Hey ho, if love were all.

If Love Were All was written by Noël Coward for the operetta ‘Bitter Sweet’ in 1929 and was described by biographer Philip Hoare as one of the loneliest pop songs ever written. I can’t recollect when I first heard it, or whose version, but its upbeat resignation and pathos took an immediate hold on me. Judy Garland’s interpretation on the Carnegie Hall recordings is the most famous and as you’d expect sung from a well of bitter experience, but its true beauty pleads for a male voice. Coward never publically acknowledged his sexual orientation and as late as the 1960s wryly observed there are still a few old ladies in Worthing who don't know but I’m sure he to yearned for  the song to be sung by a man. Thanks to the Pet Shop Boys and Mr.Wainwright the carapace has been removed and here for your pleasure is Rufus performing the song at the Brighton Centre on July 4^th 2010. Obviously I was there but with the added bling of Karin & Daniel and newly weds Emma & Sam. Happy days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5jcDX4Tq_A

I believe in doing what I can
In crying when I must
In laughing when I choose
Hey ho, if love were all
I should be lonely.

I believe the more you love a man,
The more you give your trust,
The more you're bound to lose.

Although when shadows fall
I think if only
Somebody splendid really needed me
Someone affectionate and dear
Cares would be ended if I knew that he
Wanted to have me near.

But I believe that since my life began
The most I've had is just a talent to amuse.
Hey ho, if love were all.

 

It has been a busy week laced with welcome bursts of sunshine and a string of concerts to lift the winter blues. The opening salvo was on Sunday 4^th delivered by Brighton’s finest, Natasha Khan, better known as Bat for Lashes.

 

Clearly happy to be playing to her home crowd she gyrated and shimmied to great effect showcasing highlights from her repertoire. Although it’s early days she has the potential to give Kate Bush a run for her money. This little film gives you some idea of her potential and complete loveliness.

http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebsearch/video.jhtml?searchfor=bat+for+lashes+the+haunted+man&p2=%5EXP%5Exdm348%5ELENUK%5Egb&n=77ee1223&ss=sub&st=bar&ptb=10254317-BF8C-4007-BBF8-E6EB8FBC51F7&tpr=sbt&si=38885&ps=bat+for+lashes+the+haunted+man

 

On Tuesday the 6^th I found myself once more in the delightful company of Krystle Warren for a pre show catch up. This time around it was like meeting an old friend and she gave me a warm hug and a big smile which was a lovely surprise. We talked of touring with Rufus, living in Paris, a fantasy duet with John Grant, recording with Hercules & Love Affair and the making of her next album. This will be a repost to Love Songs: A Time You May Embrace and will feature ditties about when the embrace ends. After the interview we continued to chat over tea, talking about Obama and music whilst scribbling down names for the other to explore. Father John Mysty traded for Terry Callier and so on.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-XraF8tZM4

 

As a gift I had brought along a copy of Miss America by Mary Margaret O’Hara. It remains one of my favourite records of all time chosen for its elegance, beauty and O’Hara’s dogged determination to write, arrange and produce her own work, much to the chagrin of the label. I had hoped to buy an original copy but sadly this masterpiece is currently out of print. As I described the record’s bitter sweetness and O’Hara’s troubles, to my astonishment Krystle remembered being introduced to her at a Canadian concert celebrating Kate McGarrigle’s work. Despite this she had never heard the music so I was doubly pleased with my choice. Synchronicity is a marvel sometimes.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx8_nXqOdKs

You take a walk
I'm by your side
Take my life, I'll give you mine
You, you give me something
To cry about

You're in my heart
I'm in your hand
You drop me off
I miss you and you
You give me something to cry about

Our chat was brought to an end by constraints of time and Krystle’s urgent need for fish and chips so we said our goodbyes with an embrace. I walked into the night air feeling elated with her Paris address in my pocket so that a Christmas CD could be dispatched in due course.

After a quick coffee and regroup at Marwoods I returned to watch the show and parked myself towards the back of the room. Krystle was in fine form, telling stories before the voice described by Rufus as formidable floored the room.

 

For an encore she delivered Jealous Guy like never before to whoops and hollers. Here’s the original which I love and two choice interpretations of Eleanor Rigby and Time Has Told Me, the first song I ever saw her perform.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzhyKn1ThpU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npr1YQTUz98

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDcIDr2TEtc