|
|
|
Now And Then
by Chris de Burgh
Record Label: UMTV
Catalogue number: LC01846
Release date: April 21, 2008
Comments:
|
‘The Lady In Red’ and Chris de Burgh are forever linked, the world over: one unforgettable melodic sentiment and, by clear association, one instantly memorable singer-songwriter. While there can be no doubt that the globally successful song is certainly his most widely-known ‘signature’ tune, it has often over-shadowed a catalogue of other hit records, so many of which couldn’t be more different than that ballad. During a multi-million-selling career now spanning more than three decades, Chris has crafted a diverse catalogue of material that has rocked arenas and held theatres spell-bound throughout the world. Much of that magic is evident in the songs specially selected for his latest ‘Best Of’ compilation album, ‘Now And Then’, which brings together a broad cross-section of the unique personal musical imprint – and variation – which has carried Chris so far, for so long.
|
|
||
|
He is acutely aware that, to many, his biggest hit has become his popular trademark, but Chris has also created more musical memories than most might easily acknowledge or recall. “That’s the under-current which is there; people will see my name and think ‘Oh, him!; ‘The Lady In Red’...’”, says Chris, “but that is the pre-conception. People who listen to this new compilation may not necessarily recognise the titles of songs, but when they hear many of them they’ll go ‘Oh, yes! I remember that one’. That happens a lot. “Having been in the business for more than 30 years and having produced records that are consistently getting played on the radio and being performed on television, my music is certainly out there as the soundtrack to many people’s lives.” Alongside classics like ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’, ‘Don’t Pay The Ferryman’, ‘The Snows Of New York’, ‘When I Think Of You’, ‘The Words ‘I Love You’’ and ‘Missing You’, the new album also includes ‘There’s A New Star Up In Heaven Tonight’ – arguably Chris’s rarest song, with only 100 copies of the track, a heart-felt tribute to his friend and fan, the late Princess Diana, ever made available. The compilation will be announced by the release of a new single, the duet ‘Live For The Day’, recorded with rising 20-year-old Lebanese star Tina Yamout. Given his stadium-filling popularity in the Lebanon, Chris was invited to appear and perform on ‘Star Academy’ last year. A reality TV hybrid of ‘Big Brother’ and ‘X Factor’, the programme is watched by 60 million viewers each week and features talented representatives – Tina among them - from a dozen or more Middle Eastern countries. Chris was enormously impressed by Tina’s talent when he heard her self-written songs and sang with her. “I thought she was amazing. Not only a fabulous voice, but she looked fantastic. She’s just got star quality. She’s not just a Middle Eastern star, she’s going to be, potentially, a world star.” As a measure of that belief, Chris wrote ‘Live For The Day’ specifically for Tina to record with him. “It’s an up-tempo number, very positive, and – as the title suggests, is about living every day as it comes. There is so much in the world to see. We are so fortunate even to be on the planet in the first place. We know that our time is temporary but, in that time, go out and enjoy yourself; do things, give love to others – make a difference. That’s what the song is all about.” Chris will premiere his live performance of the song with Tina when he returns to the ‘Star Academy’ house on April 4 - and is eager to play a future role in the career of a young girl from such a volatile, war-torn environment. “You’ve got to remember that Beiruit is not an ordinary city. This is a city wrenched by war. We’re talking about people growing up in this battle-scarred city, and Tina is one of them. Being 20-years-old, she would know what it’s like to have lived through very difficult times, growing up as a little girl during the war, and I would like to do everything I can to advance her career.” Meanwhile, Chris continues to travel the world playing concerts in all corners of the globe, as he always has done, to meet the perpetual demand for his music and as a live attraction. In the last 18 months alone, and in support of his most recent studio album, ‘The Storyman’, he has perfomed in countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, France, Ireland, the Middle East, the Far East and, of course, the UK. He remains as popular - and internationally so - as ever. Indeed, there aren’t enough days in the year to accommodate the available invitations and requests. For example, Chris is the first Western artist to be invited to perform in Iran since 1979, and he hopes to travel there later this year. “Because I’m not ‘in your face’ as a pop star – that’s certainly not my style – and because the international world is so impressive at the moment, there’s so much to do elsewhere, and that’s important to me,” say Chris. “I have been fortunate enough to lay the foundations of a solid career, built on songs which connect with people and supported by an audience that enjoys and wants more of what I have to offer. On my website, I have noticed that I am getting a lot of visits from young people, in the 17 to 24-year-old age bracket, who are really loving the music in the same way as the older people do. “I don’t actually believe it’s possible, in this day and age, to nurture or sustain a career like mine – not any more. So I consider myself fortunate indeed that the interest in what I do is as strong as it always has been – both now and then.” |
|||