We had to do something special for Chris' 50th Birthday, and as luck would have it, a concert in South Africa neatly co-incided, and on the 18th October 1998 we had one of our greatest list members (Willem de Waal) attending the right concert. We took advantage.
We asked Willem to drop off a card, and as you can see that is exactly what he did. We had collected electronic messages for the card which you can read here. One last thing, this was the night that Willem SANG with Chris on stage, and THEN got the audience to do a rendition of Happy Birthday!
The front of the card......
The handover...From left to right...
Willem de Waal, Chris<g>, Elsab Blignaut, Johan (Willem's brother) & Anton (Elsab's husband)
The Words we wrote......
Dear Chris
It’s been close on 21 years since I discovered your music – and from the outset, it touched something deep inside. Something that one cannot describe, yet so powerful that others can see it. Your songs have always been with me, always been there to help me understand the things that I feel.
Now, thanks to your music, I have made a host of new friends from all over this little globe of ours – and believe me, it is small! Apart from "meeting" people via the internet, I have also had the pleasure of actually visiting other countries, and meeting the familiar names face to face. Spent a wonderful holiday in Europe last year, meeting and staying with people like Astrid in Germany, Dave Doohan, Steve Bourike and the Warrens in the UK, Kathy from the States. I had the privilege of meeting people like Jay and Donna, who have become two of my very best friends … and the beauty of it all is that although we literally come from the corners of the world, and have entirely different cultures and beliefs – the one thing we have in common is the love for your music. And for that I am eternally grateful.
Last year, on their way to the CHILD dinner in London, Jay and Steve dropped me off at the station – I had to return to South Africa. I recall being extremely jealous. Jay also presented you with birthday wishes from a number of us. Well, this year, the honour and privilege is mine. I know that you are quite fond of South Africa, and trust that your stay here was once again everything you had hoped it to be.
From all of us, from all over the world – we wish you a very happy 50th birthday. May the years to come be as rich and colourful as those gone by, and may your wonderful and talented music inspire us to always look for the good in people, and the better in life.
Fondest regards
Willem de Waal
Richards Bay, South Africa
Happy Birthday Chris...
I'd like to thank you, since because of your music I have been able to meet many friends from all over the world. We became acquainted through the Internet because of our mutual love of your music and as well as talking to a lot of them via the Mailing List run by Joe de Rouen as an offshoot from the homepage on the Internet, I have been lucky enough to meet many of them in person. It was wonderful to be able to present you with your birthday card last year at the Child Charity event in London, and to be able to talk to you after the event whilst you waited for your car.
Willem from South Africa has the great honour of presenting your card this year, and I know how much he missed seeing you last year, so its a great event for him. The day of the Child event was actually the day he had to return to South Africa after spending a wonderful 10 days with me here in England.
Thank you also for taking the time to spend a few minutes talking ot us before the concert at Harewood House this year. I was one of the collectors for the Child charity, which I might add, was a huge success.
I hope you have a wonderful birthday, there will be many people thinking of you.
Sincerely yours
Jay Shutt,
Earby, Lancashire, England.
Ahem! (sound of my voice clearing)
Okay, so I racked my brain to think of an appropriate, mature, sophisticated, elegant message to send to you on your 50th birthday......but then figured to hell with that.... so here goes...........
A Limerick.....
Happy Birthday to you, my dear Chris,
Your music has always been bliss,
But I tell you there's no way,
To get your cd's in L.A.,
Just whose arse do I have to kiss??
Anyway, I've gone way over my alloted space allowed for this thing, so Happy Birthday and as long as I have great friends like Willem de Waal who gave you this card and Jay Shutt whom you met at the CHILD charity function, I'll have no trouble finding your music!!
Best wishes to you and your family,
Donna R. Fairhurst
Los Angeles, California
You have "lead us through the ancient halls and stories of the past - and the many ways of loving" with Your songs so IŽll be grateful to You forever.
Happy Birthday Chris!
Timo,
Vantaa, Finland
Hi Chris - Glad to have you joining the 50's Club - Happy b-day!
Jeri Neufeld
San Diego, CA.
Happy Birthday CdeB!
Dean B. Dalrymple,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Wishing you many more years of love, happiness and music. Happy Birthday and thank you for all you've brought to my life.
Kristen Scissons,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Hi Chris, have a great birthday! I love your music!
Lisa Gansky,
Los Angeles, California
Happy B'day. Keep Canada in mind for your next tour.
Ron & Linda Robillard and Barbara Hall, (the lady with the "backhanded compliment" in the Oct/Nov 96 newsletter)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Chris, hope you are 'Taking It To The Top' on your birthday.
Love Miriam,
Coventry, England , UK.
