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Albums
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by Alexandra Schorre
About glow worms and glowing hearts
Pop-rock: Chris de Burgh, king of ballads, enchants his fans during the
open air concert in the Schwetzinger Schlossgarten
He is rather small, only 1.68m. And he isn't exactly beautiful. Those who
criticize him say that he is singing schmaltzy and his musical style
would be regressive. But the fans of Chris de Burgh don't care. And
that's for the better. After all they would have missed a performance by
the nice Irish man in the Schwetzinger Schlossgarten that has even been
respected by non-fans.
Almost for three hours, without a break, Christopher John Davison -
that's his real name - proves that you may not write him off even with
the age of almost 57 years. At the time where other so-called stars
sometimes break off the hotel bar, he really just turns it up on stage.
As an encore he plays old Beatles songs like "A Hard Day's Night" or
"Hey Jude". Just because it's fun.
But one after the other. The motto of the evening "An intimate evening
with Chris de Burgh" may not really suit the atmosphere at first. Over
3000 people force themselves through close chair rows on the flower
meadow on which there are no flowers at all. Typically Chris de Burgh:
Almost in time the singer starts shortly after 8 pm. It is bright
daylight, many haven't even sat down yet, and the smell of grilled
sausages, crepes and fish rolls is hanging over the audience.
You could have overseen him almost, the small man in a black shirt, black
trousers in front of the black backdrop of the stage, only with a guitar
in hand. But when the first chords of the song "Road To Freedom" can be
heard, even the last ones realize that it's about to start.
"Road To Freedom" is the name of his (still) current album. The title is
seminal for the evening: All songs are constructed, so that de Burgh can
play them alone on guitar or on the piano. He left his band at home this
time, and he prefers doing without lavish show effects anyway. That is
the freedom he means. It's about the voice and the content of the songs.
They mostly tell about love, but also about separation, about growing up
or about war.
The audience is taken with this kind of minimalism. None of the 34 songs
trails off without (female) fans floating to stage with an engrossed
smile to give a long rose to their star. "Intimate" is especially meant
as in closeness to his fans. De Burgh shakes countless hands, and even
takes a bath in the crowd during the ballad "Here For You". The only ones
he reprimands are the security people, who feel it's going too far. "The
show is for the people who have bought tickets - and for me." That is
unique.
Of course, the bard sings mainly ballads. But the fans know and like
that. The less die-hard ones need a bit of stamina. The extremely high
octaves aren't for everyone either. With fast tracks at the right time
("Lebanese night", St. Peter's Gate", "Read My Name") and his qualities
as an entertainer, the singer manages to keep the arc of tension. He
jokes about his age and his looks, still can't believe that he is the
father of the current Miss World. Then he philosophises about all the
world and his brother and concludes that there is probably just one god
- "Up Here In Heaven". Constantly he invites the audience: "Sing with me!
Sing louder!"
In the end when the indestructible "Lady In Red" sounds with the break of
dawn, the audience is completely taken. Time to dream. Couples hug each
other, glow worms fly through the air, the stage - all dived in red. The
order of seats? Has been messed up long since. The crowd pushes towards
the stage. Then it's really turning up. With world hits like "Don't Pay
The Ferryman" and "High On Emotion" there is some rocking in the end
after all. The final is another ballad with "Snows Of New York", one of
the most beautiful ones. It doesn't really suit the season, but who cares?
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File last modified on August 26, 2006