Man On (the) Line

January 19, 2004
Sheila Gardner (43) from Hounslow, Middlesex, UK:
Hi Chris! You are interviewed all the time and people delve into every corner of your life, looking for something interesting to tell fans etc. Is there anything that you would like to tell us that you have never been asked?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Sheila! I know you very well from the past as well, and thanks for everything you have sent to me. I am sure there are loads of questions that nobody has ever asked me, but I suppose one of them would be “what do I think about, when I fall asleep at night”. Well, that is of course a secret that I only can take in my head. But one of the things I like to do when I fall asleep, even if I am taking a short nap in the daytime, is to clear my mind of everything to do with my current life and what is going on. And try to think about something completely bizarre. The first word that comes into your head like “donut” or “pineapple” or whatever it happens to be. Think about it, and think about how these things are made. And the importance they have to people’s lives. And you’ll be amazed at how you suddenly, your brain goes into that what-if-area that makes me as a songwriter constantly questioning, constantly seeking answers. You know what if things are different, and why are things in a certain way. And you immediately start, as I have mentioned many times in the past, this little film going in your head. And it takes you on a trip to somewhere far beyond your actual real world.
Editor’s note:
And with this answer the Man On (the) Line section is once again taking a short break. We will continue as soon as we receive new answers from Chris de Burgh. Please keep the questions coming, everyone. And a big thank you to Chris for keeping this popular section alive.

January 18, 2004
Chris Raymond (51) from Whitton, Twickenham, UK:
Hello Chris, Please help! My husband says that I shouldn't 'scream' so much during your concerts. My theory is that you and the Band need and enjoy audience response - the more enthusiastic the better?! Please can you comment - it's very important that I know your opinion!!! (If you say no screams then please forward a gag to me for use at your Concerts!) Thanks. Chris Raymond. P.S. Don't worry we won't get divorced over this!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Your husband is probably a little embarrassed by your screaming during concerts. But I think whatever emotion you have inside, let it out! You know, I love to see people letting go in concerts. And I know you very well from the past and no, no, just carry on screaming! No problem there, just keep on showing your enthusiasm.

January 17, 2004
Sarra Nasser (32) from Amman, Jordan:
Dear Chris, I have been listening to your music for many years! In light of what is happening across the world, the violence, war and the endless loss of innocent life, I was listening to your song - "The life of a child" and thought how wonderful it would be to use it to inspire peace for the sake of our children. Would it not be possible to redo the song using children of all nationalities as back-up and translating the chorus into the different languages of war torn areas? I am a mother and the song rings so true that it is only the children that matter and they are more important than anything else. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for your time and your inspirational music. Sarra
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Sarra from Amman, Jordan! This is a country very close to that savage area of bloodshed and brutality, suicide bombings, random killing. A historical problem that seems to go on and on and on. I’m not saying it is happening in Jordan, but it is not far off, you know, the Israel-Palestine conflict. And we are all appalled how children get caught up in war, and this has been an enduring theme for me. The song you’re talking about is “The Simple Truth” (The Life Of A Child) which is one of my top 5 favourite songs that I’ve ever written. I love the emotion involved in the song. I love the feelings behind it. You know, I don’t mean to be cynical, but there have been so many attempts from musicians to try and bring peace to conflicts. Very very rarely with any impact whatsoever. I think love has to come from inside people. And that’s one of the themes of my new album. It’s that you mustn’t just love your own family. You have to love and respect and have tolerance for people of different religions, of different backgrounds, different colour, everything. We are human beings. You take away the skin, underneath we all have beating hearts, we all have livers and kidneys, we all love our children, we are all scared of dying. These things bring us together. They shouldn’t be throwing us apart. I think the only answer is to have respect. And if music can change anything, I hope it does. You know I think, perhaps my music is helping in certain places people to bring them together. But on a global front, it’s going to be very very difficult. I think all we must do is carry on chipping away at other people’s dislike of somebody else’s religion or intolerance and trying to make everybody understand that we are actually all the same. And in particular to have fights about religion, it’s just mad. Nobody knows what happens after death. We just have believes. So have respect for somebody else’s belief, but don’t just tell them that your way is the only way or his way is the right way. Everybody has an opinion.

January 16, 2004
Jacqueline Ebner (45) from Scotland:
Dear Chris, I have just had a reminder in to give blood (to go on your birthday) and I wondered if you donate. Thank you, love Jacqueline xx
Chris de Burgh:
Jacqueline, you have reminded me of something I should have done a long time ago, which is give blood. I have donated blood in the past. Apparently I have an unusual blood group and obviously it is very important to use this blood group for people of a similar blood group who need it. So thanks for reminding me. And I would also urge everybody else reading this website to not only be donors of your organs where possible, you know, have a donor card on you. But also give blood, because there are many people who will need that. And it might be you or me any day.

January 15, 2004
Thomas Marschall (44) from Frankfurt/Main, Germany:
Hi Chris, first of all many thanks for your wonderful concerts in 2003. It's been great fun. I have read many of your answers to the people who had asked you to explain what the meaning of or what is behind the one or the other song. Now that you have published almost 200 songs, and maybe there is quite a number of songs that you haven't published yet, how can you remember all those backgrounds for your songs? How can you recall where and when and why you wrote it? What was first the music or the lyrics and all that? Do you write a diary about it or how can you do that? It's very impressive. Carry on. Thomas
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you Thomas Marschall for your question about songs. Well, each one is like my own little child. And most of the time I can remember the circumstances in which I began the song, what inspired me to write it and very much the pictures that I had in my head while I was involved in the process of creatively making the songs grow. It’s obviously the further they are away, the more difficult it is to recollect. But each one is a very powerful image in my head. In particular the story songs, like I remember the moment I wrote “A Spaceman Came Travelling” on a hot August day in 1974. Because I suddenly got this idea of this spacecraft hovering over the nativity of the birth of Jesus. Similarly “Spanish Train”, it’s well recorded I was on a train going through Spain. And more recently a new song like “Snow Is Falling”, I was playing the piano and I started writing this melody and this entire film started in my head. I’m so fortunate to have such a vivid imagination, and that’s where it all comes from. Yes, it all sticks in my head and no, I don’t use a diary. But I hope my memory will serve me for a lot longer to come.

January 14, 2004
Vanessa Schäfer (13) from Rotenburg/F., Germany:
Dear Chris, what were your reasons for writing the song "It’s me"?? Please answer the question, it’s important for me!! Many thanks for your effort. Yours Vanessa!!
Chris de Burgh:
The song “It’s Me (And I’m Ready To Go)” was inspired by my love of cathedrals. I think they are the most astounding architectural triumphs of mankind. And I adore going into them, particularly in Europe. The French cathedrals are beautiful, the cathedral of Notre Dame for example. In England I often go to Salisbury cathedral and Winchester cathedral, if I am in the area, St. Paul’s cathedral in London. They are extraordinary places, not only very deeply spiritual and historical, but also you just admire the craftsmanship. You look at the top of Salisbury cathedral, it is hundred of metres in the sky, and there were people working in the 12th century up there, I mean, that is really astounding. So the song “It’s Me (And I’m Ready To Go)” came from the idea of a trip around one of these places with somebody that you love very much. And you can see that person is troubled by looking at the gravestones of those who have gone before. And just asks the question “Why are we here?”. In the first chorus I say gently “I am here for you. If you ask who is there beside you forever, it is going to be me.” And in the second chorus, well I jump the octave, I sing very powerfully and higher “It’s Me (And I’m Ready To Go)”. There’s no question about it, these two are deeply in love and trying to answer some of these perennial questions that mankind has always had about why are we here. I hope that answers your question, Vanessa.

January 13, 2004
Joni H. (24) from Finland:
'Waiting for the Hurricane' has been a favorite of mine since my childhood. The lead guitar work is great - that kind of classic R&B style is not too often heard nowadays. How did the arrangement come up back then?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Joni from Finland! As far as I remember, the lead guitar line in “Waiting For The Hurricane” was an idea of mine. And I liked the storyline behind this of sitting in a hotel, somewhere in the Caribbean, waiting for a hurricane to hit and all the things that go on in the hotel. It’s a very strong movie image. Well, I’m glad you like the song. Perhaps it’s classic style, but for me classic has always been what I have returned to as a songwriter, because I think it becomes timeless and you can always write songs in that particular style.

January 12, 2004
Arindam Basu (21) from Calcutta, India:
Though I have not listened to all of your songs but as much I have realized they are based on real love. From where do you get that attitude and what is love in your point of view?
Chris de Burgh:
Oh, wonderful to get a question from Calcutta, India! I have been meaning to perform in India for so many years, and I know that I am well-known there. Like in Chile, you know, it’s a big world and it’s hard to find the time to go everywhere. But I look forward to that some time in the future. I go back to something that I said earlier, which was that unless you feel real emotion you cannot convey it in music, in any art form. So clearly I am a person who feels things very powerfully. I am a very emotional person, very spiritual, very romantic. So all these things together allow me to dig deep into my own personality and allow me to express in music and words what I actually feel. From my point of view, love is something very precious, like a crystal ball, very delicate, that you give to your loved one from your own heart and say “This is mine. Don’t break it please. It’s very precious to me.”. And similarly the other person gives you something very precious to look after as well. And I think that’s where love falls apart. You know, people say there was a hole in my heart, and you know, my world fell apart. Well I think that’s because the precious gift that you have given somebody else has left a hole in you and that the other person has not taken care of and looked after. For me love is a very fragile thing, but certainly the most powerful way of keeping entire communities and in fact the whole world together.

January 11, 2004
Cora van Leeuwen (59) from The Netherlands:
Hi Chris, It's great that you take the time to answer all the questions of your fans. My question is: When your new CD will be released, (I'm looking forward to it) is it more than 30 years ago that "Far beyond these castle walls" was released. Are there any plans to celebrate this milestone in a special way?
Chris de Burgh:
My new album, Cora, and thank you for your cards and letters that you sent me down the years, is due for release in March 2004. It is 30 years ago since the release of Far Beyond These Castle Walls. I am going to have to have some kind of party to illustrate the fact that I have survived in this business for so many years. So I’ll definitely think of something.

