Fans ask - Chris de Burgh answers!
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December 20, 2006
Chris de Burgh:
I would like to wish my friends and fans all over the world a very Happy Christmas and a bright New Year, where your wishes and dreams can come true. I hope you enjoyed The Storyman CD - and the Tour that went with it - as much as I did, and I look forward to presenting more concerts, and a few surprises, in 2007! This is the time of year when people come together to not only celebrate the magic of Christmas but also to show goodwill to all men, and women, wherever they are in the world, and whatever their religious beliefs, to share a common humanity; with minimal change, everyone here is the same. And a final thought - if you know someone who is lonely this Christmas, or has lost a loved one, please take the time to welcome them into your home and your heart, and bring back the wonders of Christmas that forever shine in the eyes of a child. All the best, Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh:
I would like to wish my friends and fans all over the world a very Happy Christmas and a bright New Year, where your wishes and dreams can come true. I hope you enjoyed The Storyman CD - and the Tour that went with it - as much as I did, and I look forward to presenting more concerts, and a few surprises, in 2007! This is the time of year when people come together to not only celebrate the magic of Christmas but also to show goodwill to all men, and women, wherever they are in the world, and whatever their religious beliefs, to share a common humanity; with minimal change, everyone here is the same. And a final thought - if you know someone who is lonely this Christmas, or has lost a loved one, please take the time to welcome them into your home and your heart, and bring back the wonders of Christmas that forever shine in the eyes of a child. All the best, Chris de Burgh
November 25, 2006:
Laurent Tomassini (31) from Paris, France:
Hi Chris, I like to take photos everywhere to catch good moments, a special wonderful sunset, and many other unfamiliar things. I always have my camera with me to catch them and to be ready for the perfect moments that I need. I also like after taking photos, have a personal touch and make diaporamas to add for private use a musical background to illustrate my feelings. Do you like also to take photos in your beautiful country, or do you have sometimes the regret to be in a special place looking a beautiful sky (for example) and don't have a camera to remember it in this way?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Laurent! I know you. We have met before. And it’s great to have a camera with you. But you know, it’s pathetic for me to admit this, but I had an Olympus camera many years ago, and then I just stopped bringing it with me on tour, because it was an extra piece of luggage. I don’t know why I didn’t bother to get one, but nowadays with digital cameras they are amazing and they are light. And if you don’t like a picture you just erase it. It’s also a great way of showing my family where I have been. For example recently in New Zealand, Australia and Dubai. And it’s a great way of sharing information with friends on the internet. Often I have been in the situation, I am ashamed to say, where I have seen a fantastic sunset or an item I wish I had taken a picture of, and I didn’t have my camera with me. But as they are getting smaller and smaller and easier to carry, you never know, I may have one in my pocket the next time we meet and we’ll take a picture of each other.
Editor’s note:
This is once again the last question and answer for now. We will return as soon as we receive new answers by Chris de Burgh. Please always keep in mind that he will try and answer as many questions as he possibly can, but a lot of them come in and it’s impossible to answer them all. Keep the questions coming everybody and enjoy the concerts of the current “Storyman” Tour! Astrid :)
Laurent Tomassini (31) from Paris, France:
Hi Chris, I like to take photos everywhere to catch good moments, a special wonderful sunset, and many other unfamiliar things. I always have my camera with me to catch them and to be ready for the perfect moments that I need. I also like after taking photos, have a personal touch and make diaporamas to add for private use a musical background to illustrate my feelings. Do you like also to take photos in your beautiful country, or do you have sometimes the regret to be in a special place looking a beautiful sky (for example) and don't have a camera to remember it in this way?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Laurent! I know you. We have met before. And it’s great to have a camera with you. But you know, it’s pathetic for me to admit this, but I had an Olympus camera many years ago, and then I just stopped bringing it with me on tour, because it was an extra piece of luggage. I don’t know why I didn’t bother to get one, but nowadays with digital cameras they are amazing and they are light. And if you don’t like a picture you just erase it. It’s also a great way of showing my family where I have been. For example recently in New Zealand, Australia and Dubai. And it’s a great way of sharing information with friends on the internet. Often I have been in the situation, I am ashamed to say, where I have seen a fantastic sunset or an item I wish I had taken a picture of, and I didn’t have my camera with me. But as they are getting smaller and smaller and easier to carry, you never know, I may have one in my pocket the next time we meet and we’ll take a picture of each other.
Editor’s note:
This is once again the last question and answer for now. We will return as soon as we receive new answers by Chris de Burgh. Please always keep in mind that he will try and answer as many questions as he possibly can, but a lot of them come in and it’s impossible to answer them all. Keep the questions coming everybody and enjoy the concerts of the current “Storyman” Tour! Astrid :)
November 24, 2006:
Tom Hannon (27) from Amsterdam, The Netherlands:
Hello Chris - I often wonder to myself that if I was a famous musician the world over, how history would judge me for my contribution to both music and away from music. How do you think history will judge yourself? All the best, Tom
Chris de Burgh:
I have no idea how history will judge me. But I would like to think that my music will be acknowledged as being perhaps better composed, better written than I have been given credit for by writers in the music industry. I think they would have preferred if I had suffered a bit more in public. Either being a drug addict or an alcoholic, or lived the rock’n roll life style to make it more acceptable to what they would have been if they had been in my position. I have always believed that it is much better to stay healthy for the ones that you love and for your own benefit rather than pandering to the tastes of a very very small number of music critics, most of whom are failed musicians in any case. So I would like to think that people will come back to my melodies and my stories for many years to come. And I hope that people will enjoy them through the generations. That’s every musician’s dream obviously and every songwriter’s dream to not only span the world but also span generations with his music.
Tom Hannon (27) from Amsterdam, The Netherlands:
Hello Chris - I often wonder to myself that if I was a famous musician the world over, how history would judge me for my contribution to both music and away from music. How do you think history will judge yourself? All the best, Tom
Chris de Burgh:
I have no idea how history will judge me. But I would like to think that my music will be acknowledged as being perhaps better composed, better written than I have been given credit for by writers in the music industry. I think they would have preferred if I had suffered a bit more in public. Either being a drug addict or an alcoholic, or lived the rock’n roll life style to make it more acceptable to what they would have been if they had been in my position. I have always believed that it is much better to stay healthy for the ones that you love and for your own benefit rather than pandering to the tastes of a very very small number of music critics, most of whom are failed musicians in any case. So I would like to think that people will come back to my melodies and my stories for many years to come. And I hope that people will enjoy them through the generations. That’s every musician’s dream obviously and every songwriter’s dream to not only span the world but also span generations with his music.
November 23, 2006:
Renae Dewji (46) from Hartford, USA:
Dear Chris, Long time, no chat! I'm glad that MOtL is back. I missed it. I'm really looking forward to "The Storyman." Just by the excitement surrounding it by your fans, it sounds like it will be good. I am sure it will be well worth the wait. What sort of events, experiences, etc. did you draw upon while writing the material for "The Storyman?" Did you find it an easy endeavor? The real question I want to ask you today is, if you had to choose - absolutely had to pick one album of yours that you thought was your best in every way - which one would it be? Glad to see you back. Thanks for being you. Best always, Renae Dewji.
Chris de Burgh:
I am also delighted that MOtL is back again. And I would take this opportunity to yet again thank Astrid for all her hard work in listening to the tapes that I send her and trying to make sure that she writes down exactly what I say. And maybe some of the things that I say may be said in a difficult to understand way, but it’s a wonderful way of communicating with my fans around the world. “The Storyman”, as I said in an earlier answer, should be out by now. I am very excited by this record. The material came from my imagination, many places around the world that struck me as being interesting. But actually a lot of the songs arrived unannounced. I didn’t actually think “I want to go to Leningrad in 1941”, I just had a piece of melody and a few words that struck me as if it started off a film about Leningrad in that era. Not that I’ve read a book, but I knew a bit about it. I actually had to go on the internet to find out some more information, as I did about just about all the other songs as well to be factually accurate. And if I had to choose one album? I couldn’t really do that, but I would put into my top 3 probably for reasons of what they did for my career and going back to listen to the melodies and the fun I had recording these albums, I would probably put “The Getaway”, “Into The Light” and the current one “The Storyman” into my top 3. And at number four would most likely be “The Road To Freedom”.
Renae Dewji (46) from Hartford, USA:
Dear Chris, Long time, no chat! I'm glad that MOtL is back. I missed it. I'm really looking forward to "The Storyman." Just by the excitement surrounding it by your fans, it sounds like it will be good. I am sure it will be well worth the wait. What sort of events, experiences, etc. did you draw upon while writing the material for "The Storyman?" Did you find it an easy endeavor? The real question I want to ask you today is, if you had to choose - absolutely had to pick one album of yours that you thought was your best in every way - which one would it be? Glad to see you back. Thanks for being you. Best always, Renae Dewji.
Chris de Burgh:
I am also delighted that MOtL is back again. And I would take this opportunity to yet again thank Astrid for all her hard work in listening to the tapes that I send her and trying to make sure that she writes down exactly what I say. And maybe some of the things that I say may be said in a difficult to understand way, but it’s a wonderful way of communicating with my fans around the world. “The Storyman”, as I said in an earlier answer, should be out by now. I am very excited by this record. The material came from my imagination, many places around the world that struck me as being interesting. But actually a lot of the songs arrived unannounced. I didn’t actually think “I want to go to Leningrad in 1941”, I just had a piece of melody and a few words that struck me as if it started off a film about Leningrad in that era. Not that I’ve read a book, but I knew a bit about it. I actually had to go on the internet to find out some more information, as I did about just about all the other songs as well to be factually accurate. And if I had to choose one album? I couldn’t really do that, but I would put into my top 3 probably for reasons of what they did for my career and going back to listen to the melodies and the fun I had recording these albums, I would probably put “The Getaway”, “Into The Light” and the current one “The Storyman” into my top 3. And at number four would most likely be “The Road To Freedom”.
November 22, 2006:
Billie Wilson (55) from Glasgow, Scotland:
Hello Chris, I'm fairly new to your website but not to your music. If I could I would like to tell you what your music means to me. I have m/s and when the pain gets a bit much I listen to your music and because you tell a story in your songs and you sing them with such emotion I am there with you and for a while the pain becomes bearable. Thank you for that. But one night I was listening to one last song before I went to bed and it was "You And Me". I had never heard this song before and I thought you were saying goodbye. I was listening on the Ipod and it was too late to go through all my music to find out when you recorded it. I have since found out you recorded it on the Crusader CD and it was 1979. Can you tell me why you wrote that song and what it meant at that time? If you can't answer this I hope you read it just so you know how much your music means to lots of people. Thank you Chris. Take care and God bless. Billie.
Chris de Burgh:
As you have correctly said “You And Me” is the last song on the album “Crusader”. I wrote this because Crusader itself is such a big song. And although I wanted it to be close to the end of the record – and don’t forget those were the times of vinyl records, so it would be on side 2 of a vinyl record or indeed of a cassette – I wanted to have a way of saying thanks very much, it’s the end of the record and I will be back to sing for you again. And I will take you back to – in fact the lyric goes: “I will lead you through the ancient halls and stories of the past and the many ways of loving. And when all is said and done, there is only you and me. You and me.” And that just refers to not only people close to me, but also singing for the audience that has inspired me and looked after me and supported me all these years.
Billie Wilson (55) from Glasgow, Scotland:
Hello Chris, I'm fairly new to your website but not to your music. If I could I would like to tell you what your music means to me. I have m/s and when the pain gets a bit much I listen to your music and because you tell a story in your songs and you sing them with such emotion I am there with you and for a while the pain becomes bearable. Thank you for that. But one night I was listening to one last song before I went to bed and it was "You And Me". I had never heard this song before and I thought you were saying goodbye. I was listening on the Ipod and it was too late to go through all my music to find out when you recorded it. I have since found out you recorded it on the Crusader CD and it was 1979. Can you tell me why you wrote that song and what it meant at that time? If you can't answer this I hope you read it just so you know how much your music means to lots of people. Thank you Chris. Take care and God bless. Billie.
Chris de Burgh:
As you have correctly said “You And Me” is the last song on the album “Crusader”. I wrote this because Crusader itself is such a big song. And although I wanted it to be close to the end of the record – and don’t forget those were the times of vinyl records, so it would be on side 2 of a vinyl record or indeed of a cassette – I wanted to have a way of saying thanks very much, it’s the end of the record and I will be back to sing for you again. And I will take you back to – in fact the lyric goes: “I will lead you through the ancient halls and stories of the past and the many ways of loving. And when all is said and done, there is only you and me. You and me.” And that just refers to not only people close to me, but also singing for the audience that has inspired me and looked after me and supported me all these years.
November 21, 2006:
Bryce Tidwell (36) from Macon, GA, USA:
The "Lady in Red" is one of my all time favorite songs. It so eloquently captures the euphoria of romance and love in full bloom. I am not yet married, but I have taken flight on the wings of love, enough to know the dreams of love, and I have a dream of one day dancing with my (future) wife, on our wedding night, to a remake of "The Lady in Red" song--using the words "The Lady in White" to perfectly capture the sentiment of the wedding night. I wonder if you have ever considered doing a version of this song specifically for newlywed brides (who usually wear white). I suspect there are millions of future brides out there who will long for their husbands, on their wedding night, to echo the words of your song through a song dedication or a whispered affirmation of her beauty. Thanks for taking time to answer this and other questions. Thanks for helping me dream the dream, of a love yet seen.
Chris de Burgh:
What a terrific question! In fact you write this, as if you yourself are a writer. You have used some wonderful adjectives, and you create a very interesting and special and romantic mood with the words you have composed here. My song “The Lady In Red” is actually used all over the world for the first dance after a wedding or during weddings. And I think a couple of times I actually sang it specifically to people at weddings as “The Lady In White”, but I haven’t got round to actually recording a version. Maybe it could go “The Lady in White, is with me tonight, cheek to cheek.” Anyway, I might get round to that one day, just to think about all those newlywed brides who usually wear white, you are quite right. Thanks very much for your words about my music and in particular “The Lady In Red”.
Bryce Tidwell (36) from Macon, GA, USA:
The "Lady in Red" is one of my all time favorite songs. It so eloquently captures the euphoria of romance and love in full bloom. I am not yet married, but I have taken flight on the wings of love, enough to know the dreams of love, and I have a dream of one day dancing with my (future) wife, on our wedding night, to a remake of "The Lady in Red" song--using the words "The Lady in White" to perfectly capture the sentiment of the wedding night. I wonder if you have ever considered doing a version of this song specifically for newlywed brides (who usually wear white). I suspect there are millions of future brides out there who will long for their husbands, on their wedding night, to echo the words of your song through a song dedication or a whispered affirmation of her beauty. Thanks for taking time to answer this and other questions. Thanks for helping me dream the dream, of a love yet seen.
Chris de Burgh:
What a terrific question! In fact you write this, as if you yourself are a writer. You have used some wonderful adjectives, and you create a very interesting and special and romantic mood with the words you have composed here. My song “The Lady In Red” is actually used all over the world for the first dance after a wedding or during weddings. And I think a couple of times I actually sang it specifically to people at weddings as “The Lady In White”, but I haven’t got round to actually recording a version. Maybe it could go “The Lady in White, is with me tonight, cheek to cheek.” Anyway, I might get round to that one day, just to think about all those newlywed brides who usually wear white, you are quite right. Thanks very much for your words about my music and in particular “The Lady In Red”.
November 20, 2006:
Nune Jende (43) from South Africa, living in Australia, currently in Holland:
Salutations! How you influenced my life! How you moved my heart! Your music tore me apart! Thank you for the lyrics, the music. Have you ever read "Objectivism”, the theories of Ayn Rand? All related material? May I ask you to not give up, seize the day, inspire, make a difference, the talents you have, the opportunities, another "Passchendaele", another "Lady in Red", it sounds cheeky, trite, obnoxious but please - one more song - your personal best - the lily of the valley - the song of songs - something about kindness, compassion, love, laughter, children, bravery, morality, values, rationality, caring - so many great leaders - make a difference - yours sincerely - Nune
Chris de Burgh:
Again this is one of those extraordinary questions or indeed comments that really I can’t say too much about, except to say thank you very much. My whole life has been built on trying to make a difference to not only those around me, but other people that I can touch through my music around the world. So I do my best to try and change things for the better. I haven’t read Ayn Rand yet, but I do have two books by him and I want to get round to reading them at some stage.
Nune Jende (43) from South Africa, living in Australia, currently in Holland:
Salutations! How you influenced my life! How you moved my heart! Your music tore me apart! Thank you for the lyrics, the music. Have you ever read "Objectivism”, the theories of Ayn Rand? All related material? May I ask you to not give up, seize the day, inspire, make a difference, the talents you have, the opportunities, another "Passchendaele", another "Lady in Red", it sounds cheeky, trite, obnoxious but please - one more song - your personal best - the lily of the valley - the song of songs - something about kindness, compassion, love, laughter, children, bravery, morality, values, rationality, caring - so many great leaders - make a difference - yours sincerely - Nune
Chris de Burgh:
Again this is one of those extraordinary questions or indeed comments that really I can’t say too much about, except to say thank you very much. My whole life has been built on trying to make a difference to not only those around me, but other people that I can touch through my music around the world. So I do my best to try and change things for the better. I haven’t read Ayn Rand yet, but I do have two books by him and I want to get round to reading them at some stage.
November 19, 2006:
Kaveh (30) from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
Dear Chris, I'm always taking my questions from your beautiful songs, but I want to know more about the Saint Peter's Gate and Rivers Of Abraham, that where are these places exactly? Another thing is I'm Iranian but I came to Malaysia for freedom, when I felt Jesus in my heart. And as I see there are many fans here, why you don't set up a tour program for East Asia? Thank you.
Chris de Burgh:
I can explain a little bit about Saint Peter’s Gate. It’s that I had this idea some years ago about revenge, and how at the end of our lives, it doesn’t make any difference, if you are a princess or a king or a president or an ordinary person. We are all the same in the eyes of whichever God you believe in. And I had the feeling that it would be nice if in the after-life that there was a chance for all those people who had been murdered, whose lives had been ruined by the actions of a small number of people, dictators, for example Stalin, Mugabe when he goes finally. The really really seriously bad men on this planet. It would be great that they would be greeted up at Saint Peter’s Gate by all those people that they have damaged in the past. And the souls of these bad people are then for eternity being tortured by those they have hurt in the past. It is obviously a crazy and foolish idea, I suppose. But maybe not. We don’t know what happens after death. So I created this story around Saint Peter’s Gate as me arriving at my destination and then only to discover that I hadn’t been called yet. But I did see one of these dictators being brought to his knees and given a very hard time indeed. The Rivers of Abraham of course doesn’t exist, only in my head. But I had this idea about the early times of Moses saying to the people around him to go forth and multiply. Similarly the people who go out from this planet to take the seed of mankind into the solar system. It is a similar kind of idea.
Kaveh (30) from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
Dear Chris, I'm always taking my questions from your beautiful songs, but I want to know more about the Saint Peter's Gate and Rivers Of Abraham, that where are these places exactly? Another thing is I'm Iranian but I came to Malaysia for freedom, when I felt Jesus in my heart. And as I see there are many fans here, why you don't set up a tour program for East Asia? Thank you.
