Fans ask - Chris de Burgh answers!
Something that you always wanted to know?
Here is your chance to get a reply!
April 29, 2004
Christine Andresen (25) from Wedel, near Hamburg, Germany:
Dear Chris. I am a great fan of you and your music, but I have never been to one of your concerts, though I have seen many on television. I now saw, that you will be in Hamburg in June and I really want to visit this concert. I just wonder a little about the location you chose for Hamburg. It is not the usual location, where I would expect one of your concerts. The Music Hall is a smaller place than the locations, where your Hamburg concerts have been before. Is your new tour programme different from the previous tours, and therefore the new location has been chosen? Usually I remember a perfect mixture of rock and ballades, which is absolutely perfect to enjoy, but I can hardly imagine such a concert in this location. I really would be interested in that. Thank you very much for your efforts.
Chris de Burgh:
Well Christine, the answer to your question is probably one that I touched on earlier in as much as this is a solo tour and although I’m very happy to do the big venues, we felt that for the general public it would be easier for them to see me in the smaller venue. So if you haven’t seen me in concert solo, I hope those who have will say that you are in for a treat. I’ve got a lot of material to perform, all these years of writing and recording. And I like to think that I’m very generous with the time I spend on stage. Also it’s an opportunity for me to talk and chat about the background to the songs and the things that I think about. It’s a laugh, you know, we have fun, and it’s very much an intimate occasion. I hope you enjoy it.
Editor’s note:
And here once again the Man On (the) Line section takes a break. We will hopefully be back online with new questions and answers soon. Thank you, Chris, for all the time you are giving us by answering so many questions.
Christine Andresen (25) from Wedel, near Hamburg, Germany:
Dear Chris. I am a great fan of you and your music, but I have never been to one of your concerts, though I have seen many on television. I now saw, that you will be in Hamburg in June and I really want to visit this concert. I just wonder a little about the location you chose for Hamburg. It is not the usual location, where I would expect one of your concerts. The Music Hall is a smaller place than the locations, where your Hamburg concerts have been before. Is your new tour programme different from the previous tours, and therefore the new location has been chosen? Usually I remember a perfect mixture of rock and ballades, which is absolutely perfect to enjoy, but I can hardly imagine such a concert in this location. I really would be interested in that. Thank you very much for your efforts.
Chris de Burgh:
Well Christine, the answer to your question is probably one that I touched on earlier in as much as this is a solo tour and although I’m very happy to do the big venues, we felt that for the general public it would be easier for them to see me in the smaller venue. So if you haven’t seen me in concert solo, I hope those who have will say that you are in for a treat. I’ve got a lot of material to perform, all these years of writing and recording. And I like to think that I’m very generous with the time I spend on stage. Also it’s an opportunity for me to talk and chat about the background to the songs and the things that I think about. It’s a laugh, you know, we have fun, and it’s very much an intimate occasion. I hope you enjoy it.
Editor’s note:
And here once again the Man On (the) Line section takes a break. We will hopefully be back online with new questions and answers soon. Thank you, Chris, for all the time you are giving us by answering so many questions.
April 28, 2004
Stephen (39) from Kincardine, Ontario, Canada:
I know you had some home renovations done recently. I also know that you likely don't need to pick up a hammer yourself. My question is, though, are you handy around your home? Is there any of this type of work that appeals to you? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
It was a bit more than home renovations, Stephen. We had a project which meant restoration and renovation of an old house plus all the outbuildings and that took nearly seven years. It’s not quite completed yet even now. But when it comes to being handy around the house, I was brought up in this old castle and my family did not have money to spare, so my brother and I, my mother and father, we all learned how to use hammers. And it’s a bit of a joke in my family, I’m actually a part-time plumber and an electrician, because I know how things work and I’m pretty good at doing those kinds of things. When it comes to carpentry work, I prefer to get somebody else to do that who is more skilled than I. But I’ve got a good brain when it comes to figuring out why things aren’t working correctly. Quite often I’m the guy that gets called in if an alarm system is failed or, as I say, plumbing, electrical work. I’ve often been found underneath dishwashers or washing machines, clearing out the drains, toilets. You name it, I have done it. Thanks!
Stephen (39) from Kincardine, Ontario, Canada:
I know you had some home renovations done recently. I also know that you likely don't need to pick up a hammer yourself. My question is, though, are you handy around your home? Is there any of this type of work that appeals to you? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
It was a bit more than home renovations, Stephen. We had a project which meant restoration and renovation of an old house plus all the outbuildings and that took nearly seven years. It’s not quite completed yet even now. But when it comes to being handy around the house, I was brought up in this old castle and my family did not have money to spare, so my brother and I, my mother and father, we all learned how to use hammers. And it’s a bit of a joke in my family, I’m actually a part-time plumber and an electrician, because I know how things work and I’m pretty good at doing those kinds of things. When it comes to carpentry work, I prefer to get somebody else to do that who is more skilled than I. But I’ve got a good brain when it comes to figuring out why things aren’t working correctly. Quite often I’m the guy that gets called in if an alarm system is failed or, as I say, plumbing, electrical work. I’ve often been found underneath dishwashers or washing machines, clearing out the drains, toilets. You name it, I have done it. Thanks!
April 27, 2004
Andrea Lucas (38) from Ludwigsburg, Germany:
Hi Chris, right now I am on a skiing vacation in Austria and yesterday while it was snowing heavily I was listening to your song "Transmission ends" with the line "winter seems so far away in the summer time" and I was thinking how nice it is to have the different seasons of the year and how far away summer seems to be here. Do you have a season you like best? Thanks a lot for answering all those questions - and my friends and I hardly can wait for the next concerts in May. Take care, Andrea
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Andrea from Ludwigsburg, a place I know well! I would say my favourite season is autumn. It’s a kind of melancholy season. This last autumn was absolutely stunning, the leaves were absolutely beautiful. I don’t know if it was the same in Germany, but here in Ireland the colours were amazing. They went from golds to oranges to pinks, reds, almost purples in some of the trees. And you see them blowing off the trees under windy conditions. It’s also amazing to be in North America in the autumn. I’ve often done the drive from Montréal to Québec or back again and it’s about an hour and a half drive. And when the leaves of the maple trees start turning, it’s spectacular. So although autumn is the time of melancholy, as I said earlier, summer is gone and winter approaches, it’s a wonderful time of the year. But then the other times of the year I adore. Especially spring, when the trees start budding again, the flowers start peeping up from the ground. I love spring time and of course it is spectacular in Ireland in the spring. We don’t usually get wonderful summers. But when we have a good summer like the summer of 2003, it’s memorable.
Andrea Lucas (38) from Ludwigsburg, Germany:
Hi Chris, right now I am on a skiing vacation in Austria and yesterday while it was snowing heavily I was listening to your song "Transmission ends" with the line "winter seems so far away in the summer time" and I was thinking how nice it is to have the different seasons of the year and how far away summer seems to be here. Do you have a season you like best? Thanks a lot for answering all those questions - and my friends and I hardly can wait for the next concerts in May. Take care, Andrea
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Andrea from Ludwigsburg, a place I know well! I would say my favourite season is autumn. It’s a kind of melancholy season. This last autumn was absolutely stunning, the leaves were absolutely beautiful. I don’t know if it was the same in Germany, but here in Ireland the colours were amazing. They went from golds to oranges to pinks, reds, almost purples in some of the trees. And you see them blowing off the trees under windy conditions. It’s also amazing to be in North America in the autumn. I’ve often done the drive from Montréal to Québec or back again and it’s about an hour and a half drive. And when the leaves of the maple trees start turning, it’s spectacular. So although autumn is the time of melancholy, as I said earlier, summer is gone and winter approaches, it’s a wonderful time of the year. But then the other times of the year I adore. Especially spring, when the trees start budding again, the flowers start peeping up from the ground. I love spring time and of course it is spectacular in Ireland in the spring. We don’t usually get wonderful summers. But when we have a good summer like the summer of 2003, it’s memorable.
April 26, 2004
Chris Williams (52) from Basildon, Essex, UK:
Hiya Chris !! well here's a nice short and easy question, now lets be totally honest here, do you really take a COLD shower every morning as you have always said in the past ;-) ? hugs, Chris xx
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Chris! You and your husband Stewart have been great supporters for many years and sending me wonderful gifts and presents. Thank you so much for your support and your love. The answer is: I take a cold shower every time I take a shower or bath. Yes, it is quite interesting to take a cold shower when you are in somewhere like Moscow and it’s 10 degrees below and the water is just above freezing. But it’s terrific for the skin tone, it’s terrific for the immune system, and it takes your breath away. You know, standing underneath the cold shower for 45-60 seconds. But it makes you feel fantastic afterwards. I highly recommend it for a number of different reasons. But yes, I do, and it IS very cold.
Chris Williams (52) from Basildon, Essex, UK:
Hiya Chris !! well here's a nice short and easy question, now lets be totally honest here, do you really take a COLD shower every morning as you have always said in the past ;-) ? hugs, Chris xx
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Chris! You and your husband Stewart have been great supporters for many years and sending me wonderful gifts and presents. Thank you so much for your support and your love. The answer is: I take a cold shower every time I take a shower or bath. Yes, it is quite interesting to take a cold shower when you are in somewhere like Moscow and it’s 10 degrees below and the water is just above freezing. But it’s terrific for the skin tone, it’s terrific for the immune system, and it takes your breath away. You know, standing underneath the cold shower for 45-60 seconds. But it makes you feel fantastic afterwards. I highly recommend it for a number of different reasons. But yes, I do, and it IS very cold.
April 25, 2004
Ilka (33) from Allmersbach, Germany:
Hi Chris! First of all thank you for your time and effort to answer all these questions - it's a must each day to read the MOtL-section of your homepage! My question today is: have you ever thought of taking a time out and go for example to a monastery for some days/weeks to settle down a bit and find peace and shelter from your turbulent life? I am thinking of this possibility at the moment (of course, I would go to a convent ;o) and would like to know your opinion about it. Thanks once again and - carry on!
Chris de Burgh:
Yes, I do lead a very turbulent life. And I like to think I’m in control of it, that I know what I am doing. Having a good team of people around you is absolutely vital. But I do have a place that I can go to, if I need quiet and comfort and peace of mind. And that’s a little cottage I have in the country where I often go if I am writing for an album, for two or three days on my own. It’s completely peaceful, all you hear is the sheep and the cows and the birds. And it’s well away from the road, and I walk around the fields, muttering to myself and basically communing with nature in a way that is almost impossible when you are working near the city as we are. Although we are in the countryside where I live right now, on the daily basis the phone is always going, there are people here, things to do, people turn up. But in this place that I go to, that’s my monastery if you like. I love my own company and I don’t mind being alone at all. I enjoy it and it allows me to clear out all the rubbish out of my head and think clearly about things. And that’s what I really suggest to anybody who needs peace and quiet. Go somewhere where you can actually hear the silence.
Ilka (33) from Allmersbach, Germany:
Hi Chris! First of all thank you for your time and effort to answer all these questions - it's a must each day to read the MOtL-section of your homepage! My question today is: have you ever thought of taking a time out and go for example to a monastery for some days/weeks to settle down a bit and find peace and shelter from your turbulent life? I am thinking of this possibility at the moment (of course, I would go to a convent ;o) and would like to know your opinion about it. Thanks once again and - carry on!
Chris de Burgh:
Yes, I do lead a very turbulent life. And I like to think I’m in control of it, that I know what I am doing. Having a good team of people around you is absolutely vital. But I do have a place that I can go to, if I need quiet and comfort and peace of mind. And that’s a little cottage I have in the country where I often go if I am writing for an album, for two or three days on my own. It’s completely peaceful, all you hear is the sheep and the cows and the birds. And it’s well away from the road, and I walk around the fields, muttering to myself and basically communing with nature in a way that is almost impossible when you are working near the city as we are. Although we are in the countryside where I live right now, on the daily basis the phone is always going, there are people here, things to do, people turn up. But in this place that I go to, that’s my monastery if you like. I love my own company and I don’t mind being alone at all. I enjoy it and it allows me to clear out all the rubbish out of my head and think clearly about things. And that’s what I really suggest to anybody who needs peace and quiet. Go somewhere where you can actually hear the silence.
April 24, 2004
Shirin Soltani (23) from Shiraz, Iran:
Dear Chris, I really don't remember when or how I first heard your music but I do remember that when I heard them, they were with me from that time and they will always be. It was in a time that I was a teen when your music found its way to my heart and it was first when you started by saying "Talk to me", all your words find their ways to hearts because they come out of your heart. I am very happy that I had this chance to know you and your music. Thanks. Now I have a question about one part of your song "In your eyes". It is something that some of my friends also asked me but I didn't know the answer now I have this chance to ask. What do you mean by "papers in bed" in that song. It might be easy but I haven't got it! Thanks Chris, I hope you the best of all and Peace!
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Shirin! Thank you for your beautiful words and again it’s great to hear from Iran. And I can’t wait to be the first international artist to go and perform in your free country. The question about “In Your Eyes”, the words “papers in bed”, well this is a tradition usually of people who do not have children by the way, of getting up late on a Sunday morning and either having the Sunday newspapers delivered to your home or somebody going out and getting them and you come back, you get a cup of coffee or cup of tea and breakfast in bed. And just leave the papers lying all over the bed and read them until two in the afternoon. That used to be what I used to be able to do many many many many years ago, but I’m sure some people still do it nowadays.
Shirin Soltani (23) from Shiraz, Iran:
Dear Chris, I really don't remember when or how I first heard your music but I do remember that when I heard them, they were with me from that time and they will always be. It was in a time that I was a teen when your music found its way to my heart and it was first when you started by saying "Talk to me", all your words find their ways to hearts because they come out of your heart. I am very happy that I had this chance to know you and your music. Thanks. Now I have a question about one part of your song "In your eyes". It is something that some of my friends also asked me but I didn't know the answer now I have this chance to ask. What do you mean by "papers in bed" in that song. It might be easy but I haven't got it! Thanks Chris, I hope you the best of all and Peace!
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Shirin! Thank you for your beautiful words and again it’s great to hear from Iran. And I can’t wait to be the first international artist to go and perform in your free country. The question about “In Your Eyes”, the words “papers in bed”, well this is a tradition usually of people who do not have children by the way, of getting up late on a Sunday morning and either having the Sunday newspapers delivered to your home or somebody going out and getting them and you come back, you get a cup of coffee or cup of tea and breakfast in bed. And just leave the papers lying all over the bed and read them until two in the afternoon. That used to be what I used to be able to do many many many many years ago, but I’m sure some people still do it nowadays.
April 23, 2004
Ali Dindar Sooraki (25) from Sari, Iran:
Hi Chris, I love your song "The Key" and I want to know what was your meaning about it? Your fans Ali and Jaber. All the best!
Chris de Burgh:
The song “The Key” was from my first album “Far Beyond These Castle Walls”, and it was about a girl that I knew. She and I went out together and then she kind of disappeared from my particular world. And she didn’t seem able to hold down a relationship. She kept on like a butterfly, flying from one to the next. I suppose, if I recall, I was hurt by the fact that she moved on to somebody else and somewhere else. But the more I heard about her and her life, the more I realized she was making a terrible mess of it. That she should have really stuck with somebody, not me incidentally, but somebody else who was strong for her and good for her instead of moving on. It’s like just when you say “now is the time I’m ready for a permanent relationship”, it’s too late, because you’ve screwed up your life so badly. And that’s what that song is about.
Ali Dindar Sooraki (25) from Sari, Iran:
Hi Chris, I love your song "The Key" and I want to know what was your meaning about it? Your fans Ali and Jaber. All the best!
Chris de Burgh:
The song “The Key” was from my first album “Far Beyond These Castle Walls”, and it was about a girl that I knew. She and I went out together and then she kind of disappeared from my particular world. And she didn’t seem able to hold down a relationship. She kept on like a butterfly, flying from one to the next. I suppose, if I recall, I was hurt by the fact that she moved on to somebody else and somewhere else. But the more I heard about her and her life, the more I realized she was making a terrible mess of it. That she should have really stuck with somebody, not me incidentally, but somebody else who was strong for her and good for her instead of moving on. It’s like just when you say “now is the time I’m ready for a permanent relationship”, it’s too late, because you’ve screwed up your life so badly. And that’s what that song is about.
April 22, 2004
Tara (11) from Bournemouth, UK:
Reading some of the questions that were answered before I've been thinking about what was your very first song which you wrote? I've listened to some (maybe most) of your albums/singles/etc and that question just popped up into my head! I hope you keep recording, I love your songs!
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Tara! I wonder, did you ask me a question in the previous section? You might have done. But again, it’s exciting that you are such a big fan at such a young age. And maybe when I come to Bournemouth to do a show later in the year, you make yourself known to my assistant and maybe we could meet. The very first song I wrote, well it’s hard to remember, but I think it was called “A Waste Of Love”. And it was pretty awful. It’s just like anything creative, you learn from your mistakes. And you learn how to craft songs and get better at them. And now that I have been in this business for so long, just finished my 17th studio album, I must have written now about 165/170 songs recorded, I think I am getting better. I hope you would agree.
Tara (11) from Bournemouth, UK:
Reading some of the questions that were answered before I've been thinking about what was your very first song which you wrote? I've listened to some (maybe most) of your albums/singles/etc and that question just popped up into my head! I hope you keep recording, I love your songs!
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Tara! I wonder, did you ask me a question in the previous section? You might have done. But again, it’s exciting that you are such a big fan at such a young age. And maybe when I come to Bournemouth to do a show later in the year, you make yourself known to my assistant and maybe we could meet. The very first song I wrote, well it’s hard to remember, but I think it was called “A Waste Of Love”. And it was pretty awful. It’s just like anything creative, you learn from your mistakes. And you learn how to craft songs and get better at them. And now that I have been in this business for so long, just finished my 17th studio album, I must have written now about 165/170 songs recorded, I think I am getting better. I hope you would agree.
April 21, 2004
Pedram (35) from Iran:
Hi! I've been a massive fan for over two decades now. Thanks for years of inspiration! I've got loads to ask, but I'd be really grateful if you would answer at least one them! I can see the relevance of your fantastic EASTERN WIND and the events in Iran at around the same time you wrote it. But who is the woman in the song and what sort of threat did you see back then that wind could pose? I can't wait to get my mitt on your next album!
Chris de Burgh:
Yes, of course you know who it was about and what it was about and how a farmer in the Mid-West of America whose horizons are extremely limited, never even been out of the country, feels threatened by what is happening in the East. Now I have to tell you this was written and recorded in 1980. It may be still relevant today. But the woman is nobody special that he refers to in the song. But overall it’s a feeling of menace, of something that he doesn’t understand coming his way. And I remember at the time there were a lot of problems with hostages being held, American hostages in Iran. But, you know, it’s amazing how history repeats itself, moves on, changes, repeats itself, and so on. The wind of course doesn’t refer to the blowing of a wind. It means something coming your way that could threaten your whole lifestyle and way of living.
Pedram (35) from Iran:
Hi! I've been a massive fan for over two decades now. Thanks for years of inspiration! I've got loads to ask, but I'd be really grateful if you would answer at least one them! I can see the relevance of your fantastic EASTERN WIND and the events in Iran at around the same time you wrote it. But who is the woman in the song and what sort of threat did you see back then that wind could pose? I can't wait to get my mitt on your next album!
Chris de Burgh:
Yes, of course you know who it was about and what it was about and how a farmer in the Mid-West of America whose horizons are extremely limited, never even been out of the country, feels threatened by what is happening in the East. Now I have to tell you this was written and recorded in 1980. It may be still relevant today. But the woman is nobody special that he refers to in the song. But overall it’s a feeling of menace, of something that he doesn’t understand coming his way. And I remember at the time there were a lot of problems with hostages being held, American hostages in Iran. But, you know, it’s amazing how history repeats itself, moves on, changes, repeats itself, and so on. The wind of course doesn’t refer to the blowing of a wind. It means something coming your way that could threaten your whole lifestyle and way of living.
April 20, 2004
Marc Rousseau (41) from Montreal, Canada:
Hi Chris, I'm following your career since Crusader. I got married in 84 and since then you have been part of my family. We have listened to the song for Rosanna when my wife was pregnant of my first girl. I use so many of your beautiful love lyrics to tell my wife how I love her. Your songs are following us on every trip we are doing. My kids are singing them to perfect their english. You are really part of my family! My wife asked me to play the song Carry me for her funeral (Which I hope will be in many many years ago! Are you OK with that?). I'm sure that I'm not the only one in that situation. I hope that you will never stop your career. Did it ever come to your mind? Will you continue touring till your health is good (Please say yes!)?
Chris de Burgh:
Again I must stress my fondness for your city. And for so many people in your city that I love so much. There are wonderful friends that I have there that I long to see again and it’s a country and indeed an area that has loved me the same way I have loved them. I love performing in Montreal. And what you say in your question, indeed your statement about the way you use my lyrics to tell your wife how you love her, it’s beautiful. And your children, to be part of your family! The song “Carry Me (Like A Fire In Your Heart”, well I hope you’re not gonna be hearing that at your wife’s funeral, that’s for sure, certainly for many many many many years. And there is another one I have written called “The Journey” on the new album which also may appeal to those who feel that music can help them through difficult situations and loved ones to part. But in your case, you are only 41, you’ve got many many more years on this planet. And as far as ending my career is concerned, no I have no plans. I’m 55 years old, I still really love what I do, my voice is in a good shape, I’ve got a lot of enthusiasm for what I do and most important of all, there are a lot of people around the world, hundreds of thousands if not millions who still want to hear me sing. So it is wonderful to be in that situation after such a long career.
Marc Rousseau (41) from Montreal, Canada:
Hi Chris, I'm following your career since Crusader. I got married in 84 and since then you have been part of my family. We have listened to the song for Rosanna when my wife was pregnant of my first girl. I use so many of your beautiful love lyrics to tell my wife how I love her. Your songs are following us on every trip we are doing. My kids are singing them to perfect their english. You are really part of my family! My wife asked me to play the song Carry me for her funeral (Which I hope will be in many many years ago! Are you OK with that?). I'm sure that I'm not the only one in that situation. I hope that you will never stop your career. Did it ever come to your mind? Will you continue touring till your health is good (Please say yes!)?
Chris de Burgh:
Again I must stress my fondness for your city. And for so many people in your city that I love so much. There are wonderful friends that I have there that I long to see again and it’s a country and indeed an area that has loved me the same way I have loved them. I love performing in Montreal. And what you say in your question, indeed your statement about the way you use my lyrics to tell your wife how you love her, it’s beautiful. And your children, to be part of your family! The song “Carry Me (Like A Fire In Your Heart”, well I hope you’re not gonna be hearing that at your wife’s funeral, that’s for sure, certainly for many many many many years. And there is another one I have written called “The Journey” on the new album which also may appeal to those who feel that music can help them through difficult situations and loved ones to part. But in your case, you are only 41, you’ve got many many more years on this planet. And as far as ending my career is concerned, no I have no plans. I’m 55 years old, I still really love what I do, my voice is in a good shape, I’ve got a lot of enthusiasm for what I do and most important of all, there are a lot of people around the world, hundreds of thousands if not millions who still want to hear me sing. So it is wonderful to be in that situation after such a long career.