January 10, 2004
Diane Perry (45) from Falmouth, Cornwall, England:
Hello Chris, I am a big fan of Peter Gabriel's work (yours too of course!!) and while I was reading his biography recently I found something he is quoted as saying very interesting, it was this "I think, different to most people that a lot of talent is acquired and not God-given or hereditary" What are your views on this subject? I am curious because I think I'm right in saying that no-one else in your family before you were musically gifted, and yet I remember you mentioning that your elder son Hubie is showing a huge talent for playing the guitar. Also, have you ever been to one of Peter Gabriel's concerts? Thank you very much for everything!!!! I'm looking forward to your next UK concerts very much indeed. Best wishes to you and your family, Diane
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Diane! Well, as you know from the past, I have a great admiration and respect for Peter Gabriel. And yes, I have been to his concerts, they are the most outstanding concerts I have ever seen. Not only for the awesome visuals and sound, but also for the imaginations going into them. Absolutely extraordinary. Now what he is suggesting that talent is not god-given or hereditary, which I agree with. I agree exactly with what he is saying. But I think when you have a small bit of something and you expand it, then the talent comes in. I think we all can do a bit of songwriting initially in the early stages, but I think you have to have that along with interest to do it and then spend a lot of time working on it. For example how many great golfers have come from families and backgrounds of professional golfers. The father or, like Seve Ballesteros, I think his father was a golfer or a green keeper or a grounds man and he was brought up right beside a golf course. These things happen. A lot of people are brought up beside golf courses who do never become great golfers. Similarly I am sure there are lots of children of great musicians who show no interest or ability. But I do think Gabriel is right in as much as you start with a little bit of talent, but it is not the god-given massive talent. You develop it yourself, you grow it, you make it stronger with interest and a lot of hard work. And as for my son Hubie’s talent in playing the guitar, that comes from keen interest and also a background in a family that enjoys music.

January 9, 2004
Cynthia Tesser (40) from Derby, Kansas, USA:
I have loved your music for years. Now my 5-year old son is also a fan. You are the only artist he knows by name! American music doesn't have anything that comes close to your style of music. Are there any American artists, past or present, that you enjoy listening to? Thank you so much for sharing your gift of music and story telling with those of us who enjoy the pleasure of listening to it. Best wishes, Cynthia
Chris de Burgh:
Yes, I do make unusual music, because I actually kind of ignore the mainstream. Because I like the road that I am on. It is more difficult to initially succeed and probably it’s harder to stay on these roads, but they are personal odysseys and I love it. I love doing things that aren’t necessarily part of the mainstream culture. American artists of course have influenced me enormously down the years, in particular people like Bob Dylan, The Eagles, you know, great songwriters. And Jackson Browne is just a terrific songwriter. In fact, in my opinion, certainly for the last 15 or 20 years with only a few exceptions American songwriters have been superior to European ones that I have heard. I think they are more crafted, more skilled, they understand the nature of songwriting better. They understand that it’s a tradition that should be revered and respected without having to go to electronic instruments all the time. That’s not to say there’s quite a lot of electronic music in America, but there are some really great songwriters too. And I love the ones who can also tell a story. A lot of great country and western singers tell great stories as well. So I do come across a lot of good American music.
.

January 8, 2004
Barb Parknavy (38) from Columbus, Ohio, USA:
I'm listening to "Crusader" right now, since it always puts me in just the right mood to sew the costumes I make for friends and family for our trips to the local Renaissance Fairs...I was wondering if you have ever been to one? (I suspect that you would be equally interested in both Ren Fairs and Star Trek Conventions haha!)
Chris de Burgh:
I remember in years gone by doing concerts in Columbus, Ohio, and getting a really terrific response. So hi Barb! These Renaissance Fairs, well I’ve actually come across them in America, you know, not so much in Europe. But people who dress up in old Renaissance style costumes. And I’m glad that Crusader is putting you in the mood to sew these costumes. They are very colourful. And I think it is important, particularly for children, to go and see how things were in the past. How people looked, what they wore, hairdos, it takes us back to a completely different era. And it’s more tangible than just in movies.

January 7, 2004
Dave Malcolm (34) from Londonderry, Northern Ireland:
Hi Chris, Just wanted to know how you feel about your touring band 'moonlighting' as The Guarana Boys? And will you be going to see them perform sometime?
Chris de Burgh:
The band that I work with are really terrific guys and great musicians. And of course they have to get out about and play. I know that they are going under the name of The Guarana Boys. Good luck to them, I hope they are having a good time. And yes, it would be great fun. I would love to go to one of their gigs incognito and turn up on stage with them, because that would be great fun. The key thing to having a good band is not only good musicians, but also to have people around you that you are happy travelling with and spending a lot of time with.
Editor's note:
You can find all information about The Guarana Boys on Al Vosper's (Chris' guitarist) website www.alvosper.com.

January 6, 2004
Kevin Klimowski (40) from West Des Monies, Iowa, USA:
Greetings, Chris! Thanks for all the years of wonderful music! I've been a fan since your Crusader days! I'm curious about something a little different. Have you ever done any shopping on eBay? If you have, have you ever run into any unusual Chris de Burgh items? Have you ever seen any CDB items listed that you were interested in purchasing? I've been able to plug a few holes in my CDB collection through eBay and have found it a terrific way to buy overseas! Best wishes and I look forward to even more great CDB music to come!
Chris de Burgh:
It’s funny, I have never been on eBay before, because I must be really old-fashioned, but I get nervous about giving out credit card details on the internet. And I know there are ways to protect it, but I haven’t really gone into it too deeply. But funnily enough I’ve got things at home associated with my musical past that people say “You should sell them on eBay!” Like there’s an old tape recorder that I did lots and lots of songwriting on that I don’t need anymore. There are pianos, there are electrical pianos, there are electrical instruments that are really just cluttering up my house. And my friends say “Oh, sell them on eBay!” So you never know, you may see something up from me personally on the eBay network some day.

January 5, 2004
Arash Bolouri (18) from Tehran, Iran:
Hi Chris I have a question and I want to know have you ever wished you weren't famous? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
Yes, there are many times I wish I wasn’t famous. It’s inhibiting to your freedom. It means that you have to put up with stuff in the press, things that people write about you that often are full of lies, you can’t defend yourself. And people say, well, that’s the price of fame. I don’t think it has to be. I think if people particularly journalists were more honest with what they write, then people like families of famous people and friends wouldn’t get so upset. But it is part of being famous. And the upsides are, well, it depends if you need your ego being stroked, I haven’t got a problem with my ego, so I don’t need it. But, you know, sometimes you get nicely treated on airlines and in restaurants. It makes the dream a bit more comfortable. But I have to stress that I love going back to reality, back to my home life and there the dreams are completely different ones. They are more normal. In fact, when my daughter won the Miss Ireland competition, I said two things prior to the competition. I said “If you don’t win, you will still be beautiful in the morning.” And the second thing I said was “This country Ireland is a very difficult place in which to be famous, because there is a lot of begrudgery that goes on. If you are famous and successful in some countries, people want to cut you off at the knees all the time, and this is one of those places.”

January 4, 2004
Dominic Liversedge (22) from Cambridge, England:
Hi Chris, I'm sure everyone has said a thousand times on here how great your music is - but I have to say I agree... anyway - I've always wondered when listening to your live CDs and videos whether you personally write the guitar solos in things like The Revolution, and the flute solo in Borderline. Are they improvised along a theme by the musicians or do you give them the actual melodies to play? Looking forward to your next album and to seeing you live! Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
A lot of the melodies that you will hear on my records, which are closely allied to the melodies of the songs clearly come from the songs themselves. But that said, in particular a guitar player called Phil Palmer, that I have been working with since 1982, he is a very strong melodic writer. And I just say to him “Play!”, and if there’s something I like, we keep it. That’s the best way to do it, to allow a truly great musician to play what he wants. And within that framework of your own song, you will always find something that sounds great with it.

January 3, 2004
Denise Thibeault (36) from Farnham, Québec, Canada:
Hi Chris, I love all your songs. It's amazing how you can make me travel without costing me any money. So I'd like to know about the song "The traveller" . It sounds like a western movie or something but I love this song.....Thank you very much and hope to hear from you soon!!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Well, Denise, I was writing this song one day and it felt like somebody moving, somebody riding. I think this song was before I wrote “Don’t Pay The Ferryman”. Horses, you see, have always been part of my background and indeed before cars they were the only way of getting around. So they are very much part of our feelings and our nature. Then I saw a movie called “High Plains Drifter” with Clint Eastwood, where this man comes into town. The people at the town treat him really badly and he comes back as a nemesis some time later, having been badly beaten up. And he takes out the people who have done such terrible things to him. It’s a story of revenge and I think it’s something that appeals to most people. Not that they are going to go and shoot and kill lots of people who of course have done bad things in the past, but revenge is a very powerful human emotion. And that’s what “The Traveller” is all about, it’s about revenge and what happens next.

January 2, 2004
Vern Hines (41) from Auckland, New Zealand:
Hi Chris, as a father of 4, I know how awesome it is doing stuff together with your kids and I wonder how you would feel performing on stage with Hubie play guitar with you. Is it likely to happen? P.S love timing is everything, especially the humour and can't wait for the next album. Take care, all the best Vern Hines
Chris de Burgh:
Another question from somewhere completely different in the world: Auckland, New Zealand, I have never been there. I have family who have been out there and I’d love to visit. I’ve been to Australia a few times, but I never made it to New Zealand. Yes, my son Hubie has got very good at the guitar. And I’m quite sure the day will come when he will be up there performing with me and it’ll be quite the feeling that he will be singing and playing the guitar along beside me. It probably will happen, knowing Hubie and how much he loves music. But I keep telling him to make sure that music is a hobby, not a job. Because these days if it’s a job, it’s not that easy. In fact it’s extremely difficult. Thanks for your remarks about “Timing Is Everything”. The next record is slightly deeper, but I think it is every bit as good if not better than anything I have done before.