Chris de Burgh:
I can explain a little bit about Saint Peter’s Gate. It’s that I had this idea some years ago about revenge, and how at the end of our lives, it doesn’t make any difference, if you are a princess or a king or a president or an ordinary person. We are all the same in the eyes of whichever God you believe in. And I had the feeling that it would be nice if in the after-life that there was a chance for all those people who had been murdered, whose lives had been ruined by the actions of a small number of people, dictators, for example Stalin, Mugabe when he goes finally. The really really seriously bad men on this planet. It would be great that they would be greeted up at Saint Peter’s Gate by all those people that they have damaged in the past. And the souls of these bad people are then for eternity being tortured by those they have hurt in the past. It is obviously a crazy and foolish idea, I suppose. But maybe not. We don’t know what happens after death. So I created this story around Saint Peter’s Gate as me arriving at my destination and then only to discover that I hadn’t been called yet. But I did see one of these dictators being brought to his knees and given a very hard time indeed. The Rivers of Abraham of course doesn’t exist, only in my head. But I had this idea about the early times of Moses saying to the people around him to go forth and multiply. Similarly the people who go out from this planet to take the seed of mankind into the solar system. It is a similar kind of idea.
November 18, 2006:
Stefan Lauer (38) from Germany:
Can you tell us about the progress of your Storyman project, are the members of your actual band the same ones as last time?
Chris de Burgh:
By the time this question is answered it is quite likely that my Storyman album has been released, so a lot of people will have had a chance to discover for themselves whether they like it or not and to assess whether it ranks as one of my best or better CDs. Personally I am extremely pleased with it. I love the ideas behind the songs. I loved developing them. Recording mostly was a lot of fun, particularly the live recording with the 92 piece orchestra in Abbey Road Studios across 2 days. And working with the Russian singers and with the Mahatalla Queens who are from South Africa. It’s an interesting project for me and it does not have anything to do with the commercial world of music, which I don’t really listen to much anymore. This is my own project, my own ideas and writing the stories to developing my ideas so people can actually visualize the stories as films has also been very exciting for me to do. And I am quite certain that if this record is accepted the way I hope it is, I will follow up with “The Storyman” part 2 in the years to come. The band members are not the original Canadian band of course, that really dissolved in the early 90s. But the band is comprised of 3 members of the original band that I had within the last few years and there are two new keyboard players as well, so it should sound pretty interesting.
Stefan Lauer (38) from Germany:
Can you tell us about the progress of your Storyman project, are the members of your actual band the same ones as last time?
Chris de Burgh:
By the time this question is answered it is quite likely that my Storyman album has been released, so a lot of people will have had a chance to discover for themselves whether they like it or not and to assess whether it ranks as one of my best or better CDs. Personally I am extremely pleased with it. I love the ideas behind the songs. I loved developing them. Recording mostly was a lot of fun, particularly the live recording with the 92 piece orchestra in Abbey Road Studios across 2 days. And working with the Russian singers and with the Mahatalla Queens who are from South Africa. It’s an interesting project for me and it does not have anything to do with the commercial world of music, which I don’t really listen to much anymore. This is my own project, my own ideas and writing the stories to developing my ideas so people can actually visualize the stories as films has also been very exciting for me to do. And I am quite certain that if this record is accepted the way I hope it is, I will follow up with “The Storyman” part 2 in the years to come. The band members are not the original Canadian band of course, that really dissolved in the early 90s. But the band is comprised of 3 members of the original band that I had within the last few years and there are two new keyboard players as well, so it should sound pretty interesting.
November 17, 2006:
Alain Dahan (18) from Ottawa, Canada:
Hi Chris, I loved Lebanese Night with Elissa, not only because I am proud to have an artist such as yourself to sing for Lebanon but because it touches a person deep inside like most of your songs. I have been singing for several years now, I want to thank you for having such amazing songs that have been helping me learn... and finally I have reached a level where I am proud to say "I can sing". So I would like to thank you. It wouldn't have been possible without your songs because these days it's hard to find what I call "real taste in music". My question to you is do you think that you were born talented, or was it just by practicing you developed a wonderful voice? The reason for asking this question is because I noticed that if I didn't practice every single day I start falling back. I would also like to know briefly about how you started your career. My voice is very similar to Josh Groban's, this is because I also trained myself on his songs, and my voice became like his unintentionally. Is it a bad to have a voice similar to a Superstar's?
Chris de Burgh:
Thanks for very much, Alain, for your kind words about Elissa and my song “Lebanese Night”, which was, as you know, a number one record in many places all over the Middle East including Arab countries which was a real thrill for me. At this point I’d like to, again, state how saddened I was by the war in Lebanon and how it is my intention to try and return and show my affection, respect and support for the people of Lebanon as soon as possible. I am delighted, Alain, that you have managed to sing by singing along with me, because I have quite a big vocal range. I think in my heart, just about everybody is born with the ability to sing. And I started singing at a young age, mainly because of where I was growing up, which was in this old castle in Wexford in Ireland, where in the summertime we’d have guests to stay. So I had a chance to sing a lot during the summer months. And if I listen back to my voice even on the early records, it really has changed dramatically. Mainly because I have learned to breathe properly. And I took a lot more care of my health, I drink a lot of water and try to use my voice a bit every day. It doesn’t mean I practise for hours and hours and hours. On the contrary, I am often told by opera singers they are amazed that I can sing five nights a week for anything like up to three hours a night without training and without constant practice. I think it’s all got to do with a mental attitude as well as health and looking after myself. No, I don’t think there is anything wrong with sounding like Josh Groban, because he is a very fine singer. However it is important to allow your own style to come through. I am not a big fan of the trained opera voices, where they sound sometimes like strangled cats. I much prefer identity and personality to come through in a human voice, when it sings.
Alain Dahan (18) from Ottawa, Canada:
Hi Chris, I loved Lebanese Night with Elissa, not only because I am proud to have an artist such as yourself to sing for Lebanon but because it touches a person deep inside like most of your songs. I have been singing for several years now, I want to thank you for having such amazing songs that have been helping me learn... and finally I have reached a level where I am proud to say "I can sing". So I would like to thank you. It wouldn't have been possible without your songs because these days it's hard to find what I call "real taste in music". My question to you is do you think that you were born talented, or was it just by practicing you developed a wonderful voice? The reason for asking this question is because I noticed that if I didn't practice every single day I start falling back. I would also like to know briefly about how you started your career. My voice is very similar to Josh Groban's, this is because I also trained myself on his songs, and my voice became like his unintentionally. Is it a bad to have a voice similar to a Superstar's?
Chris de Burgh:
Thanks for very much, Alain, for your kind words about Elissa and my song “Lebanese Night”, which was, as you know, a number one record in many places all over the Middle East including Arab countries which was a real thrill for me. At this point I’d like to, again, state how saddened I was by the war in Lebanon and how it is my intention to try and return and show my affection, respect and support for the people of Lebanon as soon as possible. I am delighted, Alain, that you have managed to sing by singing along with me, because I have quite a big vocal range. I think in my heart, just about everybody is born with the ability to sing. And I started singing at a young age, mainly because of where I was growing up, which was in this old castle in Wexford in Ireland, where in the summertime we’d have guests to stay. So I had a chance to sing a lot during the summer months. And if I listen back to my voice even on the early records, it really has changed dramatically. Mainly because I have learned to breathe properly. And I took a lot more care of my health, I drink a lot of water and try to use my voice a bit every day. It doesn’t mean I practise for hours and hours and hours. On the contrary, I am often told by opera singers they are amazed that I can sing five nights a week for anything like up to three hours a night without training and without constant practice. I think it’s all got to do with a mental attitude as well as health and looking after myself. No, I don’t think there is anything wrong with sounding like Josh Groban, because he is a very fine singer. However it is important to allow your own style to come through. I am not a big fan of the trained opera voices, where they sound sometimes like strangled cats. I much prefer identity and personality to come through in a human voice, when it sings.
November 16, 2006:
Heike Kiwitt (37) from Straelen, Germany:
Dear Chris, you are a great storyteller and everyone of us has his story to tell, I think. It’s not easy for me to make you understand me, my English is not so well, but I’ll try. You did wonderful songs about things that happened and about feelings most of us know well. Because you wrote ‘Songbird’ and you always sing it with soul I think I can tell you a story. 12 years ago my son Marvin was born, we were happy about our second son and everything seems to be ok. But when he was only 14 days on earth my baby died. It took a year before I could go on living again, it was a difficult time for me, my husband and our, at this time 3 years old son Kevin. Four years later, in 1998 we held Steffen in our arms and he is such a wonderful boy. The special thing is that I think the soul (how do you call ‘Seele’ in English?) - I think the soul of Marvin had come back and is now full of happiness and just joining life every day. The question is: do you think you can imagine what I felt when my baby died, and the fight I had to win to stand up, can you imagine the fear when we were waiting for the baby which is Steffen now? And can you imagine the love and the pain when he was born? Love for him, pain when the pictures of Marvin are so strong. We are very happy now with our two sons but there is always Marvin on my mind. I wonder if you can put these feelings in a song. Expecting a baby so hopefully, hold him in your arms, then he dies - there is only pain. Then stand up, take the risk again full of fear. Then the happiness about a healthy baby, now a boy just loving life for itself. But always remember the baby which died. I believe that you are the one who can imagine and put it in words – you’ve got a place in my heart and I love your wonderful voice. Sorry, the letter is sooo long, but I could not tell my story in a shorter way. Love, Heike
Chris de Burgh:
Heike, please accept my deepest sympathies for the terrible grief and loss that you must have been going through. There is not a lot more I could say about your deeply moving letter.
Heike Kiwitt (37) from Straelen, Germany:
Dear Chris, you are a great storyteller and everyone of us has his story to tell, I think. It’s not easy for me to make you understand me, my English is not so well, but I’ll try. You did wonderful songs about things that happened and about feelings most of us know well. Because you wrote ‘Songbird’ and you always sing it with soul I think I can tell you a story. 12 years ago my son Marvin was born, we were happy about our second son and everything seems to be ok. But when he was only 14 days on earth my baby died. It took a year before I could go on living again, it was a difficult time for me, my husband and our, at this time 3 years old son Kevin. Four years later, in 1998 we held Steffen in our arms and he is such a wonderful boy. The special thing is that I think the soul (how do you call ‘Seele’ in English?) - I think the soul of Marvin had come back and is now full of happiness and just joining life every day. The question is: do you think you can imagine what I felt when my baby died, and the fight I had to win to stand up, can you imagine the fear when we were waiting for the baby which is Steffen now? And can you imagine the love and the pain when he was born? Love for him, pain when the pictures of Marvin are so strong. We are very happy now with our two sons but there is always Marvin on my mind. I wonder if you can put these feelings in a song. Expecting a baby so hopefully, hold him in your arms, then he dies - there is only pain. Then stand up, take the risk again full of fear. Then the happiness about a healthy baby, now a boy just loving life for itself. But always remember the baby which died. I believe that you are the one who can imagine and put it in words – you’ve got a place in my heart and I love your wonderful voice. Sorry, the letter is sooo long, but I could not tell my story in a shorter way. Love, Heike
Chris de Burgh:
Heike, please accept my deepest sympathies for the terrible grief and loss that you must have been going through. There is not a lot more I could say about your deeply moving letter.
November 15, 2006:
Patrick Donohoe (22) from Dublin, Ireland:
Dear Chris, I'm a young man starting out on the long road of becoming a musician. I have been playing guitar for the past four years now and have discovered that my music needs a new direction. My current direction is rock music, but I've become tired of the fact that I must make the audience (especially the young audience of today) nearly want to fight each other during our songs. I was given an old LP by my brother, it was your Best Moves album. I was touched and could relate to many of the songs on the album but one stood out. It was Satin Green Shutters. My question is this have you any advice for a musician who is trying to put more feeling into his songs, plus my brother has recently passed away and I was wondering if you could pass on any information on how to play Satin Green Shutters as it would be an eternal favour to a dear fan. I thank you for taking the time to read this request and I look forward to (hopefully) reading your reply.
Chris de Burgh:
This is another one of those extraordinary questions that involve people coming to terms with their grief. And also this young man, Patrick, wants to go on to become a professional musician, which is of course a very difficult road. I know very well how hard it can be. And what I have done, myself, in the past is try to get away from what everybody else is doing and try to do something different. It is a very tough road to go on, Patrick, and the chances of failure right across the board are very high indeed. But at least you know that if you succeed or fail, you have done it your own way. The “Satin Green Shutters” song came from the heart of course, and the only way I can suggest to get more feeling into songs is allow yourself to sink in to that well, that pool inside you, which is full of many things. Of joy, of hope, of sadness, of melancholy. Allow yourself to cry more. Get in touch with your emotions more. When you think about your dead brother, for example, think about growing up with him. Think about fighting with him. Think about playing with him. Think about enjoying things with him. Think about going to things with your parents and with him. Get in touch with your emotions, get closer and closer. It’s not hard to do, but it takes practice. For me I didn’t need to practice. I was always somebody who is deeply in touch with his own emotions very quickly. This has helped me with my work, my songwriting and obviously with my imagination.
Patrick Donohoe (22) from Dublin, Ireland:
Dear Chris, I'm a young man starting out on the long road of becoming a musician. I have been playing guitar for the past four years now and have discovered that my music needs a new direction. My current direction is rock music, but I've become tired of the fact that I must make the audience (especially the young audience of today) nearly want to fight each other during our songs. I was given an old LP by my brother, it was your Best Moves album. I was touched and could relate to many of the songs on the album but one stood out. It was Satin Green Shutters. My question is this have you any advice for a musician who is trying to put more feeling into his songs, plus my brother has recently passed away and I was wondering if you could pass on any information on how to play Satin Green Shutters as it would be an eternal favour to a dear fan. I thank you for taking the time to read this request and I look forward to (hopefully) reading your reply.
Chris de Burgh:
This is another one of those extraordinary questions that involve people coming to terms with their grief. And also this young man, Patrick, wants to go on to become a professional musician, which is of course a very difficult road. I know very well how hard it can be. And what I have done, myself, in the past is try to get away from what everybody else is doing and try to do something different. It is a very tough road to go on, Patrick, and the chances of failure right across the board are very high indeed. But at least you know that if you succeed or fail, you have done it your own way. The “Satin Green Shutters” song came from the heart of course, and the only way I can suggest to get more feeling into songs is allow yourself to sink in to that well, that pool inside you, which is full of many things. Of joy, of hope, of sadness, of melancholy. Allow yourself to cry more. Get in touch with your emotions more. When you think about your dead brother, for example, think about growing up with him. Think about fighting with him. Think about playing with him. Think about enjoying things with him. Think about going to things with your parents and with him. Get in touch with your emotions, get closer and closer. It’s not hard to do, but it takes practice. For me I didn’t need to practice. I was always somebody who is deeply in touch with his own emotions very quickly. This has helped me with my work, my songwriting and obviously with my imagination.
November 14, 2006:
Corrie Tengnagel (50) from Middelharnis, The Netherlands:
Dear Chris, I would like to ask you a particular question. My husband and I visited the last two concerts of you in Rotterdam. It was fantastic. Now my question is: Did you ever ask Jehovah's witnesses to leave the hall, and if so why? For me this answer is important. Many thanks in advance.
Chris de Burgh:
Well, the answer is I certainly didn’t! I have no idea if somebody else did. It could have been somebody, if this actually happened, maybe it was somebody involved in the concert hall itself, maybe the production staff. I don’t get involved in things like that. My job is to do as good a concert as I possibly can. So I would be interested to know whether you saw something like this happen. I have always held that everybody has the right to believe what they want as long as you don’t interfere with other people.
Corrie Tengnagel (50) from Middelharnis, The Netherlands:
Dear Chris, I would like to ask you a particular question. My husband and I visited the last two concerts of you in Rotterdam. It was fantastic. Now my question is: Did you ever ask Jehovah's witnesses to leave the hall, and if so why? For me this answer is important. Many thanks in advance.
Chris de Burgh:
Well, the answer is I certainly didn’t! I have no idea if somebody else did. It could have been somebody, if this actually happened, maybe it was somebody involved in the concert hall itself, maybe the production staff. I don’t get involved in things like that. My job is to do as good a concert as I possibly can. So I would be interested to know whether you saw something like this happen. I have always held that everybody has the right to believe what they want as long as you don’t interfere with other people.
November 13, 2006:
Petra (38) from Delmenhorst, Germany:
Dear Chris, I listen to your music since I was 15. After my dad died a few years ago, my mum shared this passion with me. She always was my best friend, and for your tour-start in Bremen, 07/01/05 we got the tickets long ago. In the morning of 18th June 05 my mum passed away suddenly. I didn’t want to go to your concert alone, but in the end I did it. When I stood in front of the stage, I felt her close beside me suddenly, singing along with all of us. I will come to your concert in Hannover too. Somehow everything has changed, I don’t know what to believe anymore, and everything seems so cold and empty. Only your songs remain, just the feeling when I hear them is the same. I thank you for your music, and I would like to know, if you have a way to go on, in a world, where we have to lose the most important persons we have all the time.
Chris de Burgh:
This is a very sad and extraordinary question. In some ways I can’t really answer it. And perhaps I shall leave it up to the readers of the guestbook to respond to this in their own way. Maybe by leaving comments on the guestbook for those people in the world who have lost parents, who have lost lovers, who have lost even children, how they have coped with their terrible loss. I fortunately have not lost anybody really close to me except my father. And all I can say to you, Petra, is that you will get over this. You will feel like you are empty. You will feel like there is nothing left to live for. But the human spirit is always strong. It is always powerful. All I do know is that I have huge sympathy for anybody who has had to bury their own children. And that for me would be the absolute killer. I am not sure if I could go on if that happened to me. So may I suggest that people reading this, leave messages on the guestbook or contact Astrid with their thoughts and ideas and maybe we could pass them on to Petra.
Petra (38) from Delmenhorst, Germany:
Dear Chris, I listen to your music since I was 15. After my dad died a few years ago, my mum shared this passion with me. She always was my best friend, and for your tour-start in Bremen, 07/01/05 we got the tickets long ago. In the morning of 18th June 05 my mum passed away suddenly. I didn’t want to go to your concert alone, but in the end I did it. When I stood in front of the stage, I felt her close beside me suddenly, singing along with all of us. I will come to your concert in Hannover too. Somehow everything has changed, I don’t know what to believe anymore, and everything seems so cold and empty. Only your songs remain, just the feeling when I hear them is the same. I thank you for your music, and I would like to know, if you have a way to go on, in a world, where we have to lose the most important persons we have all the time.
Chris de Burgh:
This is a very sad and extraordinary question. In some ways I can’t really answer it. And perhaps I shall leave it up to the readers of the guestbook to respond to this in their own way. Maybe by leaving comments on the guestbook for those people in the world who have lost parents, who have lost lovers, who have lost even children, how they have coped with their terrible loss. I fortunately have not lost anybody really close to me except my father. And all I can say to you, Petra, is that you will get over this. You will feel like you are empty. You will feel like there is nothing left to live for. But the human spirit is always strong. It is always powerful. All I do know is that I have huge sympathy for anybody who has had to bury their own children. And that for me would be the absolute killer. I am not sure if I could go on if that happened to me. So may I suggest that people reading this, leave messages on the guestbook or contact Astrid with their thoughts and ideas and maybe we could pass them on to Petra.