April 19, 2004
Ricardo (37) from Argentina:
Hi Chris. First of all I want to tell you that I've been a fan of yours since I first listened to the Lady in Red, then I discovered your earlier work and I loved your music even more, mainly the Spanish Train album (It's awesome!!). I know that you spent part of your childhood here in this country and it's a pity I've never had the chance to listen to you live here. The first time I listened to Borderline I thought it had to do something with Malvinas War (Falklands War) specially when I checked when the song was released. I was glad to learn later on that I was right. What were your thoughts when you wrote it? Personally I think this war has been the most stupid thing our country has done, and I get quite moved when I listen to the lyrics of Borderline, specially the Live from Dublin version. Thanks for such a beautiful song!
Chris de Burgh:
To my countrymen in Argentina where my family still have an estanzia, an estate, I say hello and I would love to come down and sing live. And now that I am doing solo tours, it makes things a lot more simple to promote and there is every chance I’ll be down to South America before the end of this year. You are quite right, I wrote the song “Borderline” watching the victory parades on television of the Malvinas War, the Falklands War, depends on where you came from. And I was aware that a lot of the conscripts who were fighting for Argentina didn’t even want to be there. And some of them came from European backgrounds, Irish, English, Scottish, Welsh. It seemed to be a futile war where two leaders decided to beat up each other in public, and this tends to go on quite a bit. They don’t want to lose faith, there is an election year, some other reason. And I just think that the war was a mistake. I also believe that there was a lot more to it than meets the eye. There must have been very powerful economic reasons for waging the war. We hear about oil and all sorts of other reasons. But my response was to write the song “Borderline” about how individuals get caught up in a war and how, you know, the love of your country, sometimes you have to look at yourself and say “Do I love this other person more than I love my country?”. And the second part is “Say Goodbye To It All” where these two people like in Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell To Arms”, they decide they have had enough and they decide to say goodbye to the war and forge their own lives. It’s just a point of view that I took on these particular songs.
Ricardo (37) from Argentina:
Hi Chris. First of all I want to tell you that I've been a fan of yours since I first listened to the Lady in Red, then I discovered your earlier work and I loved your music even more, mainly the Spanish Train album (It's awesome!!). I know that you spent part of your childhood here in this country and it's a pity I've never had the chance to listen to you live here. The first time I listened to Borderline I thought it had to do something with Malvinas War (Falklands War) specially when I checked when the song was released. I was glad to learn later on that I was right. What were your thoughts when you wrote it? Personally I think this war has been the most stupid thing our country has done, and I get quite moved when I listen to the lyrics of Borderline, specially the Live from Dublin version. Thanks for such a beautiful song!
Chris de Burgh:
To my countrymen in Argentina where my family still have an estanzia, an estate, I say hello and I would love to come down and sing live. And now that I am doing solo tours, it makes things a lot more simple to promote and there is every chance I’ll be down to South America before the end of this year. You are quite right, I wrote the song “Borderline” watching the victory parades on television of the Malvinas War, the Falklands War, depends on where you came from. And I was aware that a lot of the conscripts who were fighting for Argentina didn’t even want to be there. And some of them came from European backgrounds, Irish, English, Scottish, Welsh. It seemed to be a futile war where two leaders decided to beat up each other in public, and this tends to go on quite a bit. They don’t want to lose faith, there is an election year, some other reason. And I just think that the war was a mistake. I also believe that there was a lot more to it than meets the eye. There must have been very powerful economic reasons for waging the war. We hear about oil and all sorts of other reasons. But my response was to write the song “Borderline” about how individuals get caught up in a war and how, you know, the love of your country, sometimes you have to look at yourself and say “Do I love this other person more than I love my country?”. And the second part is “Say Goodbye To It All” where these two people like in Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell To Arms”, they decide they have had enough and they decide to say goodbye to the war and forge their own lives. It’s just a point of view that I took on these particular songs.
April 18, 2004
Mark (21) from Hennef, Germany:
Hi Chris! Thanks for your beautiful music! It helps me a lot in my life. Which Beatle is your favourite and why? Thanks a lot!
Chris de Burgh:
I presume you mean which Beatle person is my favourite. Well, I would choose Paul McCartney because he has been a hero of mine not only as a songwriter. He has written fantastic ballads like “Yesterday”, “The Long And Winding Road”, “Hey Jude”, the list is endless. But also as a singer, he has exemplified everything that I have always wanted to be in a singer. One moment he can really shout a real Rock’n’Roll tune like “I’m Down” or “Helter Skelter” and then he is gentle and melodic with songs like “Michelle” and “Yesterday”. So he would be my favourite Beatle.
Mark (21) from Hennef, Germany:
Hi Chris! Thanks for your beautiful music! It helps me a lot in my life. Which Beatle is your favourite and why? Thanks a lot!
Chris de Burgh:
I presume you mean which Beatle person is my favourite. Well, I would choose Paul McCartney because he has been a hero of mine not only as a songwriter. He has written fantastic ballads like “Yesterday”, “The Long And Winding Road”, “Hey Jude”, the list is endless. But also as a singer, he has exemplified everything that I have always wanted to be in a singer. One moment he can really shout a real Rock’n’Roll tune like “I’m Down” or “Helter Skelter” and then he is gentle and melodic with songs like “Michelle” and “Yesterday”. So he would be my favourite Beatle.
April 17, 2004
Helen Lind (44) from Canada:
Thank you for your time. It’s great that you would bother with this. O.K. Was there a deliberate reason that you made the two songs "Walls of silence" and "Nothing ever happens round here" as they appear to be the same scenario only reversed. Or was it just coincidence? Just a quick ps: Do you think Michael Schumacher should retire? Thanks again.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Helen from Canada! You know, you’re the first person who has pointed out that “Wall Of Silence” and “Nothing Ever Happens Round Here” occupy a similar kind of area. “Nothing Ever Happens Round Here” is obviously far more upbeat and a fun song about the Hollywood movie making process and how you can actually become an overnight star and then continue your career. In a way curiously enough it almost mirrors what happened to my daughter Rosanna, who was in a shopping mall, as you know, and suddenly within 6 months is Miss World. A dream that she never even had. I think many more people perhaps dream of being movie stars, because they have an idea about movies and maybe they are good at acting or something. But certainly for my daughter, she had no idea about beauty pageants and was not particularly interested in them until suddenly boom! There she is Miss World! It was a coincidence and those two songs “Wall Of Silence” and “Nothing Ever Happens Round Here” happened to talk about almost the same kind of thing. “Wall Of Silence” is a much darker and sadder song.
Funnily enough I was talking to the head of British American Racing recently who is a friend of ours. And he just said Michael Schumacher is in a class of his own. That he is driven in a way that nobody else in motor sport is driven about perfection. And he should only retire when he feels that he’s really achieved every dream he has ever had. He is an amazing driver. He is quite clearly the best driver in formula one. But he is gonna keep going and keep scaring his competitors for quite a long time to come, I believe.
Helen Lind (44) from Canada:
Thank you for your time. It’s great that you would bother with this. O.K. Was there a deliberate reason that you made the two songs "Walls of silence" and "Nothing ever happens round here" as they appear to be the same scenario only reversed. Or was it just coincidence? Just a quick ps: Do you think Michael Schumacher should retire? Thanks again.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Helen from Canada! You know, you’re the first person who has pointed out that “Wall Of Silence” and “Nothing Ever Happens Round Here” occupy a similar kind of area. “Nothing Ever Happens Round Here” is obviously far more upbeat and a fun song about the Hollywood movie making process and how you can actually become an overnight star and then continue your career. In a way curiously enough it almost mirrors what happened to my daughter Rosanna, who was in a shopping mall, as you know, and suddenly within 6 months is Miss World. A dream that she never even had. I think many more people perhaps dream of being movie stars, because they have an idea about movies and maybe they are good at acting or something. But certainly for my daughter, she had no idea about beauty pageants and was not particularly interested in them until suddenly boom! There she is Miss World! It was a coincidence and those two songs “Wall Of Silence” and “Nothing Ever Happens Round Here” happened to talk about almost the same kind of thing. “Wall Of Silence” is a much darker and sadder song.
Funnily enough I was talking to the head of British American Racing recently who is a friend of ours. And he just said Michael Schumacher is in a class of his own. That he is driven in a way that nobody else in motor sport is driven about perfection. And he should only retire when he feels that he’s really achieved every dream he has ever had. He is an amazing driver. He is quite clearly the best driver in formula one. But he is gonna keep going and keep scaring his competitors for quite a long time to come, I believe.
April 16, 2004
Steve Bennett (38) from Winsford, Cheshire, UK:
Hi Chris, in 1989 A&M/Polygram in Brazil decided to re-release the vinyl pressing of Flying Colours(397 004-1), this time including the track 'Love Is My Decision' as the opening song on side two of the album. I know you carefully decide the correct track listing before release, I just wondered what are your thoughts about what they did, and did you know about this very rare inclusion until I sent you a copy in 2001? Best wishes Steve Bennett.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Steve! You have been a great supporter down the years, and you have sent me all sorts of rare and unusual things that I didn’t even know existed out there. Stuff that I have recorded in the past. And here is another example. I had no idea that Polygram Brazil re-released the vinyl pressing of “Flying Colours” including “Love Is My Decision” which was from the movie “Arthur On The Rocks” until you sent me a copy in 2001. It was the first song I ever co wrote with anybody and it happened to be with the great Burt Bacharach. So that was a fascinating insight into the great man himself, for whom I have great admiration and respect. I think what happened was there was a lot of airplay of the song “Love Is My Decision” in South America and it was an individual decision of the record label down there to do that. You see, each country is autonomous in as much as they can decide on whether even to release an album or not, whether it suits their territory and if they want to have an extra song on that happens to suit their territory they can do that, as long as they ask permission. But of course now that I have my own record company “Ferryman Productions”, they have to come to ask us which is great.
Steve Bennett (38) from Winsford, Cheshire, UK:
Hi Chris, in 1989 A&M/Polygram in Brazil decided to re-release the vinyl pressing of Flying Colours(397 004-1), this time including the track 'Love Is My Decision' as the opening song on side two of the album. I know you carefully decide the correct track listing before release, I just wondered what are your thoughts about what they did, and did you know about this very rare inclusion until I sent you a copy in 2001? Best wishes Steve Bennett.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Steve! You have been a great supporter down the years, and you have sent me all sorts of rare and unusual things that I didn’t even know existed out there. Stuff that I have recorded in the past. And here is another example. I had no idea that Polygram Brazil re-released the vinyl pressing of “Flying Colours” including “Love Is My Decision” which was from the movie “Arthur On The Rocks” until you sent me a copy in 2001. It was the first song I ever co wrote with anybody and it happened to be with the great Burt Bacharach. So that was a fascinating insight into the great man himself, for whom I have great admiration and respect. I think what happened was there was a lot of airplay of the song “Love Is My Decision” in South America and it was an individual decision of the record label down there to do that. You see, each country is autonomous in as much as they can decide on whether even to release an album or not, whether it suits their territory and if they want to have an extra song on that happens to suit their territory they can do that, as long as they ask permission. But of course now that I have my own record company “Ferryman Productions”, they have to come to ask us which is great.
April 15, 2004
Adrian Brittlebank (16) from Leighton Buzzard, Beds, England:
Hey Chris!! I am a huge fan of yours and can't wait until your next album is released. My question is, when recording an album, do you have the band there live playing the instruments while you sing like on the Beautiful Dreams album or do you have the music previously recorded and sing along to that? Thanks for taking the time to answer this question!
Chris de Burgh:
There are many ways, Adrian, of recording. Quite a lot of the new songs on this new album I recorded live with one instrument. Usually with a guitar player or a keyboard player playing, and I am singing live with them. And in case of the orchestra I sang live with the orchestra like on “Beautiful Dreams”. Other times, because you want to have a certain amount of control over what happens on the record, I’ve recorded the track first and put the vocal on afterwards. Generally speaking most people do it that way, but I love the live performance because it is a kind of a one off, and I enjoy live performances anyway. And you put everything you possibly can into that one performance.
Adrian Brittlebank (16) from Leighton Buzzard, Beds, England:
Hey Chris!! I am a huge fan of yours and can't wait until your next album is released. My question is, when recording an album, do you have the band there live playing the instruments while you sing like on the Beautiful Dreams album or do you have the music previously recorded and sing along to that? Thanks for taking the time to answer this question!
Chris de Burgh:
There are many ways, Adrian, of recording. Quite a lot of the new songs on this new album I recorded live with one instrument. Usually with a guitar player or a keyboard player playing, and I am singing live with them. And in case of the orchestra I sang live with the orchestra like on “Beautiful Dreams”. Other times, because you want to have a certain amount of control over what happens on the record, I’ve recorded the track first and put the vocal on afterwards. Generally speaking most people do it that way, but I love the live performance because it is a kind of a one off, and I enjoy live performances anyway. And you put everything you possibly can into that one performance.
April 14, 2004
Maro (20) from Sydney, Australia:
Dear Chris, I would like to know more about your new album. I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you..
Chris de Burgh:
Of course it is called “The Road To Freedom”. It has got 11 new tracks on it. I think it is some of the best writing that I have done for quite a long time. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy “Timing Is Everything” and “Quiet Revolution”, but this particular album is written from a viewpoint where I wouldn’t go and perform it with a band. This is for a solo tour and once I was free of that particular area of songwriting, I concentrated on songs that were meaningful to me, that reflected the time I am living in, the time of my life with the people around me, the sort of things they think about. I am sure you are going to hear from various other sources about the track by track breakdown of the album. Suffice to say that the first three songs are supposed to hang together as a trilogy, loosely but certainly in terms of feel and emotion and atmosphere. And people have said, not only the first three songs but the whole album feels like a movie that they have been into the cinema to watch. So I hope you enjoy it.
Maro (20) from Sydney, Australia:
Dear Chris, I would like to know more about your new album. I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you..
Chris de Burgh:
Of course it is called “The Road To Freedom”. It has got 11 new tracks on it. I think it is some of the best writing that I have done for quite a long time. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy “Timing Is Everything” and “Quiet Revolution”, but this particular album is written from a viewpoint where I wouldn’t go and perform it with a band. This is for a solo tour and once I was free of that particular area of songwriting, I concentrated on songs that were meaningful to me, that reflected the time I am living in, the time of my life with the people around me, the sort of things they think about. I am sure you are going to hear from various other sources about the track by track breakdown of the album. Suffice to say that the first three songs are supposed to hang together as a trilogy, loosely but certainly in terms of feel and emotion and atmosphere. And people have said, not only the first three songs but the whole album feels like a movie that they have been into the cinema to watch. So I hope you enjoy it.
April 13, 2004
Farzaneh (24) from Tehran, Iran:
Hi, dear Chris. Chris, I want to ask you a question, but I don't know if you consider it a personal one. I understand from the content of your songs that you are a person full of love and kindness. I want to know to whom you owe this peaceful soul? And another question: what do you usually do to get over unhappiness, uncertainties, or nervous breakdowns (if they ever happen to you)?
Chris de Burgh:
This is an interesting question. I don’t know about my physical and spiritual make up, except to say that I am comfortable in my own skin. I am happy with myself, I know what my faults are, I know what my strengths are. And I think a person like that tends to have a lot to offer. I have a lot of love and affection to give. I think one of the reasons why I get so emotional in my songs which transfers emotion to so many people all over the world is that I actually feel these things genuinely. I was asked earlier about why I have such empathy with women and the female sex, and it is because I can really put myself in their shoes. And that’s what happens when I sing as well. I’m comfortable with myself, because I am surrounded by a wonderful family and great friends and I think having those kinds of people around you gives you such strength and resolution and helps you through the difficult times I have never had, which you refer to as a nervous breakdown. But I have had certainly times in my earlier career where I wondered if I was going the right way, whether there was room for somebody like me out in the world, and how I was actually going to achieve all the dreams that I set out with. Well, I always felt that I was shooting for the moon and the stars, and just to get half way there was an achievement in itself. So again thank you to all those who regularly read Man On (the) Line and those people who have been supporting me for down the years. It means a huge amount to me.
Farzaneh (24) from Tehran, Iran:
Hi, dear Chris. Chris, I want to ask you a question, but I don't know if you consider it a personal one. I understand from the content of your songs that you are a person full of love and kindness. I want to know to whom you owe this peaceful soul? And another question: what do you usually do to get over unhappiness, uncertainties, or nervous breakdowns (if they ever happen to you)?
Chris de Burgh:
This is an interesting question. I don’t know about my physical and spiritual make up, except to say that I am comfortable in my own skin. I am happy with myself, I know what my faults are, I know what my strengths are. And I think a person like that tends to have a lot to offer. I have a lot of love and affection to give. I think one of the reasons why I get so emotional in my songs which transfers emotion to so many people all over the world is that I actually feel these things genuinely. I was asked earlier about why I have such empathy with women and the female sex, and it is because I can really put myself in their shoes. And that’s what happens when I sing as well. I’m comfortable with myself, because I am surrounded by a wonderful family and great friends and I think having those kinds of people around you gives you such strength and resolution and helps you through the difficult times I have never had, which you refer to as a nervous breakdown. But I have had certainly times in my earlier career where I wondered if I was going the right way, whether there was room for somebody like me out in the world, and how I was actually going to achieve all the dreams that I set out with. Well, I always felt that I was shooting for the moon and the stars, and just to get half way there was an achievement in itself. So again thank you to all those who regularly read Man On (the) Line and those people who have been supporting me for down the years. It means a huge amount to me.
April 12, 2004
Emilia Galarowicz (21) from Czestochowa, Poland:
Hi Chris. There is one thing that especially intrigues me. The song I like most now is ‘Another Rainbow’. It has a terrific mood and stresses a unique phenomenon: self-fulfilment combined with cooperation or maybe rather self-fulfilment through cooperation with somebody else (am I right?). Your coarse and serious voice on this song creates the impression that you express the ideas from the perspective of a mature and experienced person (whom you certainly are). It seems to be a memory from the past that is well behind you. Why did you take on such an attitude in this song? Does it reflect your actual state of mind? I expect you still do feel young enough to want to achieve goals. Isn’t it as thrilling as some time ago anymore? The song sounds like a farewell with something that was fantastic but had to pass away in the natural course of matters. Do you feel tired with frenzy? When you once said that ‘life itself is like a drug’, did you mean it’s so because of ‘dreaming dreams’ and all the acts of ‘following rainbows’, or something else? I believe that all your life you are ‘following the rainbow’ (in terms of your artistic creation and not only). Is it how you feel it? Thanks for your time and all the best to you.
Chris de Burgh:
That’s a really interesting view that you have taken on my song “Another Rainbow”. And really the background to this is, I was thinking about a childhood friend that he and I grew up together, well certainly in our late teens at University. And we’ve been living fairly well parallel lives since, I’ve seen what he has done and what he has achieved and he has seen what I’ve done and achieved. And in a way this person was more gifted than I in so many different things, but he couldn’t pull them all together into one whole package, that would really set him on the journey of his life, which I think would have made him an outstanding writer or musician or actor. He is really good at a lot of things. But at the time I wrote it, he felt himself that he wasn’t particularly good at any of it, which I disagreed with, I thought he was just great. And I still do. But my friend is turning into just a wonderful writer and has written for years, mind you, but I think he is just getting even better and better. And it was like when you are in University, and you are sitting around late at night, playing guitars and drinking wine, there are candles, there are girls draped around you, singing songs, eating silly things late at night. And you all have these crazy dreams, and students talk about Karl Marx and Nietzsche and, you know, they basically try to change the world from the standpoint of being 19 or 20 years old. Without the experience, but certainly with the enthusiasm, because there are lots of ideas that generated even that age which go on to have an impact on the world. And that is what I was doing. And this guy in particular, he and I used to have such fun together. And I was just following our mutual paths through life, and see how we wind up at this day. That is what the song is about.
Emilia Galarowicz (21) from Czestochowa, Poland:
Hi Chris. There is one thing that especially intrigues me. The song I like most now is ‘Another Rainbow’. It has a terrific mood and stresses a unique phenomenon: self-fulfilment combined with cooperation or maybe rather self-fulfilment through cooperation with somebody else (am I right?). Your coarse and serious voice on this song creates the impression that you express the ideas from the perspective of a mature and experienced person (whom you certainly are). It seems to be a memory from the past that is well behind you. Why did you take on such an attitude in this song? Does it reflect your actual state of mind? I expect you still do feel young enough to want to achieve goals. Isn’t it as thrilling as some time ago anymore? The song sounds like a farewell with something that was fantastic but had to pass away in the natural course of matters. Do you feel tired with frenzy? When you once said that ‘life itself is like a drug’, did you mean it’s so because of ‘dreaming dreams’ and all the acts of ‘following rainbows’, or something else? I believe that all your life you are ‘following the rainbow’ (in terms of your artistic creation and not only). Is it how you feel it? Thanks for your time and all the best to you.
Chris de Burgh:
That’s a really interesting view that you have taken on my song “Another Rainbow”. And really the background to this is, I was thinking about a childhood friend that he and I grew up together, well certainly in our late teens at University. And we’ve been living fairly well parallel lives since, I’ve seen what he has done and what he has achieved and he has seen what I’ve done and achieved. And in a way this person was more gifted than I in so many different things, but he couldn’t pull them all together into one whole package, that would really set him on the journey of his life, which I think would have made him an outstanding writer or musician or actor. He is really good at a lot of things. But at the time I wrote it, he felt himself that he wasn’t particularly good at any of it, which I disagreed with, I thought he was just great. And I still do. But my friend is turning into just a wonderful writer and has written for years, mind you, but I think he is just getting even better and better. And it was like when you are in University, and you are sitting around late at night, playing guitars and drinking wine, there are candles, there are girls draped around you, singing songs, eating silly things late at night. And you all have these crazy dreams, and students talk about Karl Marx and Nietzsche and, you know, they basically try to change the world from the standpoint of being 19 or 20 years old. Without the experience, but certainly with the enthusiasm, because there are lots of ideas that generated even that age which go on to have an impact on the world. And that is what I was doing. And this guy in particular, he and I used to have such fun together. And I was just following our mutual paths through life, and see how we wind up at this day. That is what the song is about.
April 11, 2004
Tillman Graach (23) from Augsburg, Germany:
Hi Chris, here's another question that came across my way this morning. Do you know Ray Wilson? He was the last singer of Genesis and has now turned out to be a fantastic singer/songwriter? I've just recently got his album "Change" including some really terrific stuff. Maybe even a bit similar to you, Chris - just with more smoke and whiskey in the voice ;-) So, this is also a hint for all of your fans to go and get Ray Wilson - if you like Chris, I guess you'll like Ray, too.
