Twinkle



Twinkle (15 July 1947-21 May 2015), born Lynn Annette Ripley, was an English singer-songwriter. True to her name, she had a flash of fame in The Sixties and remained obscure ever since. At the age of 16, she wrote her best-known song, Terry, whose subject (a boyfriend dying in a motorcycle accident) led to a ban by The BBC and launched her into fame. She continued in moderate popularity in the coming year, writing another hit in Golden Lights, before retired just before her 18th birthday.

Despite her modest and brief career, Twinkle could count such musicians as Elton John and Cat Stevens as fans. The Smiths also covered her Golden Lights, a cover which is more famous for pissing off Johnny Marr and leading to the band's breakup. She was also the aunt of actress Fay Ripley.


 * Eurovision Song Contest: Twinkle sang an English version of the 1965 Luxembourgian winner, Poupée de cire, poupée de son, called A Lonely Singing Doll.
 * Teenage Death Songs: "Terry" is a classic example of the type.