January 1, 2004
Kees (35) from Rotterdam, Holland:
Hi Chris, I like your music now for more than 20 years and I hope you will go on to make that fantastic music for the next 20 years! My question is about the song 'snows of new York' does the phrase about the footsteps in the sand come from the famous Christian poem about the Lord who is carrying us?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Kees! Yes, the song “Snows Of New York” originated in my mind about two brothers or two friends somewhere in a very disadvantaged area of the world, perhaps again the West of Ireland which is a very fruitful area for me in my imagination. And one has to stay and work on the land, and the other is going off to America. It’s a very sad time for them, they’ve talked all night. And as the dawn comes up, they embrace as brothers do or friends do, and one then heads off with his bag to take the boat to America. And the man staying behind says “When you need me, I’ll be in your heart. I’ll be with you in the snows of New York.”. And the line about walking along the sea, yes it has very much to do with the famous poem about the Lord. Because the two friends or the two brothers are thinking about during those times when each needed help, that the other was always there for him. It’s a song that is very emotional for me, and I love performing it. Particularly at the end of concerts.

December 31, 2003
Editor’s note:
Today we are interrupting the daily question and answer routine for a special message from Chris de Burgh who contacted me yesterday to post the following message here on the website.
Chris de Burgh:
I am sending my sincere condolences, thoughts and sympathy to all my friends and fans in Iran who have suffered during the recent earthquake in Bam-Kerman. My thoughts are with you.

December 30, 2003
Paulina Correa (19) from Santiago, Chile:
Dear Chris: I can't believe this big opportunity that I have to ask you a question!!!! You are my favorite singer in the whole world, I've been listening your music since I was born, because my dad loves your music and he is a fan of yours too. We have all your records, and we are big fans of yours, I love you so much!!! I'd like to know what you mean in the song "Turning Round", it is such a beautiful song and it has a special thing that makes it authentic. What were you thinking about when you wrote it? What feeling did you have in that moment?...Thank you so much for giving us and to the rest of the fans a wonderful music for years, every song has something special and beautiful, you write so so so good!!! And you're so talented too. When I watched the video "Beautiful dreams"(concert) I cried and I enjoyed each song of it. Well, thank you for everything!!! You'll be forever my favorite singer...forever!
Chris de Burgh:
Although I was brought up in Argentina for the first few years of my life, I never made it to Chile. And I know from a number of people who have been out there that my records are played on the radio and I am quite well known. And it would be another dream of a place for me to visit. The song that you are asking about is one I wrote a long time ago, called “Turning Round” which was retitled “Flying” because that is the first word of the song. And then it became a very big hit record in South America, back in the mid seventies. In fact my first big hit record. I thought I was going to be a world wide star overnight. Yeah. What I have tried to do is talk about the cyclical nature of life of how things grow and they die. It’s the nature of the seasons how things grow and then die in the autumn and the winter. That’s what the song is about. And also within the song I am using words, like the last word of each verse then becomes the first word of another verse, so the whole thing becomes turning round and round and round. And I think one of the reasons why it feels so natural is because I felt it in my heart about crying and flying. It’s almost like I am crying on the record. That was the emotion I was trying to express. And I am glad you like “Beautiful Dreams”, the concert on video, because it was something I liked a lot and enjoyed doing. But keep enjoying the music and I hope very much to get out to Chile some day.

December 29, 2003
Helen (10 1/2) from Sydney, Australia:
Hi Chris! I really love your music. My favourite song is "Don't Pay The Ferryman". I thought it was just about not paying ferrymen, but my dad says the ferryman is a symbol. What is he a symbol of? What is the song really about?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Helen! I’ve been to Sydney a few times. Sometimes it stops raining, I think. Actually it is a beautiful city. “Don’t Pay The Ferryman”, there’s a few things going on here. First of all it is a story about a crazy rush from a man on a horse wearing a cloak at night with the moon behind the trees, galloping towards a river and his own destiny. It’s a point at which he must make a decision that is going to affect the rest of his life. And that is what it is about. It’s making a decision that takes you to the next part of your destiny or your life. And he knows that he’s got to get across the river, but he knows he mustn’t pay until he gets to the other side because he has a strong feeling that the ferryman is going to slid his throat and throw him in the water along with all the other fools that have done that before. That’s part of it. The ferryman again is from Greek mythology. And paying the ferryman, if I am correct in my memory, is you put pennies on the eyes of the dead and you push them across the river Styx with the ferryman. And that was his payment to take the body to the other side. I know that there are some religious persuasions that do strongly believe in these kinds of mythological stories. The song is really about destiny and making the choice. And it’s exciting and it’s fun and it’s a great film in the mind, if you allow it to develop and see everything that is going on. And the dancing bones that jabber and moan on the water, I mean, as he is going across, the lightning is flashing and the thunder is roaring and these skeleton bones are dancing up and down the river. It must have been a very scary sight for our hero. And the ferryman there with his hood and his burning blazing eyes, looking at him saying “You must pay me now.”. And our hero says “No. Wait until you get me across and then I pay you.”. So it’s a fun song, but it’s got several layers behind it.

December 28, 2003
Steve Smith (30) from Congleton, England:
I am a massive fan of yours along with 2 other male artists. Sir Elton John and Paul Carrack. I think both you and Paul Carrack have similar voices. Is there any possibility in the future that you may sing a duet with him? It would be almost certainly a huge hit. All the best.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Steve! It’s funny you should say that about Elton John and Paul Carrack. In particular Paul Carrack, I mean, what a fantastic voice! The first time I heard him was with the band Ace, when they had that huge hit with “How long”. And ever since then I followed his career. And he had a massive record with Mike & The Mechanics “The Living Years”, which is one of my all time favourite songs. It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. And his voice in particular is just a thing of beauty. I have such respect for Paul Carrack and his voice. He probably will never read my website, but Paul, if you are out there, if anybody knows that you are listening or reading this, I think you are a fantastic singer! Elton John too, but Paul, you get my vote as one of the greatest soul spiritual singers around. You are just fantastic. And of course, if there was ever a chance to do a duet with Paul, I am sure I would jump at the chance. It would be great.

December 27, 2003
Louis Picard (41) from Québec, Canada:
What is your opinion on tattoo's and body piercing . My oldest daughter (14) wants both and I am really unsure what to do !!!!
Chris de Burgh:
The only answer I can give you is look back at the days when you were young. And think about how desperately you wanted to be different. How desperately you wanted to be unusual, to do something, to have something, to wear something, a haircut or clothes or shoes to make you stand out not just from the crowd but saying “I’m not from my parents’ generation”. Tattooing and body piercing is part of that. When my daughter came home with one in her navel, I had to bite my tongue. But it actually looks beautiful. But it was not a great idea, because it got infected at first. And these things do happen with tattooing and body piercing. Be very careful! But I think there’s a line across which kids go where they actually make themselves ugly. I know a young woman who is so pretty, but she put one of these things through her lip and it has just made her look ugly. I think she looks actually stupid, but I wouldn’t say it directly to her face because that’s the reaction a lot of these people want. They want older people to say “That’s stupid! You shouldn’t do it!”. That’s part of the fun of doing these kinds of things. But if it actually makes you look ugly, I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s no harm in ears, but I think on the face itself it’s not a great idea to have any kind of body piercing.

December 26, 2003
Craig (8) from Australia:
My name is Craig and I'm 8. I really like all of your songs especially Spanish Train, but i do think it's a bit scary. Do your children like all your songs? Did they ever get scared when they heard Spanish Train? By the way it is my birthday next week. Thank you for reading this :)
Chris de Burgh:
A very happy birthday to you Craig. I hope you had a wonderful day. It’s very exciting for me to know that you are interested in my songs. “Spanish Train”, yeah, it is a bit scary. But it is a story after all. And I always thought that if you can tell a good story, then that story remains forever. And that is, I feel, why “Spanish Train” is still popular whenever I sing it live. And if I am ever doing a concert in Australia, I don’t know where you live, but you must come and say hi and I’ll do a special rendition of “Spanish Train” for you, maybe not quite so scary. But yes, children do like my songs. And maybe they do get a little scared listening to “Spanish Train”, but after all this is that fight between God and the Devil that could be going on not only out in the universe but within ourselves as well.

December 25, 2003
Chris High (37) from Wirral, UK:
Hi Chris !! I've always loved the song, but where did you get the idea from to write 'Nothing Ever Happens Round Here'? Was it based on a couple you know?
Chris de Burgh:
A special hello to Chris High! He’s doing some fantastic work. He has been putting together a CD-Rom of ideas and stories based on my own songs. And he is raising money for blind people. It’s a wonderful idea and everybody reading this website should try and contact him to see if they can help out by maybe buying some of his stories on CD-Rom. It’s a great idea. The song “Nothing Ever Happens Round Here”? I can’t remember where this came from, to be honest. I love the idea “nothing ever happens round here”. And that, as always, is a clue. You kind of look at it saying “What does that mean?”. And the more I looked at it, the more I thought, well, this could be sat in a small town in America, where a film crew comes in. And this girl, she is dreaming of stardom. And you know, you can dream, but sometimes the dreams come true, and for her it does. Ironically my own daughter who, I am quite sure, she never dreamed of being Miss World, but now it was possible that she could actually make that particular dream come true, but it just goes to show that if you dream, you can actually make it into reality.
Editor’s note:
To purchase Chris High’s CD-Rom “Untrained Melodies”, please visit his website at www.chrishigh.com. Merry Christmas everybody!