Chris de Burgh:
The quick answer is yes, I have heard of Ray Wilson. But I had no idea that he was a fantastic singer/songwriter. And I certainly will look out for his album “Change”. I’ve often wondered when people hear other people’s music and say “that’s a bit like Chris de Burgh”, and I listen, I think “hmm, there are hints” and it’s even more terrific when you get letters from people that say, you know, I’ve really modelled myself on you, I’ve taken tips about this, the way you write songs, the simplicity of your music, or whatever it happens to be. It’s always a great compliment.
Tillman Graach (23) from Augsburg, Germany:
Hi Chris, here's another question that came across my way this morning. Do you know Ray Wilson? He was the last singer of Genesis and has now turned out to be a fantastic singer/songwriter? I've just recently got his album "Change" including some really terrific stuff. Maybe even a bit similar to you, Chris - just with more smoke and whiskey in the voice ;-) So, this is also a hint for all of your fans to go and get Ray Wilson - if you like Chris, I guess you'll like Ray, too.
Chris de Burgh:
The quick answer is yes, I have heard of Ray Wilson. But I had no idea that he was a fantastic singer/songwriter. And I certainly will look out for his album “Change”. I’ve often wondered when people hear other people’s music and say “that’s a bit like Chris de Burgh”, and I listen, I think “hmm, there are hints” and it’s even more terrific when you get letters from people that say, you know, I’ve really modelled myself on you, I’ve taken tips about this, the way you write songs, the simplicity of your music, or whatever it happens to be. It’s always a great compliment.
April 10, 2004
Carl Walsh (37) from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada:
Hi Chris! This note/question marks the first of mine to anyone famous that I greatly appreciate. I rank you in my "life appreciation scale" (ha ha) with some of the other great people I admire ie; my mother for sure, my children, Bobby Orr (Canadian hockey player), the late John Candy (Canadian Actor) and others. I guess my little list may give you a sense that I have an eclectic taste with respect to the people I appreciate, this may be true. I hold the gifts of life very close to me; ie my children, family etc., as well though, there are certain constants that I am drawn to in life that offer a feeling of contentment to me and they include your music above all others. My favourite songs would have to be "Crying and Laughing" and " Borderline". I do enjoy so much of your music, it is difficult to say that I have a favourite or favourites. I find myself drawn towards a great number of the phrases in your music that are so powerful, some of which, appeal to me personally... "... and trees are crying leaves into the river" other to the military officer side of me ie: "Say a little prayer for the boys". I saw you in concert in St. John's NF on Sept 23, 1996 and was in awe. Thanks for that experience, the concert left me feeling very appreciative of your work. Yes... a question... Does creating, playing, singing your music today, impact you emotionally as it would have in your youth (before children, bills, work etc)? Thanks and take care. Carl Walsh
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Carl! You’ve said a lot of wonderful things in your question, which is pretty amazing to read because I know the people you are referring to, Bobby Orr and John Candy. And I just feel that I’ve been very lucky with my talent, and I’ve made something with myself and in particular I would really not even have got passed where I wanted, if I hadn’t had the support of so many people from all over the world. Newfoundland always has a special place in my heart. And I am glad you enjoyed that show at St. John’s. I think, when I was beginning, I would have been bout 24/25, I was full of this dynamic fury and frenzy and desire to succeed. It’s called ambition, but there’s a fire burning. And the fire hasn’t left me. Perhaps I’m in a situation where I am a lot more comfortable now than I was then, certainly in financial terms, but nevertheless I had many years of absolutely nothing. All I did was create a big hole and throw money in it, trying to develop my career. So I know the downside of that. But when you have a family and when you have other people to worry about, it does impact on me in terms of the amount of time I spend away from home. So I try to limit the extent of my tours, particularly if it’s in North America or the Far East, or for example in Russia to about three weeks maximum. So I think as you grow older, you take on more responsibilities in life. You do have to change things in the way you work, in the amount of time spent with your family and also the extent of your ambitions.
Carl Walsh (37) from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada:
Hi Chris! This note/question marks the first of mine to anyone famous that I greatly appreciate. I rank you in my "life appreciation scale" (ha ha) with some of the other great people I admire ie; my mother for sure, my children, Bobby Orr (Canadian hockey player), the late John Candy (Canadian Actor) and others. I guess my little list may give you a sense that I have an eclectic taste with respect to the people I appreciate, this may be true. I hold the gifts of life very close to me; ie my children, family etc., as well though, there are certain constants that I am drawn to in life that offer a feeling of contentment to me and they include your music above all others. My favourite songs would have to be "Crying and Laughing" and " Borderline". I do enjoy so much of your music, it is difficult to say that I have a favourite or favourites. I find myself drawn towards a great number of the phrases in your music that are so powerful, some of which, appeal to me personally... "... and trees are crying leaves into the river" other to the military officer side of me ie: "Say a little prayer for the boys". I saw you in concert in St. John's NF on Sept 23, 1996 and was in awe. Thanks for that experience, the concert left me feeling very appreciative of your work. Yes... a question... Does creating, playing, singing your music today, impact you emotionally as it would have in your youth (before children, bills, work etc)? Thanks and take care. Carl Walsh
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Carl! You’ve said a lot of wonderful things in your question, which is pretty amazing to read because I know the people you are referring to, Bobby Orr and John Candy. And I just feel that I’ve been very lucky with my talent, and I’ve made something with myself and in particular I would really not even have got passed where I wanted, if I hadn’t had the support of so many people from all over the world. Newfoundland always has a special place in my heart. And I am glad you enjoyed that show at St. John’s. I think, when I was beginning, I would have been bout 24/25, I was full of this dynamic fury and frenzy and desire to succeed. It’s called ambition, but there’s a fire burning. And the fire hasn’t left me. Perhaps I’m in a situation where I am a lot more comfortable now than I was then, certainly in financial terms, but nevertheless I had many years of absolutely nothing. All I did was create a big hole and throw money in it, trying to develop my career. So I know the downside of that. But when you have a family and when you have other people to worry about, it does impact on me in terms of the amount of time I spend away from home. So I try to limit the extent of my tours, particularly if it’s in North America or the Far East, or for example in Russia to about three weeks maximum. So I think as you grow older, you take on more responsibilities in life. You do have to change things in the way you work, in the amount of time spent with your family and also the extent of your ambitions.
April 9, 2004
Kara Bednarski (29) from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario, Canada:
I got hooked on your music while peacekeeping in Bosnia in 2001, and I finally had a chance to see you on tour in Ottawa in May/03. You were touring solo, and one of the songs was "Spanish Train". This version was the most powerful and amazing one I had ever heard. I would like to know if you have ever considered doing an album like you conducted your tour-without the background music, etc. The concert was amazing; to hear such raw talent was truly an amazing experience! Thank you.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Kara! As you know I have a huge fondness and affection for Canada and for Canadians, for their love and support over the years. And you know, the song “Spanish Train” really took off because of Canadian interest all those years ago. I think when you have a powerful story like that, it will always remain a good story. And I have always also enjoyed performing solo. It comes down to the nitty-gritty then, you have no one else to support you, all the lights are focussed on you and you’ve got to deliver your best. And as always I deliver with passion. I sing as if I am wearing the song like a coat. I feel every word and I try to transmit the emotion and expression and passion of the song itself. I’m glad that you like that song. And I think one day there will be what we call now an unplugged album. The new one is much more acoustic than previous records, and I think we are inching towards maybe a live solo performance on CD.
Kara Bednarski (29) from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario, Canada:
I got hooked on your music while peacekeeping in Bosnia in 2001, and I finally had a chance to see you on tour in Ottawa in May/03. You were touring solo, and one of the songs was "Spanish Train". This version was the most powerful and amazing one I had ever heard. I would like to know if you have ever considered doing an album like you conducted your tour-without the background music, etc. The concert was amazing; to hear such raw talent was truly an amazing experience! Thank you.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Kara! As you know I have a huge fondness and affection for Canada and for Canadians, for their love and support over the years. And you know, the song “Spanish Train” really took off because of Canadian interest all those years ago. I think when you have a powerful story like that, it will always remain a good story. And I have always also enjoyed performing solo. It comes down to the nitty-gritty then, you have no one else to support you, all the lights are focussed on you and you’ve got to deliver your best. And as always I deliver with passion. I sing as if I am wearing the song like a coat. I feel every word and I try to transmit the emotion and expression and passion of the song itself. I’m glad that you like that song. And I think one day there will be what we call now an unplugged album. The new one is much more acoustic than previous records, and I think we are inching towards maybe a live solo performance on CD.
April 8, 2004
Stefan Krause (31) from Ulm, Germany:
Hi Chris, being your fan for 25 years now and having seen you on stage 21 times, I will see you again in 2004 at your concerts in Stuttgart, Munich and Prien. I'm especially looking forward to this new location in Prien, Herrenchiemsee, on a beautiful Bavarian island near (or even in ??) a castle of King Ludwig II. Your tour calendar made me notice that you are going to perform in smaller halls, than in the past and this without a need. Every time I saw you in the Munich Olympia-Halle for example, there was no empty place to recognize. So my question is: What is the reason for playing on smaller stages this tour ? Looking forward to your new album, your Stefan
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Stefan! That is amazing that you have seen me so many times. 21 times, gosh! I hope I am improving! This place in Prien on the Bavarian island, I think it is very near the castle of Ludwig II. That came up recently and I am very excited about that, because it is a very historical and interesting site. The reason we are doing the smaller halls now is – and thank you for noticing that the Olympiahalle is usually sold out – but they were usually band shows. When it’s just me solo, I think it is more comfortable for people at the concert to be in a slightly smaller and more intimate venue. For me I don’t really mind. I can easily do a concert solo in the Olympiahalle, but we took a view that it is probably nicer for the audience to see me in a slightly smaller place.
Stefan Krause (31) from Ulm, Germany:
Hi Chris, being your fan for 25 years now and having seen you on stage 21 times, I will see you again in 2004 at your concerts in Stuttgart, Munich and Prien. I'm especially looking forward to this new location in Prien, Herrenchiemsee, on a beautiful Bavarian island near (or even in ??) a castle of King Ludwig II. Your tour calendar made me notice that you are going to perform in smaller halls, than in the past and this without a need. Every time I saw you in the Munich Olympia-Halle for example, there was no empty place to recognize. So my question is: What is the reason for playing on smaller stages this tour ? Looking forward to your new album, your Stefan
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Stefan! That is amazing that you have seen me so many times. 21 times, gosh! I hope I am improving! This place in Prien on the Bavarian island, I think it is very near the castle of Ludwig II. That came up recently and I am very excited about that, because it is a very historical and interesting site. The reason we are doing the smaller halls now is – and thank you for noticing that the Olympiahalle is usually sold out – but they were usually band shows. When it’s just me solo, I think it is more comfortable for people at the concert to be in a slightly smaller and more intimate venue. For me I don’t really mind. I can easily do a concert solo in the Olympiahalle, but we took a view that it is probably nicer for the audience to see me in a slightly smaller place.
April 7, 2004
Chris Raymond (52) from Whitton, Twickenham, UK:
Hi Chris, Most of us have a "pet hate" such as mine for example - finding dog poo on the pavement outside my house! Would you care to share with us anything which really annoys you? Thanks. Chris R
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Chris! Nice to hear a question from you again. Pet hates would include dog poo on the pavement outside my house! Although our dog Milly, we have 28 acres of land here, and she seems to think that her favourite toilet is right beside my car. So I have to be very careful getting out of my car or getting into my car. So I spend a lot of time wandering around with a dog poo trowel picking it all up. However I must admit that my previous home in Dalkey, there used to be a big problem with that kind of thing on the pavement. And I think it’s actually down to the owners to make sure that they clean up. Another pet hate would be cigarette smoking, and I know this is up to the individual to decide whether or not to smoke. I think the medical evidence is so powerful now that it’s just madness to do this, but you know in the comfort of your own home, not smoking that other people have to inhale it. That’s fine, if you want to do that to yourself, it’s great. But in restaurants in particular I have a serious problem with people smoking anywhere near me. Just taking a lovely mouthful of some tasty morsel, and you get a mouthful of tobacco smoke as well, and that is really not pleasant. We have legislation in Ireland preventing this quite soon, but there’s been such an uproar from the powerful vintners federation who run pubs and restaurants that the government seem to be stalling on this measure. But I think it’s really important that people have the choice whether or not to breathe in smoke that somebody else has been enjoying. Passive smoking is dangerous. I just feel strongly about smoking as you can tell.
Chris Raymond (52) from Whitton, Twickenham, UK:
Hi Chris, Most of us have a "pet hate" such as mine for example - finding dog poo on the pavement outside my house! Would you care to share with us anything which really annoys you? Thanks. Chris R
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Chris! Nice to hear a question from you again. Pet hates would include dog poo on the pavement outside my house! Although our dog Milly, we have 28 acres of land here, and she seems to think that her favourite toilet is right beside my car. So I have to be very careful getting out of my car or getting into my car. So I spend a lot of time wandering around with a dog poo trowel picking it all up. However I must admit that my previous home in Dalkey, there used to be a big problem with that kind of thing on the pavement. And I think it’s actually down to the owners to make sure that they clean up. Another pet hate would be cigarette smoking, and I know this is up to the individual to decide whether or not to smoke. I think the medical evidence is so powerful now that it’s just madness to do this, but you know in the comfort of your own home, not smoking that other people have to inhale it. That’s fine, if you want to do that to yourself, it’s great. But in restaurants in particular I have a serious problem with people smoking anywhere near me. Just taking a lovely mouthful of some tasty morsel, and you get a mouthful of tobacco smoke as well, and that is really not pleasant. We have legislation in Ireland preventing this quite soon, but there’s been such an uproar from the powerful vintners federation who run pubs and restaurants that the government seem to be stalling on this measure. But I think it’s really important that people have the choice whether or not to breathe in smoke that somebody else has been enjoying. Passive smoking is dangerous. I just feel strongly about smoking as you can tell.
April 6, 2004
Dave Malcolm (34) from Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland:
Hi Chris, During the final instrumental phase of the classic trio of songs Revolution/Light a Fire, Liberty, I can hear what sounds like a cat meowing! Can you confirm my hearing is ok! Or am I imagining it??? I have listened to this final part of the track many times over the years, but I am not sure if it is a cat meowing of just a guitar fill. Please save my sanity! LOL. Cheers, Dave. P.S Many congratulations to Rosanna on her success at the Miss World Competition and many thanks for taking the time to answer my previous question.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Dave! If you are looking for cats meowing, I wouldn’t listen too hard to my records, because there ain’t no cat on that. I should maybe check to see if there’s a cat caught in a cupboard or something back in your house. There’s no cat meowing on this, it is probably a guitar fill. I’m not quite sure of the one you mean, without actually sitting beside you and you are pointing at the spot. But it’s not a cat’s meow. Unless, as the saying goes, there was a cat trapped in an amplifier or something. But we don’t have any recollection of that. But thanks for your question!
Dave Malcolm (34) from Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland:
Hi Chris, During the final instrumental phase of the classic trio of songs Revolution/Light a Fire, Liberty, I can hear what sounds like a cat meowing! Can you confirm my hearing is ok! Or am I imagining it??? I have listened to this final part of the track many times over the years, but I am not sure if it is a cat meowing of just a guitar fill. Please save my sanity! LOL. Cheers, Dave. P.S Many congratulations to Rosanna on her success at the Miss World Competition and many thanks for taking the time to answer my previous question.
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Dave! If you are looking for cats meowing, I wouldn’t listen too hard to my records, because there ain’t no cat on that. I should maybe check to see if there’s a cat caught in a cupboard or something back in your house. There’s no cat meowing on this, it is probably a guitar fill. I’m not quite sure of the one you mean, without actually sitting beside you and you are pointing at the spot. But it’s not a cat’s meow. Unless, as the saying goes, there was a cat trapped in an amplifier or something. But we don’t have any recollection of that. But thanks for your question!
April 5, 2004
Scott McArthur (37) from Scotland:
Do you recall your shows at the legendary Glasgow Apollo? I have just started a website about the old place and would love to hear from Chris and his fans about their experiences. Cheers, Scott, www.glasgowapollo.com
Chris de Burgh:
Oh yes, I remember the Apollo extremely well. It used to be on a British and Scottish tour, that we’d all say “Wait till we get to Liverpool, and wait till we get to Glasgow.” Because those two places were certainly in the late 70s and early 80s the most inspiring venues to perform in. I used to absolutely love the Apollo and it had a huge high stage, you know, I think people have fallen off that stage, but it’s about 3 or 4 meters high. You need a parachute to get from the top to the bottom. And in fact, quite recently, a radio station in Scotland uncovered a tape of me live at the Apollo, which I believe has been re-released. Watch this space! Yes, but it holds great memories for me and in particular I loved being in Glasgow, because, you know, the restaurants and the pubs and the hotels, I used to have a lot of laughs up there. I hope to continue to be there.
Scott McArthur (37) from Scotland:
Do you recall your shows at the legendary Glasgow Apollo? I have just started a website about the old place and would love to hear from Chris and his fans about their experiences. Cheers, Scott, www.glasgowapollo.com
Chris de Burgh:
Oh yes, I remember the Apollo extremely well. It used to be on a British and Scottish tour, that we’d all say “Wait till we get to Liverpool, and wait till we get to Glasgow.” Because those two places were certainly in the late 70s and early 80s the most inspiring venues to perform in. I used to absolutely love the Apollo and it had a huge high stage, you know, I think people have fallen off that stage, but it’s about 3 or 4 meters high. You need a parachute to get from the top to the bottom. And in fact, quite recently, a radio station in Scotland uncovered a tape of me live at the Apollo, which I believe has been re-released. Watch this space! Yes, but it holds great memories for me and in particular I loved being in Glasgow, because, you know, the restaurants and the pubs and the hotels, I used to have a lot of laughs up there. I hope to continue to be there.
April 4, 2004
Tony Agar (37) from Ferryhill, County Durham, UK:
I am into Amateur and CB radio so from that viewpoint what was the inspiration for the song "Ship To Shore" ?
Chris de Burgh:
The song “Ship To Shore” probably stemmed from being on tour with a terrific Australian band who opened up for me on a number of festivals in Europe, called “The Little River Band”. And they used to start some of their songs, in fact I think they used to start their concerts with an a capella beginning of five just great singers. And I thought I’d love to do something like that. So I came up with “Ship To Shore”. It’s just an expression. And you may have noticed that at the beginning that morse code actually taps out the words “Ship To Shore”. So the inspiration for that was coming up with this expression “Ship To Shore” plus thinking now, what is this about? Is it about a relationship, what is it? So that’s how it turned out into a relationship between the guy drifting out at sea and wanting to find his way back again to the relationship that he is losing. Strangely enough connected to the last question.
Tony Agar (37) from Ferryhill, County Durham, UK:
I am into Amateur and CB radio so from that viewpoint what was the inspiration for the song "Ship To Shore" ?
Chris de Burgh:
The song “Ship To Shore” probably stemmed from being on tour with a terrific Australian band who opened up for me on a number of festivals in Europe, called “The Little River Band”. And they used to start some of their songs, in fact I think they used to start their concerts with an a capella beginning of five just great singers. And I thought I’d love to do something like that. So I came up with “Ship To Shore”. It’s just an expression. And you may have noticed that at the beginning that morse code actually taps out the words “Ship To Shore”. So the inspiration for that was coming up with this expression “Ship To Shore” plus thinking now, what is this about? Is it about a relationship, what is it? So that’s how it turned out into a relationship between the guy drifting out at sea and wanting to find his way back again to the relationship that he is losing. Strangely enough connected to the last question.
April 3, 2004
Wendy (35) from Leiderdrop, Netherlands:
Hi Chris, I was very excited when I found out today that you will be giving 3 concerts in Holland in June. I'm trying to order some tickets right away! Your music gives me a lot of pleasure and also hope in times when things are not so easy, and I want to thank you for that! I have a (maybe strange) question for you: there are a few songs about relationships between men and women and I notice that these songs "understand" a woman's feelings so well. (For example the song "Love and time" on your "Timing is everything" CD) How come you know so much about how women think? Most men I know think indeed that a career, a nice car and a lot of money is more important than being happy with yourself and your family. Did women tell you about that, or did you find out yourself? I'm also very happy with the "Benefit for Volendam" DVD and I really hope there will be more DVD's in the future so I can enjoy your concerts over and over again in times when you are not on tour! Thanks for taking the time to read (and maybe answer) my question. You are a very special person to me. Thank you for that!!
Chris de Burgh:
This is another very interesting question. I’ve always strongly tried to see somebody else’s point of view in whatever it happens to be by putting myself into their shoes, and I think I am good at it. I like to see somebody else’s opinion about perhaps something they feel strongly about. And when it comes to women, there’s only two human species on the planet, women and men. And I am a man, as you may have noticed. And I am fascinated by women. I am fascinated by how they think, what things are important to them, their sensitivities, their femininity. I would say that a lot of my friends are women. I love their company. I have a lot of men friends as well, but the company of women, as I say, is fascinating. And I think it is really important for men to step back in a relationship and watch carefully and find out what a woman actually needs. When they come back, for example, after a tough day, the women that is, you know they might just need a hug. So give them a hug! And if their eyes are brimming with tears for something you are not even sure about, maybe a friend is in trouble or something, you should go up and be sensitive! I think you’ve got to listen, that’s the key. Not just listen to words that have been spoken, but listen to the unspoken words. Pay attention to what a woman is trying to say to you with her actions, her mood, her sensitivies. Perhaps even her choice of movies, of a particular time, or choice of music. In a relationship you’ve got to be alert all the time, and I know that perhaps I am guilty as well of not paying too much attention sometimes. But I know a lot of men are as well. We are not particularly good at paying attention, which incidentally is the inspiration for songs of mine like “Lady In Red” and a new one called “Five Past Dreams”. The song “Love And Time” is an illustration of this, and particularly when you’ve got a man who is driven by his career and he is saying to his wife (and I have heard people saying this): “Gosh, money is the only God. You know, I am gonna work so hard, I’m gonna make so much money.” Meanwhile their relationship is collapsing, and they go out to dinner and he suddenly gets a phone call and he jumps up from the table, leaving her on her own, saying “Go on, order another drink. I have got a deal to finish here.” It’s dreadful behaviour, and nothing is worth losing something that you cherish. And it is too late when you finally realize the mistake you have made and you’ve spent too much time pushing your career basically to earn money for a family situation that you want to enjoy, to discover that it’s all gone. It’s too late for that.
