Darting around much? Hey, it's my blog; if you don't like it then you can get stuffed....
(....please don't get stuffed, pleeeease don't leave me.....you're the only one that reads me.....if you leave then all there will be left is me....talking to myself......and the reason why I am writing this blog is to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT from my normal life.......!)
Anyway, the reason for my dartage is that I don't think I gave music a fair crack of the whip when it came to subject of the month; Christmas just came along too quickly. For something that is SO important to me (he shall have music wherever he goes.....), there is unfinished business here; so I am hereby revisiting music as my subject of the month.
We've done the running elite list of songs, and we've even dipped into the makings of the legendary Toto song 'Africa'; for sure there has got to be an ultimate songs post where I give you (with the exception of ones already covered) those tracks which, at the lowest times of my life can inspire, and at the best times of my life....well....life doesn't get any better than that! Pretty much music for all seasons and all moods. For now however, this post is dedicated to two singers from two VERY different walks of life, two singers whose tracks - without exception, yes, even your duet with Ronan Keating Kate! - I will never EVER skip when they come-a-come-a-come-a-come-a-come-come through on my Ipod; namely James Taylor, and Kate Rusby. These two singers have marked time for me; in their songs and even more so in where I was and who I was with when I saw and heard them lives.
James Taylor
I confess that the first time I heard this fella it's safe to say it was not love at first hear. I was in my early teens, and when my brother played me one of his greatest hits there was not an earthly chance I was going to like it. He could have been in the room with me, singing his heart out, begging me for approval with his beseeching eyes, and I would still have been in just as much of a state of nonplussedness. Later on - when good sense prevailed - I learnt first to listen, then appreciate, then utterly love his work.
This man, the definitive singer-songwriter has a career which kicked of in the late 60's, and although physically rather different (hirsutedly!) over forty years later, you could go to one of his live concerts, close your eyes and be fooled that you are listening to the man then and not the man now. A truly extraordinary voice.
His songs are just as extraordinary. Most of us know 'You've Got A Friend' and what an emotional and deep song that really is (did you know that he didn't write that one; his friend Carol King wrote it, and in an incredible act of kindness gave it to him), but there are so many more stupendous tracks and if you limit yourself to this one you are truly missing out.........
'Well the sun is surely sinking down,
but the moon is slowly rising
so this old world must still be spinning round
and I still love you'
'Now there's only one road before me,
too many turns in the way,
thousands of things to do today,
billions of moments I must admit
but only one,
only one
you are my only one'
'Whenever I see your smilin' face,
I have to smile myself
because I love you!'
You know what else gets me about this man? The man himself. He has seen his fair share of struggle, and has had more than his fair share of off-the-rails action, but what we now get is a man who has been through the forest, come out the other end and is totally happy with the man he is. Whether it was with my sister, my brother (waving at him from across the concert hall) my best friend or my girlfriend; spending some time in the company of a man like this has been - and I hope will continue to be - a truly profound experience. He has this incredible knack of connecting with each and every member of the audience, and in sharing that connection it brought me closer to the person I went with (I hope you can understand that).
Sadly he will never read this, nevertheless I would still like to thank him for the music (listening to it right now in fact.....let's face it, I have to don't I?!!). It has brought happiness to my life, has been a source of strength and solace in my life, and I have had the chance to pass that happiness and Taylor-initiate others. Don't you ever, EVER stop touring!!!
sorry Kate, you'll have to wait (??!); forgot my power cable (laptop, I don't neeeeeeed onnnnnne.....) and I'm beeping like crazy........tomorrow I promise.....
........88 days to go......
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