November 12, 2006:
Parham Parsa (23) from Iran:
Dear Chris, at first thanks for your magical song. My question is about Simple Truth. I heard from my friend that you sing it for the war between Iran and Iraq. Is it true?
Chris de Burgh:
The song “The Simple Truth” was not written for anything specific or anywhere specific. It was written about how children can get caught up in war. It is a familiar theme for me. It is one that I return to for example in “Up Here In Heaven”. “The Simple Truth” was just an idea of how precious the life of a child is. During the late 80s or early 90s the Kurdish refugees were being chased by the Iraqi leader and his men, Saddam Hussein, away from their homelands up into the hills. And a lot of them were being killed, a lot of them were dying from exposure. It was a terrible, terrible time. And as is the way of our current world, a lot of it was captured on news real footage. And it was so sad, appalling. And I remember having tears in my eyes night after night till I got a call from the world famous novelist Jeffrey Archer, who said he wanted to do something as well. And would I consider being involved, did I have a song? And I said well I have got this song called “A Simple Truth”. And the whole campaign then became known as “The Simple Truth Campaign” in aid of the Kurdish refugees. And I know it raised many millions. And many many times I have met people from Kurdistan who thanked me on behalf of so many of their countrymen for everything we have done for them. It is a small thing for me to have done, because we did a global satellite transmission as well, concert from the Wembley Arena, attended by the Princess of Wales. I did everything I could. It is usually never enough, when politics so outrageously, horrible and aggressive comes into play as what happened there.
Parham Parsa (23) from Iran:
Dear Chris, at first thanks for your magical song. My question is about Simple Truth. I heard from my friend that you sing it for the war between Iran and Iraq. Is it true?
Chris de Burgh:
The song “The Simple Truth” was not written for anything specific or anywhere specific. It was written about how children can get caught up in war. It is a familiar theme for me. It is one that I return to for example in “Up Here In Heaven”. “The Simple Truth” was just an idea of how precious the life of a child is. During the late 80s or early 90s the Kurdish refugees were being chased by the Iraqi leader and his men, Saddam Hussein, away from their homelands up into the hills. And a lot of them were being killed, a lot of them were dying from exposure. It was a terrible, terrible time. And as is the way of our current world, a lot of it was captured on news real footage. And it was so sad, appalling. And I remember having tears in my eyes night after night till I got a call from the world famous novelist Jeffrey Archer, who said he wanted to do something as well. And would I consider being involved, did I have a song? And I said well I have got this song called “A Simple Truth”. And the whole campaign then became known as “The Simple Truth Campaign” in aid of the Kurdish refugees. And I know it raised many millions. And many many times I have met people from Kurdistan who thanked me on behalf of so many of their countrymen for everything we have done for them. It is a small thing for me to have done, because we did a global satellite transmission as well, concert from the Wembley Arena, attended by the Princess of Wales. I did everything I could. It is usually never enough, when politics so outrageously, horrible and aggressive comes into play as what happened there.
November 11, 2006:
Monika Maid (48) from Ingolstadt, Germany:
Dear Chris, in one of your MOtL answers you told us that you are working for a music for the film "Trough these eyes". Perhaps you can tell us more about the film, which kind of film it is and when this film will be to see and where. Is it a film appearing in cinemas or for television? I don't want to miss hearing your music in this film! Would be nice of you to get a reply here from you. Thanks Monika
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Monika! Thank you for your question. The film “Through These Eyes” is currently going through the pre-production stage. I have written already about four or five new songs for this movie. And hopefully this will go into production at some stage in 2007. Anybody involved with films and the film world will know that the toughest part of making a film is raising the finance. But we are doing ok so far. And I am very pleased with the story and the music. The story has been co-written with a colleague who is a very good film writer. It’s about an old lady in a nursing home, who is reaching the end of her days. And she is remembering through her diary what it was like growing up. It is two things happening. One is to have respect for old people and look after them. You wouldn’t like to see, if it was your elderly father or mother, being shouted at or abused by people for being slow, walking across the street for example. Or being unable to hear correctly. With a bit of luck we will all be old one day. And the second thing is a look at somebody’s life, and there is a very strong spiritual content to this film. And as I say, I am very hopeful that this will go into production shortly.
Monika Maid (48) from Ingolstadt, Germany:
Dear Chris, in one of your MOtL answers you told us that you are working for a music for the film "Trough these eyes". Perhaps you can tell us more about the film, which kind of film it is and when this film will be to see and where. Is it a film appearing in cinemas or for television? I don't want to miss hearing your music in this film! Would be nice of you to get a reply here from you. Thanks Monika
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Monika! Thank you for your question. The film “Through These Eyes” is currently going through the pre-production stage. I have written already about four or five new songs for this movie. And hopefully this will go into production at some stage in 2007. Anybody involved with films and the film world will know that the toughest part of making a film is raising the finance. But we are doing ok so far. And I am very pleased with the story and the music. The story has been co-written with a colleague who is a very good film writer. It’s about an old lady in a nursing home, who is reaching the end of her days. And she is remembering through her diary what it was like growing up. It is two things happening. One is to have respect for old people and look after them. You wouldn’t like to see, if it was your elderly father or mother, being shouted at or abused by people for being slow, walking across the street for example. Or being unable to hear correctly. With a bit of luck we will all be old one day. And the second thing is a look at somebody’s life, and there is a very strong spiritual content to this film. And as I say, I am very hopeful that this will go into production shortly.
November 10, 2006:
Fiona (46) from Tampa, Florida, USA:
I guess I should stop asking if/when you are coming to the USA for a show or two, so I will ask something else.... my favorite song is Ballroom of Romance, what was the inspiration behind this song?
Chris de Burgh:
As you know, I am always very keen to get over to the United States and sing. It’s just finding an opportunity to do that, which is the problem. But I hope very much to be able to be in America and sing for you again. It’s been so long since I have listened to “The Ballroom Of Romance”, I just had to go and have a chance again to look at the lyrics and play the music. It is a snappy little tune, that’s for sure. The inspiration behind the song took me back to where I was growing up in Wexford in Ireland. And occasionally going to the local dances. Back in the time where in a little dancehall all the men would stand up one wall, and all the girls across another wall were sitting down. And the men would be very shy, and they would probably be drinking their Guinness. And the girls would be drinking what we call minerals, i.e. soft drinks. And occasionally one of the fellows would walk across to a girl and ask for a dance. And if she felt like it and she liked him, they might go for a dance to the band. There is always one of those spinning balls that reflected light all over the place, you know that kind. So imagine that you are in such a place and you are slightly apart from all the group of guys. And an absolutely stunning girl comes in, that nobody has ever seen before. And all the local casanovas are salivating at the mouth, thinking “oh, she is for me!”. And then to your absolute amazement, she walks past them, and everybody is looking and she comes up to you and says “Come along. Let’s go.” It’s like a dream, particularly for most young men. Indeed most any men these days. And they jump into her BMW and roar off into the sunset. Now the key to the song is the “I” at the end. It obviously has happened to me. Well, that’s the idea. It hasn’t of course, but that changes the song around. It’s not just a narrative story about somebody else, but then it becomes clear that the singer is the person that this allegedly happened to. All in my imagination of course. And it is a fun tune. I am glad you like it.
Fiona (46) from Tampa, Florida, USA:
I guess I should stop asking if/when you are coming to the USA for a show or two, so I will ask something else.... my favorite song is Ballroom of Romance, what was the inspiration behind this song?
Chris de Burgh:
As you know, I am always very keen to get over to the United States and sing. It’s just finding an opportunity to do that, which is the problem. But I hope very much to be able to be in America and sing for you again. It’s been so long since I have listened to “The Ballroom Of Romance”, I just had to go and have a chance again to look at the lyrics and play the music. It is a snappy little tune, that’s for sure. The inspiration behind the song took me back to where I was growing up in Wexford in Ireland. And occasionally going to the local dances. Back in the time where in a little dancehall all the men would stand up one wall, and all the girls across another wall were sitting down. And the men would be very shy, and they would probably be drinking their Guinness. And the girls would be drinking what we call minerals, i.e. soft drinks. And occasionally one of the fellows would walk across to a girl and ask for a dance. And if she felt like it and she liked him, they might go for a dance to the band. There is always one of those spinning balls that reflected light all over the place, you know that kind. So imagine that you are in such a place and you are slightly apart from all the group of guys. And an absolutely stunning girl comes in, that nobody has ever seen before. And all the local casanovas are salivating at the mouth, thinking “oh, she is for me!”. And then to your absolute amazement, she walks past them, and everybody is looking and she comes up to you and says “Come along. Let’s go.” It’s like a dream, particularly for most young men. Indeed most any men these days. And they jump into her BMW and roar off into the sunset. Now the key to the song is the “I” at the end. It obviously has happened to me. Well, that’s the idea. It hasn’t of course, but that changes the song around. It’s not just a narrative story about somebody else, but then it becomes clear that the singer is the person that this allegedly happened to. All in my imagination of course. And it is a fun tune. I am glad you like it.
November 9, 2006:
Dale Love (23) from Northamptonshire, UK:
Hi Chris, I think your music is awesome! My favourite album has to be Crusader though! My partner has just given birth to a beautiful baby girl and there was only one name we wanted to call her, Rosanna. We both think it's a wonderful name and we just wanted to know what was your reason for calling your daughter Rosanna? Oh and tell her well done for winning Miss World 2003!
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you very much about Crusader. And congratulations about your beautiful baby girl, who is probably, I would say, about one year old now. And I hope you are enjoying her every bit as much as we enjoyed our children growing up. One little word of advice: If you can, get a video camera! Because videoing your children not only is a wonderful memory for the future, but we also found that the children love to watch themselves on video during their growing-up years. And it is much better to watch those kinds of funny things than watching some of the nonsense that is on TV. So many times we would watch, at their request by the way, the children getting up to goofy things on video. And they laughed and laughed until the tears rolled down. Quite recently I put together about 150 of the half hour tapes that I had recorded down the years of three children. I had them transferred to DVD. I got three copies of every single one of them each, and I gave each one of them a box with, I suppose, about 40 or 50 DVDs in them. And I said to all three of them: “Now this is your childhood. I hope you enjoy coming back to these DVDs in years to come. It will give you great memories of growing up.” As far as the name Rosanna is concerned, it is quite an old name that my wife and I had come across before and enjoyed. And it is a very feminine name. It is a pretty name, and I think there was also a song by Toto called Rosanna. It just seemed to all come right at the same time. When our daughter was born that was the name that she got pretty quickly. And thank you about the Miss World win. She will always be one of a very elite group of people who won such a prestigious title.
Dale Love (23) from Northamptonshire, UK:
Hi Chris, I think your music is awesome! My favourite album has to be Crusader though! My partner has just given birth to a beautiful baby girl and there was only one name we wanted to call her, Rosanna. We both think it's a wonderful name and we just wanted to know what was your reason for calling your daughter Rosanna? Oh and tell her well done for winning Miss World 2003!
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you very much about Crusader. And congratulations about your beautiful baby girl, who is probably, I would say, about one year old now. And I hope you are enjoying her every bit as much as we enjoyed our children growing up. One little word of advice: If you can, get a video camera! Because videoing your children not only is a wonderful memory for the future, but we also found that the children love to watch themselves on video during their growing-up years. And it is much better to watch those kinds of funny things than watching some of the nonsense that is on TV. So many times we would watch, at their request by the way, the children getting up to goofy things on video. And they laughed and laughed until the tears rolled down. Quite recently I put together about 150 of the half hour tapes that I had recorded down the years of three children. I had them transferred to DVD. I got three copies of every single one of them each, and I gave each one of them a box with, I suppose, about 40 or 50 DVDs in them. And I said to all three of them: “Now this is your childhood. I hope you enjoy coming back to these DVDs in years to come. It will give you great memories of growing up.” As far as the name Rosanna is concerned, it is quite an old name that my wife and I had come across before and enjoyed. And it is a very feminine name. It is a pretty name, and I think there was also a song by Toto called Rosanna. It just seemed to all come right at the same time. When our daughter was born that was the name that she got pretty quickly. And thank you about the Miss World win. She will always be one of a very elite group of people who won such a prestigious title.
November 8, 2006:
Yves Bourbonnière (30) from Montréal, Canada:
Hello Chris... I have become over the years a great fan of yours for a simple reason... I like to sing your songs as much as mine... I am a songwriter in Québec and in France and your songs have guided me to discover my style which is tales and legends story. My question is for some professional advice... How do you manage to compose great historical song like The Crusader and a ballad like The Lady in Red and stay focus... I could have chosen two other songs but I thought these ones were a perfect example of a versatile songwriter? I know this question is large but it will help my progression in composition. By the way, the first song I ever sang in public 7 years ago was an oldie called "A rainy Night in Paris" in front of an audience in Majorque, Spain. I received a standing ovation... That decided me to write and perform since then. Sorry about my English because my first language is French which is the one I use to write my songs. Thank you for reading me. Yves!
Chris de Burgh:
Yet again I can mention my love of the people of Montréal and the way they receive me with their affection. And all the friends that I have in that wonderful place. A very interesting question, and one really that I can’t easily answer. Because I have no idea where the versatility of my songwriting comes from. Perhaps it comes from the variety of interest that I have. And you have chosen “Crusader” and “The Lady In Red” as being very different styles of songwriting. And I would personally choose “Spanish Train“ and “Patricia The Stripper” as being as far apart as you could possibly get. I don’t know if down the years that these different poles have become more centralised in my songwriting, but nevertheless I always retain an interest in the unusual and the different. And I suppose also I don’t want to be a songwriter who only writes in one particular songwriting area. Which is why my new album “The Storyman” gives me such satisfaction. Because it brings us all over the world, different times, different musical styles and different historical places to go and to enjoy from the perspective of the 21st century.
Yves Bourbonnière (30) from Montréal, Canada:
Hello Chris... I have become over the years a great fan of yours for a simple reason... I like to sing your songs as much as mine... I am a songwriter in Québec and in France and your songs have guided me to discover my style which is tales and legends story. My question is for some professional advice... How do you manage to compose great historical song like The Crusader and a ballad like The Lady in Red and stay focus... I could have chosen two other songs but I thought these ones were a perfect example of a versatile songwriter? I know this question is large but it will help my progression in composition. By the way, the first song I ever sang in public 7 years ago was an oldie called "A rainy Night in Paris" in front of an audience in Majorque, Spain. I received a standing ovation... That decided me to write and perform since then. Sorry about my English because my first language is French which is the one I use to write my songs. Thank you for reading me. Yves!
Chris de Burgh:
Yet again I can mention my love of the people of Montréal and the way they receive me with their affection. And all the friends that I have in that wonderful place. A very interesting question, and one really that I can’t easily answer. Because I have no idea where the versatility of my songwriting comes from. Perhaps it comes from the variety of interest that I have. And you have chosen “Crusader” and “The Lady In Red” as being very different styles of songwriting. And I would personally choose “Spanish Train“ and “Patricia The Stripper” as being as far apart as you could possibly get. I don’t know if down the years that these different poles have become more centralised in my songwriting, but nevertheless I always retain an interest in the unusual and the different. And I suppose also I don’t want to be a songwriter who only writes in one particular songwriting area. Which is why my new album “The Storyman” gives me such satisfaction. Because it brings us all over the world, different times, different musical styles and different historical places to go and to enjoy from the perspective of the 21st century.
November 7, 2006:
Pouyan (26) from Atlanta, USA:
Hi Chris, I can't explain what your music does to me ... just thanks for everything. But here is a question that I've always had. In "Last Night" you say "But I can feel there's this new kind of hunger inside". What are you referring to? Thanks a lot.
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you for your question. I can’t explain in answer to your question why the music does have a reaction. It is just coming from my soul, my spirit and my heart. And I just hope that I do my work correctly and record the songs and write the songs in a way that it actually connects with people all over the world. The song “Last Night” was once more like a film for me. As the camera begins to pan from the left to the right, we see the fishing boats pulled up on the shore. Multi-coloured fishing boats, almost like in a painting by one of the impressionists perhaps, but there they are, very colourful boats pulled up on the shore. The camera moves in, all in one long pan, you can just hear in the distance and growing in volume, a crowd of people who are singing and shouting and roaring and clapping and yelling and cheering. And then the camera moves into the square of the small fishing village, and the mayor, a little portly man, is standing up on a box and he is saying: “Our boys are coming home. The soldiers are coming home.” And then we move on to a backstreet where a prostitute is standing underneath the red light, waiting for the soldiers to come back from the war. And away from all the cheering and the celebration, we move up onto a hill, where there are a few trees that have probably died in the high winds up there on the top of the hill, and a churchyard. And there underneath, sobbing, is a widow in black, a young woman. And beside her a soldier in uniform, who is touching her shoulder and trying to comfort her. And she is crying over the death of her husband, a young boy, a soldier, who has been killed in the war. And for me that last scene is the reality one. It’s hard to celebrate and glorify war when there are so many people who have been so horribly changed in their lives. Those who survived and also of course those who died. “The new kind of hunger inside” is this one, and I am very glad you brought this up, because it is one that is a perpetual problem for young soldiers today, who join up at the age of 18 or 19. They are trained to kill. They go to war. They kill during the war, and they come back, many of them, mentally scarred, if not physically scarred by what has happened to them. And what do you say to a young boy of 20 or 21, who has seen mutilation, murder. He has killed himself. He has seen sights that most normal people would never ever forget, if they even saw it just once. And these boys are supposed to carry on with their lives as normal. Which of course is virtually impossible, because they are trained killers. That’s why a lot of soldiers who come back from wars go back again. The new kind of hunger I am referring to is the hunger to return for some of them to the scenes that they saw and became involved in. The feeling of power over others. And this is what happens to soldiers who were sent out highly trained killers. And if they are not cared for, when they return, some of them will never recover from the turmoil that is going on inside them.
Pouyan (26) from Atlanta, USA:
Hi Chris, I can't explain what your music does to me ... just thanks for everything. But here is a question that I've always had. In "Last Night" you say "But I can feel there's this new kind of hunger inside". What are you referring to? Thanks a lot.
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you for your question. I can’t explain in answer to your question why the music does have a reaction. It is just coming from my soul, my spirit and my heart. And I just hope that I do my work correctly and record the songs and write the songs in a way that it actually connects with people all over the world. The song “Last Night” was once more like a film for me. As the camera begins to pan from the left to the right, we see the fishing boats pulled up on the shore. Multi-coloured fishing boats, almost like in a painting by one of the impressionists perhaps, but there they are, very colourful boats pulled up on the shore. The camera moves in, all in one long pan, you can just hear in the distance and growing in volume, a crowd of people who are singing and shouting and roaring and clapping and yelling and cheering. And then the camera moves into the square of the small fishing village, and the mayor, a little portly man, is standing up on a box and he is saying: “Our boys are coming home. The soldiers are coming home.” And then we move on to a backstreet where a prostitute is standing underneath the red light, waiting for the soldiers to come back from the war. And away from all the cheering and the celebration, we move up onto a hill, where there are a few trees that have probably died in the high winds up there on the top of the hill, and a churchyard. And there underneath, sobbing, is a widow in black, a young woman. And beside her a soldier in uniform, who is touching her shoulder and trying to comfort her. And she is crying over the death of her husband, a young boy, a soldier, who has been killed in the war. And for me that last scene is the reality one. It’s hard to celebrate and glorify war when there are so many people who have been so horribly changed in their lives. Those who survived and also of course those who died. “The new kind of hunger inside” is this one, and I am very glad you brought this up, because it is one that is a perpetual problem for young soldiers today, who join up at the age of 18 or 19. They are trained to kill. They go to war. They kill during the war, and they come back, many of them, mentally scarred, if not physically scarred by what has happened to them. And what do you say to a young boy of 20 or 21, who has seen mutilation, murder. He has killed himself. He has seen sights that most normal people would never ever forget, if they even saw it just once. And these boys are supposed to carry on with their lives as normal. Which of course is virtually impossible, because they are trained killers. That’s why a lot of soldiers who come back from wars go back again. The new kind of hunger I am referring to is the hunger to return for some of them to the scenes that they saw and became involved in. The feeling of power over others. And this is what happens to soldiers who were sent out highly trained killers. And if they are not cared for, when they return, some of them will never recover from the turmoil that is going on inside them.