Wendy (35) from Leiderdrop, Netherlands:
Hi Chris, I was very excited when I found out today that you will be giving 3 concerts in Holland in June. I'm trying to order some tickets right away! Your music gives me a lot of pleasure and also hope in times when things are not so easy, and I want to thank you for that! I have a (maybe strange) question for you: there are a few songs about relationships between men and women and I notice that these songs "understand" a woman's feelings so well. (For example the song "Love and time" on your "Timing is everything" CD) How come you know so much about how women think? Most men I know think indeed that a career, a nice car and a lot of money is more important than being happy with yourself and your family. Did women tell you about that, or did you find out yourself? I'm also very happy with the "Benefit for Volendam" DVD and I really hope there will be more DVD's in the future so I can enjoy your concerts over and over again in times when you are not on tour! Thanks for taking the time to read (and maybe answer) my question. You are a very special person to me. Thank you for that!!
Chris de Burgh:
This is another very interesting question. I’ve always strongly tried to see somebody else’s point of view in whatever it happens to be by putting myself into their shoes, and I think I am good at it. I like to see somebody else’s opinion about perhaps something they feel strongly about. And when it comes to women, there’s only two human species on the planet, women and men. And I am a man, as you may have noticed. And I am fascinated by women. I am fascinated by how they think, what things are important to them, their sensitivities, their femininity. I would say that a lot of my friends are women. I love their company. I have a lot of men friends as well, but the company of women, as I say, is fascinating. And I think it is really important for men to step back in a relationship and watch carefully and find out what a woman actually needs. When they come back, for example, after a tough day, the women that is, you know they might just need a hug. So give them a hug! And if their eyes are brimming with tears for something you are not even sure about, maybe a friend is in trouble or something, you should go up and be sensitive! I think you’ve got to listen, that’s the key. Not just listen to words that have been spoken, but listen to the unspoken words. Pay attention to what a woman is trying to say to you with her actions, her mood, her sensitivies. Perhaps even her choice of movies, of a particular time, or choice of music. In a relationship you’ve got to be alert all the time, and I know that perhaps I am guilty as well of not paying too much attention sometimes. But I know a lot of men are as well. We are not particularly good at paying attention, which incidentally is the inspiration for songs of mine like “Lady In Red” and a new one called “Five Past Dreams”. The song “Love And Time” is an illustration of this, and particularly when you’ve got a man who is driven by his career and he is saying to his wife (and I have heard people saying this): “Gosh, money is the only God. You know, I am gonna work so hard, I’m gonna make so much money.” Meanwhile their relationship is collapsing, and they go out to dinner and he suddenly gets a phone call and he jumps up from the table, leaving her on her own, saying “Go on, order another drink. I have got a deal to finish here.” It’s dreadful behaviour, and nothing is worth losing something that you cherish. And it is too late when you finally realize the mistake you have made and you’ve spent too much time pushing your career basically to earn money for a family situation that you want to enjoy, to discover that it’s all gone. It’s too late for that.
April 2, 2004
Afshin (39) from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA:
Are there any plans to make an album of all your popular songs available for karaoke? There are thousands of us who can't wait for that to happen!
Chris de Burgh:
Well, I’m not quite sure how the background of a karaoke set up actually begins. That’s certainly a question I could pass on to my management. I know that the big songs are already on karaoke, like the ones that everybody can sing like for example “Missing You” and “Lady In Red”. But I’m not sure about the rest of them. I think perhaps the easiest solution would be to put out a disc of all the recordings I’ve made but just remove my voice from all of them. That would be a solution! Maybe somebody would be interested in that. It would be quite a lot of work, mind you, but something to look at. Good question!
Afshin (39) from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA:
Are there any plans to make an album of all your popular songs available for karaoke? There are thousands of us who can't wait for that to happen!
Chris de Burgh:
Well, I’m not quite sure how the background of a karaoke set up actually begins. That’s certainly a question I could pass on to my management. I know that the big songs are already on karaoke, like the ones that everybody can sing like for example “Missing You” and “Lady In Red”. But I’m not sure about the rest of them. I think perhaps the easiest solution would be to put out a disc of all the recordings I’ve made but just remove my voice from all of them. That would be a solution! Maybe somebody would be interested in that. It would be quite a lot of work, mind you, but something to look at. Good question!
April 1, 2004
John McGowan (32) from near Chester, UK:
Has your daughter inherited your voice, and if so would you and her consider doing a charity song together? If so, which one would you choose.
Chris de Burgh:
She has a lovely voice, although she doesn’t know it. And in fact, very recently she and I were on a television show in Germany, called “Wetten Dass” which transmits all over Europe and the estimated viewing public is approximately between 16 and 20 million people live. And she sang a little bit at the end of my song “Here For You”, a new one. She told me she was very nervous, because she has never sung in public before. And what a great place to make your debut as a singer in front of that many people! But she did great. I’m not sure she’d be that interested in becoming a singer, because she’s got an awful lot on her plate at the moment. But if we were to do a charity record together, I would probably choose one of my older songs like “The Simple Truth”, which I absolutely love. And I think it says a lot about my feelings about children all over the world, particularly caught up in warfare.
John McGowan (32) from near Chester, UK:
Has your daughter inherited your voice, and if so would you and her consider doing a charity song together? If so, which one would you choose.
Chris de Burgh:
She has a lovely voice, although she doesn’t know it. And in fact, very recently she and I were on a television show in Germany, called “Wetten Dass” which transmits all over Europe and the estimated viewing public is approximately between 16 and 20 million people live. And she sang a little bit at the end of my song “Here For You”, a new one. She told me she was very nervous, because she has never sung in public before. And what a great place to make your debut as a singer in front of that many people! But she did great. I’m not sure she’d be that interested in becoming a singer, because she’s got an awful lot on her plate at the moment. But if we were to do a charity record together, I would probably choose one of my older songs like “The Simple Truth”, which I absolutely love. And I think it says a lot about my feelings about children all over the world, particularly caught up in warfare.
March 31, 2004
Art Trombley (35) from Malone, New York, USA:
Many artists usually stretch their artistic muscles by indulging in painting, or writing poetry, or directing movies. I am interested in photography and have read quite a bit about celebrities who take pictures when they are on tour. Do you get time to take pictures? And if so, would you consider those pictures to be another creative outlet for you?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Art! Yes, I’ve always been interested in photography. But you know, in the early years I used to take a very nice Olympus camera around with me. And then that gave way to video cameras and I’ve got hours and hours of touring on video, which I suppose I should put on DVD some day. But it’s all absolutely mad and most of it is very funny. And gosh, don’t we look a lot younger, me and the band! That’s the Canadian band with Jeff Philips. Nowadays I haven’t really got the time to take pictures. I suppose one of the downsides about being a celebrity is you don’t get the actual freedom that you once had. Although I do make the effort to try and walk around everywhere that I am, particularly on my own. You know, if I am in Bremen as I was recently for Wetten Dass, I walked around a bit and it was really cold. There’s a park there I adore walking around and it is great when you’re on your own. Taking pictures, I suppose now with digital photography is going to be so much easier. And it’s high on my list now, when I head off for my next trip, I’m gonna make sure that I get hold of a good digital camera and take pictures of areas and things that interest me. I always look at scenery through a photographer’s eye, I must say, like “that would make a nice shot”. But I haven’t really got around to it much. Yes, I think that is a very creative outlet, but there’s a lot to learn as well. My brother-in-law is a very good photographer and I’ve been talking to him quite a bit about it.
Art Trombley (35) from Malone, New York, USA:
Many artists usually stretch their artistic muscles by indulging in painting, or writing poetry, or directing movies. I am interested in photography and have read quite a bit about celebrities who take pictures when they are on tour. Do you get time to take pictures? And if so, would you consider those pictures to be another creative outlet for you?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Art! Yes, I’ve always been interested in photography. But you know, in the early years I used to take a very nice Olympus camera around with me. And then that gave way to video cameras and I’ve got hours and hours of touring on video, which I suppose I should put on DVD some day. But it’s all absolutely mad and most of it is very funny. And gosh, don’t we look a lot younger, me and the band! That’s the Canadian band with Jeff Philips. Nowadays I haven’t really got the time to take pictures. I suppose one of the downsides about being a celebrity is you don’t get the actual freedom that you once had. Although I do make the effort to try and walk around everywhere that I am, particularly on my own. You know, if I am in Bremen as I was recently for Wetten Dass, I walked around a bit and it was really cold. There’s a park there I adore walking around and it is great when you’re on your own. Taking pictures, I suppose now with digital photography is going to be so much easier. And it’s high on my list now, when I head off for my next trip, I’m gonna make sure that I get hold of a good digital camera and take pictures of areas and things that interest me. I always look at scenery through a photographer’s eye, I must say, like “that would make a nice shot”. But I haven’t really got around to it much. Yes, I think that is a very creative outlet, but there’s a lot to learn as well. My brother-in-law is a very good photographer and I’ve been talking to him quite a bit about it.
March 30, 2004
Caitlin from New York City, USA:
Greetings Chris, My question is a bit more philosophical than most. There is a quote from a well know Jewish philosopher that has always intrigued/inspired me as an artist. It goes; "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?" Since your (earlier in particular), work is so very thoughtful in the issues reflect, I was wondering if you could comment on what this quote means to you as a song-writer. I think the quote especially meaningful as we live in such superficial and materialistic times. Thanks for your thoughts, best wishes, Cate
Chris de Burgh:
This is a terrific quote! "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?" That almost says exactly what I've believed about the route that I have taken. And again an earlier question suggested would it have been easier for me to follow the mainstream a bit more often. And I tell myself no, I want to carve my own journey in life. And this is really what this means. It also means that you are true to yourself, it means that you have to take possibly more abuse, more holes in the road, more deviations along the road, you find yourself in more difficult situations. But when you emerge perhaps blooded but unbowed, you also have the strong pride and that you have done it your way, to echo the song by Frank Sinatra. And I have certainly done it my way. It hasn't been easy, but I tell you without the support that I have had from you people all over the world, it really would have been impossible. So I want to take this opportunity to thank everybody everywhere for their years and years of support. It is so exciting to read the ages of new fans, because these are people supporting me to the future. Because this new album "The Road To Freedom", I believe is filled up with more deep and thoughtful songs than ever before. And I am very proud of what I have achieved. It's also as you say a very superficial and materialistic world. And I believe that my children also understand the difference between what is superficial and what isn't. And one of the reasons they have been brought up in such a calm understanding way is because they understand the correlation between hard work and holidays, hard work and the good things in life and that just to be famous and just to be rich is an absolutely useless endeavour to have at the end of your own rainbow.
Caitlin from New York City, USA:
Greetings Chris, My question is a bit more philosophical than most. There is a quote from a well know Jewish philosopher that has always intrigued/inspired me as an artist. It goes; "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?" Since your (earlier in particular), work is so very thoughtful in the issues reflect, I was wondering if you could comment on what this quote means to you as a song-writer. I think the quote especially meaningful as we live in such superficial and materialistic times. Thanks for your thoughts, best wishes, Cate
Chris de Burgh:
This is a terrific quote! "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?" That almost says exactly what I've believed about the route that I have taken. And again an earlier question suggested would it have been easier for me to follow the mainstream a bit more often. And I tell myself no, I want to carve my own journey in life. And this is really what this means. It also means that you are true to yourself, it means that you have to take possibly more abuse, more holes in the road, more deviations along the road, you find yourself in more difficult situations. But when you emerge perhaps blooded but unbowed, you also have the strong pride and that you have done it your way, to echo the song by Frank Sinatra. And I have certainly done it my way. It hasn't been easy, but I tell you without the support that I have had from you people all over the world, it really would have been impossible. So I want to take this opportunity to thank everybody everywhere for their years and years of support. It is so exciting to read the ages of new fans, because these are people supporting me to the future. Because this new album "The Road To Freedom", I believe is filled up with more deep and thoughtful songs than ever before. And I am very proud of what I have achieved. It's also as you say a very superficial and materialistic world. And I believe that my children also understand the difference between what is superficial and what isn't. And one of the reasons they have been brought up in such a calm understanding way is because they understand the correlation between hard work and holidays, hard work and the good things in life and that just to be famous and just to be rich is an absolutely useless endeavour to have at the end of your own rainbow.
March 29, 2004
Sibylle Marwitz (38) from Hilden, Germany:
Hi Chris, I just read in the "Man on the Line" section that you are working on a film project. Please tell us more about it – why, what, when, where...!?!? Sibylle
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Sibylle, hi old friend! Gosh, it’s been so many years that you have been supporting me with those other wonderful people you are coming to my shows with. So when you read this, the next time you have a glass of champagne, raise it to the memories! Thanks for all your support down the years. The question about the film project is yes, it’s a film project called “Through These Eyes”, and it is basically the life of an old lady who is in a home for elderly people reflecting on her days as she comes to the end of her own days. And I have written three or four new songs for this and we are hoping that the production of the film will start later in the year. The people who read the idea, read the script and heard the music were very excited about it. So we have already raised quite a lot of funds for this. It is a multi-million-dollar project, not just a small project, but more about this later.
Sibylle Marwitz (38) from Hilden, Germany:
Hi Chris, I just read in the "Man on the Line" section that you are working on a film project. Please tell us more about it – why, what, when, where...!?!? Sibylle
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Sibylle, hi old friend! Gosh, it’s been so many years that you have been supporting me with those other wonderful people you are coming to my shows with. So when you read this, the next time you have a glass of champagne, raise it to the memories! Thanks for all your support down the years. The question about the film project is yes, it’s a film project called “Through These Eyes”, and it is basically the life of an old lady who is in a home for elderly people reflecting on her days as she comes to the end of her own days. And I have written three or four new songs for this and we are hoping that the production of the film will start later in the year. The people who read the idea, read the script and heard the music were very excited about it. So we have already raised quite a lot of funds for this. It is a multi-million-dollar project, not just a small project, but more about this later.
March 28, 2004
Dawn Riley (46) from East Yorkshire, UK:
Hi Chris now that vinyl is becoming more popular how about some more recent music being produced on that format especially my favourite Snows of New York.
Chris de Burgh:
This is a fascinating question, because I never forget the first time I heard a CD and saw a CD player which would have been about 1982. And I was recording my album “The Getaway” with “Don’t Pay The Ferryman”, “Crying And Laughing”, the title track, “The Revolution” and so on. And I remember it was a Hallelujah moment in my life, because I thought finally we are hearing music being played on domestic loudspeakers and through domestic systems that echo exactly what we have been trying to achieve in the recording studio. For example I remember one time when I was recording a dog barked outside, and you could hear it on the tape. We spent hours trying to remove it and we do spend hours and hours in the recording studio removing noises that should not be on it. But then the heartbreaking part was, when it went on vinyl, which effectively is a piece of diamond or metal scraping along the grooves in the piece of vinyl to reproduce sounds through an amplifier. Frequently there are problems with the vinyl, sometimes it gets scratched. And in this business sometimes you hear of people saying it’s such a warm sound. Well, it might be a warm sound, but it does not reproduce exactly what we want you to hear from the recording studio. For example I love the big vinyl record covers with all the information and the sleeves, and I am glad to see that part of it making a comeback. But as for the quality of the music itself, it does not reflect accurately what we would like you to hear. You know, in your home playback facility with EQ facility you can improve the base and improve the top and the middle range, and that is often because there are changes in environments, there are a lot of curtains or carpets or furniture, you do need to boost one end or the other. But with vinyl I have very mixed feelings about this as a proper medium of people listening to music the way we’d like them to hear it.
Dawn Riley (46) from East Yorkshire, UK:
Hi Chris now that vinyl is becoming more popular how about some more recent music being produced on that format especially my favourite Snows of New York.
Chris de Burgh:
This is a fascinating question, because I never forget the first time I heard a CD and saw a CD player which would have been about 1982. And I was recording my album “The Getaway” with “Don’t Pay The Ferryman”, “Crying And Laughing”, the title track, “The Revolution” and so on. And I remember it was a Hallelujah moment in my life, because I thought finally we are hearing music being played on domestic loudspeakers and through domestic systems that echo exactly what we have been trying to achieve in the recording studio. For example I remember one time when I was recording a dog barked outside, and you could hear it on the tape. We spent hours trying to remove it and we do spend hours and hours in the recording studio removing noises that should not be on it. But then the heartbreaking part was, when it went on vinyl, which effectively is a piece of diamond or metal scraping along the grooves in the piece of vinyl to reproduce sounds through an amplifier. Frequently there are problems with the vinyl, sometimes it gets scratched. And in this business sometimes you hear of people saying it’s such a warm sound. Well, it might be a warm sound, but it does not reproduce exactly what we want you to hear from the recording studio. For example I love the big vinyl record covers with all the information and the sleeves, and I am glad to see that part of it making a comeback. But as for the quality of the music itself, it does not reflect accurately what we would like you to hear. You know, in your home playback facility with EQ facility you can improve the base and improve the top and the middle range, and that is often because there are changes in environments, there are a lot of curtains or carpets or furniture, you do need to boost one end or the other. But with vinyl I have very mixed feelings about this as a proper medium of people listening to music the way we’d like them to hear it.
March 27, 2004
Tara (11) from Bournemouth, UK:
What does it take to become a world famous artist?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Tara! I spoke about Bournemouth earlier, saying what a great place it is and thank you for the support that everybody in Bournemouth gives me. What does it take to become a world famous artist? Well, firstly you have to have some kind of talent. There is a big difference nowadays. You can become world famous very quickly through the medium of television, these “Pop Idol” things and “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here”, all those things. But you see, I have a theory. It’s quite simply, it’s like a shooting star. The longer it takes to blaze a trail, the longer it will take before it fades away. Whereas a lot of these people are instant flashes of light and disappearing just as quickly as they arrived. So, if your question is to become world famous, anybody can become world famous. It’s the Andy Warhol statement: “Anybody will be famous for fifteen minutes.” I am sure, if you put your mind to it, Tara, you could become world famous. But being famous is not the answer to anything. I have to say, you’ve got to support your fame by something like talent and ability. Again to draw a parallel, I’ve often thought that these young bands, these put-together-bands, these pop idol people, I feel desperately sorry for them. Because they are like plugged from absolute obscurity and put on the top of Mount Everest and told “become a mountaineer”. And of course they haven’t a clue. And they fade away very quickly, they slide all way down to the bottom in no time. Whereas if you have learned to become a mountaineer and learned to climb, you will have all that to support you during those tough years, where if you want to remain a successful artist like I do, even after 30 years I’m using all my skills and my abilities and I work very hard to remain exactly where I am today and hopefully do better all the time.
Tara (11) from Bournemouth, UK:
What does it take to become a world famous artist?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Tara! I spoke about Bournemouth earlier, saying what a great place it is and thank you for the support that everybody in Bournemouth gives me. What does it take to become a world famous artist? Well, firstly you have to have some kind of talent. There is a big difference nowadays. You can become world famous very quickly through the medium of television, these “Pop Idol” things and “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here”, all those things. But you see, I have a theory. It’s quite simply, it’s like a shooting star. The longer it takes to blaze a trail, the longer it will take before it fades away. Whereas a lot of these people are instant flashes of light and disappearing just as quickly as they arrived. So, if your question is to become world famous, anybody can become world famous. It’s the Andy Warhol statement: “Anybody will be famous for fifteen minutes.” I am sure, if you put your mind to it, Tara, you could become world famous. But being famous is not the answer to anything. I have to say, you’ve got to support your fame by something like talent and ability. Again to draw a parallel, I’ve often thought that these young bands, these put-together-bands, these pop idol people, I feel desperately sorry for them. Because they are like plugged from absolute obscurity and put on the top of Mount Everest and told “become a mountaineer”. And of course they haven’t a clue. And they fade away very quickly, they slide all way down to the bottom in no time. Whereas if you have learned to become a mountaineer and learned to climb, you will have all that to support you during those tough years, where if you want to remain a successful artist like I do, even after 30 years I’m using all my skills and my abilities and I work very hard to remain exactly where I am today and hopefully do better all the time.
March 26, 2004
Trieneke Boskma (23) from Rinsumageest, Netherlands:
I don't know if you heard it but our crown prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima had their first child recently. Because of the media attention it will probably be a little bit difficult for them to raise their daughter as normal as possible. You must have had pretty much the same situation with your children. My question is: if you could give them some advice on what's important for them to do, what would it be?? Keep up the good work and my mother and I really enjoyed your last to concerts in Holland. Love Trieneke Boskma
Chris de Burgh:
Well, the important thing is to make sure that your children are brought up in a loving, caring warm family environment, because I believe that family life is the building block of our civilization and must be preserved at all costs. It saddens me very much to see so many marriages falling apart. That’s why I wrote a song which hopefully will be available later in the year called “Once Upon A Time”, the point of view of a child in a broken marriage. However, my advise to them would be as I say a warm family environment, but also to make sure that the child does not feel different in school. It is really vital the children going to school, to make sure they are not treated differently or stand out from the crowd. That’s why for example, and I am sure the mothers and fathers of teenagers will smile, it’s when you drop your children off at school, they don’t want you anywhere near them. They don’t want to know you! And if you do anything like kiss your child good-bye when it is 13 or 14 or 15, they cringe and say “Don’t do that!” between clenched teeth. In primary school it is slightly different, but when they are older, you know, you’ve got to make sure that your children’s friends are happy and comfortable to be coming to your house and you are happy and comfortable for your children to go to other people’s houses. You know, just a normal upbringing is vital. Although I am saying this about my own family life, people frequently say to myself and my wife “Congratulations on having brought up three wonderful children who are very normal and very unspoiled and very unaware of the fame and fortune that surrounds them.” Well that takes work and, you know, it’s good work, it’s fun work, it’s making sure that the children feel that there is nothing different about our family. And I think the greatest and most precious gift you can give your children is time. If you give them time just to be there, be around and listen to them, drive them places instead of letting somebody else do it, that’s the vital and most important gift that you can give your children: time.
Trieneke Boskma (23) from Rinsumageest, Netherlands:
I don't know if you heard it but our crown prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima had their first child recently. Because of the media attention it will probably be a little bit difficult for them to raise their daughter as normal as possible. You must have had pretty much the same situation with your children. My question is: if you could give them some advice on what's important for them to do, what would it be?? Keep up the good work and my mother and I really enjoyed your last to concerts in Holland. Love Trieneke Boskma
Chris de Burgh:
Well, the important thing is to make sure that your children are brought up in a loving, caring warm family environment, because I believe that family life is the building block of our civilization and must be preserved at all costs. It saddens me very much to see so many marriages falling apart. That’s why I wrote a song which hopefully will be available later in the year called “Once Upon A Time”, the point of view of a child in a broken marriage. However, my advise to them would be as I say a warm family environment, but also to make sure that the child does not feel different in school. It is really vital the children going to school, to make sure they are not treated differently or stand out from the crowd. That’s why for example, and I am sure the mothers and fathers of teenagers will smile, it’s when you drop your children off at school, they don’t want you anywhere near them. They don’t want to know you! And if you do anything like kiss your child good-bye when it is 13 or 14 or 15, they cringe and say “Don’t do that!” between clenched teeth. In primary school it is slightly different, but when they are older, you know, you’ve got to make sure that your children’s friends are happy and comfortable to be coming to your house and you are happy and comfortable for your children to go to other people’s houses. You know, just a normal upbringing is vital. Although I am saying this about my own family life, people frequently say to myself and my wife “Congratulations on having brought up three wonderful children who are very normal and very unspoiled and very unaware of the fame and fortune that surrounds them.” Well that takes work and, you know, it’s good work, it’s fun work, it’s making sure that the children feel that there is nothing different about our family. And I think the greatest and most precious gift you can give your children is time. If you give them time just to be there, be around and listen to them, drive them places instead of letting somebody else do it, that’s the vital and most important gift that you can give your children: time.
