dames|access-date=17 June 2020|website=Stuff |language=en}} Both have been openly lesbian since the 1970s, and were advocates for homosexual law reform.{{Cite web|last=Bourke|first=Chris|date=27 April 2018|title=The Topp Twins: Good Sisters Gone Bad|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/2018642503/the-topp-twins-good-sisters-gone-bad|access-date=17 June 2020|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}
Being out lesbians in the early 80s singing country music through comedic characters the Gingham Sisters was probably one of the most diverse combinations of political comedy in the world... (Jools and Linda Topp 2022){{Cite web |date=2023-10-08 |title=The country's 'Topp' comedian revealed at tribute concert to iconic stars |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/chris-parker-wins-inaugural-topp-prize-at-topp-twins-tribute-concert/X3777RBJBFHNZEXJ3TR4YSQ2RA/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
The Topp Twins developed characters for the banter and audience interaction around their music. As Jools said: "We made ourselves look ridiculous ... we asked them to laugh at us, not to laugh at someone else's misfortune." In 2019 arts centre Expressions in Upper Hutt hosted an exhibition on the Topp Twins created by Te Manawa Museum in Palmerston North. Expressions director Leanne Wickham describes the appeal of the Topp Twins:
"They are able to draw people into their music and talk about the issues that are important to us using humour – whether it is Bastion Pt, the Springbok Tour or climate change."{{Cite web|last=Boyack|first=Nicholas|date=2019-05-07|title=Ken and Ken, aka Lynda and Jools Topp, still popular after 40 years|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/112525356/ken-and-ken-aka-lynda-and-jools-topp-still-popular-after-40-years|access-date=2020-06-17|website=Stuff |language=en}}
= Television =
In the late 1990s, they created their own TV series Do Not Adjust Your Twinset, which ran for three seasons and showcased their iconic cast of New Zealand characters, including Camp Mother & Camp Leader, the Bowling Ladies and Ken & Ken, roles for which they cross-dressed as 'typical kiwi blokes'.{{Cite news|title=Characters: Ken & Ken|periodical=The Topp Twins Official Website|url=http://topptwins.com/characters/ken-and-ken|access-date=18 April 2013}} The series won the twins several awards at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards and screened on the ABC and Foxtel networks in Australia. They have appeared on numerous specials and as guests. A cooking show called Topp Country ran over three seasons from 2014 to 2016.{{Cite web|title=The Show|url=https://www.toppcountry.com/-the-show|access-date=17 June 2020|website=Topp Country|language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web|last=Abadia|first=Karina|date=15 August 2015|title=Topp Country back for second season|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/71016604/topp-country-back-for-second-season|access-date=17 June 2020|website=Stuff |language=en}}
= Film =
A documentary feature film about the sisters titled The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, directed by Leanne Pooley, was released in April 2009. It broke all previous records for opening day, and opening weekend, for a New Zealand documentary. After just four weeks at the box office, it made over $1 million. As of 2011, it has made over $1.82 million in worldwide box office sales.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=topptwins.htm |title=The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls |author= |date=21 August 2011 |website=www.boxofficemojo.com |access-date=3 March 2019}} The movie was produced by Arani Cuthbert. The cinematographer was Leon Narbey.NZ On Screen. "Leon Narbey". Retrieved 10 April 2012. It was well received and has been shown at numerous film festivals worldwide,{{Cite news |title=Untouchable Girls: Film Listings and Awards |periodical=The Topp Twins Official Website |access-date=18 April 2013 |url=http://topptwins.com/tv-and-film/film-festival-listings}} winning awards at the Toronto International Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, Göteborg International Film Festival,{{Cite news |title=Dragon Award Winners |periodical=Göteborg International Film Festival |access-date=18 April 2013 |url=http://www.giff.se/us/start/festival/dragon-awards.html |quote=Audience Award – Best Feature Film ... Winner 2010: The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls}} Portland International Film Festival and the 2009 New Zealand Film and Television Awards.{{Cite news |title=Untouchable Girls |periodical=The Topp Twins Official Website |access-date=18 April 2013 |url=http://topptwins.com/tv-and-film/untouchable-girls |archive-date=2 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802040116/http://topptwins.com/tv-and-film/untouchable-girls |url-status=dead }}
Untouchable Girls is the title of a well-known song by the Topp Twins, about standing up for what you believe in.