November 6, 2006:
Noman A. Mualla (40) from Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan:
Hi Chris, It was long time since I enjoyed listening to your music as I became fond of both your music and the nice personality of yours. I wonder about Sailor: Did you really have a girl that you loved so much? If yes, she's so lucky! And could you tell us more about this song especially. Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
What a nice question that you’ve sent to me. I must offer some sympathies – I know that in the last few weeks there have been attacks on tourists in your beautiful country. And indeed some very good friends of ours are about to go there on holiday. And it pains me to see how tourism, which can be the lifeblood to so many people involved in the tourist industry, can be so instantly damaged by people with bombs and guns and just turning the tourists away. So I offer you sympathy for your country and I hope you will be able to find a way back shortly. The song “Sailor” came from the imagination of a moonlit bay, of a sailing ship on the bay, of a man looking out of the bars of a window of a prison and seeing the sailing ship about to set off under full sail away from the bay. And maybe going up to where he lives. And for me he probably lives in my imagination somewhere in the highlands of Scotland. He is dreaming of returning. He is probably being captured during some war in the 18th century. At least he has been spared his life, but he is longing to go home. And the answer is no, I didn’t have anybody that I was dreaming of like this. But I am sure the fans down the years have understood that I have a strong imagination and this is where “Sailor” came from.
Noman A. Mualla (40) from Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan:
Hi Chris, It was long time since I enjoyed listening to your music as I became fond of both your music and the nice personality of yours. I wonder about Sailor: Did you really have a girl that you loved so much? If yes, she's so lucky! And could you tell us more about this song especially. Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
What a nice question that you’ve sent to me. I must offer some sympathies – I know that in the last few weeks there have been attacks on tourists in your beautiful country. And indeed some very good friends of ours are about to go there on holiday. And it pains me to see how tourism, which can be the lifeblood to so many people involved in the tourist industry, can be so instantly damaged by people with bombs and guns and just turning the tourists away. So I offer you sympathy for your country and I hope you will be able to find a way back shortly. The song “Sailor” came from the imagination of a moonlit bay, of a sailing ship on the bay, of a man looking out of the bars of a window of a prison and seeing the sailing ship about to set off under full sail away from the bay. And maybe going up to where he lives. And for me he probably lives in my imagination somewhere in the highlands of Scotland. He is dreaming of returning. He is probably being captured during some war in the 18th century. At least he has been spared his life, but he is longing to go home. And the answer is no, I didn’t have anybody that I was dreaming of like this. But I am sure the fans down the years have understood that I have a strong imagination and this is where “Sailor” came from.
November 5, 2006:
Scott Chasse (41) from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA:
You use your voice so expressively in your songs ("The Painter" gives me chills to this day). Have you ever considered acting or perhaps voice-overs?
Chris de Burgh:
This goes back to yesterday’s question, i.e. the one that I have just answered, considering acting. When I was in University, I did quite a lot of acting in the players theatre in Trinity College, Dublin. And I am not sure if I was particularly good or bad, but I enjoyed it. And using one’s voice for voice-overs, I think that is really quite a skill that I probably couldn’t do. Although I have done a few things. For Classic FM I have read a story which was interlinked with music for Christmas day a few years ago. And obviously I do a lot of radio work as well. But as far as acting is concerned, I leave that up to the experts nowadays. However, when I assume a personality in my songs, I actually believe I am that person. So in a way the way I convey my music is almost like in a stage production or a film production. I want to become that person without making too many changes in the way my voice sounds or indeed the accent.
Scott Chasse (41) from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA:
You use your voice so expressively in your songs ("The Painter" gives me chills to this day). Have you ever considered acting or perhaps voice-overs?
Chris de Burgh:
This goes back to yesterday’s question, i.e. the one that I have just answered, considering acting. When I was in University, I did quite a lot of acting in the players theatre in Trinity College, Dublin. And I am not sure if I was particularly good or bad, but I enjoyed it. And using one’s voice for voice-overs, I think that is really quite a skill that I probably couldn’t do. Although I have done a few things. For Classic FM I have read a story which was interlinked with music for Christmas day a few years ago. And obviously I do a lot of radio work as well. But as far as acting is concerned, I leave that up to the experts nowadays. However, when I assume a personality in my songs, I actually believe I am that person. So in a way the way I convey my music is almost like in a stage production or a film production. I want to become that person without making too many changes in the way my voice sounds or indeed the accent.
November 4, 2006:
Dave Malcolm (36) from Londonderry, Northern Ireland:
Hi Chris, we've had 'We will Rock You' - Queen The Musical, We've had Abba - The Musical. Have you ever thought about writing a Musical, or of having someone write one based on the stories in your songs?
Chris de Burgh:
I have always written songs in a very filmic way. And the idea of doing a musical for me has gone back a long long time. Because shortly after I left University, I got involved writing a musical production, which never hit the stage (probably thankfully). Some of the songs were ok, but some of them were not, because I was only just beginning to learn the craft of songwriting. But I hope in the near future, probably at the end of the year, early next year, to announce plans that I am involved with writing for a new big musical production. And I think it will suit me very well indeed, because of the way that I can visualize things strongly. I have a very theatrical way to a lot of the music that I write. And it’s something that is very interesting and challenging.
Dave Malcolm (36) from Londonderry, Northern Ireland:
Hi Chris, we've had 'We will Rock You' - Queen The Musical, We've had Abba - The Musical. Have you ever thought about writing a Musical, or of having someone write one based on the stories in your songs?
Chris de Burgh:
I have always written songs in a very filmic way. And the idea of doing a musical for me has gone back a long long time. Because shortly after I left University, I got involved writing a musical production, which never hit the stage (probably thankfully). Some of the songs were ok, but some of them were not, because I was only just beginning to learn the craft of songwriting. But I hope in the near future, probably at the end of the year, early next year, to announce plans that I am involved with writing for a new big musical production. And I think it will suit me very well indeed, because of the way that I can visualize things strongly. I have a very theatrical way to a lot of the music that I write. And it’s something that is very interesting and challenging.
November 3, 2006:
Mark Franklin (35) from Ashtead, UK:
Dear Chris; I often search for CdeB items on Ebay, as nice items of memorabilia and rare deleted CD singles for example crop up from time to time. However at the moment there is a seller offering 100 CdeB mp3 files on one CD, which is clearly an illegal bootleg operation. The seller even has the temerity to state in the item description "I hope you enjoy Chris de Burgh as much as I do". I thought to myself that if that person liked CdeB, they would not be ripping him off in this way. My question is, does your company or legal team actively look in places like Ebay and try to get illegal sales like these removed?
Chris de Burgh:
Yes, we have a pretty sharp team out there, watching to make sure that there isn’t any piracy that goes on, illegal bootleg operations. The trouble is these days it’s pretty hard to bring people to court, but there are a number of people who are being stopped and are being fined heavily just to show that this is the kind of activity that generates income for piracy and overall it’s an extremely bad thing to do. As it is, it’s an expensive business making records and promoting them and by selling illegal downloads and mp3-files, illegal copies, it’s basically stealing money from the artist. And in this case, when it’s my own record company, it’s stealing money from the people who are involved with Ferryman Productions. I know it goes on. I don’t like it. And I know a lot of people do not feel sorry for major record companies, because of the kind of money they tend to make at the expense of the poor fans. But whenever somebody does it against an individual like me, it does have an impact. And trust me when I tell you that we are doing our best to make sure it doesn’t keep happening.
Mark Franklin (35) from Ashtead, UK:
Dear Chris; I often search for CdeB items on Ebay, as nice items of memorabilia and rare deleted CD singles for example crop up from time to time. However at the moment there is a seller offering 100 CdeB mp3 files on one CD, which is clearly an illegal bootleg operation. The seller even has the temerity to state in the item description "I hope you enjoy Chris de Burgh as much as I do". I thought to myself that if that person liked CdeB, they would not be ripping him off in this way. My question is, does your company or legal team actively look in places like Ebay and try to get illegal sales like these removed?
Chris de Burgh:
Yes, we have a pretty sharp team out there, watching to make sure that there isn’t any piracy that goes on, illegal bootleg operations. The trouble is these days it’s pretty hard to bring people to court, but there are a number of people who are being stopped and are being fined heavily just to show that this is the kind of activity that generates income for piracy and overall it’s an extremely bad thing to do. As it is, it’s an expensive business making records and promoting them and by selling illegal downloads and mp3-files, illegal copies, it’s basically stealing money from the artist. And in this case, when it’s my own record company, it’s stealing money from the people who are involved with Ferryman Productions. I know it goes on. I don’t like it. And I know a lot of people do not feel sorry for major record companies, because of the kind of money they tend to make at the expense of the poor fans. But whenever somebody does it against an individual like me, it does have an impact. And trust me when I tell you that we are doing our best to make sure it doesn’t keep happening.
November 2, 2006:
Mark Pearce (30) from Middlesborough, Cleveland, USA:
Hi Chris! I am still thinking about your outstanding performance at the Bridgewater Hall last year - and your current Album The Road To Freedom is one of my favorite ones and the best you have written since Power of Ten - keep up the good work. My question! I was listening to an old interview with you on radio two back in 1997 and you were telling the presenter about the time after princess Diana's funeral when you sat around the piano singing to Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman and Stephen Spielberg (Wow what an audience). I would be very interested to know a few things. Firstly, what songs did you sing? What was their reaction to your amazing musical talent? Were they moved? Who did you feel responded best to your music?
Chris de Burgh:
As I am sure many people know, I was a friend of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. And my wife and I were invited to attend her funeral at Westminster Abbey by her good friend Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. And after the funeral I spent quite a lot of time talking to various media outlets about Princess Diana. And in fact the day before the Duchess of York had invited us to dinner. And when we got there we discovered that also at the dining party were the people that you mentioned. Amongst them Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman and Steven Spielberg. It was an amazing dinner. There were only about 12 of us at the table, including the Duke and Duchess of York, the people I spoke about and several other close friends of the Duke and Duchess. After dinner we went into the drawing room and I think one of the things we got into was charades, where people are given a movie or a book or something to perform. And most of us were pretty poor at it, but I remember how brilliant Tom Hanks was at assuming a character almost instantly. I have always been a huge admirer of his in any case, but that night it was amazing to watch him at his profession. There was a piano in the room and I sang for about, I suppose, an hour and a half, you know, standard songs, Beatles songs, a few of my own and the one that I had written for Princess Diana “There’s A New Star Up In Heaven Tonight”. And just before the others left, Steven Spielberg came up to me and said “Princess Diana was very lucky to have you as a friend”, which I felt was an extraordinary compliment coming from a man as famous and talented as himself. And it was an amazing evening for all the people concerned, I think. And certainly for me this evening I will never forget.
Mark Pearce (30) from Middlesborough, Cleveland, USA:
Hi Chris! I am still thinking about your outstanding performance at the Bridgewater Hall last year - and your current Album The Road To Freedom is one of my favorite ones and the best you have written since Power of Ten - keep up the good work. My question! I was listening to an old interview with you on radio two back in 1997 and you were telling the presenter about the time after princess Diana's funeral when you sat around the piano singing to Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman and Stephen Spielberg (Wow what an audience). I would be very interested to know a few things. Firstly, what songs did you sing? What was their reaction to your amazing musical talent? Were they moved? Who did you feel responded best to your music?
Chris de Burgh:
As I am sure many people know, I was a friend of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. And my wife and I were invited to attend her funeral at Westminster Abbey by her good friend Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. And after the funeral I spent quite a lot of time talking to various media outlets about Princess Diana. And in fact the day before the Duchess of York had invited us to dinner. And when we got there we discovered that also at the dining party were the people that you mentioned. Amongst them Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman and Steven Spielberg. It was an amazing dinner. There were only about 12 of us at the table, including the Duke and Duchess of York, the people I spoke about and several other close friends of the Duke and Duchess. After dinner we went into the drawing room and I think one of the things we got into was charades, where people are given a movie or a book or something to perform. And most of us were pretty poor at it, but I remember how brilliant Tom Hanks was at assuming a character almost instantly. I have always been a huge admirer of his in any case, but that night it was amazing to watch him at his profession. There was a piano in the room and I sang for about, I suppose, an hour and a half, you know, standard songs, Beatles songs, a few of my own and the one that I had written for Princess Diana “There’s A New Star Up In Heaven Tonight”. And just before the others left, Steven Spielberg came up to me and said “Princess Diana was very lucky to have you as a friend”, which I felt was an extraordinary compliment coming from a man as famous and talented as himself. And it was an amazing evening for all the people concerned, I think. And certainly for me this evening I will never forget.
November 1, 2006:
Amina A. (40) from The Netherlands:
I grew up as a multi-culture kid, African/Dutch, and I have sensed how passionate your music lyrics and songs are. Have you ever been influenced of such aspects of multi-culturalism dimension? Many of your songs seems to have this passionate, and in way sad music. How do your life, origin and your tours affect your performance and your songs? Lots of love, I will continue enjoying your great songs, thank you.
Chris de Burgh:
I think I’ve probably touched on this question before, because in the last few years I very much enjoyed music from all over the world. For example from Chile, Patagonia, the Andes, from China, from Russia, from Eastern Europe, from all over Africa, the Cape Verde islands. I have tried to collect music from everywhere to give me an idea of what other cultures have been listening to and what they enjoy listening to nowadays. I suppose having been brought up all over the world gave me an indication of the many cultures that exist on our planet. The passion and sadness and melancholy is very much evident in a lot of folk music from all over the world. Even to my enormous surprise, the minor chord, which is the chord that creates melancholy in a lot of people’s hearts is so evident in very out of the way places, like for example Peru and in folk music from many many cultures around the world. It seems to be a common language and a common way of responding to melancholy. Perhaps the harshness of the agricultural life, which of course for most people was the way they lived until relatively recently. Just as I said before, my background and of course the enormous amount of travelling I still do really does affect the way I appreciate the world and its cultures and its people and its music.
Amina A. (40) from The Netherlands:
I grew up as a multi-culture kid, African/Dutch, and I have sensed how passionate your music lyrics and songs are. Have you ever been influenced of such aspects of multi-culturalism dimension? Many of your songs seems to have this passionate, and in way sad music. How do your life, origin and your tours affect your performance and your songs? Lots of love, I will continue enjoying your great songs, thank you.
Chris de Burgh:
I think I’ve probably touched on this question before, because in the last few years I very much enjoyed music from all over the world. For example from Chile, Patagonia, the Andes, from China, from Russia, from Eastern Europe, from all over Africa, the Cape Verde islands. I have tried to collect music from everywhere to give me an idea of what other cultures have been listening to and what they enjoy listening to nowadays. I suppose having been brought up all over the world gave me an indication of the many cultures that exist on our planet. The passion and sadness and melancholy is very much evident in a lot of folk music from all over the world. Even to my enormous surprise, the minor chord, which is the chord that creates melancholy in a lot of people’s hearts is so evident in very out of the way places, like for example Peru and in folk music from many many cultures around the world. It seems to be a common language and a common way of responding to melancholy. Perhaps the harshness of the agricultural life, which of course for most people was the way they lived until relatively recently. Just as I said before, my background and of course the enormous amount of travelling I still do really does affect the way I appreciate the world and its cultures and its people and its music.
October 31, 2006:
Harry McLauchlan (37) from Ottawa, Canada:
For as far back as I can remember every November 11th "This Song For You" plays in my head over and over no matter if I have not heard it in a while. My kids, ages 12 and 14 discovered your music by themselves and I hope to take them to see you in November this year when you come to Ottawa. It seems that music that was meant to not only be heard but listened to will always stand the test of time. Does it surprise you that after 30 years, teenagers are still singing the lyrics to "Patricia the Stripper"?
Chris de Burgh:
Thanks very much for your question. You are going to find this a very strange response, but follow me for a moment. The track “This Song For You” comes from “Spanish Train And Other Stories” and it tells the story of a soldier in the trenches of the First World War in 1917, just before the battle of Passchendaele. What your question is suggesting is that you are reacting to the song on November the 11th each year. And the reason to that is, as I am sure most people know, that on November the 11th at 11 o’clock on the 11th month of the year, the guns of the First World War fell silent in 1918. And every year it is Remembrance Sunday in many countries around the world. Earlier this year BBC television contacted my office and said they want me to be involved in this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony, and would I please sing the track “This Song For You”. Because it’s very very unlikely that any soldier who fought in the First World War will be surviving more than this year. In fact, I think those survivors are down to a very very tiny number. And of course I agreed. But it’s very strange, Harry, that you have picked up on this song and the connection with Remembrance Sunday. It also surprises me very much that teenagers are still singing “Patricia The Stripper” and as you may know, I did a new recording of that song in the year 2000. And over here in Ireland there is a famous puppet called “Dustin The Turkey” and we did a version together which was a big hit here in Ireland as well.
Harry McLauchlan (37) from Ottawa, Canada:
For as far back as I can remember every November 11th "This Song For You" plays in my head over and over no matter if I have not heard it in a while. My kids, ages 12 and 14 discovered your music by themselves and I hope to take them to see you in November this year when you come to Ottawa. It seems that music that was meant to not only be heard but listened to will always stand the test of time. Does it surprise you that after 30 years, teenagers are still singing the lyrics to "Patricia the Stripper"?
Chris de Burgh:
Thanks very much for your question. You are going to find this a very strange response, but follow me for a moment. The track “This Song For You” comes from “Spanish Train And Other Stories” and it tells the story of a soldier in the trenches of the First World War in 1917, just before the battle of Passchendaele. What your question is suggesting is that you are reacting to the song on November the 11th each year. And the reason to that is, as I am sure most people know, that on November the 11th at 11 o’clock on the 11th month of the year, the guns of the First World War fell silent in 1918. And every year it is Remembrance Sunday in many countries around the world. Earlier this year BBC television contacted my office and said they want me to be involved in this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony, and would I please sing the track “This Song For You”. Because it’s very very unlikely that any soldier who fought in the First World War will be surviving more than this year. In fact, I think those survivors are down to a very very tiny number. And of course I agreed. But it’s very strange, Harry, that you have picked up on this song and the connection with Remembrance Sunday. It also surprises me very much that teenagers are still singing “Patricia The Stripper” and as you may know, I did a new recording of that song in the year 2000. And over here in Ireland there is a famous puppet called “Dustin The Turkey” and we did a version together which was a big hit here in Ireland as well.