March 25, 2004
Marianne Blaauboer (27) from Utrecht, Netherlands:
Hi Chris, I recently bought tickets for your show in Utrecht in June 2004 for me and a dear friend, Suzanne whom I've known for 22 years. When I gave her her ticket, she told me she was pregnant. So she'll be in her eight month when we come to see you. So he or she will be a fan from the very beginning! What do you think about the impression music can make on a baby when still in the womb? What song do you think would be especially suited to play, either for mothers-to-be or for soothing babies in the womb? I am sure we will all enjoy your upcoming tour - whatever age, whatever station in life. Thank you so much for your music to accompany us all the time.
Chris de Burgh:
Your friend Suzanne who is going to be coming to my concert with you in June should be aware of the fact that this has happened many times before. People have told me that they felt the baby kicking around. Particularly if it’s a big band show and they can feel the base drum. Whether they are kicking because they like the music, kicking along and dancing to the music, or else just don’t like the music, I have no idea. But because it’s a solo performance, it won’t be too loud. And I am sure your baby will be soothed hopefully by the music coming from me to the little one in your womb. I think there are people now who do quite a lot of research into what happens to babies before they are born. And I believe some of the research suggest that soothing classical music is very good for babies to make them feel comfortable and help them through the last few weeks before they are born.
Marianne Blaauboer (27) from Utrecht, Netherlands:
Hi Chris, I recently bought tickets for your show in Utrecht in June 2004 for me and a dear friend, Suzanne whom I've known for 22 years. When I gave her her ticket, she told me she was pregnant. So she'll be in her eight month when we come to see you. So he or she will be a fan from the very beginning! What do you think about the impression music can make on a baby when still in the womb? What song do you think would be especially suited to play, either for mothers-to-be or for soothing babies in the womb? I am sure we will all enjoy your upcoming tour - whatever age, whatever station in life. Thank you so much for your music to accompany us all the time.
Chris de Burgh:
Your friend Suzanne who is going to be coming to my concert with you in June should be aware of the fact that this has happened many times before. People have told me that they felt the baby kicking around. Particularly if it’s a big band show and they can feel the base drum. Whether they are kicking because they like the music, kicking along and dancing to the music, or else just don’t like the music, I have no idea. But because it’s a solo performance, it won’t be too loud. And I am sure your baby will be soothed hopefully by the music coming from me to the little one in your womb. I think there are people now who do quite a lot of research into what happens to babies before they are born. And I believe some of the research suggest that soothing classical music is very good for babies to make them feel comfortable and help them through the last few weeks before they are born.
March 24, 2004
Ammar Awaydah (28) from Tripoli, Lebanon:
One of my favourite songs is Natasha Dance. I would just love to know whether the song was written at any special occasion or not. Is it just symbolic? Thank you for the greatest work you've always done and always will!
Chris de Burgh:
Well, this is an example of a song that sort of emerged from nowhere in particular. I hadn’t been thinking much about Russia or anybody called Natasha. But as the music started, as it was speaking to me, saying well this is music from Eastern Europe, I started developing this idea which I think I probably touched upon in the album “The Getaway” in “Crying And Laughing” about somebody from a completely different culture, from a different part of the world, visiting and falling in love and then leaving again. And similarly with Natasha Dance. What interested me about Natasha is that having visited Russia, I found myself immersed in a completely new culture that I knew nothing about, apart from historical looks that I studied in school. So the history of the Russian empire is so extraordinary and massive and vast. And also in the recent, certainly in the last hundred years, the catastrophes that have happened to ordinary people, I was and I still am fascinated by how does this impact the youngsters growing up. Is this part of their gene structure? Do they have genetic memory of the atrocities that happened to their grandfathers and great-grandfathers? Does it come through the genes? That’s why I say in the song “tell me about the joy and pain of living in your world”, and what this means is that I’m fascinated by what brings joy to somebody like Natasha, and whether the pain is part of a historical problem or is it something that you can forget about when you’re a youngster growing up in a culture like that?
Ammar Awaydah (28) from Tripoli, Lebanon:
One of my favourite songs is Natasha Dance. I would just love to know whether the song was written at any special occasion or not. Is it just symbolic? Thank you for the greatest work you've always done and always will!
Chris de Burgh:
Well, this is an example of a song that sort of emerged from nowhere in particular. I hadn’t been thinking much about Russia or anybody called Natasha. But as the music started, as it was speaking to me, saying well this is music from Eastern Europe, I started developing this idea which I think I probably touched upon in the album “The Getaway” in “Crying And Laughing” about somebody from a completely different culture, from a different part of the world, visiting and falling in love and then leaving again. And similarly with Natasha Dance. What interested me about Natasha is that having visited Russia, I found myself immersed in a completely new culture that I knew nothing about, apart from historical looks that I studied in school. So the history of the Russian empire is so extraordinary and massive and vast. And also in the recent, certainly in the last hundred years, the catastrophes that have happened to ordinary people, I was and I still am fascinated by how does this impact the youngsters growing up. Is this part of their gene structure? Do they have genetic memory of the atrocities that happened to their grandfathers and great-grandfathers? Does it come through the genes? That’s why I say in the song “tell me about the joy and pain of living in your world”, and what this means is that I’m fascinated by what brings joy to somebody like Natasha, and whether the pain is part of a historical problem or is it something that you can forget about when you’re a youngster growing up in a culture like that?
March 23, 2004
Rainer Mackenthun (38) from Berlin, Germany:
Dear Chris, I am interested in a statement about the subject that you address for instance in the song "the spacemen", but also in other songs. You address the belief of an upcoming new world, that is anchored in many religions. The feeling you express in a song is always connected to the time the song is written. How has this feeling changed over the years. Has the feeling become more settled for instance when you watch the people in your surrounding, the news or when you are on tour. Or has it changed to be an isolated wish that seems to be unsatisfiable?
Chris de Burgh:
Anybody reading your question will be also as fascinated as I by the depth of your question. Because there is a lot in it, and it is making me think hard. I don’t mind doing that, but I certainly had to read it two or three times to totally understand what you feel my true emotions are on that subject. Well, you be right in thinking, for example, in the song “Up Here In Heaven” where all soldiers are actually fighting for the same God, just the one God. By this I mean it would be wonderful if human beings could put their faith to one side and say “This is my faith. I will tolerate everybody else’s faith as long as we can live happily and comfortably together in that understanding and tolerance. I bring this theme up again in a new song called “The Words ‘I Love You’” where it’s not just about fathers and sons, it’s also about tolerance for other people’s religious faith and religious beliefs. And I think the world would be a far kinder and gentler place, if people could take that point of view. I think this is a utopian dream for me. I don’t think it will ever happen, but after all if you don’t have a dream, nothing will really ever change, will it?
Rainer Mackenthun (38) from Berlin, Germany:
Dear Chris, I am interested in a statement about the subject that you address for instance in the song "the spacemen", but also in other songs. You address the belief of an upcoming new world, that is anchored in many religions. The feeling you express in a song is always connected to the time the song is written. How has this feeling changed over the years. Has the feeling become more settled for instance when you watch the people in your surrounding, the news or when you are on tour. Or has it changed to be an isolated wish that seems to be unsatisfiable?
Chris de Burgh:
Anybody reading your question will be also as fascinated as I by the depth of your question. Because there is a lot in it, and it is making me think hard. I don’t mind doing that, but I certainly had to read it two or three times to totally understand what you feel my true emotions are on that subject. Well, you be right in thinking, for example, in the song “Up Here In Heaven” where all soldiers are actually fighting for the same God, just the one God. By this I mean it would be wonderful if human beings could put their faith to one side and say “This is my faith. I will tolerate everybody else’s faith as long as we can live happily and comfortably together in that understanding and tolerance. I bring this theme up again in a new song called “The Words ‘I Love You’” where it’s not just about fathers and sons, it’s also about tolerance for other people’s religious faith and religious beliefs. And I think the world would be a far kinder and gentler place, if people could take that point of view. I think this is a utopian dream for me. I don’t think it will ever happen, but after all if you don’t have a dream, nothing will really ever change, will it?
March 22, 2004
Daen de Leon (35) from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK, now living in Copenhagen, Denmark:
Hi Chris. There are many literary references throughout your songs. Do you find yourself thinking how to work, say, part of the Tempest into a song, or is it only when you come to write the song that you remember what you read? Cheers - Daen
Chris de Burgh:
I usually bring literary references into my songs after I started developing the song. For example in “Don’t Pay The Ferryman” I was thinking about this wild ferryman and this extraordinary film that’s going on, and that’s why I turned to Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”. And I had an actor read the part from the particular section in “The Tempest”. I read quite a bit of Shakespeare when I was in school and college. And ever since then it seems a nice way to bring in one of the greatest English playwrights into a song. It’s not something I’ll go out deliberately to do, but it’s nice to draw literary references into music on occasion.
Daen de Leon (35) from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK, now living in Copenhagen, Denmark:
Hi Chris. There are many literary references throughout your songs. Do you find yourself thinking how to work, say, part of the Tempest into a song, or is it only when you come to write the song that you remember what you read? Cheers - Daen
Chris de Burgh:
I usually bring literary references into my songs after I started developing the song. For example in “Don’t Pay The Ferryman” I was thinking about this wild ferryman and this extraordinary film that’s going on, and that’s why I turned to Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”. And I had an actor read the part from the particular section in “The Tempest”. I read quite a bit of Shakespeare when I was in school and college. And ever since then it seems a nice way to bring in one of the greatest English playwrights into a song. It’s not something I’ll go out deliberately to do, but it’s nice to draw literary references into music on occasion.
March 21, 2004
Adrian Mallia (30) from Malta:
I once heard that you visit the archipelago of Maltese Islands every now and then and that some of your wonderful lyrics and music is inspired by these Islands in the middle of the Mediterranean. Is this so? I'll be sleeping in the arrivals lounge until I get a chance to meet you if it is! :) Congratulations on the most romantic music of our times. Your voice accompanies me through the most important events of my life, marriage, honeymoon, birth of our baby daughter. Your voice is part of my family.
Chris de Burgh:
I just want to make a general observation here that the questions that I am reading nowadays are much more than questions. They tell me a lot about the person who is asking the question, about how the music has affected them, things they think about, things that concern them, reasons they keep coming back to my music. It is wonderful to hear all this, it is great, thank you for that!
I have visited Malta a couple of times, and I very much like the islands. The inspirations that I get from those kind of places in the Mediterranean, like Greece for example, the Greek islands, it’s a relaxed style of life that really appeals to me. And although I was very young at the time, and I don’t remember much about being in Malta (I think I must have been about 6 or 7), I do recollect the heat, the lizards, the swimming and quite probably the music that I have heard. And thank you for your kind words about lyrics and the inspiration that my music has brought to you and your family.
Adrian Mallia (30) from Malta:
I once heard that you visit the archipelago of Maltese Islands every now and then and that some of your wonderful lyrics and music is inspired by these Islands in the middle of the Mediterranean. Is this so? I'll be sleeping in the arrivals lounge until I get a chance to meet you if it is! :) Congratulations on the most romantic music of our times. Your voice accompanies me through the most important events of my life, marriage, honeymoon, birth of our baby daughter. Your voice is part of my family.
Chris de Burgh:
I just want to make a general observation here that the questions that I am reading nowadays are much more than questions. They tell me a lot about the person who is asking the question, about how the music has affected them, things they think about, things that concern them, reasons they keep coming back to my music. It is wonderful to hear all this, it is great, thank you for that!
I have visited Malta a couple of times, and I very much like the islands. The inspirations that I get from those kind of places in the Mediterranean, like Greece for example, the Greek islands, it’s a relaxed style of life that really appeals to me. And although I was very young at the time, and I don’t remember much about being in Malta (I think I must have been about 6 or 7), I do recollect the heat, the lizards, the swimming and quite probably the music that I have heard. And thank you for your kind words about lyrics and the inspiration that my music has brought to you and your family.
March 20, 2004
Tiia (30+) from Riihimäki, Finland:
Hello Chris! Can you tell who played bass in album version of lady in red? Thanks already!
Chris de Burgh:
The bass player on the song “The Lady In Red” was called John Giblin. I remember it well because we were working on the song in London, and I wasn’t particularly happy with the bass that was already on it, performed by another bass player. And John called by, and he is a very tall man and he was wearing a long black coat. And he only had a short time in which to help us out with this track. And I remember he didn’t even take his coat off. He played this amazing bassline. And he kept saying “Is that alright? Is that ok? Are you sure you are happy with that?”, before he ran out of the door. And of course when you listen back you will realize that it is a really fantastical memorable and melodic piece that he performed that day.
Tiia (30+) from Riihimäki, Finland:
Hello Chris! Can you tell who played bass in album version of lady in red? Thanks already!
Chris de Burgh:
The bass player on the song “The Lady In Red” was called John Giblin. I remember it well because we were working on the song in London, and I wasn’t particularly happy with the bass that was already on it, performed by another bass player. And John called by, and he is a very tall man and he was wearing a long black coat. And he only had a short time in which to help us out with this track. And I remember he didn’t even take his coat off. He played this amazing bassline. And he kept saying “Is that alright? Is that ok? Are you sure you are happy with that?”, before he ran out of the door. And of course when you listen back you will realize that it is a really fantastical memorable and melodic piece that he performed that day.
March 19, 2004
Glynis Chadwick (48) from Bedale, England:
My first album was At the End of a Perfect day. On the Love Songs album, why have you missed out what was to me, the best part of If You Really Love her let Her Go - the 'she is like a bird yearning for the winter wind' bit? Keep singing Chris and please come back to Newcastle, those of us who were there 'need you here again', with or without voice!
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you for your remarks about “If You Really Love Her Let Her Go”. One of my favourite songs, which is why I re-recorded it on the album “The Love Songs”. Well, the bit you are referring to, where it goes from E Major to E Minor, I kind of felt in later years, that this was an additional part of the song that sometimes didn’t feel like it belonged to the same song. But now that I have listened to it since your question, I agree. Maybe I should in the future, if I perform that song, return to that mid section. It’s a bit like also at the end of “Transmission Ends”. Somebody asked why didn’t I do that end bit, and I have actually started putting it back into my concert performances.
Glynis Chadwick (48) from Bedale, England:
My first album was At the End of a Perfect day. On the Love Songs album, why have you missed out what was to me, the best part of If You Really Love her let Her Go - the 'she is like a bird yearning for the winter wind' bit? Keep singing Chris and please come back to Newcastle, those of us who were there 'need you here again', with or without voice!
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you for your remarks about “If You Really Love Her Let Her Go”. One of my favourite songs, which is why I re-recorded it on the album “The Love Songs”. Well, the bit you are referring to, where it goes from E Major to E Minor, I kind of felt in later years, that this was an additional part of the song that sometimes didn’t feel like it belonged to the same song. But now that I have listened to it since your question, I agree. Maybe I should in the future, if I perform that song, return to that mid section. It’s a bit like also at the end of “Transmission Ends”. Somebody asked why didn’t I do that end bit, and I have actually started putting it back into my concert performances.
March 18, 2004
Mike Smyth (40) from Bournemouth, UK:
Hi Chris, I have just seen the note about this years Tribute CD and I see the very first song on it is Discovery. Of all your songs this is the most poignant for me. I have spent 22 years at sea and this song always makes me think of where I have been and what I have done. The imagery in the song is so clear for me. All too often onboard ships all over the world and over many years I've be sitting on deck watching a beautiful tropical sunset I've been egged on to sing it! What experiences made you write this one (if you can remember that far back!), whatever they were they must have been pretty vivid. Looking forward to seeing you in Bournemouth! Mike Smyth
Chris de Burgh:
You know, I have to smile when I think of Bournemouth, because I remember in my early years touring around England. People used to say to me “oh gosh”, you know, going to the boring part of England where people are not very quick about applauding and they don’t show their emotions much in Brighton, Bournemouth, Eastbourne, those kind of areas. And actually I found the absolute opposite. The places where they tend to rush the stage quickest tend to be those areas. And I particularly remember in Bournemouth, at the BIC, recently an absolutely totally sold out concert. The place was absolutely hopping and heaving. People dancing and jumping around. That would have been a great show to bring people to who were Chris de Burgh doubters, who say “he has only ever written one song and that was Lady In Red”. Bring them down to a show like that and they would have seen why so many people enjoy going to these concerts!
Your question is about my song “Discovery”. Well this is from the album “At The End Of A Perfect Day”. It is a long time ago, but I think I was imagining myself as a sea captain in the 15th century heading off in an era where they thought you literally fell off the edge of the world. And it took brave men to head off to the west, certainly towards the setting sun, and to discover what was out there. Because none of our discoveries would have been made without people taking great risks, not only the risk of personal harm, but also the risk of offending their monarch who has ordered them to go and do these kinds of trips. I have also neatly moved that forward to a time where Galileo Galilei suggested that it was possible to leave the planet perhaps one day. And if you did, what you would see, would be the planet. And this would be the greatest discovery, another frontier would be conquered. I am glad to hear “Discovery” has meant so much to you down the years and indeed for me it is one of my favourite songs. It is not just a story, it suggests a lot more than that. It’s again from the viewpoint of somebody in the 15th century, imagining what we live through today. And the fact that we’re sending space probes to mars, we’ve put men on the moon. I mean these are such fantastical ideas that back in the 15th century they would have thought you were completely and absolutely mad. But then again philosophers and thinkers and scientists down the years have actually dared us to think and push back the boundaries all the time. And mankind will continue to do that forever.
Mike Smyth (40) from Bournemouth, UK:
Hi Chris, I have just seen the note about this years Tribute CD and I see the very first song on it is Discovery. Of all your songs this is the most poignant for me. I have spent 22 years at sea and this song always makes me think of where I have been and what I have done. The imagery in the song is so clear for me. All too often onboard ships all over the world and over many years I've be sitting on deck watching a beautiful tropical sunset I've been egged on to sing it! What experiences made you write this one (if you can remember that far back!), whatever they were they must have been pretty vivid. Looking forward to seeing you in Bournemouth! Mike Smyth
Chris de Burgh:
You know, I have to smile when I think of Bournemouth, because I remember in my early years touring around England. People used to say to me “oh gosh”, you know, going to the boring part of England where people are not very quick about applauding and they don’t show their emotions much in Brighton, Bournemouth, Eastbourne, those kind of areas. And actually I found the absolute opposite. The places where they tend to rush the stage quickest tend to be those areas. And I particularly remember in Bournemouth, at the BIC, recently an absolutely totally sold out concert. The place was absolutely hopping and heaving. People dancing and jumping around. That would have been a great show to bring people to who were Chris de Burgh doubters, who say “he has only ever written one song and that was Lady In Red”. Bring them down to a show like that and they would have seen why so many people enjoy going to these concerts!
Your question is about my song “Discovery”. Well this is from the album “At The End Of A Perfect Day”. It is a long time ago, but I think I was imagining myself as a sea captain in the 15th century heading off in an era where they thought you literally fell off the edge of the world. And it took brave men to head off to the west, certainly towards the setting sun, and to discover what was out there. Because none of our discoveries would have been made without people taking great risks, not only the risk of personal harm, but also the risk of offending their monarch who has ordered them to go and do these kinds of trips. I have also neatly moved that forward to a time where Galileo Galilei suggested that it was possible to leave the planet perhaps one day. And if you did, what you would see, would be the planet. And this would be the greatest discovery, another frontier would be conquered. I am glad to hear “Discovery” has meant so much to you down the years and indeed for me it is one of my favourite songs. It is not just a story, it suggests a lot more than that. It’s again from the viewpoint of somebody in the 15th century, imagining what we live through today. And the fact that we’re sending space probes to mars, we’ve put men on the moon. I mean these are such fantastical ideas that back in the 15th century they would have thought you were completely and absolutely mad. But then again philosophers and thinkers and scientists down the years have actually dared us to think and push back the boundaries all the time. And mankind will continue to do that forever.
March 17, 2004
Lynn Langlands (50) from Pevensey Bay, East Sussex, UK:
I have spent two years putting your music into pictures with students in a signing choir. Our hands have bought your music alive to the eyes, and put sound into the heads and hearts of those who cannot hear. I have often wondered if this were something you would consider adding to your concerts as there are no musical artists to date, who have enabled a sensory deprived group of people to internalise the pleasure of music. Your music is filled with emotion and thought provoking stimuli. It has been a joy to see it do the same thing to a group of people through the eyes, and for the first time in their lives see the lyrics linked to an internal type of sound. It would be great if they could also have the pleasure of linking it to the atmosphere of your live performances. One to consider maybe???
Chris de Burgh:
That last answer runs beautifully into this next question, which I suppose I can expand upon to say that this would be an amazing project to try and open up in all the senses a concert, the live feeling of a performance. I am sure that we’re not too far off the time where neurological breakthroughs can allow those who have sensory difficulties to actually participate in what everybody else takes for granted.
Lynn Langlands (50) from Pevensey Bay, East Sussex, UK:
I have spent two years putting your music into pictures with students in a signing choir. Our hands have bought your music alive to the eyes, and put sound into the heads and hearts of those who cannot hear. I have often wondered if this were something you would consider adding to your concerts as there are no musical artists to date, who have enabled a sensory deprived group of people to internalise the pleasure of music. Your music is filled with emotion and thought provoking stimuli. It has been a joy to see it do the same thing to a group of people through the eyes, and for the first time in their lives see the lyrics linked to an internal type of sound. It would be great if they could also have the pleasure of linking it to the atmosphere of your live performances. One to consider maybe???
Chris de Burgh:
That last answer runs beautifully into this next question, which I suppose I can expand upon to say that this would be an amazing project to try and open up in all the senses a concert, the live feeling of a performance. I am sure that we’re not too far off the time where neurological breakthroughs can allow those who have sensory difficulties to actually participate in what everybody else takes for granted.
March 16, 2004
Laurie Kauppila (38) from Northbridge, Massachusetts, USA:
Hi Chris, I have been fortunate enough to see you twice over the past 2 years (once in Germany and once in Canada). I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoy listening to your music. Anyway, our oldest daughter is 13 and Deaf. She is able to feel the music when it is very loud, but not the words. Recently, I have gone back to school to become an ASL interpreter for her. One day, I would love to be able to translate your songs for her. My question is, have you ever used sign language interpreters for any of your concerts? Just curious. Thanks!