Happy Birthday, Chris! I hope you plan to include Sydney, Nova Scotia's Centre 200 in your upcoming Canadian tour! If you do, myself and my fiancee will definitely be there! :)
John A. Ardelli
Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
To Chris,
Thank YOU for all your marvellous songs, concerts and memories on a very special birthday.
Douglas & Christine
Urmston, Manchester, UK
Happy birthday Chris! Can't wait to see you again live!
Anne,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Oh dear, another year has already gone by? Well, since some things never change, you are still my favorite story-teller. Happy Birthday Chris.
Katerina Velentza,
Athens , Greece
Chris, your music has had more impact on our lives than you could imagine - hope you have a wonderful birthday.
Janette & Terry,
Calgary, Canada
Happy birthday, Chris... I wish you keep as healthy and talented as you have always been!!!
Lourdes Villarreal
Mexico City, Mexico
Dear Chris! Be lucky, and release more albums, waiting for your arrival to Saratov, Russia!
Alexander Mramornov.
Saratov, Russia
Happy Birthday, Chris!!
May this be a wonderful year for you. I have enjoyed your music for many years, and have been enjoying the reports of your meetings at concerts with other "Internet group" members. I hope that you will have concerts in North America when you tour for the next album. And it would be wonderful to be able to buy the album in stores here in the USA. Until then, I'll keep listening and singing along.
Janet DeVore,
Beaverton Oregon, USA
Dear CdeB
Happy birthday!!! and thank you so much for all your music...
love from Frances,
Canterbury, UK
It is 21 years since I saw you in Glasgow with Supertramp. Do you remember those nights? Awra best
Dave Hilley,
Beckenham Kent.
Happy birthday, Chris! I Hope your next 50 years will bring you lots of peace, love and happiness and leave you in a good health! Thanks for all the joy you brought into my life, with this years Bonn concert as the cherry on top of it all. *smile*
~Love~
Annelies,
Maassluis, The Netherlands
Hi Chris, happy birthday and all the best for the next 50 years of songwriting!
Thomas,
Kiel, Germany
I hope you enjoy your birthday as much as we enjoy your music.
--Kathy Hobson,
Sacramento, California, USA
(one of your MANY American fans!)
To Chris,
Hope you have a happy birthday, and here's to many more!
Best,
Joe DeRouen
(that guy that runs your home page!)
Happy birthday Chris and thank you for the time you have taken to meet me in Bonn and in Halle/Westfalen this year! I can't wait to hear back from you about the song I gave you "The Deep of the Night". We are all very much looking forward to the next album and a tour in Canada (as we are going to arrange another HUGE listmember meeting there).
Best wishes from Astrid Nolde-Gallasch,
Bocholt, Germany
Chris,
I hope you have a Happy Birthday, even away from home. Thanks for a great concert at Harewood House, Leeds, I'm sure the people of South Africa are in for a treat. It was nice to meet you again briefly before the Leeds show. It must get wearing having to meet folks all the time.
Good luck with the new album - we can't wait to hear it.
Dave Doohan
Official Chris de Burgh Mailing List Moderator
Co-Author Official Chris de Burgh Web Site (http://www.cdeb.com)
Dear Chris
I'd like to wish you a Happy Birthday and to thank you for the pleasure your music brings me for the world would be a different place without your inspiration.
Forevermore
Theresa Ball
Dear Chris.
Nice to have you here and to celebrate such a special birthday in our country. "Gelukkige Verjaarsdag". Looking forward to your shows.
Heidi Fourie
South Africa
A very Happy Birthday to you, I wish I was here for the concert but alas I am a Canadian,with no vacation time left, so will wait patiently for your return to Canada. I wish you all the best and may the day be more wonderful than yesterday yet grow for tomorrow :))
All the best,
Dennis Muise
Fort Nelson
British Columbia Canada
Dear Chris,
Blickling was brilliant and it was wonderful to meet you after 22 years of waiting! Have a great Birthday.
With love Melanie (and Keith)
Kent, England.
Many happy returns on your birthday.
Sherri
sherric@empnet.com
My deepest thanks for all the joy and warmth your music has added to my life. Not to mention the chance to meet many wonderful people from all overthe world because of the fellowship your music encourages.
Have the happiest of Birthdays
Terri Bilyk
Houston, Texas
Happy Birthday Chris. Thanks for bringing some warmth to a dull, damp summer.
Andy & Dawn Haynes
Leicester, England
Dear Chris
I hope that your birthday brings you as much joy as your music has to your fans all over the world through the years.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Champney,
Whitney Point, NY USA
Happy Birthday and thank you so much for sharing your gift of music with us! Come to Canada soon please!!!