October 30, 2006:
John Mulligan (31) from Castlebar, Ireland:
Hi Chris, great to see that you are still touring and having fun with your music as always. Do you take it as a compliment that DJ's want to remix your music and bring it to a new audience like Falke's High Again which features a sample of High On Emotion. Keep up the good work and hopefully you will play in Ireland again soon. Kind regards to the family.
Chris de Burgh:
Thanks very much for your question. Yes, it is terrific to see songs like “High On Emotion” being remixed by Falke. “High Again” was a huge club hit during last year 2005, and unfortunately the record company who were dealing with it later in the year made a complete mess of the proper release of the song and the earlier one that people heard in the clubs was a pirate mix. I actually even went to the extent of recording a completely new vocal for Falke and “High Again”, but sadly as I say the record label managed to loose all the impetus that had come from the clubs and it never became the hit that it deserved to be. Another young band called “The Bloodhound Gang” were very interested in my music, and they did a remix of a song “I Want It (And I Want It Now)”, which was a great compliment of course. Kind regards to you and your family too.
John Mulligan (31) from Castlebar, Ireland:
Hi Chris, great to see that you are still touring and having fun with your music as always. Do you take it as a compliment that DJ's want to remix your music and bring it to a new audience like Falke's High Again which features a sample of High On Emotion. Keep up the good work and hopefully you will play in Ireland again soon. Kind regards to the family.
Chris de Burgh:
Thanks very much for your question. Yes, it is terrific to see songs like “High On Emotion” being remixed by Falke. “High Again” was a huge club hit during last year 2005, and unfortunately the record company who were dealing with it later in the year made a complete mess of the proper release of the song and the earlier one that people heard in the clubs was a pirate mix. I actually even went to the extent of recording a completely new vocal for Falke and “High Again”, but sadly as I say the record label managed to loose all the impetus that had come from the clubs and it never became the hit that it deserved to be. Another young band called “The Bloodhound Gang” were very interested in my music, and they did a remix of a song “I Want It (And I Want It Now)”, which was a great compliment of course. Kind regards to you and your family too.
October 29, 2006:
Corinne Gerwer (33) from Zurich, Switzerland:
I just want to know what you are dreaming of? What is your greatest wish?
Chris de Burgh:
It’s almost impossible to ask somebody what they are dreaming of. But I think the basis of everybody’s dream has to be their own health and the health of those people around them. It’s all very well to have wonderful dreams about achieving things, either collectively or individually. It’s a great dream for example in a more global aspect to try and achieve some kind of breakthrough between people and their religious beliefs and more tolerance for each other, which is a theme that I repeatedly come back to. But you can do nothing, if you are in poor health or if you are in pain. Because those people who are ill will know that it is an endless daily grind getting through the day and indeed the night, if you are unhealthy, if you are feeling bad. So my greatest wish for me and for those around me and those that I love is just to stay healthy and enjoy life to the full.
Corinne Gerwer (33) from Zurich, Switzerland:
I just want to know what you are dreaming of? What is your greatest wish?
Chris de Burgh:
It’s almost impossible to ask somebody what they are dreaming of. But I think the basis of everybody’s dream has to be their own health and the health of those people around them. It’s all very well to have wonderful dreams about achieving things, either collectively or individually. It’s a great dream for example in a more global aspect to try and achieve some kind of breakthrough between people and their religious beliefs and more tolerance for each other, which is a theme that I repeatedly come back to. But you can do nothing, if you are in poor health or if you are in pain. Because those people who are ill will know that it is an endless daily grind getting through the day and indeed the night, if you are unhealthy, if you are feeling bad. So my greatest wish for me and for those around me and those that I love is just to stay healthy and enjoy life to the full.
October 28, 2006:
Rosemary Welch (36) from London, Ontario, Canada:
I have been a huge fan since high school and have attended two of your concerts. I think you are absolutely amazing. Not only do I love you, but my nine year old son and three year old triplets can't get enough of your music either. The minute we get in the van to go anywhere they all yell, "Chris de Burgh Daddy, please...". During the day we play your CD's and our living room is transformed into a dance club for toddlers. Thank you so much for all the wonderful music. My three year old son, Damon, would like to know if you have a minivan like us. I told him I highly doubt it, but he doesn't believe me. Could you help me out with this one? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
What a fantastic question! Indeed what a fantastic thing you are saying about your children. That kind of thing really makes me smile. To know that even young children are enjoying my music, maybe even two generations on from when I started. And the idea of a dance-club for toddlers in your living room is just wonderful. You can tell Damon who is probably four by now that I don’t have a minivan like your Mummy and Daddy. But we have a Chrysler Grand Voyager, which takes seven people and a dog, and it’s very handy for making a trip that involves a bit of a journey, like say down to see my mother in the south of the country. It’s about an 80 mile journey. It’s even got a DVD player in it, so if people get a little bored by the repetitive scenery that they have seen a few times, they can watch something on a DVD. But generally speaking we just like to chat and talk on the way down when we have a long trip in our Chrysler.
Rosemary Welch (36) from London, Ontario, Canada:
I have been a huge fan since high school and have attended two of your concerts. I think you are absolutely amazing. Not only do I love you, but my nine year old son and three year old triplets can't get enough of your music either. The minute we get in the van to go anywhere they all yell, "Chris de Burgh Daddy, please...". During the day we play your CD's and our living room is transformed into a dance club for toddlers. Thank you so much for all the wonderful music. My three year old son, Damon, would like to know if you have a minivan like us. I told him I highly doubt it, but he doesn't believe me. Could you help me out with this one? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
What a fantastic question! Indeed what a fantastic thing you are saying about your children. That kind of thing really makes me smile. To know that even young children are enjoying my music, maybe even two generations on from when I started. And the idea of a dance-club for toddlers in your living room is just wonderful. You can tell Damon who is probably four by now that I don’t have a minivan like your Mummy and Daddy. But we have a Chrysler Grand Voyager, which takes seven people and a dog, and it’s very handy for making a trip that involves a bit of a journey, like say down to see my mother in the south of the country. It’s about an 80 mile journey. It’s even got a DVD player in it, so if people get a little bored by the repetitive scenery that they have seen a few times, they can watch something on a DVD. But generally speaking we just like to chat and talk on the way down when we have a long trip in our Chrysler.
October 27, 2006:
Rachel Ratcliffe (35) from Chester, England:
I love all your music, but was wondering why you never sing any of the songs from the album Far beyond these castle walls. Having been to several concerts which I have really enjoyed, I would love to hear you sing Hold On or The Key.
Chris de Burgh:
Funnily enough, Rachel, I was going through a lot of my old records recently, putting together the songs we are going to do for “The Storyman“ tour. And I had a good listen to the early albums, and I really enjoyed them. It took me back to a gentler time. A time perhaps, when I was pretty naïve, full of hope and ambition. And I was unaware of what was coming, but prepared to climb that mountain whatever it took. The first track you mention, “Hold On”, was in fact the first track I ever recorded. And it sounds fantastic even now, although my voice has changed completely. “The Key”, I remember writing that about a young woman who I felt was throwing her life away by not recognizing when people wanted to get close to her. And she got nervous and just made all the wrong moves and mistakes in her life and I was trying to encourage her through that song to change her opinion about others. I sometimes sing “Satin Green Shutters”, which is also from that record. And I was toying with the idea of redoing the second last song on the second side “Turning Round”, which was a big hit for me in South America. It’s still for me a very dramatic tune, and I’d love to try that again some day.
Rachel Ratcliffe (35) from Chester, England:
I love all your music, but was wondering why you never sing any of the songs from the album Far beyond these castle walls. Having been to several concerts which I have really enjoyed, I would love to hear you sing Hold On or The Key.
Chris de Burgh:
Funnily enough, Rachel, I was going through a lot of my old records recently, putting together the songs we are going to do for “The Storyman“ tour. And I had a good listen to the early albums, and I really enjoyed them. It took me back to a gentler time. A time perhaps, when I was pretty naïve, full of hope and ambition. And I was unaware of what was coming, but prepared to climb that mountain whatever it took. The first track you mention, “Hold On”, was in fact the first track I ever recorded. And it sounds fantastic even now, although my voice has changed completely. “The Key”, I remember writing that about a young woman who I felt was throwing her life away by not recognizing when people wanted to get close to her. And she got nervous and just made all the wrong moves and mistakes in her life and I was trying to encourage her through that song to change her opinion about others. I sometimes sing “Satin Green Shutters”, which is also from that record. And I was toying with the idea of redoing the second last song on the second side “Turning Round”, which was a big hit for me in South America. It’s still for me a very dramatic tune, and I’d love to try that again some day.
October 26, 2006:
Monika Maid (48) from Ingolstadt, Germany:
Hello Chris de Burgh, I'm pleased to see that you can read my message in your guestbook via Internet. Just at the ending of my day I'm thinking about you. I have never seen an answer to one of my first questions in your MOTL site, but I would really like to see one answer from you to my following question: Chris, what do you do when you are stressed through an audience or from the long ways on a journey and how can you help yourself to become quiet and relaxed again to do your work again? This is really a question which I would like to be answered through you. Perhaps you could help me this way, because I cannot sleep since I'm learning more and more English with your websites. Good luck for seeing my question and for the answer. Greetings Monika
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Monika! I know that you keep in touch regularly with the website and I thank you for your question. Being on tour is often very tiring and stressful, and travelling too. It’s funny, at the beginning of a long tour you think about all the things that you are going to be doing and as the tour goes on your energy begins to become depleted and you have less energy. And after a few months on tour, you really just concentrate your day on what you have to do in the evening, doing the concert. And I may start off with great ambitions about being a great tourist and looking at the museums around the cities where I go to, but now I find I have to nowadays restrict myself to just walking and keeping fit and really holding my energy for the concert at night. I have become good down the years at what we call a power nap. That means being able to go to sleep for about 10 or 15 minutes during the day. That moment when you suddenly feel really exhausted, I find a quiet spot and put my head down, close my eyes and drift off to sleep and it refreshes me enormously. It makes me feel a lot better and stronger for the rest of the day and for the night.
Monika Maid (48) from Ingolstadt, Germany:
Hello Chris de Burgh, I'm pleased to see that you can read my message in your guestbook via Internet. Just at the ending of my day I'm thinking about you. I have never seen an answer to one of my first questions in your MOTL site, but I would really like to see one answer from you to my following question: Chris, what do you do when you are stressed through an audience or from the long ways on a journey and how can you help yourself to become quiet and relaxed again to do your work again? This is really a question which I would like to be answered through you. Perhaps you could help me this way, because I cannot sleep since I'm learning more and more English with your websites. Good luck for seeing my question and for the answer. Greetings Monika
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Monika! I know that you keep in touch regularly with the website and I thank you for your question. Being on tour is often very tiring and stressful, and travelling too. It’s funny, at the beginning of a long tour you think about all the things that you are going to be doing and as the tour goes on your energy begins to become depleted and you have less energy. And after a few months on tour, you really just concentrate your day on what you have to do in the evening, doing the concert. And I may start off with great ambitions about being a great tourist and looking at the museums around the cities where I go to, but now I find I have to nowadays restrict myself to just walking and keeping fit and really holding my energy for the concert at night. I have become good down the years at what we call a power nap. That means being able to go to sleep for about 10 or 15 minutes during the day. That moment when you suddenly feel really exhausted, I find a quiet spot and put my head down, close my eyes and drift off to sleep and it refreshes me enormously. It makes me feel a lot better and stronger for the rest of the day and for the night.
October 25, 2006:
Kambiz Shakavosi (31) from Iran, now in Canada:
Hi Chris, I love your music and your king sound. Now I’m in Canada and I’m waiting for you in November. I have one question..what do you think about same sex marriage? That’s free in Ontario. I think god made men and women to be married together, not with the same sex. What is your opinion?
Chris de Burgh:
This is a very difficult question to answer, because same sex marriages have become fairly common in various countries around the world and have actually also had a very powerful reaction against them in other places. There are people who will say it’s unnatural, it’s wrong. There are other people who are saying well, what’s the harm? I must admit, personally I do draw the line at same sex marriages perhaps bringing up children or fostering children. I think that can cause problems for the child in later years, although it must be nice for the couple to have a child around the place, knowing that they can’t physically have one together. But I think that will cause huge problems for that child in later life. That’s my opinion. Whether it’s true or not, I have no idea. Only time will tell. A very interesting remark I once read was made by a homosexual who said to a heterosexual “when did you decide to become a heterosexual?”. And the answer was of course “Never. This is the way we are.” I know people who are happily married, people who suddenly realize that there is this inner voice inside that is telling them this isn’t where they want to be. You can’t criticize people for living their lives the way they want to, and you must as in all things, in religion especially, be tolerant of other people’s beliefs and desires. I think we can all co-exist on this planet happily together.
Kambiz Shakavosi (31) from Iran, now in Canada:
Hi Chris, I love your music and your king sound. Now I’m in Canada and I’m waiting for you in November. I have one question..what do you think about same sex marriage? That’s free in Ontario. I think god made men and women to be married together, not with the same sex. What is your opinion?
Chris de Burgh:
This is a very difficult question to answer, because same sex marriages have become fairly common in various countries around the world and have actually also had a very powerful reaction against them in other places. There are people who will say it’s unnatural, it’s wrong. There are other people who are saying well, what’s the harm? I must admit, personally I do draw the line at same sex marriages perhaps bringing up children or fostering children. I think that can cause problems for the child in later years, although it must be nice for the couple to have a child around the place, knowing that they can’t physically have one together. But I think that will cause huge problems for that child in later life. That’s my opinion. Whether it’s true or not, I have no idea. Only time will tell. A very interesting remark I once read was made by a homosexual who said to a heterosexual “when did you decide to become a heterosexual?”. And the answer was of course “Never. This is the way we are.” I know people who are happily married, people who suddenly realize that there is this inner voice inside that is telling them this isn’t where they want to be. You can’t criticize people for living their lives the way they want to, and you must as in all things, in religion especially, be tolerant of other people’s beliefs and desires. I think we can all co-exist on this planet happily together.
October 24, 2006:
Ilka Göpfert (34) from Almersbach, Germany:
Hi Chris, during the last rainy weekend I was going over my LPs and CDs and found one of Franz Benton. I had to think a bit about where it came from and where I knew Franz Benton, but then I remembered that he was once the supporting act at one of your tours in the eighties here in Germany, and as far as I know, Daryl Braithwaite also. And now I wonder if you still keep contact to these guys who have worked with you long ago, if you still keep track of their way. What was the reason for you to choose for example Franz Benton as a supporting act? And why did you stop to use supporting acts? Don't you think it's a great chance (and a great luck of course!) for rather unknown artists to be "pushed" by you? There must be a wide range of artists... or perhaps a too wide range? Thanks for answering all our questions and keep it up! Big hugs, Ilka
Chris de Burgh:
I have to tell you that the years that I spent as an opening act gave me enormous respect for what it’s like to be the first person performing in a concert. How difficult it is and the tough time you have with an audience and how you are trying to fight your corner all the time and prove something to the people out there and basically create a fan base for yourself. The two that you mention, Franz and Daryl, were both excellent musicians. And any time I have had an opening act during my shows, I have always had a chance to listen to their music beforehand, basically to think is this going to work, not only for me personally, but also will it be nice for my audience to listen to before the show. And I was in Australia this year, and I wanted very much for Daryl to open up a concert for me, but unfortunately he was unable to do it, he had another commitment. But nowadays I have got so much material, I don’t need an opening act and I think the only time when you have to have one is when the people who own the venue where you are performing insist on having an opening act, so that there is a break, so that people can go out and spend money on their merchandise and their drinks. I prefer just to do the whole thing myself these days. That’s not to say if I come across somebody who is really worthy of support, then I won’t put somebody on with me, maybe during the show or a little bit before the show. And it does happen from time to time. But generally speaking, I don’t keep in touch with them, because they are off doing their own thing in their own careers.
Ilka Göpfert (34) from Almersbach, Germany:
Hi Chris, during the last rainy weekend I was going over my LPs and CDs and found one of Franz Benton. I had to think a bit about where it came from and where I knew Franz Benton, but then I remembered that he was once the supporting act at one of your tours in the eighties here in Germany, and as far as I know, Daryl Braithwaite also. And now I wonder if you still keep contact to these guys who have worked with you long ago, if you still keep track of their way. What was the reason for you to choose for example Franz Benton as a supporting act? And why did you stop to use supporting acts? Don't you think it's a great chance (and a great luck of course!) for rather unknown artists to be "pushed" by you? There must be a wide range of artists... or perhaps a too wide range? Thanks for answering all our questions and keep it up! Big hugs, Ilka
Chris de Burgh:
I have to tell you that the years that I spent as an opening act gave me enormous respect for what it’s like to be the first person performing in a concert. How difficult it is and the tough time you have with an audience and how you are trying to fight your corner all the time and prove something to the people out there and basically create a fan base for yourself. The two that you mention, Franz and Daryl, were both excellent musicians. And any time I have had an opening act during my shows, I have always had a chance to listen to their music beforehand, basically to think is this going to work, not only for me personally, but also will it be nice for my audience to listen to before the show. And I was in Australia this year, and I wanted very much for Daryl to open up a concert for me, but unfortunately he was unable to do it, he had another commitment. But nowadays I have got so much material, I don’t need an opening act and I think the only time when you have to have one is when the people who own the venue where you are performing insist on having an opening act, so that there is a break, so that people can go out and spend money on their merchandise and their drinks. I prefer just to do the whole thing myself these days. That’s not to say if I come across somebody who is really worthy of support, then I won’t put somebody on with me, maybe during the show or a little bit before the show. And it does happen from time to time. But generally speaking, I don’t keep in touch with them, because they are off doing their own thing in their own careers.
October 23, 2006:
Susan Anneveldt (44) from The Netherlands:
Hi, Chris! How wonderful to be able to interact with you and read your personal comments to our questions. I have been a fan of yours since the late 1970s, when I lived in South Africa (I have moved around a lot in my life, and know you can relate to that yourself!) and have seen you in concert several times. I last saw you in concert last November, in The Hague, and thoroughly enjoyed the "solo-ness" of it. I have always especially liked the songs you have done which have historical themes, as I am a very keen (amateur) historian and genealogist. Years ago, I read in a German magazine that you were related to Richard the Lionheart. I imagine it is via the de Burghs? I guess we are very distant cousins, as I descend from Richard's brother John. Is your ancestral heritage a driving force in any way when you deal with history in your music? Can you feel a literal link in some way to the past?