December 24, 2003
Amy (15) from Surrey, UK:
Chris, in my English lesson recently, I read a poem called "My Last Duchess", and is about exactly the same theme as your song "The painter". Is this where you got the inspiration from?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Amy! “My Last Duchess”, again a poem by Robert Browning, was very much a key factor in my head when I wrote the song “The Painter”. I was very fortunate to have an English teacher called Dennis Silk when I was at school at Marlborough College in England. And he brought such enthusiasm and love and respect for poetry and literature in general, English literature, that his enthusiasm really brushed off on me. And in particular, if you go, Amy, back to that “My Last Duchess” poem again, every time you read it, you’ll see something different. Every time you’ll see that what appears to be a man talking about a painting, then he is talking to somebody who has come with the possibility of an offer of marriage, but this other person who represents the other woman (the daughter of the nobleman) is uneasy and becomes more uneasy about this duke talking about the painting of his last duchess. Because it becomes clear that this woman has been murdered out of jealousy. And if you look at the very last line, if I recall it goes “Nay, we'll go together down, sir.” Which means “wait for me, I’ll come with you”, says the duke to this emissary. And obviously emissary is trying to run out the door, because you realize that this duke is not only mad but obviously a murderer as well. So the more you read it, Amy, the more you find out about the story behind it.

December 23, 2003
Ziggy Kruse (35) from Los Angeles, California, USA:
Hi Chris! I really think your music is wonderful and I would like to know how you would feel about the idea of having your wonderful work sung by somebody else on a stage in a musical? Would you be honored or disappointed and mad?
Chris de Burgh:
There seems to be whole lot of musicals out there at the moment, like “Mamma Mia“ with the music of Abba. Recently a Rod Stewart musical opened. And I would be immensely flattered if somebody decided to do a musical based on my songs. Some of you may be aware of this, but I am working on a film project at the moment, involving some new material and some of the older material that actually works with the film project. If that ever winds up as a stage musical, I would be absolutely delighted. I suppose it would come down to how good that person was singing it. I would obviously have an opinion about that. But I would be happy, I would be very proud in fact to be in an audience of people singing my own material.

December 22, 2003
Susan (39) from Madison, Ohio, USA:
On a personal note, you've talked about your grandfather and your parents and children, I was curious about your older brother and your relationship with him. (I can empathize, I have one, too.)
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Susan! You probably noticed, those fans of mine for a long time, that I don’t talk about my brother so often. I love him very much, but I don’t see him much, because he lives in London. He has two daughters, one is 21 and the other one is 24. And they travel the world. They are great girls. But I don’t unfortunately see much of my brother except at sort of Christmas times and party times. But he’s a lawyer in London and he is a good guy.

December 21, 2003
Morgan Smiley (49) from Yuba City, California, USA:
Re. Your Song, "Brother John": Are the words of this song referring to the meaning of the nursery rhyme "Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques (Brother John, Brother John)"? I was doing research on the meaning or origin of Frere Jacques, and I discovered you, your talent, and music. So, my 2nd question for one who has been very sheltered in the area of music but would so like to "discover" Chris de Burgh, what CD would you suggest I look for to get started with? (I love the deep, meaningful, sometimes spiritual, plus I read of your song on this site about your song about simple pleasures, and the one about the birth of Jesus...but the more simple on instrumentation the better so I can appreciate your voice and the words of the song.) Please suggest. Thank you, Morgan, a Fella-artist
Chris de Burgh:
Quick answer to your question: This was very loosely based on a poem by Robert Browning called “The Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister” which I enjoyed the idea of the hypocritical stance taken by certain religious orders about their own sexuality. Which is you cannot, in my opinion, deny sexuality. You cannot say to yourself this function will now cease in my body. It may cease in my head, but that is very difficult to deal with, as we’ve discovered with this enormous amounts of abuse cases coming from all over the world where people have been put in very difficult situations by their religious beliefs. In particular celibacy which in my opinion just cannot work. And they have caused mayhem in private lives of individuals, under their spiritual guidance and care. And I think it’s absolutely disgraceful. But moving on from that, the thing about “Brother John” is, we have this monk in a monastery and he keeps looking at this beautiful girl who is very sexily trying to lure him on, knowing that he is only flesh and blood. And of course he has to try and fight the little devil in his head that keeps saying “Go and look at her. Look at her beautiful long flying hair. Look at her breasts. Look at the way she is bending over provocatively.” So the question about what to start with about me, well I would go to the albums “Into The Light” and “The Getaway” as two referral points to start the road to the kind of stuff that I have enjoyed writing. And of course don’t miss out “Spanish Train And Other Stories”.

December 20, 2003
Patrick Radley (42) from Cork, Ireland:
Freemasonry was an obvious influence on your songs [eg. birth of mankind via Isis in "In a Country Churchyard" and obvious allusions to her as Sirius - Sound Star waking the sleeping - in "A Spaceman came travelling". The chessboard on cover of "Best Moves" is another. Any advice for aspiring/hopeful Masons such as myself? Once the light has been switched on you see the real meaning of the lyrics - just like with Sting [eg, Fields of Barley].
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Patrick! I know Cork well. I’m actually fairly interested in what you have to say about freemasonry, the birth of mankind and all that. But unfortunately it’s something I’m learning that I have had little idea about in the past. It’s not something that I had in my mind when I wrote those songs. And I know very little about freemasonry. I know this is a very important historical brotherhood. I’ve been involved in all sorts of important things throughout history, but certainly it has nothing to do with any of my songs. I think you have seen something in there that possibly wasn’t there. But nevertheless it’s of great interest. The chess board is a deliberate game of chess going on there. It’s interesting what you say about the lyrics. A lot of lyricists, particularly the older lyricists who I suppose learned their craft a bit better than the young modern ones, they often have a second reason behind the lyrics they wrote. And I find it fascinating to have a look inside the mind of a good songwriter like for example Sting. And I myself often like to put several layers of meaning there for people to enjoy finding at a later date.

December 19, 2003
Modestas Ruzaukas (33) from Lithuania:
Dear Chris, do you use harmonizers or other electronic gear to improve your voice when you’re recording albums? Thank you and welcome to Lithuania!
Chris de Burgh:
Lithuania is another country I have been to, and I enjoyed visiting. No, I never use those kinds of things. Obviously during recording sessions you want to make your voice sound as good as possible and using a specific kind of a microphone and a way of enhancing the warmth of your voice for example, these are well-known techniques of recording studios. And my producer Chris Porter and I obviously spend a lot of time trying to make my voice sound as good as possible. But when it comes to alterations in pitch and whether you are singing flat or sharp, I don’t use those kinds of things. Because, you know, if you claim to be a singer, you should be able to sing. There are a lot of people making records these days who can’t sing a note in tune. They just look good perhaps, young bands and young girl bands. They use harmonizers and effects and vocal effect systems even on stage, that’s if they are not miming. Most of them mime on stage, but when they are not miming they use all sorts of equipment to make sure their voice comes out in tune. It makes the voice sound pretty unpleasant sometimes actually, so I’m all for the natural sound.

December 18, 2003
Susanne Kasten (39) from Wankendorf, Germany:
Dear Chris! You have been on tour now for ca. one year. Are you able to make "normal life" after such a long time on tour? What are you doing to keep all these impressions? I need a few days to find my way to reality after ONE concert! How long do you need? Best wishes to you Chris, your ladies from Wankendorf
Chris de Burgh:
A warm welcome to my fans, the ladies from Wankendorf. I stay normal, because I think I am normal. I make sure that when I get home, I involve myself in the normal family things like take my children to school and all the usual things that everybody else does when they are at home. It’s very important also not to believe all the stuff that goes on in public, when people think you are wonderful. It’s a dream world, you know, I know what the reality is and I know what the dream is. And I’m perfectly happy living in both worlds, as long as I know that I can always return to the reality world. Thanks for your support.

December 17, 2003
Matthew J. Longcore (29) from USA:
First and foremost, I think it's great that you take your time to answer so many questions! My question is: I was watching your video "The Munich Concerts" which is great and I noticed that you very rarely play the 6-string guitar. Do you favour 12-String? Thank you for all of your amazing music (and performances).
Chris de Burgh:
The reason I play twelve strings opposed to six strings mostly, actually there are two simple reasons. One is I love the sound of a twelve string guitar. And secondly playing the six string guitar, for anybody out there reading this who plays six strings, knows that it’s actually tougher on the fingers having one string than two. I find it easier to play twelve strings. And if you are doing a long concert, six strings can after a while begin to really bite into your fingers. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy it. Back home I’ve got quite a few six string guitars which I enjoy playing. But the twelve string, it’s a brilliant sound and I really enjoy playing it.

December 16, 2003
Kaveh (16) from Tehran, Iran:
Hello dear Chris. You had said that there are some countries that you'd love to tour in like Iran. I wish from deep of my heart that you come here and this waiting heart see you. Anyway: I'd like you to explain a little about "Making the perfect man" and what's your target of "You can watch your money going west". Thanks for your beautiful and popular lyrics in Iran.
Chris de Burgh:
“Making The Perfect Man” was a fun song for me. And it’s an ironic look at the old story of Shelley about the Frankenstein monster. It’s almost like we are creating Frankenstein monsters around us and one of them is the media which can sometimes be looked upon as a blind monster, falling around the place and crushing everything in its way as it tries to gobble up stories as food. The idea “watch your money going west”, this is an old expression. To watch something going west, I think, comes from North America back in the Cowboy and Indian days where people looking to make a fortune went West. And I think a lot of them either made fortunes or lost fortunes, so to watch your money go West, it has nothing to do with the Western world, our economic world or geographical world. It’s just an expression about saying goodbye to something. Thank you for your words about me in Iran. As you know, I would very much like to go there.

