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credit goes to MicheleAnn at Boogie for finding and sharing this

Eric Clapton  - - -

Quote:
On the music he listens to today, musical roots and the "American Idol" factor:

"My taste has always been very narrow in that if I go into a record store, I will always try and single out one thing to listen to because of the overwhelming amount of choice. Of all the things that have come out in the last five years, the only one that has really interested me to any great extent has been David Gray. It's quite easy to home in on. It fits my criteria. I am not particularly a fan of groups. I don't particularly understand the group ethic. I was never really mad on the Beatles or the Stones anyway when I was a kid.

My only experience of being in a group was Cream and the Yardbirds. But then, when I really wanted to play, it had to be me. If you went through my record collection, you would find records by individuals more than anything else.

I can't tell, from just listening, the difference between Coldplay and U2. They sound the same. What worries about what's going on right now is that people don't really know where it's all come from, and I don't suppose they're that interested. I heard that guy from Coldplay saying that Richard Ashcroft was the greatest singer that had ever lived singing the greatest song that had ever been written, and I think, well ... I think he probably meant it. But I think what it shows is how incredibly detached all the current stuff is from its roots. It's all become very disconnected. Then again, you've got the marketplace of it, which is, you know, Simon Cowell [judge on TV's "American Idol"]. That's the face of popular music today. That's where the power of music is right now. It sits with Simon Cowell and Coldplay and U2, who are really people who attend awards shows. That's what they do. I don't have anything against them; I just wouldn't want to listen to them."


also found this of particular interest - - -

Quote:
On how he recognized early the importance music would have in his life:
I think I listened to music with more intensity than other children. Music had more meaning to me. I was aware of that. I was aware of the fact that I could be stirred emotionally by different kinds of music, and that it was eclectic, not necessarily confined to one area of music. I could be classically orientated, or towards jazz or folk music or anything across the board. Anything could provoke an emotion in me.


can read the whole interview here
http://music.msn.com/crossroads/interview

Very cool interview and outlook, echoes of Taylor. I too completely
related to David Gray. I heard one of his songs while I was half
asleep that touched me to the core when I was in a down place a
few years ago. I got up out of bed to google it because I HAD to know
who it was and what the song was. It was almost eerie the timing of
it all, but it pulled me out of a funk Fear Talk about a singer that brings the emotion...
Um, I know I could do a seach on this but - who is David Gray?
amy -- David Gray is a Brit singer-songwriter, he had a big song about five years back "Babylon". It's a song that does stand out when you hear it on the radio, he has an interesting raspy voice, and it's a captivating melody and arrangement. I expect you'll recognize it.
Oh - I do know that song - just didn't know the artist. That's usually the story of my life...love the song, haven't a clue about the singer.


Just set up a thread on David Gray in the General Music forum - links to music, videos, and bio  - -

http://www.newenglandsoulpatrol.org/mybb...20#pid6520

Found this embeddable mp3 from his album 'One Too Many Mornings' recorded on March 23rd 2006 at Rod Laver Auditorium, Melbourne, Australia. Click here to play.

couple of bits from Wiki - -

David Gray (born June 13, 1968 in Sale) is an English singer-songwriter who came to mainstream recognition with his 1998 album White Ladder.

His musical career received early support from a dedicated Republic of Ireland fan base. ............................

am just getting into his catalog and not sure I'd compare him to Van but it does seem the Irish know a good thing when they hear it even if it isn't home grown - -
Linda, can't wait to check that out! Thanks for finding the links Huggy
He's not really like Van-not sure who I'd compare him to-he's very
unique. The song that killed me was "Sail Away" Thud It's very
melancholy but powerful if you're going through a break up.Sad

UHadMeAtWooHoo Wrote:
The song that killed me was "Sail Away"


Liz, there are a couple with better audio but this one seemed to best capture the mood of the song - - -
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VoywO4mjUDQ


SAIL AWAY  from the White Ladder album

Sail away with me honey
I put my heart in your hands
Sail away with me honey now, now, now
Sail away with me
What will be will be
I wanna hold you now, now, now

Crazy skies all wild above me now
Winter howling at my face
And everything I held so dear
Disappeared without a trace

Oh all the times I've tasted love
Never knew quite what I had
Little Darling if you hear me now
Never needed you so bad
Spinning round inside my head

Sail away with me honey
I put my heart in your hands
Sail away with me honey now, now, now
Sail away with me
What will be will be
I wanna hold you now, now, now

I've been talking drunken gibberish
I've been puching at the bars
Trying to find some explanation here
For the way some people are
How did it ever come so far

Sail away with me honey
I put my heart in your hands
Sail away with me honey now, now, now
Sail away with me
What will be will be
I wanna hold you now

Sail away with me honey
I put my heart in your hands
Sail away with me honey now, now, now
Sail away with me
What will be will be
I wanna hold you now

Repeat Chorus

Comes down to manufactured music for mass appeal and/or music from the inner vibes of the artist needing to create. I don't say they have to be mutually exclusive, but there sure is a difference in the type of artist/performer that represents each type of music.
well said mouser

recently watched a Later with Jools Holland with Coldplay as one of the guests  -  will just say I have never understood the fuss over Coldplay and their live performances on the show did nothing to change that

when I watch these recorded live shows and the concert footage on Rave I am struck all over again by just how very good of a singer Taylor really is - -  
live performances by some others just emphasizes the difference between recording artists and live musicians  - -

reminder of the night Simon actually got Something right  Wink

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JKsJ6jxlWJo

OK  folks -  just had to add another favorite performance and Rod Stewart's " Simon slap down "  Cool

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VLYpmGvwD_U
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