Chris de Burgh:
Sorry to hear about your daughter’s deafness. It is interesting how she can actually feel the music, when it is loud. The answer is no, I have never used sign language interpreters in a concert. Although I have used actually, you know, language interpreters during concerts, for example in Russia, Ukraine and so on. But I’ve done television shows where there have been sign language interpreters doing what they do. And it is always fascinating to see how fast these people operate and how those who are deaf can actually follow even a spirited conversation. I wish you the best of luck with your going back to school to become an ASL interpreter. Give her my best wishes!
Laurie Kauppila (38) from Northbridge, Massachusetts, USA:
Hi Chris, I have been fortunate enough to see you twice over the past 2 years (once in Germany and once in Canada). I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoy listening to your music. Anyway, our oldest daughter is 13 and Deaf. She is able to feel the music when it is very loud, but not the words. Recently, I have gone back to school to become an ASL interpreter for her. One day, I would love to be able to translate your songs for her. My question is, have you ever used sign language interpreters for any of your concerts? Just curious. Thanks!
Chris de Burgh:
Sorry to hear about your daughter’s deafness. It is interesting how she can actually feel the music, when it is loud. The answer is no, I have never used sign language interpreters in a concert. Although I have used actually, you know, language interpreters during concerts, for example in Russia, Ukraine and so on. But I’ve done television shows where there have been sign language interpreters doing what they do. And it is always fascinating to see how fast these people operate and how those who are deaf can actually follow even a spirited conversation. I wish you the best of luck with your going back to school to become an ASL interpreter. Give her my best wishes!
March 12, 2004
Tillman Graach (23) from Augsburg, Germany:
You've been talking about your next album being 'your own product'. How is the legal situation with all of your other records? I guess they all belong to A&M (or the bits and pieces left of it all around the world). Another question concerning record contracts: how and why have you split up with A&M? Was it the company's or your own decision? Thank you for taking time to answer all these questions. And thank you for the great solo performance in Augsburg last summer - hope you'll return soon!
Chris de Burgh:
I think I may have mentioned it before, but one of my great memories of last year?s open air season was the arena in Augsburg. And yes I do recall mentioning it when everybody ran to the side of the stage and there were a couple of people in wheelchairs that were brought onto the side. And it was a fine, beautiful evening and a great night was had by all, I think. I certainly loved it.
The legal situation with the previous records is that they are still owned by the record company. And in this case it is A&M, who have now I think been changed through to Universal Music. Basically the label is owned by Universal. But these things change all the time to be perfectly honest, because record companies are taken over by big corporations almost on a monthly basis. The reason I split from A&M is because my contract came to an end. I think 28 years, or actually nearly 30 years of being with the same label is an immense achievement, because those were the days when record companies like A&M records wanted to develop long term artists. And I was one of a stable of long term artists that they felt were good writers, good songwriters, who would then develop and be worth nurturing and supporting over a long career.
Editor's note:
The Man On (the) Line section is taking a short holiday break now. We'll be back online with the next question and answer on Tuesday. Thanks everyone for sending in so many interesting questions!
Tillman Graach (23) from Augsburg, Germany:
You've been talking about your next album being 'your own product'. How is the legal situation with all of your other records? I guess they all belong to A&M (or the bits and pieces left of it all around the world). Another question concerning record contracts: how and why have you split up with A&M? Was it the company's or your own decision? Thank you for taking time to answer all these questions. And thank you for the great solo performance in Augsburg last summer - hope you'll return soon!
Chris de Burgh:
I think I may have mentioned it before, but one of my great memories of last year?s open air season was the arena in Augsburg. And yes I do recall mentioning it when everybody ran to the side of the stage and there were a couple of people in wheelchairs that were brought onto the side. And it was a fine, beautiful evening and a great night was had by all, I think. I certainly loved it.
The legal situation with the previous records is that they are still owned by the record company. And in this case it is A&M, who have now I think been changed through to Universal Music. Basically the label is owned by Universal. But these things change all the time to be perfectly honest, because record companies are taken over by big corporations almost on a monthly basis. The reason I split from A&M is because my contract came to an end. I think 28 years, or actually nearly 30 years of being with the same label is an immense achievement, because those were the days when record companies like A&M records wanted to develop long term artists. And I was one of a stable of long term artists that they felt were good writers, good songwriters, who would then develop and be worth nurturing and supporting over a long career.
Editor's note:
The Man On (the) Line section is taking a short holiday break now. We'll be back online with the next question and answer on Tuesday. Thanks everyone for sending in so many interesting questions!
March 11, 2004
Martin Travers (35) from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK:
Hi Chris. This is probably one of hundreds of the same question you will receive from people...but he who dares wins....with the opening of your new on-line store (www.cdeb.net) I get the impression you are looking to release new albums exclusively through this medium ? Given that records sold through websites don't contribute to chart rankings (in the UK at least) is this a sign that you've "given up" on achieving UK chart success now ? It's a shame because albums produced on independent labels (e.g. Ferryman Records !) could still make chart success despite not having the marketing power of large record companies behind them. I know it's an easy 'get out clause' for people in your position to declare that you don't care about the (UK) charts anymore but deep down I'm guessing you still do. A penny for your thoughts ?!!
Chris de Burgh:
Martin, let me just state right from the start that I’m absolutely thrilled that I now have my own record company Ferryman Productions. It sounds very grand, but our staff is fairly small, extremely hard working and putting long hours, in particular Caroline, Kenny and Loren, long hours of getting the whole idea started. Kenny Thomson in particular has been pursuing this idea for at least two years. And as you have correctly pointed out websites do not contribute to chart rankings. However no, it is not a sign that I have given up at all. On the contrary! We will be selling through outlets and through record companies who are the distributor of the new album. And it’s basically a different marketing strategy. And of course I do care about chart positions, but I have to be absolutely realistic about it. It’s that people of my age and people who have been in the business as long as I struggle to make an impact on the charts. Although you have to remember that the charts reflect current sales, but not sales over a long period of time. And people like for example Mark Knopfler may not achieve chart success, but certainly can sell a lot of records across a year. Whereas a lot of people who tend to occupy the charts for a short time, only sell records for a short time.
Martin Travers (35) from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK:
Hi Chris. This is probably one of hundreds of the same question you will receive from people...but he who dares wins....with the opening of your new on-line store (www.cdeb.net) I get the impression you are looking to release new albums exclusively through this medium ? Given that records sold through websites don't contribute to chart rankings (in the UK at least) is this a sign that you've "given up" on achieving UK chart success now ? It's a shame because albums produced on independent labels (e.g. Ferryman Records !) could still make chart success despite not having the marketing power of large record companies behind them. I know it's an easy 'get out clause' for people in your position to declare that you don't care about the (UK) charts anymore but deep down I'm guessing you still do. A penny for your thoughts ?!!
Chris de Burgh:
Martin, let me just state right from the start that I’m absolutely thrilled that I now have my own record company Ferryman Productions. It sounds very grand, but our staff is fairly small, extremely hard working and putting long hours, in particular Caroline, Kenny and Loren, long hours of getting the whole idea started. Kenny Thomson in particular has been pursuing this idea for at least two years. And as you have correctly pointed out websites do not contribute to chart rankings. However no, it is not a sign that I have given up at all. On the contrary! We will be selling through outlets and through record companies who are the distributor of the new album. And it’s basically a different marketing strategy. And of course I do care about chart positions, but I have to be absolutely realistic about it. It’s that people of my age and people who have been in the business as long as I struggle to make an impact on the charts. Although you have to remember that the charts reflect current sales, but not sales over a long period of time. And people like for example Mark Knopfler may not achieve chart success, but certainly can sell a lot of records across a year. Whereas a lot of people who tend to occupy the charts for a short time, only sell records for a short time.
March 10, 2004
Chris de Burgh:
A warm welcome to the Irish journalists who regularly visit this website. Following the howls of protest in the media after Rosanna said what even the dogs in the street know – that begrudgery exists in Ireland – they would do well to reflect on what a fellow journalist said in the Sunday Independent of January the 25th. The headline reads “Lord Mayor has discovered the chemistry of our national begrudgery” by Brendon O’Connor who goes on to say “People are very fond of saying that the Irish are a nation of begrudgers… We are not just begrudgers, we are so much more proactive than that. What we like to do is to build somebody out of all proportion, wait a second and then methodically demolish them. The hypocrisy is breathtaking.”
Chris de Burgh:
A warm welcome to the Irish journalists who regularly visit this website. Following the howls of protest in the media after Rosanna said what even the dogs in the street know – that begrudgery exists in Ireland – they would do well to reflect on what a fellow journalist said in the Sunday Independent of January the 25th. The headline reads “Lord Mayor has discovered the chemistry of our national begrudgery” by Brendon O’Connor who goes on to say “People are very fond of saying that the Irish are a nation of begrudgers… We are not just begrudgers, we are so much more proactive than that. What we like to do is to build somebody out of all proportion, wait a second and then methodically demolish them. The hypocrisy is breathtaking.”
March 9 2004
Randy Sabados (48) from Sedalia, Colorado, USA:
Dear Chris: First of all, I wanted to say how much my wife and I enjoyed your concert in Toronto!!! It was a true pleasure to be able to meet you. I have been to at least 50 concerts in my life and your concert was, by far, the best ever!!!! I can’t wait to be able to see you perform with your band! My question for you, Chris, is this.....When you decide to come up with a new album, do you have a general “theme” thought up in your mind in advance of what kind of content you want for the album or do you come up with a few songs first and then come up with an overall theme? In addition, do you come up with the idea for the artistry for the front cover? Do you design it yourself or do you have certain people who do these things for you? I had never really thought about all of the logistics that probably go into the making of an album and so I thought it would be interesting to hear how it all comes together. Thank You and may your music continue to reach out to more and more souls who end up becoming fans!!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Randy, it was a pleasure to meet with you and your friends and your family backstage at the Hummingbird Centre in Toronto. It was a concert I enjoyed enormously. I seem to recall it was sold out, 3500-4000 people. It was a very magical evening. I was delighted that so many people, including yourselves, made the effort to come so far for this particular evening. I’m glad to read that you really rate it at your top concerts of all time. Just in connection with your question, there is very rarely a general theme that I wish to approach with a new album. Although “The Road To Freedom”, the first three songs do actually hang together on purpose. But usually what happens is that I am in a certain frame of mind across the year that I’m writing and recording. And that reflects things that have been in my head, things that have interested me, things that I am concerned about. And they turn to wind up on the record not in a thematic kind of way, but certainly in a way that just illustrates where I am at at a certain time. I’m sure some of the readers will be interested to know or amazed or surprised perhaps to know that I’m already thinking about the next project, because I keep on referring to my head as being a bit like a garden. You can’t expect flowers to grow, unless you plant seeds. Or you become alert to the fact there are seeds in the wind that can give you ideas for new songs. In the past I have been thoroughly involved with the front cover, not only the title but also the front cover artistry and the artwork involved with the whole production of a record. When it comes to the sleeve design, the photographs, the lyric sheet, the credits at the end. You know I feel that if it’s got my name on it, it really should be my total involvement on that particular project. The cover for this one (“The Road To Freedom”), the eye with the globe in it, was actually Kenny’s idea (Kenny Thomson) and I loved it when I heard it first, because it is very strong, very powerful. And so obviously I became involved in the final details, but it was his idea. So I am pleased by that. Putting an album together is a long distance project. For example we were aiming at a March release about a year ago, so it meant writing the songs, getting the production sorted, getting the recording studios arranged, the producer, the musicians, all up front, so we could actually finish the whole project by the middle of January. It’s amazing, if you give a human being 48 hours to do something, he’ll use to the last minute. If you give him two years to do something, he’ll also use up to the last minute, particularly if it’s an artistic project. So we became right up to the wire really on “The Road To Freedom”, but I am very pleased with the result. And now we are looking at a two month period where the whole project is then put together on CD, the manufacturing process getting what we call the parts round the world, so they can go through the manufacturing process, so we can have a simultaneous release where we want. Or in fact, where we don’t want a simultaneous release, we can hold back to another time.
Randy Sabados (48) from Sedalia, Colorado, USA:
Dear Chris: First of all, I wanted to say how much my wife and I enjoyed your concert in Toronto!!! It was a true pleasure to be able to meet you. I have been to at least 50 concerts in my life and your concert was, by far, the best ever!!!! I can’t wait to be able to see you perform with your band! My question for you, Chris, is this.....When you decide to come up with a new album, do you have a general “theme” thought up in your mind in advance of what kind of content you want for the album or do you come up with a few songs first and then come up with an overall theme? In addition, do you come up with the idea for the artistry for the front cover? Do you design it yourself or do you have certain people who do these things for you? I had never really thought about all of the logistics that probably go into the making of an album and so I thought it would be interesting to hear how it all comes together. Thank You and may your music continue to reach out to more and more souls who end up becoming fans!!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Randy, it was a pleasure to meet with you and your friends and your family backstage at the Hummingbird Centre in Toronto. It was a concert I enjoyed enormously. I seem to recall it was sold out, 3500-4000 people. It was a very magical evening. I was delighted that so many people, including yourselves, made the effort to come so far for this particular evening. I’m glad to read that you really rate it at your top concerts of all time. Just in connection with your question, there is very rarely a general theme that I wish to approach with a new album. Although “The Road To Freedom”, the first three songs do actually hang together on purpose. But usually what happens is that I am in a certain frame of mind across the year that I’m writing and recording. And that reflects things that have been in my head, things that have interested me, things that I am concerned about. And they turn to wind up on the record not in a thematic kind of way, but certainly in a way that just illustrates where I am at at a certain time. I’m sure some of the readers will be interested to know or amazed or surprised perhaps to know that I’m already thinking about the next project, because I keep on referring to my head as being a bit like a garden. You can’t expect flowers to grow, unless you plant seeds. Or you become alert to the fact there are seeds in the wind that can give you ideas for new songs. In the past I have been thoroughly involved with the front cover, not only the title but also the front cover artistry and the artwork involved with the whole production of a record. When it comes to the sleeve design, the photographs, the lyric sheet, the credits at the end. You know I feel that if it’s got my name on it, it really should be my total involvement on that particular project. The cover for this one (“The Road To Freedom”), the eye with the globe in it, was actually Kenny’s idea (Kenny Thomson) and I loved it when I heard it first, because it is very strong, very powerful. And so obviously I became involved in the final details, but it was his idea. So I am pleased by that. Putting an album together is a long distance project. For example we were aiming at a March release about a year ago, so it meant writing the songs, getting the production sorted, getting the recording studios arranged, the producer, the musicians, all up front, so we could actually finish the whole project by the middle of January. It’s amazing, if you give a human being 48 hours to do something, he’ll use to the last minute. If you give him two years to do something, he’ll also use up to the last minute, particularly if it’s an artistic project. So we became right up to the wire really on “The Road To Freedom”, but I am very pleased with the result. And now we are looking at a two month period where the whole project is then put together on CD, the manufacturing process getting what we call the parts round the world, so they can go through the manufacturing process, so we can have a simultaneous release where we want. Or in fact, where we don’t want a simultaneous release, we can hold back to another time.
March 8, 2004
Rainer Werner (43) from Mannheim, Germany:
Dear Chris, I would like to know the musicians of "Every drop of Rain" and "Waiting for the Hurricane", the two "new" songs on "Best Moves". Unfortunately there is no info on the CD (my issue) or on the fan web sites. Thank you!
Chris de Burgh:
Now you are really stretching my memory here! Because those two songs were recorded separately from virtually everything else I have done, with the man who was very much involved in producing the Eagles amongst other people. He also worked with the Beatles too. The producer’s name was Glyn Johns. And we recorded the two tracks in his home studio in the South of England. And I really cannot remember who the players were on those two tracks. So if anybody out there in the world of music knows the answer to this question, I would be absolutely thrilled to hear, but unfortunately I can’t remember. It is obviously on record somewhere, probably with the record company, who performed on those tracks, but none of us can remember. Sorry.
Rainer Werner (43) from Mannheim, Germany:
Dear Chris, I would like to know the musicians of "Every drop of Rain" and "Waiting for the Hurricane", the two "new" songs on "Best Moves". Unfortunately there is no info on the CD (my issue) or on the fan web sites. Thank you!
Chris de Burgh:
Now you are really stretching my memory here! Because those two songs were recorded separately from virtually everything else I have done, with the man who was very much involved in producing the Eagles amongst other people. He also worked with the Beatles too. The producer’s name was Glyn Johns. And we recorded the two tracks in his home studio in the South of England. And I really cannot remember who the players were on those two tracks. So if anybody out there in the world of music knows the answer to this question, I would be absolutely thrilled to hear, but unfortunately I can’t remember. It is obviously on record somewhere, probably with the record company, who performed on those tracks, but none of us can remember. Sorry.
March 7, 2004
Mert Ener (23) from Istanbul, Turkey:
You always use the word "Lord" instead of "God". But in the song "Crusader" you used it as "God" (For God in all his mercy will find a just reward, God is the King). What was the reason for this exception?
Chris de Burgh:
You know, this is really a poetic problem. Sometimes the word “God” works better in a lyric, and sometimes the word “Lord”. Also, I refer to what sometimes the people involved in the song would say. I think when people are talking about the Lord, you know if it’s a character in the song, that probably sits better with them than sometimes God. So it depends on what the character is doing and saying and it depends whether the word can work better in one form or another.
Mert Ener (23) from Istanbul, Turkey:
You always use the word "Lord" instead of "God". But in the song "Crusader" you used it as "God" (For God in all his mercy will find a just reward, God is the King). What was the reason for this exception?
Chris de Burgh:
You know, this is really a poetic problem. Sometimes the word “God” works better in a lyric, and sometimes the word “Lord”. Also, I refer to what sometimes the people involved in the song would say. I think when people are talking about the Lord, you know if it’s a character in the song, that probably sits better with them than sometimes God. So it depends on what the character is doing and saying and it depends whether the word can work better in one form or another.
March 6, 2004
Arash (18) from Iran:
Hi Chris, at the end of beautiful song "Girl" you whisper something that I can't find in your lyrics and also I can't find it in the original song by The Beatles. Is that something meaningful or did you just add it for making the song more beautiful? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
At the end of the song “Girl” I decided to make up some words that the Beatles didn’t put in, which is something, if I recall, along the lines of “I want her, I need her, and yes I really love her, that girl”. It’s just when I was listening to the string quartet playing on my version, I thought “wouldn’t it be great to put in something that the Beatles hadn’t put in that would work across this particular musical ending”. So that’s what it is. I don’t think I put the words into the CD cover. But that’s what it is anyway.
Arash (18) from Iran:
Hi Chris, at the end of beautiful song "Girl" you whisper something that I can't find in your lyrics and also I can't find it in the original song by The Beatles. Is that something meaningful or did you just add it for making the song more beautiful? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
At the end of the song “Girl” I decided to make up some words that the Beatles didn’t put in, which is something, if I recall, along the lines of “I want her, I need her, and yes I really love her, that girl”. It’s just when I was listening to the string quartet playing on my version, I thought “wouldn’t it be great to put in something that the Beatles hadn’t put in that would work across this particular musical ending”. So that’s what it is. I don’t think I put the words into the CD cover. But that’s what it is anyway.
March 5, 2004
Chris Williams (51) from Basildon, Essex, England:
Hiya Chris !! How do you cope with stress ? If I've had a particularly stressful or bad day at work, I tend to get into my car for the short drive home and turn the CD player right up, usually making sure that I have a CdeB CD is playing. By the time I arrive through the front door I'm usually feeling better, if not, god help the first person to say something wrong to me !!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Chris ! Thank you very much for your question. I know the job that you do, working in a hospital, must be an extremely stressful and emotional one. I have enormous respect for doctors and nurses and those who care for sick and handicapped and elderly people. I’m not quite sure how I would cope under those circumstances, but it’s nice to see that people’s real emotions can be expressed, even if it is an actual job that they are doing, by caring for those who need their help. As far as stress is concerned, I usually find that I only know that I’ve been under stress when it’s finished. It’s like going through a storm. You don’t really know how bad it has been until it is over. And the way I cope with it is silence. I absolutely adore the sound of silence, where I can walk in the fields on my own or go up to my studio and just sit and contemplate and think and allow all that stuff in my head to dissolve and disappear. I have become very good at taking catnaps for ten minutes, where, you know, you get tired out and stressed, and I can actually close my eyes and disappear into some kind of dreamland even for ten minutes and that makes me feel a heck of a lot better. And perhaps this is something that would help those who are living a stressful lifestyle. Also sometimes I play music very loudly and I dance around and I sing loudly. On my own I have to say! And that helps me deal with stress.
Chris Williams (51) from Basildon, Essex, England:
Hiya Chris !! How do you cope with stress ? If I've had a particularly stressful or bad day at work, I tend to get into my car for the short drive home and turn the CD player right up, usually making sure that I have a CdeB CD is playing. By the time I arrive through the front door I'm usually feeling better, if not, god help the first person to say something wrong to me !!!!
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Chris ! Thank you very much for your question. I know the job that you do, working in a hospital, must be an extremely stressful and emotional one. I have enormous respect for doctors and nurses and those who care for sick and handicapped and elderly people. I’m not quite sure how I would cope under those circumstances, but it’s nice to see that people’s real emotions can be expressed, even if it is an actual job that they are doing, by caring for those who need their help. As far as stress is concerned, I usually find that I only know that I’ve been under stress when it’s finished. It’s like going through a storm. You don’t really know how bad it has been until it is over. And the way I cope with it is silence. I absolutely adore the sound of silence, where I can walk in the fields on my own or go up to my studio and just sit and contemplate and think and allow all that stuff in my head to dissolve and disappear. I have become very good at taking catnaps for ten minutes, where, you know, you get tired out and stressed, and I can actually close my eyes and disappear into some kind of dreamland even for ten minutes and that makes me feel a heck of a lot better. And perhaps this is something that would help those who are living a stressful lifestyle. Also sometimes I play music very loudly and I dance around and I sing loudly. On my own I have to say! And that helps me deal with stress.
March 4, 2004
Don Greenop (46) from Memphis, Tennessee, USA:
I know that they are (supposedly) from two different countries (Ireland and Lebanon), but have you ever viewed "The Sound of A Gun" and "Lebanese Nights" as prequel/sequel? The chorus of Lebanese Nights sounds like it COULD be referring to Sound of a Gun (talking about a lullaby and going to bed with the sound of guns at night). Thanks, Don
Chris de Burgh:
I answered the questions earlier about “Sound Of A Gun” and “Lebanese Night”. But I had no intention of having them as a prequel and sequel. I think this is just back to my .. perhaps (I was going to use the word obsession) but perhaps keen interest in those things that I spoke about before. It’s how people get caught up in war and in particular the children of war and how they are affected.