December 15, 2003
Art Trombley (34) from Malone, New York, USA:
Here is a twist on the old desert island disc question: If you were stranded on a deserted island and had only one CD to listen to, which one of your own CDs would you chose and why?
Chris de Burgh:
I would take one that inspired my imagination. It reminds me a lot of what was happening at the time. It would be the album “Into The Light”. I absolutely love the first song “Last Night”, which really shows a powerful movie in my mind. And the last song at the end of it, the three songs together, “The Vision”, “The Leader” and “What About Me”. And I just think as an example of two songs that totally surprise people who think the only thing I ever recorded was “The Lady In Red”. That would be the album I would take with me. And there are some fantastic memories associated with that album.

December 14, 2003
Bahman Kazemian (21) from Iran:
Why don't songwriters arrange their own songs? And usually let someone else do the arrangement. Is it for the better results? Or simply that two minds work better than one?
Chris de Burgh:
Well, I do arrange my own songs in the studio with the band. But when it comes to orchestral arrangements, this is something that I cannot do. I cannot write the notes out for an orchestra. However, when I hear an orchestral arrangement, then I have an opinion about it and I ask the arranger to change things and so on. But an orchestral arrangement is a far more complicated thing to be involved with than just ordinary band arrangements.

December 13, 2003
Feyzullah Yilmaz (21) from Istanbul, Turkey:
Hello Chris. We are a few fellows from a Turkish-CDeB community and we really love to listen to you. Here's our question: We heard that "Richard The Lion Heart" is your ancestor? Is that true? Is that why you made the song, "Crusader"? Thank you...
Chris de Burgh:
I'd like to say a warm welcome to my fans in Turkey. I've been there three times now, and I've absolutely loved every trip. It's an extraordinary country, and so much history there and culture. The people are just wonderful, I just had some fantastic times there. Richard the Lionheart, that's a tricky one. I believe the de Burghs are related through marriage to Richard the Lionheart. And my grandfather General de Burgh was very good at genealogy and putting together family histories for his own family. Our one stretches back to Charles Charlemagne (Charles the Great) in the 9th century. And the name de Burgh came from Norman times. And I think there is every chance that Richard Coeur de Lion did marry, as William the Conqueror did, a de Burgh. I'm sorry I sound vague on this, I know that we are related somehow, but I can't exactly remember how. It doesn't occupy my days looking at the family tree. The reason I wrote the "Crusader" song was, as I said earlier, because I was interested in the historical perspective of that time.

December 12, 2003
Wendy Simpson (42) from Scotland:
OK Chris, Joe DeRouen brought it up so I just have to ask, and maybe you will put a face to the name, and to the voice that keeps shouting at you from the darkness. Why won't you sing Every Drop Of Rain?? The first time I asked you was in Foret Nationale in Belgium some 12 years ago, I asked in Kensington Gardens and at almost every outdoor concert in the UK since. I'm also the one who asks in the Clyde auditorium and at the NEC also I'm the one you promised at Ragley Hall. PLEASE CHRIS. I'm not a lunatic, although after reading this you will probably think I am (smile), just really like the song and have never heard you sing it live. Love your music can't get enough of it, keep up the great work. Wendy
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Wendy, I know exactly who you are. And thank you for your repeated request for “Every Drop Of Rain”. It’s funny that I’ve very rarely done this one, because usually I like to do songs that come from the past that sort of mean something to me all the way. This one wasn’t actually on a full album, which is probably why I regarded it slightly less than I should. It’s quite a complicated tune, because of the time signature. And also it really needs a big production behind it. The chorus is very strong. But, you know, it’s one of those songs that will never go away and it’s quite possible that I will come back to it. I’ve actually sung it to you before by the way, I was so concerned that I wasn’t doing this for you, Wendy. But I went back home and listened to the record and learned the words. There’s a lot to learn and a lot of songs to do, something like 170 now. So hopefully I’ll be able to do that one again, but no promises.

December 11, 2003
Stefan (35) from Mönchengladbach, Germany:
"Timing Is Everything" was also released as a special edition with a bonus DVD from Frankfurt (4 songs). The whole Frankfurt concert was broadcasted via internet, so why didn't you release the whole concert on CD or DVD? I liked your show of the "timing is everything" tour very much, very good band - and I would be happy to have a live recording of that tour.
Chris de Burgh:
Well, this is a situation where we weren’t in complete control of all the material on that live concert. And also to mix down an entire concert is a very long and time-consuming experience to make it sound right. So it just shows four songs and kept it that. So that’s why the whole concert was not released on DVD. The band on my Timing Is Everything tour are excellent. They are very very good friends of mine and beautiful players. And maybe we will be able to do a proper live recording some day. I know I plan to do that with my next tour, to do a live recording and DVD as soon as possible once we’ve started it.

December 10, 2003
Jacqueline Ebner (45) from Scotland:
Hello Chris, do you wear glasses at all?
Chris de Burgh:
I see you are aged 45, and of course I’m sure you are still beautiful at 45, but, you know, time takes its toll on all of us. And I started wearing reading glasses about 7 or 8 years ago. And it makes life really much easier, to be able to read newspapers. I’m actually what you call long-sighted, which means that my long vision is fine, it’s very good. But small print upfront, I just can’t read that, it is all a bit of a blur. So I’m afraid it is because how nature takes its course and makes the front of the eye harden up and makes it harder for it to actually be flexible and move, so you can actually read small print. So yes, I wear reading glasses.

December 9, 2003
Bianca van den Berg (35) from Voorhout, The Netherlands:
Hi dear Chris, I really like the version of Separate Tables you recorded with Vicky Leandros. Every time she sings; "I think about you" she makes me smile. How was it to work with her and why wasn't this version released on one of your CDs? Thank you for the music, hope to see you soon! Lots of love Bianca
Chris de Burgh:
I was in Holland a couple of weeks ago doing a private concert, and it reminded me just how much I enjoy going to Holland, and the fans I have there. These people there, they knew every word of every song, it was quite amazing. The version with Vicky Leandros of “Separate Tables”, we actually recorded that a few years back at the request of her record company and, I believe, her own request. And I was delighted to sing with her. She is a remarkable artist and a very talented and professional one. The version wasn’t released on one of my CDs, because I do believe that was the condition that it was just one version on one of her own CDs. I’m not quite sure of the background to the release of the song, but all I can say is that I enjoyed working with Vicky.

December 8, 2003
Saman Barzegari (29) from Tehran, Iran:
Dear Mr. Davison. I wonder if you have been informed that two collections of your fantastic works have been recently released in Iran. Have you been asked for permission?
Chris de Burgh:
Again I’d like to say hi to all my friends and fans in Tehran and in Iran in general. Thank you for your questions, and keep posting messages on the website. I love to read them in the guestbook. Yes, I had learned that two of my records have been released in Iran, and I think permission was requested from the record label in United Kingdom. But the great thing about my new one “The Road To Freedom” is, if I felt like going to Iran myself and giving it away in a street corner, I can do this, because it is my own product. And I would love to go and perform there some day, because I know I would get a very terrific reception.

December 7, 2003
Solange (39) from St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Québec, Canada:
Dear Chris, first of all, many many thanks for that wonderful magical moment you shared with us last May at la Place des Arts. And talking about shows, I have noticed that the prices for the tickets seem to have exploded lately. Not only for you but in general. As my husband and I had a bit of a hard time gathering money for two tickets, I am sure that many of your fans will never get to see you live. What is your opinion about that? P.S. are you happy to know some quebecois singers now?
Chris de Burgh:
The Place des Arts again was one of the most memorable shows I have done this year. I’m not sure about other ticket prices, but I know that we always in my organization try and keep a fair ticket price, because we’re aware there are young people out there who want to come and see the shows. There’s no point, I mean I have seen high ticket prices for people who do a very short concert like 50 minutes. At least, when you get a ticket for one of my shows, you are getting value for money. In some cases I’m actually singing for almost twice as long as most other performers. So, although I am aware that these prices are high, don’t forget that, if you got, say, a thousand people spending, I don’t know what it is, $30 on a ticket (I’m just guessing here), don’t walk away with the impression that the artist on the stage is walking away with all that money. Because there is an enormous amount of expenses involved. For example the rental of the theatre, the paying of commissional tickets, tax which is significant in the country that we are performing in. Sometimes the tax is so high, some performers have refused to perform in some countries, like 30-40 percent of the gross, you just can’t operate all of those circumstances. So I have always taken the view that it is not fair to push too hard on ticket prices. But on the other hand there is not much point in me going away on tour for a year and coming back with no money or having lost money. So my answer is, yes, I am very happy to know some quebecois singers. I have come across a few of them in the past, and I look forward very much to go back to see my friends in French Canada very shortly.

December 6, 2003
Andres Kahn (36) from Tallinn, Estonia:
Hi Chris! Your music is fantastic! I have been your fan since 1985 when I heard you records Man On The Line (this one was extremely popular at school) and also Far Beyond These Castle Walls. I have attended both of your concerts in Estonia. My question would be - I have been wondering how well the musicians worldwide know each other. Hereby I would like to ask you how well you know the following musicians: Mike Oldfield, Jean Michel Jarre, Andrew Latimer, Phil Collins, Maggie Reilly, Fish, Jan Garbarek, Al Stewart, Alan Parsons, Jan Anderson, Mike Rutherford, Tina Turner (I know she was singing on one of your records). Who is the one in the world of music you admire most. Also have you heard the Estonian names like Arvo Pärt and Neeme Järvi. And last but not least have you already planned your next concert in Estonia. We are all waiting for it! Best regards Andres Kahn
Chris de Burgh:
I think I have been twice in Estonia, and I very much enjoyed it. One impression I walked away with was how healthy and beautiful the people looked, both the guys and the girls. You know there was that glow that tells you that they have not been eating junk food for years and years that you find in other countries. They just looked very healthy and fresh. But anyway, moving on, about your question. Yes, I run into people like Rod Stewart, Elton John I just saw recently. Phil Collins I see at the Formula 1 Grand Prix races sometimes. I’ve met Mike Rutherford from Genesis and of course Tina. In my business you do come across these people from time to time. The guys from U2 live fairly close to me in Dublin and I run into them from time to time. Enya for example. But I would say one man I have enormous respect for, as somebody I have known for a long time, it’s Peter Gabriel. He’s a very unusual talent indeed and I think he is marvellous. Tina Turner is great fun, and I wish she would come out of retirement, because she is a legend and an amazing performer. I don’t know the two people you have spoken about from Estonia, but maybe I will. And I look forward to going back there.

