Musical memories

[fleetfootmike]

Inspired by a post from stevieannie, on the subject of about how certain songs take us instantly back to a single moment.

Fleetwood Mac, "Rhiannon": Let's get the obvious one out of the way, and it's one I share with Annie. Neath, August 2003, a large stage made up of two flatbed trucks in a field at a carnival. Standing back at the drum kit, looking at Tim, and we're both going 'wow', as Annie, who's 8 months pregnant and has everyone worried she's going to drop Ellie right there and then, lets rip with a version of the playout vocal improv that's hot enough to strip paint. We'd been told it was our last song for the set. No-one bothered to mention to them it wasn't going to be the 3 minute studio version.

Les Miserables, "Do You Hear The People Sing (reprise)": It's 1985, it's the second week, if that, of the show, before it's moved from the Barbican, and Anne, her best friend Jan and my best friend Sarah are seeing the show for Anne's birthday. In fact, heck, it's not really this song, it's the spine-chilling pause after Fantine, Eponine and Valjean sing, in perfect harmony: '....to love another person is to see the face of God.' I'm choked up, the girls are sharing one tissue between them...

Mark Knopfler, "Coming Home (Theme from Local Hero)" Knebworth, early 90s, and we're slipping out (under, I might add, protest) from a Dire Straits gig before the final encore. It's drifting across the field as we walk away, one of Knopfler's more perfect bits of guitar orchestration.

Cats, "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats: takes me back instantly to Anne's room in Girton Grange, staying up late listening to Lloyd-Webber musicals. I've still actually never seen the show, except on DVD.

Phoenix, "The Lady"Milton Keynes, 2000. Doing Jodie Krangle's song inspired by Anne Rice's 'Interview With A Vampire'. With Jodie and the rest of Urban Tapestry in the audience, front row, my side of the stage. There's a recording of this, and you can *hear* their reaction when they find out it has a guitar solo in the middle, and it's priceless.

Vinny Burns, "Guitarmasutra" Music Live, 2004. tridders is demoing the Tipton range of amps, and specifically, Vinny's there to add a Name to the proceedings. At the start of the day, Vinny handed me a backing track, and we're running it through my laptop into the small PA while Vinny plays along. Utter magic - Trev is choked up enough has to walk away, and I'm stood next to ian_myatt, as Vinny hits a long held note in a pause... and we're both willing it to jump the octave in perfect feedback. And it does.

Comments

[tiassa]

it's not really this song, it's the spine-chilling pause after Fantine, Eponine and Valjean sing, in perfect harmony: '....to love another person is to see the face of God.'

YES. That's the part that gets me.

Hrm. Maybe I should try this myself. I'll have to think about it.

[stevieannie.livejournal.com]

What's that "The Lady" recording on? I know I've heard it, but can't figure out where...

I missed a musical Musical memory:

"Anthem" from Chess. Two specific memories associated with this one:

1) Getting ready for my first proper date with Tim. Skin tight jeans, torn in all the *wrong* places, hair backcombed, superstrappy top, high leg boots - we were off to a metal night at the "Hungry Years". Whilst I put my makeup on, I had "Chess" playing. I stopped as "Anthem" came on, and turned it up so high the house shook, and sang along with everything I had. I didn't realise one of my housemates had let Tim in, and he stood in my doorway and as I held the last note for the full length (it's a biggee, folks!) I turned and saw him there. Silence. He looks at me and says,

"My God. What a voice."

I was stood there in an outfit which had previously made male friends run to the toilets in frantic despair at my lack of underwear, but he commented on my voice. It was the only compliment which mattered at all.

Second memory, same track: Coming back from Neath. We were all singing various tunes and joining in/harmonising with each other. You started singing "Anthem", and I joined in. "Oy!" you said, "That's a male aria!", so I sang it with you, and we matched note for note. Love you!

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

What's that "The Lady" recording on?

Linked off the Phoenix site. Just as soon as I reboot andor :)

as I held the last note for the full length (it's a biggee, folks!)

It's only a D :)

[stevieannie.livejournal.com]

It's not the height of the note, you nonce, it's the 20 second held end note :-)

[katyhh.livejournal.com]

I love that story :)

[filkerbaby.livejournal.com]

Now you've made me cry.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

That's a wonderful, wonderful tale. Thank you for sharing