= Memoir =
In 2023, the Twins' memoir titled Untouchable Girls: The Topp Twins' Story was published in New Zealand.{{cite book |last1=Topp |first1=Jools |author-link1=Jools Topp |last2=Topp |first2=Lynda |author-link2=Lynda Topp |date=2023 |title=Untouchable Girls: The Topp Twins' Story |url= |location=Auckland, New Zealand |publisher=Allen & Unwin |isbn=9781991006387 |oclc=1401648687}} In a television interview with The Project NZ, they said they used the downtime forced upon them by the COVID-19 pandemic and their respective cancer treatments to write the memoir.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mg1PBooksA |title=The Topp Twins on memoirs, cancer, and more! |author= |date=2023 |website=YouTube |publisher=News Hub| access-date=9 June 2024}}
Personal lives
{{Further|Lynda Topp|Jools Topp}}
Both Jools and Lynda are openly lesbian.{{cite web |url=http://topptwins.com/media/intro |title=Topp Bio |work=ToppTwins.com |access-date=26 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015202213/http://topptwins.com/media/intro |archive-date=15 October 2017 }} In March 2013, Lynda married her long-time partner Donna Luxton, a preschool teacher.{{cite news|url=http://topptwins.com/news/lynda-topp-marries-her-lady-love|title=Lynda Topp Marries Her Lady Love!|work=Topp Twins Official Website|date=March 2013|access-date=17 April 2013|archive-date=20 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420101307/http://topptwins.com/news/lynda-topp-marries-her-lady-love|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868416 |title=Couple to tie knot in Topp style|work=Television New Zealand |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=18 April 2013}} At the time of their marriage, same-sex marriage was not legal in New Zealand, so the couple entered into a civil union as a substitute for marriage. Same-sex marriage was made legal in New Zealand just a few months after the wedding.{{cite news |url= http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/mps-vote-legalise-same-sex-marriage-5409720 |title=MPs vote to legalise same sex marriage|work=Television New Zealand |date=17 April 2013}}
Before the third reading of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, which ultimately passed and legalised same-sex marriage in New Zealand, the Topp Twins publicly endorsed the bill in a post on their website.{{cite news|url=http://topptwins.com/news/2237|title=We Support the Gay Marriage Bill introduced by Louisa Wall and urge MP's to consider the rights of all New Zealanders in their pursuit of happiness.|work=Topp Twins Official Website|date=17 April 2013|access-date=17 April 2013|archive-date=20 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420101421/http://topptwins.com/news/2237|url-status=dead}} In a statement, Lynda said, "Everybody should be able to stand up and say 'I'm getting married'. A Civil Union is demeaning, this idea that you will never be good enough, that your love is somehow less than or not as worthy. There's no romance to it. And today, I feel more romantic and more in love than I've ever felt in my life."
=Breast cancer=
In 2006 Jools was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment including mastectomy. From this experience the sisters incorporated Jool's personal story of treatment and recovery into a Topp Twins stage show that toured New Zealand including raising funds for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.{{Cite news|last=Glucina|first=Rachel|date=17 February 2007|title=Jools is coming out on Topp|language=en-NZ|work=The New Zealand Herald |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10424535|access-date=17 June 2020|issn=1170-0777}}{{Cite web|title=The Topp Twins Recovery Tour|url=https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2007/oct/north-shore/the-topp-twins-recovery-tour|access-date=17 June 2020|website=Eventfinda|date=26 October 2007 |language=en}} She and her sister Lynda were already breast cancer activists and continue to use their celebrity status to educate the public about the disease.
In 2022, it was revealed that Lynda and Jools have both been battling breast cancer since 2021, but decided to receive separate treatments to prevent contracting COVID-19.{{Cite news |title=New Zealand entertainment legends the Topp Twins announce they both have breast cancer |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2022/03/new-zealand-entertainment-legends-the-topp-twins-announce-they-both-have-breast-cancer.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326223729/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2022/03/new-zealand-entertainment-legends-the-topp-twins-announce-they-both-have-breast-cancer.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 March 2022 |access-date=26 March 2022}}
Recognition and awards
File:Jools and Lynda Topp DNZM investiture.jpg, for services to entertainment, by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy]]
In 1984 the Topp Twins were named NZOA Group of the Year.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The sisters were made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2004.{{Cite web|last=Screen|first=NZ On|title=Lynda Topp {{!}} NZ On Screen|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/lynda-topp/awards|access-date=17 June 2020|website=www.nzonscreen.com|language=en}}
They were presented with the Rielly Comedy Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand in 2009.
In 2010 Wintec awarded the twins honorary masters degrees. In 2011, Waikato University awarded them honorary doctorates.{{cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/5827235/Honorary-doctorates-for-Topp-twins |title=Topp Twins Accept Honorary Doctorates From Waikato |work=Stuff |date=23 October 2011 |quote=Last year Jools and Lynda Topp were honoured with honorary masters' degrees from Wintec, and yesterday they were back on the Founders Theatre stage accepting honorary doctorates from Waikato University. |access-date=26 October 2011}}
2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards – Best Entertainment Programme: The Topp Twins and The APO
2017 New Zealand Television Awards – Best Presenter – Entertainment (shared between Lynda and Jools Topp): for Topp Country, season two.
