Hello everyone,
So that's it: There Are No Goodbyes... the working title of the new Sophia album due on 26/01/2009
Remember it's just a working title but in my heart it really does sum up the way I feel, and have felt over the course of this last year while writing, so I think it's a great start. There are a few others that I'm considering but I'll wait until the album is finished before deciding. For now though, this lyric says it all to me...
I know. I know. It's been such long time since you've last heard from me and I'm really sorry.
To be honest, every couple of months I sit down and decide that I must write you a few words but then quickly realize that I seem to be much better at thinking about what I should write than I am at actually putting pen to paper. (Yes, can you imagine? I'm writing this on paper. How old skool is that?)
And again this is a perfect example of why I don't write: I've just spent the better part of 16 hours thinking of everything I'd like to tell you and yet here I am at... what time is it... almost 4pm and I'm so completely exhausted (I haven't slept all night) from this extraordinarily insightful daydream of a conversation I've just had with you all that now that I'm back in the real world and not entirely sure where I should begin!
Oh wait, I've got an idea: Why don't I just keep this one update short and promise to write more soon? (Yes that old chestnut again)
I'll tell you what, here's a couple snippets of my little life so at least I don't have to feel like I've wasted an entire evening chatting back and forth to a room full of no one.
Firstly, why don't I start with my weblog? Yes, my blog. I have a blog!
If you don't mind, can we ignore the fact that I actually registered said blog in 2006 and yet somehow never managed to so much as sign in during the previous 2 years? Instead let's just focus on the fact that this is another example of my sincere, yet ultimately futile, attempts to communicate with you all on a more regular basis, ok?
New Years Eve 2008 (Even this debut entry is 8 months old. See how on top of it I am?)
Now before you go to the link and say 'Hey, this isn't a Best of 2007' I must add that this isn't so much a Best of 2007 but a 'Best Songs In My Life At The Moment' type-list. Some of these songs are new, most of them are old, but all of them have meant as much to me in 2007 as they did when I first heard them. And anyway, it's my New Years Eve party and I'll play what I want.
And indeed I created this list on New Years Eve 2008. So resolutely determined was I to enjoy this New Years that I forbade myself even the merest thought of leaving my flat and instead bought a nice little bottle of Moët from the Selfridges Champagne Bar and readied myself for an evening of televised festivities, thoughtful list making and slightly above-average bubbly.
Sounds fun, huh?
But you know what? I really did have an absolutely brilliant time. Really. I waited for the countdown, popped my bottle of Champers at midnight, sent my daughter a Happy New Years message and then got back to my fevered debate (between me and me) about whether I was allowed to have two songs by the same person (Compromise: Honorable Mention) and if I should limit my list to ten songs (again: Honorable Mention!).
I know it's not very rock and roll to say you were home alone on New Years Eve and all, but well, when else could I have made my list? And anyway, hasn't someone already said that stayin' in is the new goin' out? Hopefully I'm just ahead of the trend? You watch, it'll be big next year...
Anyway, I hope you like the songs and videos. (Needless to say, if you like the artists please buy their albums.)
And now I was going to tell you a funny little story about my daughter Hope and I but felt that I was delving a little too deeply into the details of our privates lives so I thought I'd cut it down and just let you have a little laugh...
So a few days ago I was walking Hope home from school and she mentioned that she was going to a wedding over the weekend with her mum, step-dad and her two little sisters. She was telling me who was getting married and what she was going to wear, you know just chit-chat, and as we got to talking more about weddings the conversation naturally turned to love and marriage and what having a family means - And yes, we do actually talk about these things: Life. Love. Relationships. Chocolate. Oh we can talk about chocolate for hours - but anyway, so she turns to me and says 'Dad? Don't you ever feel lonely? You're always alone...' and then she stops and thinks for a second and says 'Do you ever think about having what everybody else has? You know, like a normal life. A family and stuff?'
(I'm sorry but this is the section I edited. Hope and I started talking about our lives and how we've ended up in the life-situations were in and the impact it has on us: her as an eleven-teen year old (my term, thank you) and myself considering the paths I've chosen and the directions my life has taken me. As you can imagine, it always gets quite emotional when we talk about these things but I think it's a necessary part of our father/daughter relationship...)
So anyway, this walk/talk is beginning to get a little emotional and as we're getting closer to Hope's home I really don't like the idea of us leaving each other on such a somber note and so, for some unknown reason, I turn to her and say 'But sweetheart, look, I don't want you to worry about me ok? This is just my life. I'm like... I'm like a cowboy...' but before I could even finish my sentence she had started laughing so hard she almost fell over.
And now, personally, I really don't see what's so funny about that but Hope? You should have seen her. She kept saying 'Stop! Stop!' (LAUGHING) 'You're not like a cowboy!' (LAUGHING) 'Stop!' (MORE LAUGHING) 'You're not a cowboy!' (HYSTERICAL)
Well, yeah, I'm not exactly John Wayne that's for sure but c'mon, I've got cowboy boots! Oh well, she's only eleven, what does she know anyway?
OK so my pride was a little hurt by a precocious pre-teen but at least we were both happy again, right?
I guess maybe that's the point I've been trying make all along here?
I just wanted to let you all know that I'm OK and that I'm working hard and please keep all of your faith in the new album for me, ok? I really am working flat out now. That's nearly everyday until 4am, 5am, 6am. And I'm just so happy with the songs. I don't really know how to describe them except that when I breathe in and they fill me with light and allow me to dream. Truthfully I don't know how else to describe it. They're honest and open and dark and sad but somehow, I don't know but somehow they're still so positive and filled with love. It's a very strange way for me to define my own music but it's the feeling I get.
It's like this program I saw on TV a few nights ago. They were interviewing a couple in their 70's and they had been married for over 50 years. And the interviewer asked them how they managed to stay together for so long as they said it was because they made each other laugh. But then a few minutes later they were asked if the key to a lasting marriage was also their ability to never fight and they both shouted 'But we fight everyday! We fight all the time!' and then they both started laughing again! And you know, maybe I don't have that type of love in my life but I know that it exists, it fills the air around me, and that knowledge, that feeling, has changed the way I see the world…
(God what am I talking about? See this why it's taken me 16 hours and 3 drafts to write half a bloody page... I get so caught up, daydream, and then BLAH! It's easier to just say I hate the world!)
One last thing before I go though: I just want to thank Malcolm, Stevie, Alzy, Steven and Jeff again for all they're hard work this summer. To be honest, I really don't think I can thank them enough. I have to say that I was just so inspired by these last shows and I can't tell you how happy I am musically-speaking right now. Bruges with the string section was especially magical for me but really that's in no way meant to detract from the guys. We worked so hard this summer and there were times in the rehearsals that I nearly had tears in my eyes it sounded so wonderful. The impact they've had on my confidence is more than words can describe and I really did love every minute of it. Cheers guys...
OK everyone, I'm gonna get out of here now. I'm not sure this whole newsletter/blogger/internamaweb is for me now. It takes too much time and I'm actually quite emotionally drained right now! It's been like a therapy session except I left out the scary bits of my psyche. Ah yes, that reminds me. Where are those extra pages? Might be some good ideas for songs in there...
You take care and see you soon, ok?
Robin
P.S. Remember... There are no goodbyes. |
..du warst schneller 