December 5, 2003
Liz Griffiths (47) from Surbiton, Surrey, UK:
My friend and I sat next to you and your family at a wonderful restaurant on the island of Patmos, in Greece. (You might recall my friend nearly falling off her moped as we headed off into the dark, whilst you waited for your taxi). You are my most favourite singer and songwriter and I so wanted to say hello, but felt very protective of your privacy during your 'time off'. Patmos is the most romantic of islands and your songs are so steeped in romance, history and story telling. I wonder if my beautiful island might have inspired you to write a song about it?
Chris de Burgh:
I remember that instant very well. And Patmos was recommended to me by a friend of ours, to go to this summer. And it’s an extraordinary beautiful place. Difficult to get to, but that makes it even more beautiful. And it is also well-known for the cave, where Saint John the Divine had his revelations which you read at the end of the bible. And we went to see this, and it’s an extraordinary feeling to be in, like I mentioned Ephesus, to be in this place which is so important to Christian history. The island itself is absolutely lovely. Thank you for feeling protective of me and not getting involved. But as you can probably tell, I’m a very affable person, I don’t mind talking to people. I’m not one of these stars that tells people to push off and no autographs. On the contrary, I am always very happy to give autographs and have pictures taken. History and romance have always been a critical part of my writing, and whereever I find it, it comes into my soul and then to my spirit. And I’m sure the Greek islands will always be there, because I’ve been to the Greek islands before quite a few times, and I absolutely adore them. There’s something very noble about the Greeks and their history. And that’s one reason that draws me back again.

December 4, 2003
Amir Flaishman (29) from Tel Aviv, Israel:
Hi there Chris. First of all, I want you to know that you are my favourite singer and the only one whom I've ever flown to actually see his concert (I saw you performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London). My question is: beautiful 'Crusader' song naturally deals with Jerusalem. Have you ever been to Jerusalem? (If not - then you're more than welcome to do so) What associations come to your mind when you hear of the word 'Jerusalem' (if at all)? Thank you, and keep on writing great stuff!
Chris de Burgh:
It’s amazing you actually flew to London to see me perform at the Royal Albert Hall. Yeah, that was one of those amazing venues too. The song “Crusader” is really just a historical look at the way all these people who are former enemies decided to put aside their bitter grievances and say “Right, we’re gonna fight a common enemy”. It’s not particularly anything to do with Israel or the Arab world, as some people have suggested. This is very much a story that goes back 800 years, and I’m sure this kind of thing will arise again, where a common enemy will be there and all people, who have bitter times together, decide “We won’t fight anymore for a while. Let’s go and fight this common enemy.” I often wonder what will happen, for example, if a meteor came hurtling towards planet Earth. All those, like the Chinese, the Russians and the Americans, they would all combine to see if we could save our planet. That’s the kind of thing I’m talking about. And when I think of Jerusalem, I actually think of biblical Jerusalem, the time of Jesus. And I’m just so sad that there’s such a desperate crisis in the current history of Israel that the name of Jerusalem is now a synonymous with suicide bombings and other atrocities. But for me Jerusalem lives on, in my mind, as a place involved with Jesus Christ.

December 3, 2003
Sabine Schlichting (34) from Henfield, West Sussex, England:
Hi Chris! I was very pleased to see you performing in the beautiful city of Augsburg a few weeks back (fantastic evening!), hoping and waiting for many years that you would give solo concerts some time. Always thought you were at your best when you were alone on stage. Shame I wasn't able to go to more of them... What made you finally do it? Has it always been a dream, an idea of yours or was this a more recent inspiration?
Chris de Burgh:
That night in Augsburg in the amphitheatre, that was absolutely fantastic. It was one of my great memories of this summer, and I?m glad you were there, Sabine, to enjoy it, because I certainly did. And remember, I got everybody come on the stage at the end, and in particular there were two people in wheelchairs, I was absolutely thrilled about them, because it?s always tough if you are either very small or a child or if you can?t see particularly well. And the solo thing, I was talking to somebody actually yesterday about doing solo concerts. And these young fellows who were trying to start in the music business, they were amazed, they said ?You mean, you do solo concerts? What do you do??. And I said ?I play the guitar, I play the piano, I talk, I do a 2 1/2 hour show, play all my old material and some new stuff.?. They were absolutely amazed, because so few people can do it. But I have my grounding in that, you see, and I have a lot of back-up and a lot of history and experience of doing solo concerts. And yes, it always has been a dream. It?s something I?ve always been able to do and I love coming back to it from time to time. And indeed next tour will be a solo concert tour. It?s so intimate, and I know a lot of people in fact who said ?oh we really prefer them to the band shows?. Well, I love the band shows too, because I love the impact and the power. But the solo concerts for me are the way of showing my music at its best. And it?s kind of a seduction process from the stage with the audience. And it?s always a beautiful experience.

December 2, 2003
Chris Raymond (52) from Whitton, Twickenham, UK:
Hello Chris! This thought intrigues me! How do you cope with knowing that so many women out there, all ages, shapes and sizes are totally besotted with you?!! What volume of fan mail do you receive apart from through the Guestbook here? On the flip side - do you ever get mail which is critical of your work? Thanks! Chris.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Chris! How are you doing ? Thanks for your cards and letters. I don’t give that much thought about what you are saying. How flattering of you to say that women out there, all ages, shapes and sizes are besotted. Well, I wouldn’t admit to that. I don’t actually really think about it, I’m a little shy about that kind of thing. But I do receive quite a lot of fan mail. Some of it is surprising, some of it is quite suggestive, some of it includes interesting photographs. But yes, I always listen to critical mail. People say why did you do this, and why did you do that, and what were you thinking of when you wrote such a song and it could have been better this way. I think if you just spend your life being praised, and only listen to praise, I think that’s the day that you become very big-headed. And I don’t particularly want to ever get into that particular area.

December 1, 2003
Dave Malcolm (34) from Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland:
Dear Chris, Thanks for the Music over the years, I've been a big fan for longer than I care to remember! I was wondering - How do you rate your daughter Rosanna's chances are in the Miss Ireland Competition this year? Do you think she can win the Miss World Competition as well, and have you given her any advice on how to handle the press?
Chris de Burgh:
Your question is pretty similar to my last response. I have given her some advice. I said “whatever happens, you’ll still be beautiful the day after the competition”. And how to handle the press? “You treat them with respect, but also understand that they need you. If you need to sell something, if you need to have promotional requirement, then the press is your root to it.” I’ve told her to forge her own destiny with the media, and although there are people in the media that I wouldn’t even cross the road to shake hands with, after all these years of the abuse I have taken, particularly here in Ireland in the 25 years of it, I have said to her there are some people that she should be very very careful of, and other people she can make her own mind up about. I think her chances are pretty good to win the Miss World Competition, but as I said there is a lot more to the voting than meets the eye.

November 30, 2003
Rebecca (16) from Surrey, UK:
I have just read about your daughter being elected "Miss Ireland", she is very pretty indeed. You must be so proud of her, I just wanted to know what you thought when she said she wanted to enter it?
Chris de Burgh:
My daughter is Miss Ireland, as I have said in the beginning. She is heading off for the Miss World Competition. It’s a very political event. We don’t know whether it exactly is a chance for the prettiest girl and the most intelligent girl to win. I think there’s more to this election process than meets the eye. But nevertheless we have high hopes for Rosanna. And she only went into it, because she was at a shopping centre in Dun Laoghaire in Ireland, and somebody came up to her and said “would you like to go in for a beauty competition next Saturday?”. As she says herself, her boyfriend was away and she wasn’t busy that Saturday, so she went in. Nobody knew anything about her, but she obviously wowed the judges. And then she went on to win Miss Ireland convincingly. Although there were 20 other very pretty girls there. And I was delighted for her. Sometimes you are going along in life, Rebecca, and a door opens in front of you. And you have a look and say “well, why not? Give it a try!” So, if this sort of thing happens to you, just give it a try. There’s no point in later life saying “I could have been a Miss World”, or “I could have done this or that.” If you feel strongly about something, just try it. The worst that can happen is you’ll fail and you can start again. But at least you have given it a try.

November 29, 2003
Lauryan de Jongh (23) from Pretoria, South Africa:
At both of the South African Concerts that I have attended, including your birthday one, you have always chosen someone out of the audience to come on stage and sing a song with you... Do you do this at all your concerts? Also - how did this "interactivity" begin?
Chris de Burgh:
I love the idea of people joining me to sing, because one of the key elements of what I believe good performers should do, is create a feeling in the audience that the man on the stage is no different to them. Most people in the audience should look up at me on stage and say “oh, I could do that”. That’s important. And it’s also important that everybody feels we’re all together. It’s not an audience being dominated or dictated to by performers. I’ve been to enough concerts in the past to see arrogant performers who really don’t care about their audiences. And really you’ve got to respect your audiences. I always have. I’ve always taken the idea that you do two concerts every night. One for now, and one for the next time. You must always show respect for the audiences. And one of the ways of creating a bridge between the stage and the audience is having people sing with me. Sometimes it’s something I like to do, sort of, by surprise. Other times it’s planned in advance.

November 28, 2003
Babak (16) from Rasht, Iran:
Hi Chris... I have a short question... what's your opinion about the movie "Lord of the Rings"?? Thanks a lot, bye.
Chris de Burgh:
It’s a very strange thing, but this morning on the radio I was listening to BBC Radio 5 live, and they were having a discussion about the “Lord Of The Rings” film. And some people were saying they thought it was an absolute masterpiece, and other people were saying it goes from fight into scenery, fight, scenery, fight, scenery… I saw it. I was amazed like everybody else by the technical accomplishments of the filmmakers. But I just saw it as a bunch of guys running away all the time and being chased. And I didn’t find it a satisfying film, as much as for example I found the “Harry Potter” films far more satisfying. So I would not say I’m a big fan of the “Lord Of The Rings” trilogy and those films.