Don Greenop (46) from Memphis, Tennessee, USA:
I know that they are (supposedly) from two different countries (Ireland and Lebanon), but have you ever viewed "The Sound of A Gun" and "Lebanese Nights" as prequel/sequel? The chorus of Lebanese Nights sounds like it COULD be referring to Sound of a Gun (talking about a lullaby and going to bed with the sound of guns at night). Thanks, Don
Chris de Burgh:
I answered the questions earlier about “Sound Of A Gun” and “Lebanese Night”. But I had no intention of having them as a prequel and sequel. I think this is just back to my .. perhaps (I was going to use the word obsession) but perhaps keen interest in those things that I spoke about before. It’s how people get caught up in war and in particular the children of war and how they are affected.
March 3, 2004
Paulana Layman (35) from Montreal, Canada:
Dear Chris, One month ago I married my childhood sweetheart. Our first date was to your "Quiet Revolution" concert. Our first wedding dance was "Same Sun". So you have been with us from the beginning. What was the inspiration for "Same Sun"? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
This is a lovely story. I’m absolutely delighted that you married your childhood sweetheart and you came to the “Quiet Revolution” concert. I have some absolutely wonderful friends in Montreal and to them I send my everlasting affection and love and I hope to see you soon. “The Same Sun” was inspired really by Celtic poetry and the idea of sending love to somebody far away, perhaps a grandfather, grandmother or a child or parent or lover. From wherever you are in the world and looking up into the sky and seeing the sun and the moon. And I always visualize myself late at night writing a letter to somebody that I loved, and looking out the window and there’s the moon shining through. And then in the daytime, as I walk along and I see the shadow cast by the sun, that could be me walking with the one I miss and the one I’m thinking about and the one I love. As always in my songs I try to give an idea to somebody listening the chance that it’s their song, that they can then take it and make it into something that is meaningful and special to them. This isn’t just about me. Very very rarely do I actually write songs that are particularly about me. But this one I could visualize myself in that situation very strongly. And I remember when I was down at my parents place at Bargy Castle, playing the piano, looking out the raining pouring down outside the window, thinking about anybody, somebody far far away and thinking we all share the same things on the same world that is spinning around in space.
Paulana Layman (35) from Montreal, Canada:
Dear Chris, One month ago I married my childhood sweetheart. Our first date was to your "Quiet Revolution" concert. Our first wedding dance was "Same Sun". So you have been with us from the beginning. What was the inspiration for "Same Sun"? Thanks.
Chris de Burgh:
This is a lovely story. I’m absolutely delighted that you married your childhood sweetheart and you came to the “Quiet Revolution” concert. I have some absolutely wonderful friends in Montreal and to them I send my everlasting affection and love and I hope to see you soon. “The Same Sun” was inspired really by Celtic poetry and the idea of sending love to somebody far away, perhaps a grandfather, grandmother or a child or parent or lover. From wherever you are in the world and looking up into the sky and seeing the sun and the moon. And I always visualize myself late at night writing a letter to somebody that I loved, and looking out the window and there’s the moon shining through. And then in the daytime, as I walk along and I see the shadow cast by the sun, that could be me walking with the one I miss and the one I’m thinking about and the one I love. As always in my songs I try to give an idea to somebody listening the chance that it’s their song, that they can then take it and make it into something that is meaningful and special to them. This isn’t just about me. Very very rarely do I actually write songs that are particularly about me. But this one I could visualize myself in that situation very strongly. And I remember when I was down at my parents place at Bargy Castle, playing the piano, looking out the raining pouring down outside the window, thinking about anybody, somebody far far away and thinking we all share the same things on the same world that is spinning around in space.
March 2, 2004
Chris Raymond (52) from Whitton, Twickenham, UK:
Hello Chris, First, it was great to meet the Boys in the Band after the Concert in the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin and to tell them first hand what fantastic musicians they are! Subsequently I saw a photo on Al Vosper's website of the two of you doing a bit of ironing together! Ironing for me is the most tedious chore and I usually like a bit of C de B music playing to take the pain away! My question is - do you iron often and how do you feel about this chore?! Thanks Chris R
Chris de Burgh:
Again, thanks Chris for your cards and letters you sent me. The boys in the band and the Gendarmenmarkt concert – well, what a spectacular night that was in Berlin! I think anybody who was there, or indeed in the cafes around this marketplace must have remembered it as one of the spectacular nights of the summer. For me it was one of the great memories, because not only was it a beautiful venue, but it was a beautiful evening and the place was absolutely packed. The photograph of me and Al Vosper ironing together..? I better check Al’s website! This is a chore I used to do when I was a lot younger and had to look after myself, did all the cooking and cleaning and ironing and all the things that you have to do if you are a solo single bachelor with nobody to look after you. I do ironing when I’m on tour and I need to get a shirt looking a bit crisper than it is to that point. Particularly when you are travelling, things can get a bit crushed and crambled. I’m actually reasonably good at ironing a shirt. But aren’t they very awkward things? This is for the ladies who iron and anybody who irons: Aren’t shirts an absolute disaster to try and iron? You gotta put the arm here and the other bit on the ironing board, and all that… Trousers I don’t have a problem with, but it’s the shirts that I have a problem with. So I try to do these particular things as little as possible.
Chris Raymond (52) from Whitton, Twickenham, UK:
Hello Chris, First, it was great to meet the Boys in the Band after the Concert in the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin and to tell them first hand what fantastic musicians they are! Subsequently I saw a photo on Al Vosper's website of the two of you doing a bit of ironing together! Ironing for me is the most tedious chore and I usually like a bit of C de B music playing to take the pain away! My question is - do you iron often and how do you feel about this chore?! Thanks Chris R
Chris de Burgh:
Again, thanks Chris for your cards and letters you sent me. The boys in the band and the Gendarmenmarkt concert – well, what a spectacular night that was in Berlin! I think anybody who was there, or indeed in the cafes around this marketplace must have remembered it as one of the spectacular nights of the summer. For me it was one of the great memories, because not only was it a beautiful venue, but it was a beautiful evening and the place was absolutely packed. The photograph of me and Al Vosper ironing together..? I better check Al’s website! This is a chore I used to do when I was a lot younger and had to look after myself, did all the cooking and cleaning and ironing and all the things that you have to do if you are a solo single bachelor with nobody to look after you. I do ironing when I’m on tour and I need to get a shirt looking a bit crisper than it is to that point. Particularly when you are travelling, things can get a bit crushed and crambled. I’m actually reasonably good at ironing a shirt. But aren’t they very awkward things? This is for the ladies who iron and anybody who irons: Aren’t shirts an absolute disaster to try and iron? You gotta put the arm here and the other bit on the ironing board, and all that… Trousers I don’t have a problem with, but it’s the shirts that I have a problem with. So I try to do these particular things as little as possible.
March 1, 2004
Jacqueline Ebner (45) from Erskine, Scotland:
Dear Chris, A good friend of mine died recently of an aneurism aged 50 (too young!) Once again your song 'Carry Me' helped me to cope with this unexpected death. At her funeral the Minister quoted these words "When we come into this world we are crying and all around us the people are laughing. When we leave this world, we leave laughing and the people around us are crying." I had never heard this before and wondered, have you? Lots of love, Jacqueline xx
Chris de Burgh:
I am very sorry to hear about your friend. I know the song “Carry Me Like A Fire In Your Heart” has been used frequently at funerals to give, I believe, comfort to those who need some kind of focus that music can bring to a very emotional time. I myself was at a funeral a short while ago of a young fellow, 27, who was killed in a car crash. And it was amazing how his favourite pieces of music brought such emotion for all those people listening. There were many tears including mine. The expression that you are referring to, I have never heard that before and I can completely understand it. You know, you can just visualize the moment of birth and all the friends round and the happy times. And then the sadness as somebody moves on to the next world. But it’s a beautiful expression, I shall certainly remember that.
Jacqueline Ebner (45) from Erskine, Scotland:
Dear Chris, A good friend of mine died recently of an aneurism aged 50 (too young!) Once again your song 'Carry Me' helped me to cope with this unexpected death. At her funeral the Minister quoted these words "When we come into this world we are crying and all around us the people are laughing. When we leave this world, we leave laughing and the people around us are crying." I had never heard this before and wondered, have you? Lots of love, Jacqueline xx
Chris de Burgh:
I am very sorry to hear about your friend. I know the song “Carry Me Like A Fire In Your Heart” has been used frequently at funerals to give, I believe, comfort to those who need some kind of focus that music can bring to a very emotional time. I myself was at a funeral a short while ago of a young fellow, 27, who was killed in a car crash. And it was amazing how his favourite pieces of music brought such emotion for all those people listening. There were many tears including mine. The expression that you are referring to, I have never heard that before and I can completely understand it. You know, you can just visualize the moment of birth and all the friends round and the happy times. And then the sadness as somebody moves on to the next world. But it’s a beautiful expression, I shall certainly remember that.
February 29, 2004
Alina Azarova (15) from Moscow, Russia:
HI, Chris! Thank you for your beautiful songs- "The lady in red", "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", "Two sides to every story" and others. I can't believe that you could answer to my questions! I like you very much! I want to ask you about the history of the songs "Two sides to every story" and "Sailing away"! And...I think that "Sailing away" is about you when you "were just a boy"? Am I right or not? And I want to say you that you are the best!!! With best Wishes, Alina.
Chris de Burgh:
A couple of questions ago I had 17 year old Jessica Litz from Canada and now I have 15 year old Alina Azarova from Moscow! Thank you very much for your kind words about “The Lady In Red”, “Where Peaceful Waters Flow” and “Two Sides To Every Story”. Well, “Two Sides To Every Story” is one of the rare occasions that I co-wrote a song. This one was a song that I co-wrote with a friend of mine called Graham Lyle. He used to be in the Scottish band called Gallagher & Lyle. And he has become a very successful songwriter in his own right, he has written lots of hits for, for example Tina Turner whose voice it was that sang the words “Hush child, go to sleep” on my album “Man On The Line” on the song “The Sound Of A Gun”, a question I answered a little while ago. It was a very complicated lyric for me to write this one “Two Sides To Every Story”. What I was trying to suggest is a couple who are going to a party and it’s that scene in the car on the way back when she says to him “God, you’re such a flirt, you looked at every girl in the room.” And he says “What? I’m a flirt? What about you! You were standing beside that man, that you couldn’t stop keep your hands off him?” You know, one of those arguments. Everybody knows it. And that’s what “Two Sides To Every Story” is all about. And at the end of it they agree to disagree, but they also make up and decide that they actually are pretty well made for each other.
“Sailing Away” is loosely based on a favourite book of mine called “A portrait of the artist as a young man” by James Joyce. Not the book itself, but one scene when the hero in the book called Stephen Dedalus goes down to the docks in Dublin and watches all the boats with their romantic names on the back like Hamburg or Cape Town. Places that he has only ever read about and never been to. And he watches these ships heading off and he dreams about going with them. And then, as he walks back through the town, he walks through a red light district and these prostitutes are waving at him, saying “Come this way”. It’s a new voyage discovery for him. And that’s when he says “I wish I was sailing away in your arms”. Because as just a young boy in his mid teens he has obviously dreamed about girls and he hasn’t discovered the final mystery that girls can offer him in a physical kind of a way.
Alina Azarova (15) from Moscow, Russia:
HI, Chris! Thank you for your beautiful songs- "The lady in red", "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", "Two sides to every story" and others. I can't believe that you could answer to my questions! I like you very much! I want to ask you about the history of the songs "Two sides to every story" and "Sailing away"! And...I think that "Sailing away" is about you when you "were just a boy"? Am I right or not? And I want to say you that you are the best!!! With best Wishes, Alina.
Chris de Burgh:
A couple of questions ago I had 17 year old Jessica Litz from Canada and now I have 15 year old Alina Azarova from Moscow! Thank you very much for your kind words about “The Lady In Red”, “Where Peaceful Waters Flow” and “Two Sides To Every Story”. Well, “Two Sides To Every Story” is one of the rare occasions that I co-wrote a song. This one was a song that I co-wrote with a friend of mine called Graham Lyle. He used to be in the Scottish band called Gallagher & Lyle. And he has become a very successful songwriter in his own right, he has written lots of hits for, for example Tina Turner whose voice it was that sang the words “Hush child, go to sleep” on my album “Man On The Line” on the song “The Sound Of A Gun”, a question I answered a little while ago. It was a very complicated lyric for me to write this one “Two Sides To Every Story”. What I was trying to suggest is a couple who are going to a party and it’s that scene in the car on the way back when she says to him “God, you’re such a flirt, you looked at every girl in the room.” And he says “What? I’m a flirt? What about you! You were standing beside that man, that you couldn’t stop keep your hands off him?” You know, one of those arguments. Everybody knows it. And that’s what “Two Sides To Every Story” is all about. And at the end of it they agree to disagree, but they also make up and decide that they actually are pretty well made for each other.
“Sailing Away” is loosely based on a favourite book of mine called “A portrait of the artist as a young man” by James Joyce. Not the book itself, but one scene when the hero in the book called Stephen Dedalus goes down to the docks in Dublin and watches all the boats with their romantic names on the back like Hamburg or Cape Town. Places that he has only ever read about and never been to. And he watches these ships heading off and he dreams about going with them. And then, as he walks back through the town, he walks through a red light district and these prostitutes are waving at him, saying “Come this way”. It’s a new voyage discovery for him. And that’s when he says “I wish I was sailing away in your arms”. Because as just a young boy in his mid teens he has obviously dreamed about girls and he hasn’t discovered the final mystery that girls can offer him in a physical kind of a way.
February 28, 2004
Mark Pearce (29) from Manchester, Didsbury, UK:
Hello, I've been a fan of your music for about ten years and now have seen you in concert six times, the first time was at castle Howard in York back in about 1995 or 96 and you were just as awesome as I knew you would be. There is something about your music and voice that generates real power and emotion. I really love the song So Beautiful, from the Love Songs album, it's your voice at its best. Is this key that you sing in on this song your most comfortable for your voice? If not which songs are the ones that you can sing most easily? Thank you, looking forward to your new album and concert tours. P.S Write more songs in the same key as So Beautiful.
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you very much for your kind comments about my song “So Beautiful”. I think I started it in the key of C, and it just seemed to suit my voice. And then there’s a modulation half way through, it goes up a tone after the middle section. You know, when it comes to keys, you learn after a while that some of them suit your voice better than others. And I know that, for example, the key of F and D and B flat, E flat suit my voice particularly well. The key of E occasionally, it depends on the song. For example the song “When I Think Of You” is in the key of E. Some keys are much more raw and they convey a different kind of emotion, like I have a new song called “The Journey” which is in the key of A and it works very well in that key, because it’s a very plaintive powerful emotional song. Interesting question! It’s one that, every time I start a new record, I always go through the keys of each of the songs I’m about to record to ensure that Chris Porter or whoever producer is and I both agree that is the best one for my voice. One of the problems I have is that I’m not particularly good on the piano for example and I tend to stick to the keys that I can play more easily. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best keys for my voice, so I do try to make sure that the key I wind up with is the one that suits my voice best for whatever the song happens to be.
Mark Pearce (29) from Manchester, Didsbury, UK:
Hello, I've been a fan of your music for about ten years and now have seen you in concert six times, the first time was at castle Howard in York back in about 1995 or 96 and you were just as awesome as I knew you would be. There is something about your music and voice that generates real power and emotion. I really love the song So Beautiful, from the Love Songs album, it's your voice at its best. Is this key that you sing in on this song your most comfortable for your voice? If not which songs are the ones that you can sing most easily? Thank you, looking forward to your new album and concert tours. P.S Write more songs in the same key as So Beautiful.
Chris de Burgh:
Thank you very much for your kind comments about my song “So Beautiful”. I think I started it in the key of C, and it just seemed to suit my voice. And then there’s a modulation half way through, it goes up a tone after the middle section. You know, when it comes to keys, you learn after a while that some of them suit your voice better than others. And I know that, for example, the key of F and D and B flat, E flat suit my voice particularly well. The key of E occasionally, it depends on the song. For example the song “When I Think Of You” is in the key of E. Some keys are much more raw and they convey a different kind of emotion, like I have a new song called “The Journey” which is in the key of A and it works very well in that key, because it’s a very plaintive powerful emotional song. Interesting question! It’s one that, every time I start a new record, I always go through the keys of each of the songs I’m about to record to ensure that Chris Porter or whoever producer is and I both agree that is the best one for my voice. One of the problems I have is that I’m not particularly good on the piano for example and I tend to stick to the keys that I can play more easily. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best keys for my voice, so I do try to make sure that the key I wind up with is the one that suits my voice best for whatever the song happens to be.
February 27, 2004
Jessica Litz (17) from London, Ontario, Canada:
Chris, I'd first like to mention that your voice is music to my ears. You will remain in history forever and your songs shall always be classics. On your album "Man on the Line", all your songs have such meaning and history. However, I don't quite understand your song "The Sound Of A Gun". Could you please explain to me what the song is about. (especially the first stanza?) I would really appreciate it and God bless. Love Jessica
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Jessica! You’re from London, Ontario, and there’s the Centennial Hall that I have performed in last year. And I want to say hi to all my friends and fans in London, because that particular night was absolutely spectacular and very special and I look forward to returning again. Your question is about “The Sound Of A Gun”. This was recorded on “Man On The Line” quite a long time ago, and I had to go and listen to it to remind myself about it. The first lines are interesting, because it goes “I have seen the diamond stylus, cut a groove from North to South, heard them calling from the islands for a better day”. Basically, this is a song about a country where there is a repressive regime. The diamond stylus.. a stylus is what the vinyl records used to have to put down on them so you could actually listen to music. Diamond means that it is a very hard stylus. And it just basically ripped a country apart, like a civil war was going on. And the people are being terrified and being the subject of tremendous aggression from whatever powers are in this particular place. It is an imaginary place, but it could have been anywhere. It could have been Korea (North and South), Ireland (North and South), it really didn’t matter to me. Again I took the universal standpoint with this, it’s something that individuals get caught up in. This is a repeated theme with me how it’s all very well to read history and say a million people died in certain times in say Russia or in Poland or whatever, but those are all individuals with families and loved ones and friends behind them. And that’s what I find very interesting. When it says “hush child, go to sleep, it’s only the sound of a gun”, the key word here is “only”. Obviously the parents have got so used to the idea of gunfire and the sound of gunfire in their area that the child that wakes up crying in terror, the parents have to say “it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright”. This could apply to anywhere, I mean, as the years go on and there are wars in Iraq for example, and things going on still in Palestine and Israel, this very much applies. As you can tell from the latest song “Lebanese Night”, there is a connection. And I believe there is a question later on about this.
Jessica Litz (17) from London, Ontario, Canada:
Chris, I'd first like to mention that your voice is music to my ears. You will remain in history forever and your songs shall always be classics. On your album "Man on the Line", all your songs have such meaning and history. However, I don't quite understand your song "The Sound Of A Gun". Could you please explain to me what the song is about. (especially the first stanza?) I would really appreciate it and God bless. Love Jessica
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Jessica! You’re from London, Ontario, and there’s the Centennial Hall that I have performed in last year. And I want to say hi to all my friends and fans in London, because that particular night was absolutely spectacular and very special and I look forward to returning again. Your question is about “The Sound Of A Gun”. This was recorded on “Man On The Line” quite a long time ago, and I had to go and listen to it to remind myself about it. The first lines are interesting, because it goes “I have seen the diamond stylus, cut a groove from North to South, heard them calling from the islands for a better day”. Basically, this is a song about a country where there is a repressive regime. The diamond stylus.. a stylus is what the vinyl records used to have to put down on them so you could actually listen to music. Diamond means that it is a very hard stylus. And it just basically ripped a country apart, like a civil war was going on. And the people are being terrified and being the subject of tremendous aggression from whatever powers are in this particular place. It is an imaginary place, but it could have been anywhere. It could have been Korea (North and South), Ireland (North and South), it really didn’t matter to me. Again I took the universal standpoint with this, it’s something that individuals get caught up in. This is a repeated theme with me how it’s all very well to read history and say a million people died in certain times in say Russia or in Poland or whatever, but those are all individuals with families and loved ones and friends behind them. And that’s what I find very interesting. When it says “hush child, go to sleep, it’s only the sound of a gun”, the key word here is “only”. Obviously the parents have got so used to the idea of gunfire and the sound of gunfire in their area that the child that wakes up crying in terror, the parents have to say “it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright”. This could apply to anywhere, I mean, as the years go on and there are wars in Iraq for example, and things going on still in Palestine and Israel, this very much applies. As you can tell from the latest song “Lebanese Night”, there is a connection. And I believe there is a question later on about this.
February 26, 2004
Claudia Schreiber (31) from Solingen, Germany:
Hi Chris! What I always wonder about is the following thing: if you - as you said- don't have a clue of music notes, how can you "transport" a song from the piano to the guitar? I remember the Belfast concert last year, where you did not have a piano but everybody asked for "Borderline"-you played on the guitar-but how, if you don't know the notes? How do you know where to find, let's say an "A", if you don't know that there is an "A" at all? And in Wexford, the first show with the new band, you and the guys started "St. Peter's gate" in different keys, you stopped playing and even named the keys you played in...so I wonder how you knew...Anyway, never stop to brighten up our days! Yours, Claudia
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Claudia! Lovely to hear from you again. And I believe that you are still involved with a disco called “Shadow” and I believe that you had one of the fan club meetings there in the Shadow. Thank you very much for that and I hope to see you soon. When I am playing the guitar, I am always thinking about the chords. If I am in the key of D, when I change the chords I am down to E minor, F sharp minor, G, A and so on. If I am suddenly having to go over and play this on a different instrument, I immediately think of the chords and translate that to another instrument like in the case you are talking about, the piano. When I started singing “St. Peter’s Gate” in the wrong key, I knew instantly that I was in the wrong key. I thought the song was in B minor, but in fact the band started playing it in A minor which is a tone lower. And I could hear immediately that I was singing horribly out of tune, so I thought the best thing to do was start again and make a bit of a joke of it. And that’s the way I do it.
Claudia Schreiber (31) from Solingen, Germany:
Hi Chris! What I always wonder about is the following thing: if you - as you said- don't have a clue of music notes, how can you "transport" a song from the piano to the guitar? I remember the Belfast concert last year, where you did not have a piano but everybody asked for "Borderline"-you played on the guitar-but how, if you don't know the notes? How do you know where to find, let's say an "A", if you don't know that there is an "A" at all? And in Wexford, the first show with the new band, you and the guys started "St. Peter's gate" in different keys, you stopped playing and even named the keys you played in...so I wonder how you knew...Anyway, never stop to brighten up our days! Yours, Claudia
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Claudia! Lovely to hear from you again. And I believe that you are still involved with a disco called “Shadow” and I believe that you had one of the fan club meetings there in the Shadow. Thank you very much for that and I hope to see you soon. When I am playing the guitar, I am always thinking about the chords. If I am in the key of D, when I change the chords I am down to E minor, F sharp minor, G, A and so on. If I am suddenly having to go over and play this on a different instrument, I immediately think of the chords and translate that to another instrument like in the case you are talking about, the piano. When I started singing “St. Peter’s Gate” in the wrong key, I knew instantly that I was in the wrong key. I thought the song was in B minor, but in fact the band started playing it in A minor which is a tone lower. And I could hear immediately that I was singing horribly out of tune, so I thought the best thing to do was start again and make a bit of a joke of it. And that’s the way I do it.
