From A Spark To A Flame - The Very Best of Chris de Burgh

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Review Copyright (c) 2000, Inge Egger
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From A Spark To A Flame - The Very Best of Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh
1989
A&M Records

Yea here we go again, we are moving from a spark to a flame

(.....you've lighted a fire in my heart and it will burn forever .....)

This album is a collection of many of the best and well known songs of Chris de Burgh (up to this release in 1989)
It was the first one I've got myself and the beginning of my Chris de Burgh album collection, so I like to review it. One thing I want to mention is that I'm German and my English won't be perfect.
It's really an excellent mixture: - tender and soft love songs changing with very powerful ones - you will find love in it and longing, war and peace, destiny and happiness and always a deeper sense in each song.

"This waiting heart" begins the album. Quite an exotic rhythm and sound with drums, taking you to southern areas to "another world, out on the water" - the longing to break away, where your love will be.

"Don't pay the ferryman" proves a very good example to see that Chris has got the magic to make a song become a movie. You only have to close your eyes while listening to the music and words you will see the ragged hill, the boat on the river and the hooded old man at the rudder indeed.

"Fire on the water" , the third track, is a very passionate song accompanied by roaring guitar sound and with fascinating lyrics:

"And I can see the fire on the water. I can see the light shinning in your eyes. I know that I can't stop it now 'cos I've been caught in the heat of the sun."

"Sailing away" - dreaming of the wide world - maybe you will never see all the places you have ever wanted to be - just sailing away tonight - with the one you love. The melody is easy to remember.

"The lady in red" is one of his most famous songs, I think everybody has heard it. But he sings how he hardly knows the beautiful lady he's adoring. Although many men are wanting to dance with her, she decides to dance only with him - cheek to cheek. .... A song full of romance.

"Borderline" is one of his very best songs and has a special significance to Germany. Chris has been invited by the German government to sing that song at the ceremony of the reunification. War is bringing all the pain and so many tears to people and there will always be one question: Why?? "I will never know how men can see the wisdom in a war".
Deep moving lyrics: "And it's breaking my heart, I know what I must do, I hear my country call me, but I want to be with you". ............."Don't let go, I want to know that you will wait for me until the day, there's no borderline ................"

This theme continues in the following song "Say goodbye to it all" - start to begin a new life - after war - with your love - "We've got all the time in the world"
There's no break between Borderline & Say Goodbye, they're merging into one another. Two remarkable songs which will inspire yourself thinking over.

"One Word (straight to the heart)" -  It's midnight and he's speeding from town to town by car because he wants to tell her - just tonight - his desire. All he wants is: "one word, one heart, one night!"

"A Spaceman came travelling" - The marvellous story will remember you on Christmas, The Holy Night, in modern wording. It's a spaceman who is bringing the message: "Peace and goodwill to all men and love for the child."
Before the stranger drives away he's saying: "...when two thousand years of your time has gone by, this song will begin once again, to a baby's cry".
And the whole world is waiting ........ During the song Chris' voice is changing from a quiet whispering at the beginning into a loud shouting at the end.

"Ship to shore" - He has seen the world and tasted life but he never could get her out of his head. Now he's feeling, that he's still loving her, hoping she will send him a signal to bring him home. If you ever have been in a situation like that, you will easily get into the spirit of this song.

"Missing you" - a very emotional love song, too. He's waiting for her and preparing everything for her coming. When she's standing surprised in the door he's telling her all that he will do, even falling to his knees, to make her stay with him. It's one of his most played love songs, you can find it on further albums, but it isn't one of my favourites, I prefer some others, especially "Suddenly Love" (Flying colours)

"Diamond in the dark" . - a beautiful song with a very quiet and soft beginning. In it love is compared with a diamond. He is dreaming of her, she's not far away but maybe unattainable for him. Perhaps a love song will bring her closer to him , because he wants this diamond in the dark to begin what must be.

"Tender hands" - really a tender song in the true sense of the meaning, full of passion and affection, it's going to awake sensual feelings. He's longing for her tender hands touching him everywhere......

"The Getaway"-   It's a story about prisoners planing their flight. But before they get away they ask themselves what to do with the leaders and they decide to "stick them in a room together - yeah, to make them fight it out, until they see nothing from nothing will leave nothing at all" - an impressive sentence and quite a good idea!
(Why not do it nowadays with some politicians. Perhaps they will get some understanding then!!!)

"Where peaceful waters flow" - Somewhere there will be a place where you can live in peace with the world. You have to find the way to get there and it's only love that can open the door and reach the shore to heaven. An uncomplicated song with a simple lovely melody, the refrain is sung alternating by Chris and a choir.

Finally the last one just a great and powerful finale: "High on emotion" one repeating line in it is the title of this album, too: "we are moving from a spark to a flame"
It's a very exciting situation a woman and a man find themselves. His heart is burning like a fire, she only has to take command, so he will be her rhythm tonight. "Well here we go again, living in a world that others cannot share ............ I'm high on emotion, your love will find the way"
Chris is singing this song with such an intensity in his voice, it's breathtaking and will make your pulse beating faster. I think the lyrics also mean - you and me - together we're strong - we can do everything - and we will succeed in doing it. What about the music? Well, I think it's impossible to describe music with words, you have to listen to it. The music of Chris de Burgh is something very special, it's fantastic and it always goes well together his lyrics in a perfect way getting an unit. Please Chris, don't stop to compose such wonderful songs, always lifting me up when I'm down!