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you for your comments about following me and my music all these years, through South Africa and up to The Hague concert, which I remember very well from last year during my solo tour. Although I am involved in a tour now with the band, there is something that is kind of new and different, I have always thoroughly enjoyed the solo concerts, because it is a chance to really connect with the audience on a very intimate and personal level. The historical themes that arise in my songs come from my deep interest in history. And on “The Storyman” album, there are of course tracks that take us from the 1st century AD through to the 18th and the 20th century, the 15th century, all these areas of historical interest. Because it’s hard sometimes in our 21st century, the rush of life, to remember that we are only here because ancestors lived through much grimmer and more difficult times. It’s like they have laid the cobblestones of all the roads that we have walked on. Looking back into history, you can see what has been created to allow us to come to as far as we are right now. This is the respect I have for history, for architecture, for art, for music. Recently I listened to an absolutely stunning piece of music that was written in the 13th century. That is amazing, when you think about the abilities of our forefathers. And again recently I went to see an exhibition in Dublin’s National Museum, where there were items on display in Gold for example, absolutely gorgeous jewellery that was crafted in 300 years before the birth of Christ. By our ancestors, people who created beautiful objects, for adornment or else for protection against evil spirits, but these people were not idiots. They didn’t have the abilities that we have today. And let us not forget that sooner or later the era that we are living in will be scoffed at 1000 years hence, if human beings are still on the planet, for being very backward. So it is all relative. The connection with Richard The Lionheart, I am actually not very certain of. I don’t think it is a family connection. I think the connection comes from the first king of Jerusalem Baldwin de Burgh, who fought with Richard The Lionheart during one of the crusades. And was given the gold shield with the red cross as the de Burgh family crest which we have to this day. Richard’s brother John, King John, had as his chief justiciar, it’s like the chief lawmaker in England, a main character in Shakespeare’s play of the same name “King John”, his name was Hubert de Burgh. He was a good guy, because at one point he refused to blind the young prince in the tower of London and actually let him go free. Worth having a look at that play, just to see the activities of Mr. Hubert de Burgh.
Susan Anneveldt (44) from The Netherlands:
Hi, Chris! How wonderful to be able to interact with you and read your personal comments to our questions. I have been a fan of yours since the late 1970s, when I lived in South Africa (I have moved around a lot in my life, and know you can relate to that yourself!) and have seen you in concert several times. I last saw you in concert last November, in The Hague, and thoroughly enjoyed the "solo-ness" of it. I have always especially liked the songs you have done which have historical themes, as I am a very keen (amateur) historian and genealogist. Years ago, I read in a German magazine that you were related to Richard the Lionheart. I imagine it is via the de Burghs? I guess we are very distant cousins, as I descend from Richard's brother John. Is your ancestral heritage a driving force in any way when you deal with history in your music? Can you feel a literal link in some way to the past?
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you for your comments about following me and my music all these years, through South Africa and up to The Hague concert, which I remember very well from last year during my solo tour. Although I am involved in a tour now with the band, there is something that is kind of new and different, I have always thoroughly enjoyed the solo concerts, because it is a chance to really connect with the audience on a very intimate and personal level. The historical themes that arise in my songs come from my deep interest in history. And on “The Storyman” album, there are of course tracks that take us from the 1st century AD through to the 18th and the 20th century, the 15th century, all these areas of historical interest. Because it’s hard sometimes in our 21st century, the rush of life, to remember that we are only here because ancestors lived through much grimmer and more difficult times. It’s like they have laid the cobblestones of all the roads that we have walked on. Looking back into history, you can see what has been created to allow us to come to as far as we are right now. This is the respect I have for history, for architecture, for art, for music. Recently I listened to an absolutely stunning piece of music that was written in the 13th century. That is amazing, when you think about the abilities of our forefathers. And again recently I went to see an exhibition in Dublin’s National Museum, where there were items on display in Gold for example, absolutely gorgeous jewellery that was crafted in 300 years before the birth of Christ. By our ancestors, people who created beautiful objects, for adornment or else for protection against evil spirits, but these people were not idiots. They didn’t have the abilities that we have today. And let us not forget that sooner or later the era that we are living in will be scoffed at 1000 years hence, if human beings are still on the planet, for being very backward. So it is all relative. The connection with Richard The Lionheart, I am actually not very certain of. I don’t think it is a family connection. I think the connection comes from the first king of Jerusalem Baldwin de Burgh, who fought with Richard The Lionheart during one of the crusades. And was given the gold shield with the red cross as the de Burgh family crest which we have to this day. Richard’s brother John, King John, had as his chief justiciar, it’s like the chief lawmaker in England, a main character in Shakespeare’s play of the same name “King John”, his name was Hubert de Burgh. He was a good guy, because at one point he refused to blind the young prince in the tower of London and actually let him go free. Worth having a look at that play, just to see the activities of Mr. Hubert de Burgh.
October 22, 2006:
Toni Jehan (42) from Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK:
Hi Chris! I hope you and yours are well. I have a question for you. I know you are aware that I'm a bit of a deep thinker!! Have you ever felt an affinity to a certain period in time, to the extent that you feel you may have lived in that time before? I've had regressions done under hypnosis, would you consider this? Lots of love, Tonixx
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Toni! I hope you are in good form. And thank you for all those years of sending me your amazing stories and poems, which I have always thoroughly enjoyed. And I hope to receive more of them. I know you are a deep thinker. I know you are a very emotional person with strong beliefs about the various dimensions around us. And I have to tell you, I do share those beliefs. As far as affinities to certain periods in time, I would point at two particular ones, where I have an extraordinary emotional affinity to. The first one would be back in medieval times. I would say the 12th and 13th centuries, in England. Ok, they were not romantic or wonderful times, far from it, they were very tough and cruel times. But for some reason I feel drawn there. And I also feel extremely drawn to the era of the First World War, 1914-1918. I have read a lot about regression, and indeed you yourself have told me quite a bit about it as well. I have never tried it, perhaps I am a little scared. But then maybe I should learn something about myself that I didn’t know. But I am certainly convinced about previous lives, and little echoes and deja-vus that we all have on a regular basis. And I am sure scientists will attempt to explain why these things happen. I prefer to go down the other route, which is what if the scientists are not correct and what if there is another dimension around us. I’ll leave you with this one little thought: If you take a very humble living creature like a slug, it is completely and utterly unaware of us until you actually step on one or run over one. In the same way why do human beings think that we have such a grasp of everything that goes on around us, all the aural dimensions, all the physical dimensions, all the visible areas that we can see. What we don’t know is if there is something else beyond that, that we are completely and utterly unaware of like that unfortunate slug.
Toni Jehan (42) from Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK:
Hi Chris! I hope you and yours are well. I have a question for you. I know you are aware that I'm a bit of a deep thinker!! Have you ever felt an affinity to a certain period in time, to the extent that you feel you may have lived in that time before? I've had regressions done under hypnosis, would you consider this? Lots of love, Tonixx
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Toni! I hope you are in good form. And thank you for all those years of sending me your amazing stories and poems, which I have always thoroughly enjoyed. And I hope to receive more of them. I know you are a deep thinker. I know you are a very emotional person with strong beliefs about the various dimensions around us. And I have to tell you, I do share those beliefs. As far as affinities to certain periods in time, I would point at two particular ones, where I have an extraordinary emotional affinity to. The first one would be back in medieval times. I would say the 12th and 13th centuries, in England. Ok, they were not romantic or wonderful times, far from it, they were very tough and cruel times. But for some reason I feel drawn there. And I also feel extremely drawn to the era of the First World War, 1914-1918. I have read a lot about regression, and indeed you yourself have told me quite a bit about it as well. I have never tried it, perhaps I am a little scared. But then maybe I should learn something about myself that I didn’t know. But I am certainly convinced about previous lives, and little echoes and deja-vus that we all have on a regular basis. And I am sure scientists will attempt to explain why these things happen. I prefer to go down the other route, which is what if the scientists are not correct and what if there is another dimension around us. I’ll leave you with this one little thought: If you take a very humble living creature like a slug, it is completely and utterly unaware of us until you actually step on one or run over one. In the same way why do human beings think that we have such a grasp of everything that goes on around us, all the aural dimensions, all the physical dimensions, all the visible areas that we can see. What we don’t know is if there is something else beyond that, that we are completely and utterly unaware of like that unfortunate slug.
October 21, 2006:
Jose Guerrero (38) from Gilroy, California, USA:
I get the impression from many of your songs that you enjoy science fiction. If so, which authors and/or stories do you enjoy most?
Chris de Burgh:
Well, I do enjoy science fiction. But I like the kind of science fiction that doesn’t take me to weird sounding places thousands of years in the future. I much prefer the more believable, possibly closer to the truth sorts of science fiction. In particular I would point the finger at Isaac Asimov who wrote a breathtaking book called “Childhood’s End” amongst others and various trilogies that I enjoyed very much. And also Arthur C. Clarke, the man who wrote my favourite film of all time “2001 – A Space Odyssey”. And he has written many wonderful books. So I can recommend to readers of MOtL, that if you want to start into science fiction, start with the greatest of the lot, in my opinion. And you should enjoy what they have written.
Jose Guerrero (38) from Gilroy, California, USA:
I get the impression from many of your songs that you enjoy science fiction. If so, which authors and/or stories do you enjoy most?
Chris de Burgh:
Well, I do enjoy science fiction. But I like the kind of science fiction that doesn’t take me to weird sounding places thousands of years in the future. I much prefer the more believable, possibly closer to the truth sorts of science fiction. In particular I would point the finger at Isaac Asimov who wrote a breathtaking book called “Childhood’s End” amongst others and various trilogies that I enjoyed very much. And also Arthur C. Clarke, the man who wrote my favourite film of all time “2001 – A Space Odyssey”. And he has written many wonderful books. So I can recommend to readers of MOtL, that if you want to start into science fiction, start with the greatest of the lot, in my opinion. And you should enjoy what they have written.
October 20, 2006:
Ian Durrant (45) from London, England:
Chris. I don't have much success with the ladies. The ladies seem to love you. What is your secret?
Chris de Burgh:
If I didn’t know any better, I would be smiling to Ian and saying “I wonder, if this is a bit of a set up question”. But if it’s genuine, I will respond to it. But if it’s a set up, I will also respond to it in a slightly different way. However, there is no secret. Nobody in the history of the world can actually point how you have success with the ladies. I think everybody is different, every woman is looking for something slightly different in a man. Sometimes they are looking for that big, physical, tough, burly, strong, hairy-chested, hairy-under-the-arm-pits kind of a guy. Other women like a more sensitive, gentle, yet sort of inner strength kind of a man. It’s almost impossible to say, Ian. However, maybe the best thing is, if you and I sit down and have a pint of beer together. I could give you a few tips and pointers. But I certainly don’t go out of my way to try and attract the ladies. I suppose, it is part of being a famous person that you get a lot of attention. And I have to say I do enjoy it, there is no question about it. But as far as your own situation is concerned, I wish you the best of luck and don’t forget for every lonely man there is always a lonely lady out there too. So I am sure there are many people who would love to meet you some day.
Ian Durrant (45) from London, England:
Chris. I don't have much success with the ladies. The ladies seem to love you. What is your secret?
Chris de Burgh:
If I didn’t know any better, I would be smiling to Ian and saying “I wonder, if this is a bit of a set up question”. But if it’s genuine, I will respond to it. But if it’s a set up, I will also respond to it in a slightly different way. However, there is no secret. Nobody in the history of the world can actually point how you have success with the ladies. I think everybody is different, every woman is looking for something slightly different in a man. Sometimes they are looking for that big, physical, tough, burly, strong, hairy-chested, hairy-under-the-arm-pits kind of a guy. Other women like a more sensitive, gentle, yet sort of inner strength kind of a man. It’s almost impossible to say, Ian. However, maybe the best thing is, if you and I sit down and have a pint of beer together. I could give you a few tips and pointers. But I certainly don’t go out of my way to try and attract the ladies. I suppose, it is part of being a famous person that you get a lot of attention. And I have to say I do enjoy it, there is no question about it. But as far as your own situation is concerned, I wish you the best of luck and don’t forget for every lonely man there is always a lonely lady out there too. So I am sure there are many people who would love to meet you some day.
October 19, 2006:
Chris de Burgh:
Over the last few days, there have been a lot of press reports about "Faith Healing," "Healing Hands" etc, and I would like to take a little time to clarify this story that became sillier and more exaggerated as the week went on.We were laughing so hard to hear that apparently I was "Jesus, God, some kind of Miracle Worker, delusional etc," and the story generated so much publicity for the week of the release of "The Storyman", people were ringing my office all week thinking that this must be some kind of publicity stunt, a joke, and how did we manage to get such a nutty story into so many papers! My publicist was delighted at all the Press coverage, it did wonders for the new CD! The facts are somewhat different, as about 6 million people watching the "Heaven and Earth" show on October 8th heard. I wonder what part of the sentence "I am NOT a Faith Healer" did the media have a problem with? Or maybe it was too good an opportunity to have a laugh and a scoff at something that millions of people, especially those in severe pain that conventional medicine cannot cure, turn to when there is little hope elsewhere. Those who deride what they don't understand - or don't even WANT to try to learn a bit about - should sincerely hope that they, their children, or family and friends will never have to seek help from gifted practioners of alternative medicine, like, for example, Reiki healers. I am convinced, as I said on the BBC, that just about anyone can help others, with their hands; if you know someone in pain, just give it a try, and ignore all the nonsense, the suspicion about the unknown, and the prejudice that prevents people from understanding what even our ancestors of long ago believed in, and have the courage of your convictions... And I hope you are enjoying "The Storyman" as much as I enjoyed writing and recording it. Best wishes, Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh:
Over the last few days, there have been a lot of press reports about "Faith Healing," "Healing Hands" etc, and I would like to take a little time to clarify this story that became sillier and more exaggerated as the week went on.We were laughing so hard to hear that apparently I was "Jesus, God, some kind of Miracle Worker, delusional etc," and the story generated so much publicity for the week of the release of "The Storyman", people were ringing my office all week thinking that this must be some kind of publicity stunt, a joke, and how did we manage to get such a nutty story into so many papers! My publicist was delighted at all the Press coverage, it did wonders for the new CD! The facts are somewhat different, as about 6 million people watching the "Heaven and Earth" show on October 8th heard. I wonder what part of the sentence "I am NOT a Faith Healer" did the media have a problem with? Or maybe it was too good an opportunity to have a laugh and a scoff at something that millions of people, especially those in severe pain that conventional medicine cannot cure, turn to when there is little hope elsewhere. Those who deride what they don't understand - or don't even WANT to try to learn a bit about - should sincerely hope that they, their children, or family and friends will never have to seek help from gifted practioners of alternative medicine, like, for example, Reiki healers. I am convinced, as I said on the BBC, that just about anyone can help others, with their hands; if you know someone in pain, just give it a try, and ignore all the nonsense, the suspicion about the unknown, and the prejudice that prevents people from understanding what even our ancestors of long ago believed in, and have the courage of your convictions... And I hope you are enjoying "The Storyman" as much as I enjoyed writing and recording it. Best wishes, Chris de Burgh
October 18, 2006:
Jacqueline Ebner (47) from Erskine, Scotland:
Hello again Chris, I am always singing as I go about my daily business, much to the amusement of family, friends and colleagues. Do you sing in this way or do you 'save' it for composing or recording. Many thanks, love Jacqueline xx
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Jacqueline! I know you love the way I say your name with that silky French accent. So, if you were here, I would say “ello Jacqueline”. It was nice to see you with your friends during the summer, and I hope we meet again soon. Yeah, I tend to wander about singing. Usually when there is nobody around. But sometimes people can hear me. I tend to sing in the car. I like to do that, and apart from that it keeps the voice in a good fluid way and it’s good to keep breathing correctly, because singers have to breathe properly. Yes, I am always wandering about singing. I wonder what you sing to your family, friends and colleagues!
Jacqueline Ebner (47) from Erskine, Scotland:
Hello again Chris, I am always singing as I go about my daily business, much to the amusement of family, friends and colleagues. Do you sing in this way or do you 'save' it for composing or recording. Many thanks, love Jacqueline xx
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Jacqueline! I know you love the way I say your name with that silky French accent. So, if you were here, I would say “ello Jacqueline”. It was nice to see you with your friends during the summer, and I hope we meet again soon. Yeah, I tend to wander about singing. Usually when there is nobody around. But sometimes people can hear me. I tend to sing in the car. I like to do that, and apart from that it keeps the voice in a good fluid way and it’s good to keep breathing correctly, because singers have to breathe properly. Yes, I am always wandering about singing. I wonder what you sing to your family, friends and colleagues!
October 17, 2006:
Ian McDonald (41) from Surrey, BC, Canada:
Hi Chris, thanks for answering all my questions, it's almost like having a slow moving conversation with you. As my Dad was from Liverpool, and you and I are such big supporters of the team, have you ever thought of recording "You'll Never Walk Alone"? Either as part of an album or perhaps as a fundraiser. Our local hockey team runs a hospice for terminally ill children called Canuck Place. Maybe if Liverpool supports a charity that would be a great way for them to raise some money. Either way, I bet you would sing it great. Also have you ever seen the movie Carousel that the song was written for? It is one of my favourites. I know Canada is a big place but I hope to see you in Vancouver on your next Canadian tour, 18 years is a long time ago!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Ian! Yours is a very familiar name to me. It’s a pleasure to answer your questions. As you know, I am extremely fond of Canada and I am very sorry I haven’t been able to make it to the Western section of Canada for a while. But I do intend to return again to Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Calgary, Edmonton and of course one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Vancouver. Whenever I go to Anfield to watch Liverpool play, or when I went to the Champions League final in Istanbul, or the FA Cup final in Cardiff, we always sing as loudly as we can “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Because it is a wonderful anthem. And yes, of course I have seen Carousel, and I know that is where the song came from. I haven’t actually recorded it properly, but I have sung it many times with the original singer Gerry of Gerry And The Pacemakers. And I recorded a version of it for film, which was shown on TV a few days before the Champions League final last year 2005. It certainly is one of my favourites. And during the playback of the song, when they have it at the football stadium in Liverpool, the DJ always stops it just towards the end, so you can just hear the crowd singing it. And it definitely gives you shivers up your spine, when you hear all those thousands of people singing this beautiful melody.
Ian McDonald (41) from Surrey, BC, Canada:
Hi Chris, thanks for answering all my questions, it's almost like having a slow moving conversation with you. As my Dad was from Liverpool, and you and I are such big supporters of the team, have you ever thought of recording "You'll Never Walk Alone"? Either as part of an album or perhaps as a fundraiser. Our local hockey team runs a hospice for terminally ill children called Canuck Place. Maybe if Liverpool supports a charity that would be a great way for them to raise some money. Either way, I bet you would sing it great. Also have you ever seen the movie Carousel that the song was written for? It is one of my favourites. I know Canada is a big place but I hope to see you in Vancouver on your next Canadian tour, 18 years is a long time ago!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Ian! Yours is a very familiar name to me. It’s a pleasure to answer your questions. As you know, I am extremely fond of Canada and I am very sorry I haven’t been able to make it to the Western section of Canada for a while. But I do intend to return again to Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Calgary, Edmonton and of course one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Vancouver. Whenever I go to Anfield to watch Liverpool play, or when I went to the Champions League final in Istanbul, or the FA Cup final in Cardiff, we always sing as loudly as we can “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Because it is a wonderful anthem. And yes, of course I have seen Carousel, and I know that is where the song came from. I haven’t actually recorded it properly, but I have sung it many times with the original singer Gerry of Gerry And The Pacemakers. And I recorded a version of it for film, which was shown on TV a few days before the Champions League final last year 2005. It certainly is one of my favourites. And during the playback of the song, when they have it at the football stadium in Liverpool, the DJ always stops it just towards the end, so you can just hear the crowd singing it. And it definitely gives you shivers up your spine, when you hear all those thousands of people singing this beautiful melody.