Deb Sweeney,
Winnipeg, Canada
A very happy birthday to you, Chris
Donald Thibault,
Jonquiere, Canada
I wish you a lot more of new albums and an happy birthday
Lucie Labranche,
Macamic, Canada
Dear Chris, taking this opportunity to wish you a wonderful birthday followed by a year filled with happiness. Thank you for sharing your light with all of us,
Vicky Coletsos,
Montreal, Canada
Best wishes on your birthday..Hope to se you in Edmonton soon.
Randy Haakonson
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Happy Birthday Chris! From a big fan in Montreal, Canada!
Tim Foreman
Hi Chris, all the best and good luck with your new album
Martin Kraus,
Hausach, Germany
For Chris: Happy Birthday to the singer who can give me romantic memories, produce tears and laughter, lighten my day, and mesmorize me with song! Knock em dead in SA! :)
Jen Moreau
Dear Chris,
Happy Birthday! and thank you for the Great moments in Bonn,
Jan-Tom
Enschede, Netherlands
Chris,
Best wishes on your birthday! I have been a fan of yours since 1976 and it has not been an easy feat keeping up with all your music here in America. Keep up the good work and PLEASE come tour the States sometime!
Gene Gumbs
East Windsor, CT
USA
Hi Chris, herzlichen Glueckwunsch zum Geburtstag (I wish you a very happy birthday).
Daniela,
Muenster, Germany
Chris:
Happy Birthday from a fellow Libra! Can't wait for the next album (Soon???) and tour into Toronto, Canada (Hopefully??)!
Love, Colette.
Warmest birthday wishes from Canada! Hope to see you here soon! :-)
Meaghan & Tim Ellis,
Hamilton, Ontario
Chris, happy 50th and best wishes for many more!
Anne Clevenger,
South Carolina, USA
I hope you have a really good and *relaxing* (after all your concerts) birthday.
PS. Brilliant concert at Somerley this year.
Stewart Hector
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!
All the best for the oncoming year and thank you so much for the great music you have given us so far.
Good Luck!
Hiltrud
Germany
Hi Chris,
I hope you had a great birthday & that the SA tour goes well. We are all looking forward to next years new album.
John Elcome
Harrow Weald
London
UK
Joyeux anniversaire Chris ! Merci de chanter l'or de nos coeurs et de crier sur le plomb qui peut les faire taire.
Yves GUERTE,
de GRENOBLE, FRANCE
Dear Chris,
We want to wish you a happy birthday! And we want to thank you for the card that you send us last week. We really appreciate it!
Have a nice day.
Love from
Judith, Annie and Carola from Volendam
Happy 49th for the 50th time.
Best wishes.
Kelly St. Denis
Montreal, Canada
Come back like a boomerang - for another 50 years. You changed my life, thank you.
Che' Baker
Australia
To the best singer in the world. Happy birthday!
Love
Sonja Skretting
Stavanger
Norway
Dear Chris,
Happy birthday. I hope you have a nice anniversary in Johannesburg so far from home.
Thank you for the music I like so much.
Cora van leeuwen
Kerkstraat 141
2153 BH Nieuw-Vennep
Holland
Bon Anniversaire, Chris!
I hope you'll have a fantastic birthday and I just want to take the opportunity to tell you how much I love your music. It never fails to cheer me up if I'm feeling down. Thank you for all the wonfderful songs.
Jennifer Nehas
802 SE 80th Ave. 139
Des Moines, Iowa 50320 USA
Chris,
I hope you have many more birthdays and may your voice and writing talent never fade.
P.S. How about coming to the U.S. I think you are missed by your fans here.
Jerry Coryell and family". I live in Bricktown, New
Jersey, USA
Happy Birthday Chris, once again a big thankyou for another year of your music, and another year with a fellow fan that I owe to you !
Steve Bourike,
Earby - N Yorkshire.
Chris, I love you. Thank you for your Songs--they are a treasure. Warm wishes today and always.
Lorraine =)
Massachusetts/USA
Happy Birthday Chris!
Ulla
Liperi, Finland
A Very Happy Birthday to you, Chris, from your spanish friend and his 12 String Ovation. Good Luck Forever!
Cesar
Madrid, Spain
Dear Chris,
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for your music, for the joy your songs brought into my life (well, most of them ;-)). It's your 50th b-day now but I sure hope that doesn't mean you are going to retire in the near future. I would miss that a lot! Since I couldn't make it to Bonn or Halle this year in Germany (maybe you remember - you signed a t-shirt for a girl whose granny had her b-day and died in the same week), I am looking forward to seeing you perform in Canada - hopefully early next year.
All the very best wishes.
Nicole
Stuttgart, Germany