November 27, 2003
Janet (29) from Belfast, Northern Ireland:
I know you're in process of setting up your own record label. Will that give you more freedom to decide what songs do or don't get recorded? Will it mean that it will be slightly less important for an album to be an economic success?
Chris de Burgh:
It has never been a problem for me deciding on what songs to release on a record, because I have always been left alone, almost since my career began. I think they realized that I was an unusual songwriter and very much in control of what I wanted to do in my career. But the freedom comes from being able to do what I want with the record. Record companies can be difficult to deal with sometimes. Sometimes getting through to people who are in meetings, or trying to motivate record companies when they have seen it all before (“Oh it’s another Chris de Burgh record”), this is very tough. To try and motivate a record company into giving priority to a record that you think is important, that is the hardest thing at all. We have that flexibility now to work around that and make our record available just about anywhere we want. As far as the economic success is concerned, yes it is important, because I am now funding the thing myself. And obviously we’ve got to sell records to cover the costs.

November 26, 2003
Thomas Schilb (37) from Tallahassee, Florida, USA:
My question is regarding your next CD. You have written some amazing songs over the years in which almost always falls into 5 categories: war and history, love and romance, Family, lighter side of life, and the deep meanings of life songs. I love all of them but of the 5 I guess the one that grabs me the most are the deep meaning of life songs like Discovery, Turning Round and Heart of Darkness to name a few. I was wondering if you could give us a sneak peek on your new CD and describe what categories you think they fall in, if not multiple ones. Thank you for the stories.
Chris de Burgh:
It’s interesting that you have categorized the way I write, because I never really thought about it much. I tend to write from an emotional standpoint and an observational standpoint. I don’t necessarily kind of move from one to the other in terms of categories.
But it’s interesting what you are saying about “Discovery”. Because that is what we call extrapolation, where you take an idea and then you go along that idea for as far as you can. And I had this idea of Galileo Galilei, thinking as he looked up at the stars ‘there’s got to be more to life than what we see here’. And in a way that explains my philosophy as well which is I’m a big questioner, I love asking questions. I love to find out is there another way, I mean, in a very mundane way. I’m the guy that, if there’s a queue of people waiting to get through two doors, and one of them is closed and the other one isn’t, I’m the guy who goes up to the second door to see if it’s open or closed. Sometimes it’s locked, so obviously nobody else, but quite often, more times than not, that second door is open. And you push it open and you go through. You don’t have to stand in the crowd with everybody else. I’m a questioner, and that comes to much of my music and much of my songwriting. Similarly in “Discovery”, maybe we are not earthbound as we discovered in the sixties or before, we can actually leave the planet and look at it from the outside. And as many of the astronauts have discovered, it is the discovery of huge proportions, because suddenly they see just how fragile our world is. And how we need at all cost to protect it.
“Heart of Darkness” is similar to the title of the Joseph Conrad novel, it’s a voyage of self-discovery. And in this case it starts on a smuggler’s bay. And a boy in the 17th century looking out the window and seeing the moon and seeing smuggling going on. And that brings him down to a light that could be the light of a smuggler, but in fact in this case it isn’t, it’s a light that takes him onto a journey to another life and what is actually beyond. It’s again a film in my head that I love to explore. And it’s exciting going into this exploration area and it’s something I do a lot.
You know, the new album, I know that I’m going to be talking about all the tracks at a later date, so I won’t start here. Just two I would refer to. One is the title track “The Road To Freedom” which is set a long time ago, a few hundred years ago, in a small farm West of Ireland or West of Scotland. It’s very rugged, tough land, hard to make a living. And there’s an old man who is working on this little farm with a stone house and the stone walls and the sea below and the constant wind. And the only person to help him is his son. And his son has gone off to fight for freedom. We don’t know what this is, this freedom. But the old man knows, that he’s seen it all before. Freedom means death, it means change, if they even achieve that much. But most of all freedom does not bring rain and sun to make his plants grow. And he is mostly upset about the fact that his son has gone off, the only person that is with him has gone off to fight for freedom. So it is a fairly deep and emotional song. As is “Snow Is Falling”, which is another one that is on a very wide filmic, epic scale. As the snow falls, in a Doctor Zhivago landscape, the camera moves into a forest. And in the forest there’s a broken ground, the snow gently falls, and the trees are heavy with the snow. And under the ground there’s a grave containing the bodies of maybe three or four hundred young men and boys, who have been taken from their homes and executed. And nobody knows where they have gone, where they have been buried. And this is their story, saying “come and find us”. The seasons come and go, and the snow falls and the leaves fall in the autumn. It’s deeply sad and very Eastern European. It’s the kind of thing I just get into. You see, my philosophy is this: If you do not feel emotion, you cannot convey emotion.

November 25, 2003
Ina Stöcker (34) from Bergisch Gladbach, Germany:
Dear Chris! When you create new songs - do you "try" them at home - sing these songs for your family to get their critic about? Do you take your songs "with you in your days" or are you able to stop them after doing your work? I mean - when I hear a song going into my heart it’s in my head the whole day, coming up in my mind again and again and I’m thinking about it. Is songwriting and development for you something like going to work day by day or more like inspiration and a kind of fun? Thank you for so many years with great music and so much great concerts! All best wishings for you! Greetings from Ina
Chris de Burgh:
When I am at home, yes, I do often play the music that other people can hear. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they come in and listen. I think what happens is, when I have a grand piano in one of the big drawing rooms that I have, and I play that quite a bit. Or else I go into my own studio which has got beautiful views, and I can be very private in my studio and I try things there. I’d say my family probably, by the time they hear a new record, they are familiar with the music, because they have heard snatches here and there. The songwriting process is a lengthy one. Even now I’ve spent today finishing off the lyrics of three songs for the new album “The Road To Freedom”. And that takes me to a completely separate zone. It’s very important for me to switch off everything else that is going on in my head. I’m very good at that. I can actually concentrate on one thing 100 percent and then move on to something else rather than be caught drifting between the two of them. I also believe in what the Beatles used to say, it’s if you can come back to a melody the next day and you can remember it, then it’s worth remembering. Otherwise I’m sure I’ve forgotten loads of melodies that I’ve started, but if they are not much good, I don’t remember them. It’s just as well, I suppose.

November 24, 2003
Ashton Lane (17) from Newfoundland, Canada:
Hello Chris. I have two questions to ask you. The first, out of all the places across the world that you have performed, which one is your favorite? Secondly, where is your favorite place to be or your favorite thing to do to have some time to yourself? Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions that your fans submit to you. My father has been a fan of yours since your first album was released, and he has bought every one of your albums since. Now that I'm older, I appreciate why your music means so much to him. You are an exceptional musical artist, you have the ability to capture an audience regardless of age or the musical preference. You are a brilliant performer, thank you for performing in Newfoundland. Your concert that you held at Mile One Stadium was outstanding and I hope that you will come back to perform again soon.
Chris de Burgh:
You have no idea what a thrill it is for me to hear that a new generation of people is coming up and enjoying what I do, and they come to the concerts and they see what I do on stage, and obviously the fantastic enjoyment that I have in performance. Newfoundland is a place that I have been going to for many many years. I absolutely love it, and in fact in a way that answers your second question one of my favourite places to be. And favourite things to do, well, I love being in the open air. You know, if I am on tour, I don’t seek out the company of necessarily my band members all the time. I much prefer, as I have done in Newfoundland, to hire a car and just drive off and find somewhere where I can walk and think. It’s a way from the Hurley-burley of ordinary life, particularly touring life. I like to think I’m a spiritual person, and I need to regenerate my spirituality by being thoughtful to feel the impact of nature on my frail body as we all are. Nature is so fantastic and wonderful. And there is a place out near Saint John’s, Newfoundland, called Flat Rock, which I always walk down this peninsula. And I have seen whales from there, and I have seen icebergs. It is a place for me which is very important and very moving and a place where I can find solitude and peace.
I’m also delighted that, you know, the generation has been spanned obviously. Your father likes my music by the sounds of it, and you’ve known to love it too. The places where I have performed, which is my favourite? Well, you know what, Ashton, there haven’t been really any outstanding favourite places, there’s been like a top ten. I would say one of my very top ten places was in Turkey, near the town of Izmir. There’s a beautiful place called Ephesus which was a theatre carved out of the hillside. And I remember performing there with the band under the starry sky one night. And this place has been there since the 3rd century BC. And Saint Paul preached to the Ephesians standing on the same marble slabs surrounded by the same pillars that I was amongst with my band. And the backstage was just tiny little monks rooms. It seems to have been untouched for more than 2000 years. That kind of a place really does give you the chills, looking out at 20,000 people and knowing that this is one of the key places in Christian history. On top of that there have been a lot of important places. I mentioned Newfoundland, I particularly remember places like the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, and of course Montreal where the love affair continues. And the Forum and the Place des Arts there. Places in Germany, I often talk about the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund. And the Royal Albert Hall in London. They would be on my list. But you know, just about everywhere where you see a smiling crowd in front of you, that’s my favourite place to be.

November 23, 2003
Bärbel Lenk (37) from Kassel, Germany:
Hi Chris! Thanks for your wonderful songs. Did you ever sing a song in German or do you plan to do it? Lots of love, Bärbel
Chris de Burgh:
At the moment I have no plans to sing in German. Anybody who has come to my concerts will realize that my grasp of the language is not particularly good. But that’s not to say I would like to give it a try some day. I have done songs in Spanish and French and given the fact that my German, Austrian, Swiss audiences have been so fantastic and supportive down the years, I think it’s only polite for me to maybe sing a song in German sometime. Maybe I should go down to the Munich Oktoberfest and learn something there, so it’s a good drinking song. What do you think?

