Tirol Online - November 2004


Albums

Songs

Concerts

Press

by Isabella Krassnitzer

translation by Astrid Nolde-Gallasch


Sensitive Irishman

After so many years he still loves his work more than anything else. 
What Chris de Burgh wants to do? Write a musical. He will do that too. 
Soon.

He would love to grab the whole world, is not scared of extreme 
emotions. Green Austrian Veltlin is especially tasteful for him and 
when his thoughts travel, they always take something with them. A 
melody or many pictures.

TT: You often performed in Innsbruck. Did you like it?

Burgh: Yes, always. Once I gave here a concert that lasted for three 
hours. Without a break.

TT: Your last album "Road To Freedom" - does it tell something about 
your private life?

Burgh: No. I find myself too boring to write about me. The album 
tells for example about saying good-bye. Like in "Here For You". 
Children grow up with you, then they become adults and go away. At 
the airport they wave to you, and you stay there. It reminded me of 
saying good-bye to my daughter, when she flew to the Miss World 
Competition. If you have children, you understand this feeling.

Living peacefully

TT: Your daughter is a celebrity, but she didn't have it easy after 
she became Miss World. The yellow press put pressure on her. Did 
that sadden you?

Burgh: You say: the press. But it was only one single journalist who 
published unbelievable things about her. It saddened us all. We 
stood by her every second, lived heights and depths with her.

TT: Is that way you chose to live in Ireland, do you feel safer from 
the press here?

Burgh: Not because of that. But we really can live peacefully here, 
even though we are only half an hour away from Dublin.

TT: When you go out in Dublin, can you do that without being 
disturbed?

Burgh: Yes. Completely. That's different in Germany.

TT: What is differently?

Burgh: In Germany the photographers run after me, the fans... 
(laughs).

TT: And in Austria?

Burg: We will see...

TT: Does gossip disturb you?

Burgh: No, actually not. A yellow press journalist just does his 
work too. That's all. Even if he writes bad about you, one day he 
can't tell any lies anymore.

TT: Your "wild years are over"...

Burgh: I hope not... (laughs).

TT: Did you become more considerate over the years? You sing so much 
about emotions, about life and death. Have you developped towards 
spirituality over the years?

Burgh: Over the years I of course lived through many phases. But 
considerate, if you can say so, I have already been when I was 
twenty. Spirituality is a subject that fascinates me. I think we 
have so little time on earth, we don't know what's goign to happen. 
We experience wars, problems of races and religions. For example: 
Afghanistan. For example Iraq...

TT: Do you believe that Christians and Muslims can live peacefully 
with each other?

Burgh: Of course. And when there are problems, yes, it would be 
great to say, hey - we'll discuss that in our next life.

TT: What is a perfect day for you?

Burgh: Let's take today. I got up with my wife at 7 o'clock, then I 
tok my sons to school. The school is only 15 minutes from here, but 
I always take them, when I can. Then I went outside for an hour, 
later I will go for a swim. Then a bit of office work, playing a bit 
guitar or piano. Let my thoughts go free. Just a normal day without 
hectic. A beautiful day.

TT: And a hard day?

Burgh: When I am on tour. That wears you out.

Songs for the soul

TT: What do you need to write a song? Leisure, nature, being in love?

Burgh: I hear a melody - then pictures develop along with it - then 
I just go ahead with it. That doesn't have to be in nature. For 
example the song "Snow Is Falling". A little melody came to me. Then 
I saw pictures. Actually a horror trip. I imagined mass graves in 
Russia. With our imagination today which is mainly coined by the 
pictures of the media, you can easily imagine details. And then the 
song was there.

TT: What makes a song a really good song?

Burgh: Hm. For example when you travel to the other side of the world, 
where nobody knows you. And there they listen to your song. And it sets 
emotions free. It leaves traces. Then you have left a mark. The song has 
to come from the heart. There has to be passion. Many young singers make 
their songs not for the soul, only for their bank account.

TT: Which of your songs do you like the most?

Burgh: "Lady In Red" has given enthusiasm and feelings. But apart from 
that I like "The Words I Love You" very much. Or "Read My Name". We are 
all children of this earth and want to be respected. Developping ourselves. 
Living. Happiness is like a crystal clear day.


Warrant of apprehension

Highlights: 1981 Breakthrough with "Best Moves". 1986 World hit: 
"Lady In Red". Last album: "The Road To Freedom". 2003 daughter 
Rosanna Davison becomes Miss World.

Future: He has thousands of pictures in his head and just wrote a 
film story. "Through Her Eyes" tells the moved life of an old lady. 
The songs in this film will be written by him too.

Private: Family man and nature lover. Chris de Burgh can hardly 
imagine a life without distinctive ups and downs.




Questions or comments?

File last modified on August 26, 2006