October 16, 2006:
Elke Groß (32) from Germany:
Hello Chris, in your song "The last time I cried" you sing the words Eli Eli Lama. What does it mean? I hope you'll go on writing so wonderful music. Best wishes from Elke
Chris de Burgh:
For me this is in my particular top 20 of what I feel are the most important and best songs personally that mean a lot to me. Because I had such a strong vision of a man 50 years after the Second World War, watching a video or a DVD about that time and looking at the atrocities. And as he watches the flickering images on the screen, his own child is asleep in his arms. And there is a scene where the soldiers are herding people onto a train. And suddenly he goes cold, because there, just about to be pushed onto the train is a small child who looks absolutely identical to his own child. And he freezes the frame and holds it. And then as he fast forwards on, he realizes that the soldier who has pointed a gun at the child looks exactly like him. And a point of the song is that the people who performed these atrocities were not people who were brought up in like savages in the woods, they were ordinary human beings like you and I, who then for a number of complex reasons become these barbaric and brutal killers. And that was the point of that song. I wanted to also draw attention to the last words of Christ on the cross, which allegedly were “My Lord, My Lord, why have you forsaken me?”, because if you look at what happened to the Jews during the Second World War in the holocaust, I find it extremely ironic that they were calling for their God to save them, for our God, the Christian God, in the same way and possibly the same language that Christ himself used to call upon his Father to save him while he was dying on the cross. It’s for me, I hope it is accurate for those people who speak Hebrew. But as I understand it from my research, this is pretty close to what was allegedly said on that terrible day when Christ was crucified.
Elke Groß (32) from Germany:
Hello Chris, in your song "The last time I cried" you sing the words Eli Eli Lama. What does it mean? I hope you'll go on writing so wonderful music. Best wishes from Elke
Chris de Burgh:
For me this is in my particular top 20 of what I feel are the most important and best songs personally that mean a lot to me. Because I had such a strong vision of a man 50 years after the Second World War, watching a video or a DVD about that time and looking at the atrocities. And as he watches the flickering images on the screen, his own child is asleep in his arms. And there is a scene where the soldiers are herding people onto a train. And suddenly he goes cold, because there, just about to be pushed onto the train is a small child who looks absolutely identical to his own child. And he freezes the frame and holds it. And then as he fast forwards on, he realizes that the soldier who has pointed a gun at the child looks exactly like him. And a point of the song is that the people who performed these atrocities were not people who were brought up in like savages in the woods, they were ordinary human beings like you and I, who then for a number of complex reasons become these barbaric and brutal killers. And that was the point of that song. I wanted to also draw attention to the last words of Christ on the cross, which allegedly were “My Lord, My Lord, why have you forsaken me?”, because if you look at what happened to the Jews during the Second World War in the holocaust, I find it extremely ironic that they were calling for their God to save them, for our God, the Christian God, in the same way and possibly the same language that Christ himself used to call upon his Father to save him while he was dying on the cross. It’s for me, I hope it is accurate for those people who speak Hebrew. But as I understand it from my research, this is pretty close to what was allegedly said on that terrible day when Christ was crucified.
October 15, 2006:
Wendy from Scotland:
Hi Chris, It's me again.....smile. I've just read your response to a question and your comments about how much you hate smoking. I have never smoked but understand it can be really difficult to give up. I read in ' A spark to a flame' that you used to smoke, how did you manage to give up? And did you notice an improvement in your voice afterwards? Any suggestions for other who want to quit?? Keep up the great work and hope to see you in concert again soon. Wendy
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Wendy! Thanks for your question about smoking. Yes, I think when I was a student, for a year or so, I took up the wicked weed, because everybody else was. And what an appalling reason to take it up! But peer pressure is difficult to avoid sometimes, and I’m very embarrassed and ashamed that I kind of gave into that. I didn’t really enjoy the smoking very much, but it didn’t take long before I realized that this was really bad for me. You have to remember, when I was in my teens and early twenties, the real dangers of smoking had yet to be either discovered. Or if they had been discovered, certainly the tobacco companies weren’t telling people. Nowadays a lot of youngsters growing up are revolted by cigarette smoking, and they don’t like the smell on people’s breath. Certainly in my country in Ireland, it’s been such a breakthrough and a relief to be able to go out to a restaurant or a pub and not having to breathe other people’s smoke in. I think it’s catastrophic for the health. And I’ve read extraordinary claims by doctors and medical experts that it can take 15 years of your life. And you know, we only get the one life in this particular shape and form. What is the point of poisoning your body? But even worse, in my opinion, poisoning other people around you! It’s extraordinary, when I am in Europe and I am in a restaurant or something like that, in a public place and I have to breathe other people’s smoke in, I just absolutely hate it. And I hate the feeling in the morning, you’ve been thick in the head and coughing a lot, and just your clothes smelling of smoke. And I know a lot of people enjoy this habit and it is extremely difficult to give up. But it’s not like heroin or something. I think, if you want to give up, you have to be strong-minded. And nowadays there are all sorts of different ways to give up and a lot of people have come up with different systems to help people give up. Hypnosis being one of them for example.
Wendy from Scotland:
Hi Chris, It's me again.....smile. I've just read your response to a question and your comments about how much you hate smoking. I have never smoked but understand it can be really difficult to give up. I read in ' A spark to a flame' that you used to smoke, how did you manage to give up? And did you notice an improvement in your voice afterwards? Any suggestions for other who want to quit?? Keep up the great work and hope to see you in concert again soon. Wendy
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Wendy! Thanks for your question about smoking. Yes, I think when I was a student, for a year or so, I took up the wicked weed, because everybody else was. And what an appalling reason to take it up! But peer pressure is difficult to avoid sometimes, and I’m very embarrassed and ashamed that I kind of gave into that. I didn’t really enjoy the smoking very much, but it didn’t take long before I realized that this was really bad for me. You have to remember, when I was in my teens and early twenties, the real dangers of smoking had yet to be either discovered. Or if they had been discovered, certainly the tobacco companies weren’t telling people. Nowadays a lot of youngsters growing up are revolted by cigarette smoking, and they don’t like the smell on people’s breath. Certainly in my country in Ireland, it’s been such a breakthrough and a relief to be able to go out to a restaurant or a pub and not having to breathe other people’s smoke in. I think it’s catastrophic for the health. And I’ve read extraordinary claims by doctors and medical experts that it can take 15 years of your life. And you know, we only get the one life in this particular shape and form. What is the point of poisoning your body? But even worse, in my opinion, poisoning other people around you! It’s extraordinary, when I am in Europe and I am in a restaurant or something like that, in a public place and I have to breathe other people’s smoke in, I just absolutely hate it. And I hate the feeling in the morning, you’ve been thick in the head and coughing a lot, and just your clothes smelling of smoke. And I know a lot of people enjoy this habit and it is extremely difficult to give up. But it’s not like heroin or something. I think, if you want to give up, you have to be strong-minded. And nowadays there are all sorts of different ways to give up and a lot of people have come up with different systems to help people give up. Hypnosis being one of them for example.
October 14, 2006:
Mert Ener (24) from Istanbul, Turkey:
Hi Chris! I have got two questions about the song "Separate Tables". First of all I have to mention that, it is a very poetic and emotional song. "At separate tables we sit down to eat, In separate bedrooms we go to sleep at night". Even this sentence can summarize a life of a couple, alone. What feelings can lead a man to write these lines as adroit as a poet? How are your feelings about this song? My second question is, in the song there are some French lyrics at the very beginning. What are they and what do they mean? Thanks God for your romance!
Chris de Burgh:
This is a song, when I was writing, I was thinking of a couple who have perhaps had a violent argument and now are living separate lives, but they can’t get each other out of their heads, as often is the case. And towards the end of the song he is suggesting that even if he writes a letter, he is hoping that the girl he is longing to see again will read between the lines and just forget about all their fighting and all their difficulties and troubles, because he really is missing her. And you can imagine, if this was a movie, as I often do imagine things in movies, two apartments, where they are both lonely, both longing to be together again. But too much pride is preventing each from picking up the phone and saying “Listen, I’m sorry.”. Nowadays people do this kind of thing by text messaging or e-mail, but that is for me as a false emotion. What really needs to happen at “Separate Tables” is one of them needs to pick up the phone and say “Look. Life is too short for arguing. Let’s just put all this behind us.” And at the beginning of the song its French words were “Darling, I miss you so much and I am thinking about you tonight.” Words like that. I haven’t got a translation in my head, but of course it was me speaking French, because that is a language I love very much.
Mert Ener (24) from Istanbul, Turkey:
Hi Chris! I have got two questions about the song "Separate Tables". First of all I have to mention that, it is a very poetic and emotional song. "At separate tables we sit down to eat, In separate bedrooms we go to sleep at night". Even this sentence can summarize a life of a couple, alone. What feelings can lead a man to write these lines as adroit as a poet? How are your feelings about this song? My second question is, in the song there are some French lyrics at the very beginning. What are they and what do they mean? Thanks God for your romance!
Chris de Burgh:
This is a song, when I was writing, I was thinking of a couple who have perhaps had a violent argument and now are living separate lives, but they can’t get each other out of their heads, as often is the case. And towards the end of the song he is suggesting that even if he writes a letter, he is hoping that the girl he is longing to see again will read between the lines and just forget about all their fighting and all their difficulties and troubles, because he really is missing her. And you can imagine, if this was a movie, as I often do imagine things in movies, two apartments, where they are both lonely, both longing to be together again. But too much pride is preventing each from picking up the phone and saying “Listen, I’m sorry.”. Nowadays people do this kind of thing by text messaging or e-mail, but that is for me as a false emotion. What really needs to happen at “Separate Tables” is one of them needs to pick up the phone and say “Look. Life is too short for arguing. Let’s just put all this behind us.” And at the beginning of the song its French words were “Darling, I miss you so much and I am thinking about you tonight.” Words like that. I haven’t got a translation in my head, but of course it was me speaking French, because that is a language I love very much.
October 13, 2006:
Chris Raymond (53) from Whitton, Twickenham, UK:
Hi Chris, I have a ticket to see Neil Diamond at the N.E.C. in Birmingham but don't worry 'cause there's no way that I'll abandon you ;-) ... There is a "warning" on the ticket which says "PEOPLE AROUND YOU MAY STAND UP FOR THIS CONCERT". So I'm wondering - couldn't your Management arrange to have something similar printed on your tickets in the future so that those of us who love to stand up won't have to wait right until the end? I have to say that I've had people around me at some of your Concerts who didn't much like me showing my appreciation (far too noisy!!) much less standing up! This warning idea might be a good solution so that the 'Bums on seats brigade' would be prepared and not complain. I know that you like your Concerts to be lively! What do you think? Hope you enjoy this question! Thanks. Chris R
Chris de Burgh:
This is from Chris Raymond, who has graced these pages before with interesting questions. I have never seen that before on a ticket “People around you may stand up for this concert”. The next thing you may see on tickets might be “Warning: People may leave this concert early!”. Or indeed I know that in America in some states the law says that on tickets “some or all of this performance may be previously recorded”. That means that people are miming on stage and I think that is a very good thing. However, I like the idea of printing what you are saying on the ticket about people may stand up for this concert, because I think it encourages people to get up and have a good time! So this is something that I should definitely bring to the attention of my team.
Chris Raymond (53) from Whitton, Twickenham, UK:
Hi Chris, I have a ticket to see Neil Diamond at the N.E.C. in Birmingham but don't worry 'cause there's no way that I'll abandon you ;-) ... There is a "warning" on the ticket which says "PEOPLE AROUND YOU MAY STAND UP FOR THIS CONCERT". So I'm wondering - couldn't your Management arrange to have something similar printed on your tickets in the future so that those of us who love to stand up won't have to wait right until the end? I have to say that I've had people around me at some of your Concerts who didn't much like me showing my appreciation (far too noisy!!) much less standing up! This warning idea might be a good solution so that the 'Bums on seats brigade' would be prepared and not complain. I know that you like your Concerts to be lively! What do you think? Hope you enjoy this question! Thanks. Chris R
Chris de Burgh:
This is from Chris Raymond, who has graced these pages before with interesting questions. I have never seen that before on a ticket “People around you may stand up for this concert”. The next thing you may see on tickets might be “Warning: People may leave this concert early!”. Or indeed I know that in America in some states the law says that on tickets “some or all of this performance may be previously recorded”. That means that people are miming on stage and I think that is a very good thing. However, I like the idea of printing what you are saying on the ticket about people may stand up for this concert, because I think it encourages people to get up and have a good time! So this is something that I should definitely bring to the attention of my team.
October 12, 2006:
Christopher (Douglas) Davison (36) from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada:
On a whim I did a google search on my name and found that we actually have that in common (I go by Chris mostly), which is very cool because I have been a fan for many years. I was wondering: How did you come to acquire Chris de Burgh as your stage name?
Chris de Burgh:
Christopher Davison! This is amazing! You’re from Halifax. Of course those of you who live in Halifax already know that I am extremely fond of your town and very interested in the history. Been there many times! Been to the Maritime Museum many times, been up to the Citadel. Every time I go there I usually stay in a hotel “The Delta” on Barrington Street. And I am sure regular readers know that I am very fond of a book called “Burden Of Desire” which is a very interesting story about the huge explosion that took place in Halifax in, I believe it was 1915 December. I could be corrected on this, but I think it was December the 5th or December the 6th. It was the biggest man made explosion ever on the planet, and the next one anywhere near as big or indeed bigger was the atom bomb explosions on Nagasaki in Hiroshima. It happened in the harbour of Halifax in a place called the Narrows, where two boats collided. One of them was carrying armaments which were intended to go across the Atlantic to the First World War. And after the collision a fire broke out and the explosion virtually flattened the whole of one end of Halifax. And many people who had been looking out of the window that Sunday morning in December, who were looking out at the fire raging on the ship, were blinded by the glass. Because the shockwave of the explosion hit before the explosion itself arrived. A lot of them were blinded by the glass that they were looking through in the windows. Anyway, the book is terrific. Getting back to your question, this is the third time I have come across somebody called Christopher Davison. The other time was in South Africa. It was quite a famous golfer called Chris Davison, and I had the pleasure of walking with him around a golf course in Durban, South Africa, some years back. And seeing his name on the leader board, and for a moment I was dreaming that could have been me doing well on the golf tour. De Burgh is my mother’s family name. And some time after I decided to try having a go at the music business, I thought I’d change my name to my mother’s family name because it’s kind of different and interesting. One of those names you might have difficulty remembering the first time round, but once you have got it, you don’t forget. So Chris de Burgh is who I have remained and most people know me as him and not as Christopher Davison. Although people now know my daughter as Rosanna Davison. And it’s quite funny when people say “how can she be your daughter, when your name is Chris de Burgh”, so I have to explain.
Christopher (Douglas) Davison (36) from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada:
On a whim I did a google search on my name and found that we actually have that in common (I go by Chris mostly), which is very cool because I have been a fan for many years. I was wondering: How did you come to acquire Chris de Burgh as your stage name?
Chris de Burgh:
Christopher Davison! This is amazing! You’re from Halifax. Of course those of you who live in Halifax already know that I am extremely fond of your town and very interested in the history. Been there many times! Been to the Maritime Museum many times, been up to the Citadel. Every time I go there I usually stay in a hotel “The Delta” on Barrington Street. And I am sure regular readers know that I am very fond of a book called “Burden Of Desire” which is a very interesting story about the huge explosion that took place in Halifax in, I believe it was 1915 December. I could be corrected on this, but I think it was December the 5th or December the 6th. It was the biggest man made explosion ever on the planet, and the next one anywhere near as big or indeed bigger was the atom bomb explosions on Nagasaki in Hiroshima. It happened in the harbour of Halifax in a place called the Narrows, where two boats collided. One of them was carrying armaments which were intended to go across the Atlantic to the First World War. And after the collision a fire broke out and the explosion virtually flattened the whole of one end of Halifax. And many people who had been looking out of the window that Sunday morning in December, who were looking out at the fire raging on the ship, were blinded by the glass. Because the shockwave of the explosion hit before the explosion itself arrived. A lot of them were blinded by the glass that they were looking through in the windows. Anyway, the book is terrific. Getting back to your question, this is the third time I have come across somebody called Christopher Davison. The other time was in South Africa. It was quite a famous golfer called Chris Davison, and I had the pleasure of walking with him around a golf course in Durban, South Africa, some years back. And seeing his name on the leader board, and for a moment I was dreaming that could have been me doing well on the golf tour. De Burgh is my mother’s family name. And some time after I decided to try having a go at the music business, I thought I’d change my name to my mother’s family name because it’s kind of different and interesting. One of those names you might have difficulty remembering the first time round, but once you have got it, you don’t forget. So Chris de Burgh is who I have remained and most people know me as him and not as Christopher Davison. Although people now know my daughter as Rosanna Davison. And it’s quite funny when people say “how can she be your daughter, when your name is Chris de Burgh”, so I have to explain.
October 11, 2006:
Astrid Nolde-Gallasch (39) from Rösrath, Germany:
Dear Chris, the website of Gema (the German copyright organization) offers a repertoire search tool, where one can search for all copyrighted works by author. By doing a little research I found some non-published songs from you, which according to the registration number would have been written around the time of The Getaway album. The names of the songs are "She's making a meal outa me", "Country Boy" (aka "Country Girl"), "Why Did You Leave America?" (aka "Early Morning Sunshine"), "Silky Sunday Morning", "Children Of Time" and "Flow Sweet River". Can you tell us more about these songs? Have they ever been recorded? And if yes, why were the recordings never published? Thanks, Astrid :)
Chris de Burgh:
Well, this is a question from Astrid! Hi Astrid! Interesting what you are saying about Gema, because obviously these songs that I wrote many years ago were put into a publishing company catalogue. So at least if somebody got hold of them, I could prove that I was the writer. The ones you refer to were actually as I recall written quite a long time before “The Getaway” album, probably even before I started recording “Far Beyond These Castle Walls”. The titles like for example “She’s making a meal outa me”, “Country Girl” were done, I would say, in about 1972 or 1973. The same with “Why Did You Leave America” and “Silky Sunday Morning”, “Children Of Time”. “Flow Sweet River Flow” I think I must have written about the time of the “Spanish Train And Other Stories” album. They have never been recorded except in demo form. And probably the reason why they never wound up on a record is maybe they weren’t very good. Like anything in the creative world, you have to spend a bit of time learning your craft, learning your art and learning to get good at what you are doing.
Astrid Nolde-Gallasch (39) from Rösrath, Germany:
Dear Chris, the website of Gema (the German copyright organization) offers a repertoire search tool, where one can search for all copyrighted works by author. By doing a little research I found some non-published songs from you, which according to the registration number would have been written around the time of The Getaway album. The names of the songs are "She's making a meal outa me", "Country Boy" (aka "Country Girl"), "Why Did You Leave America?" (aka "Early Morning Sunshine"), "Silky Sunday Morning", "Children Of Time" and "Flow Sweet River". Can you tell us more about these songs? Have they ever been recorded? And if yes, why were the recordings never published? Thanks, Astrid :)
Chris de Burgh:
Well, this is a question from Astrid! Hi Astrid! Interesting what you are saying about Gema, because obviously these songs that I wrote many years ago were put into a publishing company catalogue. So at least if somebody got hold of them, I could prove that I was the writer. The ones you refer to were actually as I recall written quite a long time before “The Getaway” album, probably even before I started recording “Far Beyond These Castle Walls”. The titles like for example “She’s making a meal outa me”, “Country Girl” were done, I would say, in about 1972 or 1973. The same with “Why Did You Leave America” and “Silky Sunday Morning”, “Children Of Time”. “Flow Sweet River Flow” I think I must have written about the time of the “Spanish Train And Other Stories” album. They have never been recorded except in demo form. And probably the reason why they never wound up on a record is maybe they weren’t very good. Like anything in the creative world, you have to spend a bit of time learning your craft, learning your art and learning to get good at what you are doing.