In the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, both Lynda and Jools Topp were appointed Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to entertainment.{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2018 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2018 |date=4 June 2018 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=4 June 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Martyn |first1=Shona |title=The Topp Twins: 'Young lesbians are so confident now...that's amazing' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/the-topp-twins-young-lesbians-are-so-confident-nowthats-amazing-20190204-h1aucs.html |access-date=23 February 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 February 2019}}
In 2019, the twins jointly won a Lifetime Achievement award in the NEXT Woman of the Year awards.{{Cite web|last=Lang|first=Sarah|title=Meet Next Magazine's Woman of the Year 2019 Winners|url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/lifestyle/career/meet-next-magazines-woman-of-the-year-2019-winners-43551|access-date=6 June 2021|website=Now To Love|date=11 October 2019 |language=en}}
A tribute concert for their 40th year was staged at the Civic Theatre, Auckland in November 2022. This featured many New Zealand artists including Tami Neilson, Anika Moa, Ria Hall, Hinewehi Mohi, Troy Kingi, Jackie Clarke and Annie Crummer.{{Cite web |date=8 October 2023 |title=Topp Twins tribute concert announced amid cancer battle |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/topp-twins-tribute-extravaganza-announced-amid-entertainers-cancer-battle/JKVWKVUOJJGFMITEYR3QTD42IQ/ |access-date=8 October 2023 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair of The Front Lawn performed on-stage together, the first time in 31 years last performing in 1991 in a double bill with The Topp Twins.{{Cite web |title=Topp Twins tribute concert announced amid breast cancer battle |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/09/02/topp-twins-tribute-concert-announced-amid-breast-cancer-battle/ |access-date=8 October 2023 |website=1 News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=NEON – Watch On Demand Movies & TV Shows Online |url=https://www.neontv.co.nz/series/topp-class |access-date=8 October 2023 |website=www.neontv.co.nz}}
The Topp Prize is an annual prize named after the Topp Twins awarded by The New Zealand Comedy Trust to a 'practicing individual, duo or group with a strong, clear and unique voice'. It started in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Our Inaugural Topp Prize Winner: Chris Parker |url=https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/news-feed/inauguraltoppprizewinner/ |access-date=8 October 2023 |website=NZ International Comedy Festival |language=en}} Inaugural winner Chris Parker expressed he idolized the Topp Twins and said:
A performer like myself is a product of the work, advocacy and representation that they’ve put out into the world with such positivity and respect for Aotearoa. (Chris Parker 2022)
=Aotearoa Music Awards=
The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously known as New Zealand Music Awards (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 2008 || Topp Twins || New Zealand Music Hall of Fame || {{yes2|inductee}} || {{cite web|url=https://www.musichall.co.nz/home/inductees/|title=HOME INDUCTEES|website=www.musichall.co.nz|access-date=16 August 2021}}
|-
{{end}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"| Extended play details |
| scope="row"| No War in My Heart
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Two Timing
|
|
| scope="row"| Grass Highway
|
|
| scope="row"| Flowergirls & Cowgirls
|
|
| scope="row"| Honky Tonk Angel
|
|
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of compilation albums ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"| Extended play details |
| scope="row"| The Very Best of the Topp Twins
|
|
|---|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of EPS, with New Zealand chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Extended play details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NZ {{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Topp+Twins&titel=Twin+Set+And+Pearls&cat=a|title=Topp Twins at NZ Charts|access-date=17 August 2021}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Go Vinyl
|
| 34 |
| scope="row"| Twinset and Pearls
|
| 46 |
| scope="row"| Wear Something Sexy
|
| – |
| scope="row"| Hightime
|
| – |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography|LGBTQ|New Zealand}}
- {{Official website|http://topptwins.com}}
- [http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/topp-twins-1997 Topp Twins TV show] on NZ On Screen.
- [http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/jools-topp Biography of Jools Topp]
- [http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/lynda-topp Biography of Lynda Topp]
- {{AllMusic|id=mn0000920231|title=Topp Twins}}
- {{Discogs artist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:New Zealand lesbian musicians
Category:People from Huntly, New Zealand
Category:New Zealand comedy duos
Category:New Zealand musical duos
Category:Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Category:Comedy theatre characters
Category:New Zealand comedy musical groups
Category:Theatre characters introduced in 1981