November 22, 2003
Meike Ruge (28) from Lübeck, Germany:
Hello Chris! First I want to thank you for all your really fantastic music. However I feel, or whatever is running through my mind, it is always the right time to hear your music. I’m especially interested in the last three songs from the "Getaway" album. My question is, do these songs tell about a special battle or similar in the history? I read lot of books about the fights in Scotland. And most time these songs remind me of several stories I read before. Thanks for your answer and I wish you to have always a smile in your face, when you wake up in the morning. Greetings from Germany, Meike
Chris de Burgh:
I was very fortunate in my early years to have gone on tour with terrific bands as the opening act, and I learned a lot. And I think, if you are going to go out as an opening act, you must always watch what it is about the headliner that makes them the headline act. And similarly on the rare occasion that I have an opening act, I urge them to have a look at what we do, because you can learn from it. But what I learned from Supertramp in particular was their grasp of visual imagery, of sort of cinemascope songs, big imaginative songs. And it really spurred me on to not just become a singer with a guitar. I wanted on record to put these ideas into far more epic proportions. So, on The Getaway, I wanted to do this trilogy, these three songs. And it really tells a story of what may have happened in, say, Ireland in the 18th century, or indeed anywhere where the excitement of a revolution beginning, when people go from house to house and they whisper to each other. Because obviously, if you are starting a revolution, if you are caught with this, you will be in deep deep trouble. There was no special battle, but the Irish element of the Revolution trilogy is very strong for me, and most likely comes from around the time of the 1798 rebellion which was an uprising, supported to some degree by the French, against the English in Ireland. And in fact the castle where I was brought up in, was the ancestral home of Bagenal Harvey who was a protestant landowner in a mainly Catholic country. But he felt so strongly about trying to get the English out of Ireland, that he also led a large contingent of men. And unfortunately they were crushed in county Wexford. And he himself was caught and beheaded. I think his head was stuck on a pike on Wexford Bridge and the rest of him was thrown to the fishes.

November 21, 2003
Susan MacDonald (33) from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada:
Hello Chris! I just read a book called Sweeter Life (which I loved) by Tim Wynveen. His bio at the back mentioned that before turning his attention to writing he was a professional musician, "touring with performers such as Chris de Burgh." Looking at some older CDs, sure enough, there's Tim Wynveen playing guitar. I was wondering if you have kept in touch, and have you read any of his books? Thanks!
Chris de Burgh:
I’ve spoken about Halifax before, and again I’d like to mention what a fantastic time I had in Halifax on my recent Canadian tour. I’m a keen student of history, as I am sure many of you know. And I love going to museums, and in particular the maritime museum in Halifax is just terrific. I went there two days running, and not only were the artefacts from the Titanic disaster, but also from other maritime events in the area, it’s a very important harbour and port. But the devastating explosion that took place in 1917 was something absolutely awesome, the biggest manmade explosion ever. And the next one was, I believe, the H-bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And this bomb, caused by two ships colliding in what was called the narrows in the harbour of Halifax, flattened the town, killed thousands of people, blinded more thousands of people who were looking out their windows at the fire on the ship. But just getting back to your question: Tim Wynveen was indeed a guitar player in my band for many years. He is also featured on the “Live In South Africa” record as a guitar player. And I think since he gave up guitar playing, he then turned to writing. And I read his first book called “Angel Falls” which I enjoyed very much, but I didn’t realize that “Sweeter Life” had come out. So I’m sure I’ll go looking for that one, and I hope to enjoy it as well.

November 20, 2003
Dave Lawrence (28) from London, UK:
Hi Chris, I wonder if (especially now you have your own label) you ever think about putting out an outtakes/rarities CD? I guess I am not the only one whose mouth waters when we hear about various unreleased or unrecorded songs.. For example I've always longed to hear the version of Nights in White Satin you recorded for Best Moves.. and I know there a brilliant recording of a song called Nice Guy.. I also get the impression there may often be a few songs recorded from each album that do not make the cut (particularly This Way Up I recall). Not to mention various unrecorded songs (Don't Leave Me Now?!) you may have demos of. You might also include some other non-album rarities/Bsides etc eg Strangers on a Train, Riding on a Rainbow, the Diana song etc. What do you think of this idea? I can't help feeling kind of cheated to know there are great songs out there that we are not able to hear..!
Chris de Burgh:
Well, Dave, although I have my own label, the recordings that I made prior to having Ferryman Productions, are actually still owned largely by the previous record companies that I have been involved with. So it might be difficult to price those away from them. But that said, there are rarities out there. And, you know, my feeling is that probably the reason why they were never put out is possibly because they weren’t good enough. I’m always a little cautious about hearing these old songs from way back, because quite honestly I don’t think they were particularly good, some of them. But there’s always a case for real fans to get a grip on some of the old titles like for example “What’s A Nice Guy Like You Doing In A Face Like This” (hehe), “Nights In White Satin”, that I recorded but never made it onto a record. There must be at least twenty or thirty songs somewhere which never made it, and I think a lot of them were from my early years, when my voice was completely different than it is now.

November 19, 2003
Stephanie (30) from Montreal, Canada:
Hi Chris, I’m just wondering, during your concert you have a list of songs that you will perform but do you always stick to that list or there are a lot of improvisation during your concert? I’m pretty sure i know the answer but just in case!!!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Strangely enough, since I just spoke about Montreal, this question is from Stephanie in Montreal, about the list of songs! When I’m doing a solo performance, I am fairly flexible. The tour that I’m going to be doing next year which is also a solo performance, we are going to be doing some visual things that I have never done before. And I’m very excited about these ways of illustrating songs and beautiful visual imagery. So, for those ones, I probably won’t be able to alter during the concert set where we have them, because they will be computer driven. But generally speaking, I’m open for all requests. Once I’ve got the core of what I want to do, that is sort of the backbone of the concert set, then I can deviate from it. But it’s also important to stress that getting together a dynamic concert performance that lasts 2 1/2 hours, it takes a long time to put one together with the shifts and the movements and the ebbs and the flows. After a while, it becomes second nature. But within that I have the flexibility to do what I want. It’s not quite the same with the band though.

November 18, 2003
Nicole (31) from Freiburg, Germany:
This is not a question about your music which I really love!!! But I saw a report on German TV about your beautiful Bell 407 Helicopter. I am a helicopter pilot since 1996 (Bell LongRanger IV) and I got my pilots license in Fort Worth, Dallas at Bell Helicopter Training Center. It was great time with those "flying cowboys". And you were so excited about flying that I was wondering whether you are considering to get your own pilots license. It took me only 2 months. The training there was really good and the people at Bell were so friendly. I will never forget the time with them. And you know what?- It’s a great feeling to be able to fly a helicopter. When I saw this report on TV I thought you too would enjoy the feeling to fly a helicopter on your own. It is something special! Although not as special as your music I must admit.
Chris de Burgh:
Freiburg is a town I know extremely well. It’s so pretty there, and I always stay at the Colombi Hotel which is just at the bottom of the walking street area. And I always walk up through the town, through the little cobble streets and to the cathedrals and the restaurants and the bars. It’s a town I very much like to be in, in both summer and winter. Your question about my Bell 407 helicopter, well, I’ve been learning to fly this machine for three years. I must have put up already about 150 hours as co-pilot. Because my time is limited in terms of learning about how to fly a helicopter, I haven’t gone in for the really deep technical stuff. But I can land it, and I can take off in this aircraft. The most important thing for me to do is to be able to land it, to know the wind direction, drop off the speed, and bring the aircraft in for a safe landing, should the requirement ever be necessary. If the pilot himself has some kind of accident, at least I feel confident now that I could affect a landing. And I know that the people at Bell are amazing, because I went to Montreal 3 1/2 years ago to select a Bell 407 helicopter. And Montreal again is one of my very favourite places, and I know I have a lot of friends in Montreal who read Man On (the) Line, so to them I want to say a particular hello, and I can’t wait to go back to your beautiful town and to all those wonderful things I did last time. The people at the Bell facility were so charming and we’ve kept in touch ever since. The training that you did at Fort Worth, I hear, is amazing as well. So I envy you, Nicole, to be able to fly a Bell 407, which I think is still regarded as one of the Ferraris of modern passenger helicopter travel. And I’m thrilled that I’ve got one, and I fly quite a lot in it.

November 17, 2003
Chris de Burgh:
Hi everyone! It’s Thursday the 6th of November and I’m back home for a few days to help out the last few days before my daughter Rosanna goes off to represent Miss Ireland at the Miss World Competition. There’s been a huge amount to do, a huge amount of preparations, and last night we had a big party in a night club for her, for all the people who wanted to wish her well. There’s been a lot of publicity here in Ireland, a lot of photographs. She photographs beautifully. And anybody who has seen Rosanna, either in magazine or newspaper or on TV, will know that she is very beautiful and I hope she does well in the Miss World Competition. It’s not obviously a vital part of our lives, but we’re all in my family of the opinion that if there’s a mountain to climb, we may as well climb it to see what’s on the top. And for her it’s a challenge, and I hope that she does well. And if not, she will still be beautiful tomorrow or the day after the competition, and will carry on as Miss Ireland until she returns to College.
Astrid, you are doing a fantastic work, and I think that you should put that on the website, as a special thank you from me to you. I know that you are busy with your baby and your home life, but I want to particularly thank you for opening up this channel of information to so many people who obviously jump at the chance to ask me questions that are important to them. And it’s also very important for me to have an open communication with everybody out there in the world of cyberspace. I really enjoy Man On (the) Line, and I hope to give it everything I possibly can for a long time to come.
Editor’s note:
Thank you, Chris, for your kind words. It’s my pleasure to maintain this popular section of your website, and of course we all hope that we can continue with it for many years to come. We will return to the daily publishing of questions and answers tomorrow. Good luck to Rosanna for the Miss World Competition!