February 25, 2004
Didier Matet (32) from Nimes, France:
Hi Chris! For your next record, with what producer do you want to work? Do you like to work with someone very famous in music?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Didier! When I was 16 years old, i worked in the Grand Hotel in Nimes, near Les Arènes in your town. And I had an absolutely fantastic time there for a month, learning to speak French, which I learned extremely well, because working in a French kitchen you learn all sorts of incredible slang expressions and I can still remember a lot of them. As far as producers are concerned, I have made three records now with Chris Porter and we are very comfortable working together. I have a project coming up later this year which I hope is going to come to fruition which is the movie project called “Through These Eyes”. I have written some new songs for that and I am quite sure that Chris Porter and I will be working together on that. I think when you find somebody, after all this is my 17th album, having worked with a lot of producers, this particular guy is not only a very close friend, but I have a huge respect for his abilities as a technician, as a producer. So I am sure we will be working together again quite a lot.
Didier Matet (32) from Nimes, France:
Hi Chris! For your next record, with what producer do you want to work? Do you like to work with someone very famous in music?
Chris de Burgh:
Hi Didier! When I was 16 years old, i worked in the Grand Hotel in Nimes, near Les Arènes in your town. And I had an absolutely fantastic time there for a month, learning to speak French, which I learned extremely well, because working in a French kitchen you learn all sorts of incredible slang expressions and I can still remember a lot of them. As far as producers are concerned, I have made three records now with Chris Porter and we are very comfortable working together. I have a project coming up later this year which I hope is going to come to fruition which is the movie project called “Through These Eyes”. I have written some new songs for that and I am quite sure that Chris Porter and I will be working together on that. I think when you find somebody, after all this is my 17th album, having worked with a lot of producers, this particular guy is not only a very close friend, but I have a huge respect for his abilities as a technician, as a producer. So I am sure we will be working together again quite a lot.
February 24, 2004
Bobby Bower (44) from Nassau, Bahamas:
Hi Chris, I'm stuck living in the beautiful Bahamas and unless I'm mistaken I can't remember you coming to play in Florida in the last few years. Us ex pat Brits are hankering! Are you going to come this far south again soon? Secondly, some of my friends say "Oh gosh Chris de Burgh reminds me of Genesis (at times) and they say there's a bit of 'Yes' in there too. Well, true fans know the difference but do you think there's a reason for these first impressions from people being introduced to your music? If there's any truth behind this, what do you feel is a good way of explaining any rough similarity in 'sound' or 'sensitivity'? Thirdly, I stayed with your father once ... at Bargy Castle. My aunt Margaret Kelly (née Bardot) took me there. Ever since then I've loved the Irish people -- incredibly friendly and warm. Your father used to cook us breakfast and told us to put holes in the bottom of the egg shells otherwise the Irish fairies would used them to float over to England. He was a very good croquet player and had a wonderful sense of humour. Which of your songs, do you feel best captures the feeling of living at Bargy Castle? Also, can you tell us what pets you have? I remember you had a Jack Russell (I think) that could play soccer. We took your dog to the beaches near Wexford and I was astonished how he or she could run with the ball. What was the dog's name and was it you who taught it to play soccer? Are you still living near Wexford?
Chris de Burgh:
I envy you living in the Bahamas! The last time I played in Florida was an awful long time ago. It’s interesting that I remind your friends of Genesis, because I have always tried to have a big imagination in my music. I don’t know why, but there’s a good way of explaining similarity, you will always find with people who have never heard a singer or music before, they immediately – this is the human way – of trying to say what does this remind them of, like “that reminds me of Elvis Presley” or “that reminds me of such and such”. It gives them a chance to sort of identify the sound and find a similarity.
It is wonderful to read the stories of what my father used to do, because he has now been dead for nearly three years now. He was a great croquet player and he had a great sense of humour. And what a nice story, that really made me smile!
Which of my songs is feeling like Bargy Castle? Well, I would say something like from my first album “Satin Green Shutters” or “Turning Round” or “Hold On”, the first one, because I remember writing that on the piano that I had down there. Also “Lonely Sky” which I wrote at the piano down in Bargy Castle.
We have a black Labrador called Milly who regards me as a fun machine. She just constantly rushes up to me with tennis balls or weird things that dogs find terribly important that we humans are completely puzzled by. We did have a Jack Russell who played soccer, again what a great memory. This Jack Russell used to rush around pushing a ball around with its nose. The dog’s name was Kotick and I think the learning of the game soccer came from something deep inside his little doggy head.
No, I don’t live near Wexford, but my mother still lives at Bargy Castle. Although at the moment she is in Argentina enjoying some sunny weather on a family estancia, North-West of Buenos Aires.
Bobby Bower (44) from Nassau, Bahamas:
Hi Chris, I'm stuck living in the beautiful Bahamas and unless I'm mistaken I can't remember you coming to play in Florida in the last few years. Us ex pat Brits are hankering! Are you going to come this far south again soon? Secondly, some of my friends say "Oh gosh Chris de Burgh reminds me of Genesis (at times) and they say there's a bit of 'Yes' in there too. Well, true fans know the difference but do you think there's a reason for these first impressions from people being introduced to your music? If there's any truth behind this, what do you feel is a good way of explaining any rough similarity in 'sound' or 'sensitivity'? Thirdly, I stayed with your father once ... at Bargy Castle. My aunt Margaret Kelly (née Bardot) took me there. Ever since then I've loved the Irish people -- incredibly friendly and warm. Your father used to cook us breakfast and told us to put holes in the bottom of the egg shells otherwise the Irish fairies would used them to float over to England. He was a very good croquet player and had a wonderful sense of humour. Which of your songs, do you feel best captures the feeling of living at Bargy Castle? Also, can you tell us what pets you have? I remember you had a Jack Russell (I think) that could play soccer. We took your dog to the beaches near Wexford and I was astonished how he or she could run with the ball. What was the dog's name and was it you who taught it to play soccer? Are you still living near Wexford?
Chris de Burgh:
I envy you living in the Bahamas! The last time I played in Florida was an awful long time ago. It’s interesting that I remind your friends of Genesis, because I have always tried to have a big imagination in my music. I don’t know why, but there’s a good way of explaining similarity, you will always find with people who have never heard a singer or music before, they immediately – this is the human way – of trying to say what does this remind them of, like “that reminds me of Elvis Presley” or “that reminds me of such and such”. It gives them a chance to sort of identify the sound and find a similarity.
It is wonderful to read the stories of what my father used to do, because he has now been dead for nearly three years now. He was a great croquet player and he had a great sense of humour. And what a nice story, that really made me smile!
Which of my songs is feeling like Bargy Castle? Well, I would say something like from my first album “Satin Green Shutters” or “Turning Round” or “Hold On”, the first one, because I remember writing that on the piano that I had down there. Also “Lonely Sky” which I wrote at the piano down in Bargy Castle.
We have a black Labrador called Milly who regards me as a fun machine. She just constantly rushes up to me with tennis balls or weird things that dogs find terribly important that we humans are completely puzzled by. We did have a Jack Russell who played soccer, again what a great memory. This Jack Russell used to rush around pushing a ball around with its nose. The dog’s name was Kotick and I think the learning of the game soccer came from something deep inside his little doggy head.
No, I don’t live near Wexford, but my mother still lives at Bargy Castle. Although at the moment she is in Argentina enjoying some sunny weather on a family estancia, North-West of Buenos Aires.
February 23, 2004
Beverley Ricketts (36) from Staffordshire, England:
Dear Chris, I wonder if you could please explain about the charity work you are involved in? I have been to many of your concerts, and given to the bucket collectors, and also unto Manchester to one of your concerts there. As I write this I am listening to "There's room in this heart tonight". I am a Optician and have just returned back from Ethiopia after spending 2 weeks there providing people with spectacles, who would otherwise have no means of obtaining them. Ethiopia is the size of France and Spain combined, and a population of 60 million people but not one single optician. Have you ever been? Your words, How many times can I look in your eyes, and say I have nothing to give, how many more times must I wake in the night with dreams of the way that you live, I can see you lost in the dark, surely you must have been on a trip with Opticians to provide spectacles, and help people see. This is exactly why we donate our time to help these people. I notice you wear specs for reading now, sorry but it gets us all in the end as you say. You might like to know we played your CD in Ethiopia and the folks there really liked it. Incidentally we were over there at the time of Miss World, and managed to see the final in a bar, during half time of the Liverpool, Newcastle Match, everyone there seemed to be big Liverpool fans too, and although most folk disappointed Miss Ethiopia didn't win, they approved of Miss Ireland! Many Thanks for your time, Best wishes, to you
Chris de Burgh:
This is such an extraordinary letter and question that you have sent in that I think really all I have done to answer this question is reread it again and feel absolutely shocked and stunned that Ethiopia with a population of 60 million has got so few people looking after the eyes of the people there. In particularly in a country where there is starvation and disease and terrible problems with people’s eyesight. All I can say is again thank you for even writing this, so I hope that people reading this on the worldwide website perhaps their ability to change something, even in a small way, by sending funds to Ethiopia, to help those who got problems with eyesight and the sightless and the blind and those who need glasses to further education, maybe they’d like to make a donation.
Beverley Ricketts (36) from Staffordshire, England:
Dear Chris, I wonder if you could please explain about the charity work you are involved in? I have been to many of your concerts, and given to the bucket collectors, and also unto Manchester to one of your concerts there. As I write this I am listening to "There's room in this heart tonight". I am a Optician and have just returned back from Ethiopia after spending 2 weeks there providing people with spectacles, who would otherwise have no means of obtaining them. Ethiopia is the size of France and Spain combined, and a population of 60 million people but not one single optician. Have you ever been? Your words, How many times can I look in your eyes, and say I have nothing to give, how many more times must I wake in the night with dreams of the way that you live, I can see you lost in the dark, surely you must have been on a trip with Opticians to provide spectacles, and help people see. This is exactly why we donate our time to help these people. I notice you wear specs for reading now, sorry but it gets us all in the end as you say. You might like to know we played your CD in Ethiopia and the folks there really liked it. Incidentally we were over there at the time of Miss World, and managed to see the final in a bar, during half time of the Liverpool, Newcastle Match, everyone there seemed to be big Liverpool fans too, and although most folk disappointed Miss Ethiopia didn't win, they approved of Miss Ireland! Many Thanks for your time, Best wishes, to you
Chris de Burgh:
This is such an extraordinary letter and question that you have sent in that I think really all I have done to answer this question is reread it again and feel absolutely shocked and stunned that Ethiopia with a population of 60 million has got so few people looking after the eyes of the people there. In particularly in a country where there is starvation and disease and terrible problems with people’s eyesight. All I can say is again thank you for even writing this, so I hope that people reading this on the worldwide website perhaps their ability to change something, even in a small way, by sending funds to Ethiopia, to help those who got problems with eyesight and the sightless and the blind and those who need glasses to further education, maybe they’d like to make a donation.
February 22, 2004
Solange (39) from St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Québec, Canada:
Hi Chris! First thank you again for all the time you take to read and answer all those questions. I really enjoy reading them and learn more about you. You know these days we've seen Bono a lot of times here in Canada to promote the causes that are important to him like erasing the debt of third world countries and providing cheap medication for African countries that fight AIDS. Do you think it's a good thing that artists use their visibility to promote such causes? Do you think it's their duty to do so? Thank you for reading this and maybe for your opinion. I wish that life will continue to spoil you so you can continue to spoil us with your wonderful music. Big kisses to you and your family.
Chris de Burgh:
It depends on which way you look at it. I think, visibility is the key question and also you have to be taken seriously. The great thing about Bono is he knows his facts, he believes very very strongly in the things he is trying to promote and change, so he has my great respect for that. In the past we have had people who are perhaps unaware of the background and the facts of the things that they are trying to raise money for or change, and politicians don’t take them seriously. The key to it all is, if you want to have change, you really have to have it in your heart. And you have to have all the facts at your fingertips. So, if you have the power to change something because of your high visibility, well obviously I think you should go and do it. I don’t feel it is a duty, not at all, but I think it’s perhaps possibly a necessity, being a different word. But if you have the ability to help people, wherever they are in the world, whatever their beliefs, whether they are completely opposite to yours, I think you have to take an overview of humanity and an overview of who we are on this planet and how fragile our own planet is and how fighting within the planet is complete madness. In particular I think if high visibility people, high profile people can affect the lives of others, particularly those who are hungry and starving and very very poor in very poor situations economically, if we can change that, well that’s a brilliant thing.
Solange (39) from St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Québec, Canada:
Hi Chris! First thank you again for all the time you take to read and answer all those questions. I really enjoy reading them and learn more about you. You know these days we've seen Bono a lot of times here in Canada to promote the causes that are important to him like erasing the debt of third world countries and providing cheap medication for African countries that fight AIDS. Do you think it's a good thing that artists use their visibility to promote such causes? Do you think it's their duty to do so? Thank you for reading this and maybe for your opinion. I wish that life will continue to spoil you so you can continue to spoil us with your wonderful music. Big kisses to you and your family.
Chris de Burgh:
It depends on which way you look at it. I think, visibility is the key question and also you have to be taken seriously. The great thing about Bono is he knows his facts, he believes very very strongly in the things he is trying to promote and change, so he has my great respect for that. In the past we have had people who are perhaps unaware of the background and the facts of the things that they are trying to raise money for or change, and politicians don’t take them seriously. The key to it all is, if you want to have change, you really have to have it in your heart. And you have to have all the facts at your fingertips. So, if you have the power to change something because of your high visibility, well obviously I think you should go and do it. I don’t feel it is a duty, not at all, but I think it’s perhaps possibly a necessity, being a different word. But if you have the ability to help people, wherever they are in the world, whatever their beliefs, whether they are completely opposite to yours, I think you have to take an overview of humanity and an overview of who we are on this planet and how fragile our own planet is and how fighting within the planet is complete madness. In particular I think if high visibility people, high profile people can affect the lives of others, particularly those who are hungry and starving and very very poor in very poor situations economically, if we can change that, well that’s a brilliant thing.
February 21, 2004
Mehdi M. Alipour (23) from Shiraz, Iran:
Dear Chris! How do you feel about Mrs. Ebadi (an Iranian woman) winning the Nobel Peace Prize?
Chris de Burgh:
When I read the news, I was absolutely delighted for a number of reasons that I have mentioned in the past like my interest in Iran and the continuing struggle there to change things. And I was absolutely thrilled and delighted when I heard about this major, major victory. Particularly when it’s on a world stage like the Nobel Peace Prize. So again many congratulations for that! Because I am sure, all Iranian people share in her joy and her belief that things can change, if you work hard enough, if you sacrifice yourself and if you take risks.
Mehdi M. Alipour (23) from Shiraz, Iran:
Dear Chris! How do you feel about Mrs. Ebadi (an Iranian woman) winning the Nobel Peace Prize?
Chris de Burgh:
When I read the news, I was absolutely delighted for a number of reasons that I have mentioned in the past like my interest in Iran and the continuing struggle there to change things. And I was absolutely thrilled and delighted when I heard about this major, major victory. Particularly when it’s on a world stage like the Nobel Peace Prize. So again many congratulations for that! Because I am sure, all Iranian people share in her joy and her belief that things can change, if you work hard enough, if you sacrifice yourself and if you take risks.
February 20, 2004
Hala (23) from Syria, originally from Palestine:
You made a song (Lebanese night) and it was about the war in Lebanon underprivileged children as well . Why did you choose Lebanon not Palestine to talk about their sufferings? I love you so much and I am longing to attend a concert for you.
Chris de Burgh:
I have to say again something I said last year: This is not just a song about Lebanese children growing up in a war-torn country. It was always intended about children in any war area anywhere in the world. I remember saying in fact it could be Palestine, it could be Israel, it could be the North of Ireland, it could be Sri Lanka, it could be just about anywhere where the parents and those with hate in their hearts make life so terrible and dreadful for the young people who are growing up in that country. I just happened to have been in Beirut, in Lebanon, watching the young people who had been through 20 years of war, and seeing how much it must have scarred them. And that’s why I called it Lebanese Night, because I actually happened to have been in Lebanon. And if you come to a concert of mine, you’ll understand a bit more why I write this kind of song. It is supposed to be a universal theme of support and love.
Hala (23) from Syria, originally from Palestine:
You made a song (Lebanese night) and it was about the war in Lebanon underprivileged children as well . Why did you choose Lebanon not Palestine to talk about their sufferings? I love you so much and I am longing to attend a concert for you.
Chris de Burgh:
I have to say again something I said last year: This is not just a song about Lebanese children growing up in a war-torn country. It was always intended about children in any war area anywhere in the world. I remember saying in fact it could be Palestine, it could be Israel, it could be the North of Ireland, it could be Sri Lanka, it could be just about anywhere where the parents and those with hate in their hearts make life so terrible and dreadful for the young people who are growing up in that country. I just happened to have been in Beirut, in Lebanon, watching the young people who had been through 20 years of war, and seeing how much it must have scarred them. And that’s why I called it Lebanese Night, because I actually happened to have been in Lebanon. And if you come to a concert of mine, you’ll understand a bit more why I write this kind of song. It is supposed to be a universal theme of support and love.
February 19, 2004
Linda Jones (46) from Nottingham, UK:
Will a song come from your feelings of love and pride for Rosanna? Congratulations!
Chris de Burgh:
Well, Rosanna has asked me to thank all those people from so many countries for the messages, cards, letters and flowers to congratulate her on winning the Miss World competition. A chance meeting at a shopping mall in July has now given her an amazing opportunity to represent Ireland all over the planet. And in particular she would like to thank the people of her home country for their continued support before, during and after the competition. She is especially grateful for the huge support here in Ireland not only for the Miss World competition but also during the first two weeks of January, when the Irish media gave her a very hard time, because she had been set up and ambushed by an unscrupulous British journalist. One card said it all: “Ireland doesn’t win much internationally, and now we have. Congratulations and don’t mind the begrudgers!”
About a year and a half ago, perhaps two years ago, I was thinking about airports. Because airports are places often of high drama. People leaving, people coming home after being away, mostly they are just business trips, people going on holiday, that kind of thing. But I started thinking about the inevitable time when your child grows into their late teens, early twenties. And like a bird, they are able to fly unaided. So in my song, which is called “Here For You”, which is on the album “The Road To Freedom”, I was thinking about parents and a group of friends at the departure gate of a flight where possibly my daughter, or anybody’s elder child is about to leave for that trip of a lifetime, away to Australia or America for two or three years, perhaps only coming back once or twice. It is a moment that the parents suddenly, perhaps their knowledge has been growing but this is the moment, they suddenly realize that their child must leave them. This is the inevitable way of life. A group of people, there are friends who are crying, the parents are trying to hold themselves back from crying. The child, in my memory and in my mind would have been my daughter, she is controlling herself, but there are tears and then there is that final hug and she goes through the security gate, turns round with teary eyes and waves goodbye. The friends wave goodbye, their eyes are red with tears as well, and the parents turn round and slowly walk hand in hand back to the car. And this is the scene I have seen in my mind so many times. It’s a very powerful one and it just shows to me the cycle of life, where people grow up and they must leave and go and find themselves. And of course for the person leaving it’s tremendously exciting, it’s a big adventure, tinged of course with sadness. A number of people who have heard that song, who do have children of that age, have been extremely moved by it.
Linda Jones (46) from Nottingham, UK:
Will a song come from your feelings of love and pride for Rosanna? Congratulations!
Chris de Burgh:
Well, Rosanna has asked me to thank all those people from so many countries for the messages, cards, letters and flowers to congratulate her on winning the Miss World competition. A chance meeting at a shopping mall in July has now given her an amazing opportunity to represent Ireland all over the planet. And in particular she would like to thank the people of her home country for their continued support before, during and after the competition. She is especially grateful for the huge support here in Ireland not only for the Miss World competition but also during the first two weeks of January, when the Irish media gave her a very hard time, because she had been set up and ambushed by an unscrupulous British journalist. One card said it all: “Ireland doesn’t win much internationally, and now we have. Congratulations and don’t mind the begrudgers!”
About a year and a half ago, perhaps two years ago, I was thinking about airports. Because airports are places often of high drama. People leaving, people coming home after being away, mostly they are just business trips, people going on holiday, that kind of thing. But I started thinking about the inevitable time when your child grows into their late teens, early twenties. And like a bird, they are able to fly unaided. So in my song, which is called “Here For You”, which is on the album “The Road To Freedom”, I was thinking about parents and a group of friends at the departure gate of a flight where possibly my daughter, or anybody’s elder child is about to leave for that trip of a lifetime, away to Australia or America for two or three years, perhaps only coming back once or twice. It is a moment that the parents suddenly, perhaps their knowledge has been growing but this is the moment, they suddenly realize that their child must leave them. This is the inevitable way of life. A group of people, there are friends who are crying, the parents are trying to hold themselves back from crying. The child, in my memory and in my mind would have been my daughter, she is controlling herself, but there are tears and then there is that final hug and she goes through the security gate, turns round with teary eyes and waves goodbye. The friends wave goodbye, their eyes are red with tears as well, and the parents turn round and slowly walk hand in hand back to the car. And this is the scene I have seen in my mind so many times. It’s a very powerful one and it just shows to me the cycle of life, where people grow up and they must leave and go and find themselves. And of course for the person leaving it’s tremendously exciting, it’s a big adventure, tinged of course with sadness. A number of people who have heard that song, who do have children of that age, have been extremely moved by it.
February 18, 2004
Joanne Leclerc (43) from Ottawa, Canada:
Hi Chris, Let me first thank you for your beautiful voice, profound words and your ever so wonderful concerts. I loved Montréal and Ottawa and felt so much love in those rooms; it was an experience just to feel the concerts. Hope to see you again soon! Moving on to the actual question - there actually is a question this time :-). When listening to your music, it sounds as though you really b
Joanne Leclerc (43) from Ottawa, Canada:
Hi Chris, Let me first thank you for your beautiful voice, profound words and your ever so wonderful concerts. I loved Montréal and Ottawa and felt so much love in those rooms; it was an experience just to feel the concerts. Hope to see you again soon! Moving on to the actual question - there actually is a question this time :-). When listening to your music, it sounds as though you really b