Planet Musicstream (Dutch online site) - April 29, 2004


Albums

Songs

Concerts

Press

by Anneke Ruys

translation by Annelies van den Berg

He is the creator of one of the most played songs ever. Everywhere in the 
world people shuffle to the ultra romantic 'Lady in Red'; the song has been 
played at a lot of weddings. That was then and now, since about 18 years. 
The story of CdeB after the big success.

Almost 30 years he's in the business now. Nowadays the success isn't as 
overwhelming as it used to be, but the Irish singer can live with that fact. 
He even feels better than ever, being freed from the contract with a major 
record company. His newest albums is called 'Road to Freedom'. A suitable 
title? "Yes and no. This has to be the first album under own trusteeship, 
seperate from a endless contract. No hard feelings, but I feel liberation. 
Now I release my own records. Without pressure and with just that extra 
passion on top of it. I am now with a small distributor where I have every 
kind of freedom. It's also a challenge, for I want to prove myself again, I 
want to show I can still do something." De Burgh feels great, let that be 
clear. He is one of the few who after 30 years in the business is still busy 
making his own music. And that without becoming a copy of himself.

Miss World
The life of Chris de Burgh knows many highlights. They don't only concern 
his own career, but also that of the people around him. Daughter and Miss 
Ireland Rosanna Davison (19) was crowned the new Miss World on December 6th. 
Chris feels proud, but also a little concerned. "She got the title in spite 
of herself'. Rosanna was being discovered in a shopping centre, where she was 
asked to join the local Miss Ireland contest. Who could have thought things 
would move so fast? Now she is crowned Miss World and there's more to it 
than she could have ever imagined. From one day into another she became a 
celebrity. Along with that comes a responsibility with which it isn't always 
easy living with.

No regrets.
Chris knows what he's talking about, because he himself once was part of the 
treadmill of the mega success. "Big stadions, golden and platina records. I 
was being draggen into something that was hardly to imagine for someone in 
his twenties. All the successes were wonderful, but there was also another 
side to it. You weren't living anymore, you were being lived." Chris de 
Burgh doesn't regret a thing, not even the flopped success in America. "It's 
partly my own fault. During the madness in the 80's, when I had five #1 hits 
in various countries and when I was in the middle of a world tour, I said 
'NO' after the 65th show in a row. It would take another 6 months to conquer 
America. Even more shows, more promotions, I neglected the offer. That is 
how my career in the USA never really worked out right. I never regretted 
it. I love Europe, where I still play in full halls."

Romance.
Chris de Burgh has just released his 28th album. 'Road to Freedom' is a 
selection of lasting songs, that should be seen as a book. "After each song 
you turn another page and the story continues. I've written all songs from 
the vision of the person who I am today. I am now 45 (note: he wished! *g*), 
so what? Inside I still feel the naive hopeful 19-year-old boy for whom  
romance still exists. I still compose and sing for sold out halls, I can 
still make people happy with my stories. The strength of a good song is that 
it touches the soul. That is makes you think. In owadays stressful times it 
is very important to find your true self, your own spirituality. Beautiful 
music can certainly be a help with that search. Actually there is only one 
'Road to Freedom', that's the one within your imagination."




Questions or comments?

File last modified on August 26, 2006