October 10, 2006:
Julia (55) from Melbourne, Australia:
Hello Chris, I was wondering if you have ever had your portrait painted?
Chris de Burgh:
I have a very strong feeling, although there is no surname with this, that you are the Julia who I met when I did my concert in Melbourne earlier this year. And I think you also came with your husband to take a holiday around Ireland and your very good friend from Australia asked if I ring you. And I did actually ring a number, but I just left a message. So I hope you had a good time in Ireland and that the weather was kind, because this summer was pretty good, certainly in the earlier part in June and July. I haven’t officially had my portrait painted, but a lot of people have sent me pictures of me. And some of them are terrific, and some of them are not so good. But I think the important thing is to have the energy and inspiration to want to paint a picture of somebody. I have had my head sculpted in bronze, but I have never had my portrait painted. So who knows, maybe I’ll get round to that one day.
Julia (55) from Melbourne, Australia:
Hello Chris, I was wondering if you have ever had your portrait painted?
Chris de Burgh:
I have a very strong feeling, although there is no surname with this, that you are the Julia who I met when I did my concert in Melbourne earlier this year. And I think you also came with your husband to take a holiday around Ireland and your very good friend from Australia asked if I ring you. And I did actually ring a number, but I just left a message. So I hope you had a good time in Ireland and that the weather was kind, because this summer was pretty good, certainly in the earlier part in June and July. I haven’t officially had my portrait painted, but a lot of people have sent me pictures of me. And some of them are terrific, and some of them are not so good. But I think the important thing is to have the energy and inspiration to want to paint a picture of somebody. I have had my head sculpted in bronze, but I have never had my portrait painted. So who knows, maybe I’ll get round to that one day.
October 9, 2006:
Marieke (21) from The Netherlands:
I always enjoy listening to your music so much. If my day was a disaster I come home and relax with one of your CD's. Everything feels alright after that again. Even if my friends don't understand why I am listening to this kind of calm music because I'm young, but I think this music is timeless. Yes, I have a question. What does Wellahiya stand for in "This waiting heart"? And Chris...thank you for making me feel better with your music.
Chris de Burgh:
This is a lovely question and indeed comment about coming home to listen to my music and relax. Thank you for telling me that. And obviously sometimes that I have done has connected with you and feels right. I think age has got very little to do with it, although I must admit that an older musician like me is often very happily surprised to find that young people, even a lot younger than you, Marieke, like ages in their 6, 7 and 8 years old, they like what I am doing. And I am hoping that “The Storyman” will also appeal to these young people too. Music touches people in so many different ways and helps them through different situations or makes them feel excited or makes them want to dance and move, or makes them want to be reflective, contemplative or maybe even sad. Music can touch you in so many different ways, and I think it’s a wonderful way of getting in touch with yourself and your inner emotions by listening to good music. My personal preference is often for classical music, for old music from the 15th, 16th or 17th centuries. Choral music, I love that kind of stuff. The word “Wellahiya” in “This Waiting Heart” is just I wanted to create the idea of a group of men right at the start, as if they are rowing a boat. And “Wellahiya”, it might be just a native greeting like we have, you know “How are ya?” and “How are ya doing?”, that’s what I had in mind.
Marieke (21) from The Netherlands:
I always enjoy listening to your music so much. If my day was a disaster I come home and relax with one of your CD's. Everything feels alright after that again. Even if my friends don't understand why I am listening to this kind of calm music because I'm young, but I think this music is timeless. Yes, I have a question. What does Wellahiya stand for in "This waiting heart"? And Chris...thank you for making me feel better with your music.
Chris de Burgh:
This is a lovely question and indeed comment about coming home to listen to my music and relax. Thank you for telling me that. And obviously sometimes that I have done has connected with you and feels right. I think age has got very little to do with it, although I must admit that an older musician like me is often very happily surprised to find that young people, even a lot younger than you, Marieke, like ages in their 6, 7 and 8 years old, they like what I am doing. And I am hoping that “The Storyman” will also appeal to these young people too. Music touches people in so many different ways and helps them through different situations or makes them feel excited or makes them want to dance and move, or makes them want to be reflective, contemplative or maybe even sad. Music can touch you in so many different ways, and I think it’s a wonderful way of getting in touch with yourself and your inner emotions by listening to good music. My personal preference is often for classical music, for old music from the 15th, 16th or 17th centuries. Choral music, I love that kind of stuff. The word “Wellahiya” in “This Waiting Heart” is just I wanted to create the idea of a group of men right at the start, as if they are rowing a boat. And “Wellahiya”, it might be just a native greeting like we have, you know “How are ya?” and “How are ya doing?”, that’s what I had in mind.
October 8, 2006:
Amir Flaishman (31) from Tel Aviv, Israel:
Hi there Chris, my question is this: After selling so many albums and achieving a lot of worldwide success (millions of fans, actually seeing money out of your own creations), where do you take your "Drive?" from? I mean, how do you keep yourself motivated to create the next album or do the next tour? What kind of tips can you share with young artists that have problems of being so disciplined with the creation process? Thanx!
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you for suggesting that my success is based on energy and drive. I suppose I refer back to the words of the two men Hilary and Tensing, who were the first men to conquer Mount Everest. And when asked, why did they do it, they said because it was there. And for me it is the same feeling. Because I can do this, because I can sing and write songs, and because I can share something and hopefully transmit a feeling of love, passion, of excitement or whatever it is, that I pass on through my music. This is basically what keeps me going. In answer to your question what to say to a young artist who has problems being so disciplined, I would offer this tip: If you are a live performer who wants to become better, imagine yourself standing outside your own concert hall after the evening is finished and listen to what the people have just said. And seeing their faces. Are they walking out really excited, saying “that was fantastic”? Or are some people leaving early, saying “that wasn’t very good”? You’ve got to put yourself in the shoes of the people who are coming to your concerts. And indeed when it comes to songwriting, you have to be disciplined. You have to keep an eye on what it is you are attempting to achieve. And mostly be aware that you are trying to convey your music not just to your friends and your acquaintances who will mostly likely say “that was really good”, even if it wasn’t. You are trying to appeal to people across the other side of the world, who have never heard of you and are likely just to hear something off the radio or maybe on television. These are the people you are trying to touch. And the only way to do that is with strength and energy and conviction and commitment.
Amir Flaishman (31) from Tel Aviv, Israel:
Hi there Chris, my question is this: After selling so many albums and achieving a lot of worldwide success (millions of fans, actually seeing money out of your own creations), where do you take your "Drive?" from? I mean, how do you keep yourself motivated to create the next album or do the next tour? What kind of tips can you share with young artists that have problems of being so disciplined with the creation process? Thanx!
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you for suggesting that my success is based on energy and drive. I suppose I refer back to the words of the two men Hilary and Tensing, who were the first men to conquer Mount Everest. And when asked, why did they do it, they said because it was there. And for me it is the same feeling. Because I can do this, because I can sing and write songs, and because I can share something and hopefully transmit a feeling of love, passion, of excitement or whatever it is, that I pass on through my music. This is basically what keeps me going. In answer to your question what to say to a young artist who has problems being so disciplined, I would offer this tip: If you are a live performer who wants to become better, imagine yourself standing outside your own concert hall after the evening is finished and listen to what the people have just said. And seeing their faces. Are they walking out really excited, saying “that was fantastic”? Or are some people leaving early, saying “that wasn’t very good”? You’ve got to put yourself in the shoes of the people who are coming to your concerts. And indeed when it comes to songwriting, you have to be disciplined. You have to keep an eye on what it is you are attempting to achieve. And mostly be aware that you are trying to convey your music not just to your friends and your acquaintances who will mostly likely say “that was really good”, even if it wasn’t. You are trying to appeal to people across the other side of the world, who have never heard of you and are likely just to hear something off the radio or maybe on television. These are the people you are trying to touch. And the only way to do that is with strength and energy and conviction and commitment.
October 7, 2006:
Thomas Schilb (38) from Tallahassee, Florida, USA:
Here we go again, every few days the news shows more missing children and it usually never ends up good. 2 little girls stabbed to death by one of the girl's father in a town called Zion of all places, how ironic. On top of that 2 girls in the last few months loosing their life right here in Florida. I am fed up with this. WAKE UP PEOPLE, DON'T YOU KNOW HOW PRECIOUS THE LIFE OF A CHILD IS!!! I feel helpless but I feel like there is more we can do. Some of your songs have hopefully eased the pain for those who have lost a young loved one and I thank you for "Little Angel“ and "A Child Is Born." My question is what is your opinion to help reduce or even stop this attack on our innocence. I pray everyone else is as outraged as I am. Some of my friends say string them up in the town square and make a real example out of them by public lynching. I hope we don't have to resort to this, but it may be the only deterrent to stop this. I feel like a part of me dies every time something like this happens. Please share with us your thoughts. Thank You and also thank you for all your songs about your children and the way a father should feel for his precious young ones.
Chris de Burgh:
Well, Thomas, I know exactly what you mean. The outrage particularly parents feel about attacks on young children, and the recognition that all life is precious, but there is something even more precious about preserving and protecting the life of a child. And those of us who are parents know, as I have said before, for the first time when you hold your child in your arms, you know that you can kill somebody, if anybody ever harmed that child. As you have pointed out I have written stuff like “Little Angel” and “A Child Is Born” (well, it is called “The Simple Truth”). The charities I support are almost invariably to do with children and giving them the best possible start in life. I am a complete softie when it comes to sick children. And anything to do with children, for example in a film or on TV, I can often be seen with tears in my eyes and emotionally reacting to their innocence, their beauty, and indeed if they are in trouble. There is something absolutely and utterly precious about the life of a child and we should do everything as a community to preserve and protect. I have strong feelings about paedophilia for example and I am amazed that society and the judicial system in some ways have been so soft on child pornographers, paedophiles and those who harm and exploit small children. I have no idea why these people are not only put away in prison for a very long time, but the option of chemical castration has to be one that we look at very seriously. And I think certainly those people who have spoken eloquently about what it’s like to be a parent of a child who has been abused, they would probably agree with that. All I know is that now that my children are grown up, they are hopefully past that danger zone. But I remember thinking a few years ago that if anybody touched my child in an inappropriate way or threatened or hurt them, I would be the first person to get around to that man’s house for the baseball bat and seek some kind of revenge and retribution. I am not saying that it’s a good thing to do that, but as an emotional response I am afraid that is probably what I would do and what I would have done. And I don’t blame anybody for taking that view. Although we must all stay within the law, sometimes the law protects the perpetrator of a crime and not necessarily the victims.
Thomas Schilb (38) from Tallahassee, Florida, USA:
Here we go again, every few days the news shows more missing children and it usually never ends up good. 2 little girls stabbed to death by one of the girl's father in a town called Zion of all places, how ironic. On top of that 2 girls in the last few months loosing their life right here in Florida. I am fed up with this. WAKE UP PEOPLE, DON'T YOU KNOW HOW PRECIOUS THE LIFE OF A CHILD IS!!! I feel helpless but I feel like there is more we can do. Some of your songs have hopefully eased the pain for those who have lost a young loved one and I thank you for "Little Angel“ and "A Child Is Born." My question is what is your opinion to help reduce or even stop this attack on our innocence. I pray everyone else is as outraged as I am. Some of my friends say string them up in the town square and make a real example out of them by public lynching. I hope we don't have to resort to this, but it may be the only deterrent to stop this. I feel like a part of me dies every time something like this happens. Please share with us your thoughts. Thank You and also thank you for all your songs about your children and the way a father should feel for his precious young ones.
Chris de Burgh:
Well, Thomas, I know exactly what you mean. The outrage particularly parents feel about attacks on young children, and the recognition that all life is precious, but there is something even more precious about preserving and protecting the life of a child. And those of us who are parents know, as I have said before, for the first time when you hold your child in your arms, you know that you can kill somebody, if anybody ever harmed that child. As you have pointed out I have written stuff like “Little Angel” and “A Child Is Born” (well, it is called “The Simple Truth”). The charities I support are almost invariably to do with children and giving them the best possible start in life. I am a complete softie when it comes to sick children. And anything to do with children, for example in a film or on TV, I can often be seen with tears in my eyes and emotionally reacting to their innocence, their beauty, and indeed if they are in trouble. There is something absolutely and utterly precious about the life of a child and we should do everything as a community to preserve and protect. I have strong feelings about paedophilia for example and I am amazed that society and the judicial system in some ways have been so soft on child pornographers, paedophiles and those who harm and exploit small children. I have no idea why these people are not only put away in prison for a very long time, but the option of chemical castration has to be one that we look at very seriously. And I think certainly those people who have spoken eloquently about what it’s like to be a parent of a child who has been abused, they would probably agree with that. All I know is that now that my children are grown up, they are hopefully past that danger zone. But I remember thinking a few years ago that if anybody touched my child in an inappropriate way or threatened or hurt them, I would be the first person to get around to that man’s house for the baseball bat and seek some kind of revenge and retribution. I am not saying that it’s a good thing to do that, but as an emotional response I am afraid that is probably what I would do and what I would have done. And I don’t blame anybody for taking that view. Although we must all stay within the law, sometimes the law protects the perpetrator of a crime and not necessarily the victims.
October 6, 2006:
Sabine (38) from Germany:
Dear Chris, About 20 years ago I bought my first Chris de Burgh album. It was "Best Moves". I loved your songs the first time I heard them and since that time I am always looking forward to the next album that will be released. But as time goes by I am starting to wonder if there will be a day coming when you say it is time to retire. I really do hope that this day will never come! Greetings from Frankonia. I am looking forward to your concert in Munich this year. Sabine
Chris de Burgh:
Will the time come for me to retire? Well, I am not ready yet! I have always said that I’ll go when nobody wants to hear me singing anymore and nobody is interested in coming to my concerts and nobody wants to buy the records. I think a lot of, for example, sportsmen in those kinds of sports like football or rugby or perhaps even cricket, where you have to be pretty young and pretty fit to compete at the top level, and a lot of those people always know when it is time to go. For example recently Andre Agassi playing in Flushing Meadows in New York had a very emotional good-bye to all his fans in New York, because in his mid-thirties he realized he could not compete with the younger, fitter men. But he realized that the best way to go is when you’re at the top. I suppose in my profession it is slightly different, because the skills that I have mean that I can carry on writing all sorts of music, even if I am not making records and performing live concerts all over the world. There was a time within the last three or four years that I was thinking, well, the record I was about to make would be my last. But I have had such fun writing and recording “The Storyman”, that I think this could be a project for the future, where we could have “The Storyman Part 2”, “The Storyman Part 3”, if it proves that people like the idea. So you never know I might be around for a lot longer to come!
Sabine (38) from Germany:
Dear Chris, About 20 years ago I bought my first Chris de Burgh album. It was "Best Moves". I loved your songs the first time I heard them and since that time I am always looking forward to the next album that will be released. But as time goes by I am starting to wonder if there will be a day coming when you say it is time to retire. I really do hope that this day will never come! Greetings from Frankonia. I am looking forward to your concert in Munich this year. Sabine
Chris de Burgh:
Will the time come for me to retire? Well, I am not ready yet! I have always said that I’ll go when nobody wants to hear me singing anymore and nobody is interested in coming to my concerts and nobody wants to buy the records. I think a lot of, for example, sportsmen in those kinds of sports like football or rugby or perhaps even cricket, where you have to be pretty young and pretty fit to compete at the top level, and a lot of those people always know when it is time to go. For example recently Andre Agassi playing in Flushing Meadows in New York had a very emotional good-bye to all his fans in New York, because in his mid-thirties he realized he could not compete with the younger, fitter men. But he realized that the best way to go is when you’re at the top. I suppose in my profession it is slightly different, because the skills that I have mean that I can carry on writing all sorts of music, even if I am not making records and performing live concerts all over the world. There was a time within the last three or four years that I was thinking, well, the record I was about to make would be my last. But I have had such fun writing and recording “The Storyman”, that I think this could be a project for the future, where we could have “The Storyman Part 2”, “The Storyman Part 3”, if it proves that people like the idea. So you never know I might be around for a lot longer to come!
October 5, 2006:
Cliff Cherry (24) from Johannesburg, South Africa:
Hi Chris, I think your work is outstanding and I have enjoyed your music since I was a teenager. I wanted to ask about the song, "There's room in this heart tonight" from Timing is Everything. What is the story behind the song? It almost seems there are two characters in the song and it seems to have a very deep meaning behind the fact that it could just be two people singing a love song to each other. Can you please give me some insight into the meaning of the song? Thanks so much.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Cliff! I have always enjoyed my trips to South Africa. I have been there many times and always received a very warm and affectionate welcome. Going to your question about “There’s Room In This Heart Tonight”, this is actually originally a song that I started when I was asked to be involved with a charity appeal in England. And a bit of the song was used in that programme some years back. But I renovated the song and had another look at it, and it’s basically about saying to somebody who is in distress, in trouble: “I can hear you crying in silence.” And there’s an irony of course about “I can hear you” and then “crying in silence”. It’s for those people in the world who feel that there is nobody listening to them, or listening out for them and it’s to try and say to those who are in distress, in trouble, that there is always somebody who will hear you. And I am not suggesting that it’s me. But I’m saying even if it’s a God for example or a parent or lover, somebody is looking out for you. And I am trying to make the suggestion that none of us really is completely alone. It is not a story at all about two characters in the song, it’s much broader than that. And I am glad you enjoy it.
Cliff Cherry (24) from Johannesburg, South Africa:
Hi Chris, I think your work is outstanding and I have enjoyed your music since I was a teenager. I wanted to ask about the song, "There's room in this heart tonight" from Timing is Everything. What is the story behind the song? It almost seems there are two characters in the song and it seems to have a very deep meaning behind the fact that it could just be two people singing a love song to each other. Can you please give me some insight into the meaning of the song? Thanks so much.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Cliff! I have always enjoyed my trips to South Africa. I have been there many times and always received a very warm and affectionate welcome. Going to your question about “There’s Room In This Heart Tonight”, this is actually originally a song that I started when I was asked to be involved with a charity appeal in England. And a bit of the song was used in that programme some years back. But I renovated the song and had another look at it, and it’s basically about saying to somebody who is in distress, in trouble: “I can hear you crying in silence.” And there’s an irony of course about “I can hear you” and then “crying in silence”. It’s for those people in the world who feel that there is nobody listening to them, or listening out for them and it’s to try and say to those who are in distress, in trouble, that there is always somebody who will hear you. And I am not suggesting that it’s me. But I’m saying even if it’s a God for example or a parent or lover, somebody is looking out for you. And I am trying to make the suggestion that none of us really is completely alone. It is not a story at all about two characters in the song, it’s much broader than that. And I am glad you enjoy it.
October 3, 2006:
Editor's note:
Just a short note to let everyone know MOtL will soon be online again with new answers for fans questions by Chris de Burgh. Stay tuned and enjoy "The Storyman"!!! Astrid :)
Editor's note:
Just a short note to let everyone know MOtL will soon be online again with new answers for fans questions by Chris de Burgh. Stay tuned and enjoy "The Storyman"!!! Astrid :)