Music Unites Us

My Musicfootnotes blog is about art and music but I also occasionally post letters about politics and social concerns. I was thinking of the issues around Scottish Independence and about what is ‘Britishness’?  This then led me to thinking how music offers one voice and brings us together.

As the debate heats up around Scottish Independence, it led me to wondering what ‘Britishness’ means for me. English people, or rather those in London, should realise Scottish people don’t support the English teams at sporting events – why? Well the great rivalry is as strong as ever. However Scottish independence would offer many mutual benefits, a better partnership and renewed respect I feel. 

There are globalization fears as gigantic business conglomerates attempt to take over control. 

(Europe tried this one size fits all Euro which I always wondered seemed a half baked idea.)

I’m not enthused by a ‘one size fits all’ homogenised, faceless worldwide culture – where every city has its corner Big Mac and Nike trainers on display no matter where I travel, 

While I do believe in freedom of thought and speech – in One Young World and in voices of truth such as the Dalai Lama…and I don’t believe in tribalism or religious divides. People have advised that we shouldn’t speak of religious or political thoughts, this seems a terrible thing and I believe in good, healthy and informed debate…I believe in democracy whatever that means in today's world? 

It is more important than ever to keep our divergent heritages alive. I believe strongly that Scotland needs to move on now and to feel a renewed sense of confidence over it’s own 'identity' and not to feel 'dependent' on the decisions of a few in London. London is interested in its financial institutions, civil servants, media and more – and it is not interested in business opportunities elsewhere.

Today more than ever the individual voice matters. I believe in de-centralized government above all as I saw first hand in America - where each State runs its own affairs and the federal government runs the roads and military. Scotland has its own education system and Scots Law.

Scottish independence is a ‘positive’ debate and it is not about ‘divides’ or about old rivalries, but about a healthy and respectful ‘partnership’ in which Scotland no longer feels second-rate but able to stand on its own two feet as many other small countries do. 

When I wandered abroad many years sometimes I would hear the pipes of Scotland call me back home.  So I include a haunting Gaelic song that finished with those pipes - '' Crucan na bpaiste' and the 'Drummers of England'. I was born in England to Irish parents and grew up in Scotland - so yes I believe in Irish and English heritage too!  I had a songbook of National songs and we sang Irish and Welsh songs too. That's why I love the Celtic festival here in Glasgow - it is one big melting pot that celebrates many cultures through the medium of music.Celtic celebrates our differences while the music also brings us together.
MY SCOTTISH PORTRAITS  -  http://www.pkimage/scottishportraits

This blog has become also about music! 

Even In our world of mass communications it is harder and harder to get heard amid all the large corporate controls. Therefore it is important to maintain our heritage even more than it ever was. 

We must never believe that our voice cannot be heard.  

*Emeli Sande photos 2007 to 2012

Emeli Sande Royal Albert Hall

Emeli Sande Oran Mor 2007

Emeli Sande King Tuts 2010

Emeli Sande Oran Mor 2011

I first took photos of Emeli Sande at her ep launch gig at the Oran Mor Glasgow in December 2006, where she sang her own songs and a Nina Simone song. Some of these images were later used for her promotions in press and flyers in 2007 and 2008. I saw her gig four years later at King Tuts in 2010 and also again at the Oran Mor in November 2011. She has a warm smile and loads of energy onstage, as well has having the gift of a soul voice that stirs with honey tones.  

She has had a busy time since then working with her Publishing deal in both London and America. In 2011 she had The Mobos and her debut single Heaven which reached No 2 in the UK charts. Then her debut album Our Version of Events reach No 1 UK Charts in February 2012. Her music is soul rock and sits on the edge of our joys and sorrows while they are also full of hopes and a caring voice - soul with a questioning edge. Her hair has gone from big and brown to a trendy peroxide quiff. 
Emeli spoke of how wonderful the past year has been for her and of her No 1 hit song with Professor Green titled Read all about It. I had a chat with Emeli backstage at King Tuts in December 2010 where she kindly signed prints for me and where she said her music was influenced by the likes of Portishead, Massive Attack and Joni Mitchell. Emeli supported Coldplay on their 2011 tour and she has won the Brits Critics' Choice award.  
http://www.emelisande.com/ 

Emeli Sande Old Fruitmarket Glasgow 2012

Emeli Sande Olympic Torch Relay Glasgow 2012

PHOTOS -  http://pkimage.co.uk/emelisande

Emeli Sande BLOGS  -
*Emeli Sande Olympic Torch Relay - http://www.musicfootnotes.com/emeli-sande-olympic-torch-relay
 *Emeli Sande Old Fruitmarket Glasgow 2012 -http://www.musicfootnotes.com/emelisandeoldfruitmarket
*Emeli Sande Oran Glasgow 2011 - http://www.musicfootnotes.com/emeli-sande-oran-mor
*Emeli Sande wins the Brits Critics' Choice award -  http://www.musicfootnotes.com/emeli-sande-wins-brits-critics-choice.html
*Emeli Sande King Tuts 15th November 2010 - http://www.musicfootnotes.com/emeli-sande-king-tuts
* New Artists 2011 - http://www.musicfootnotes.com//new-artists-2011

Scottish Bands South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) 2012 Austin, Texas

The Scottish Music Industry Association are taking 11 Scottish bands, DJs and producers to showcase as part of South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) 2012 in Austin, Texas.
The Scottish artists showcasing at SXSW are -
French Wives, Hudson Mohawke, Django Django, Jackmaster, Tango in the Attic, Three Blind Wolves, The Twilight Sad, Twin Atlantic, We Were Promised Jetpacjs, Woodenbox, The Xcerts. 

The 2012 SXSW music festival will take place in Austin from March 13th to March 18th.
http://sxsw.com/ 
The invitation by SXSW is the first step in getting to play the festival. Bands then aaply for sponsorship from Creative Scotland and have to raise funds to cover the costs of flights. Visa applications also need to be  sorted in the short time frame between official confirmation and the festival.

*Composers 'The Bee Gees'

Quotes from the brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice. 

'We have two careers as composers and artists, the two go together but are separate as well. We are composers firstly. There is no greater thrill than to write a song for someone you love in mind and then to hear them sing it. Pop and country are very close – Islands in the Stream became a country record.'

For me Islands in the Stream is one of the greatest love songs ever – along with Massachusetts which holds special memories for me. 

'People are lazy – harmony and melodies require work!.'

Harmony and melody is a big part of their music, when siblings sing together there is such a special subtle blend. 

The Bee Gees are a musical group which originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. The trio were successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s and as prominent performers of the disco music era in the late 1970s. The group sang three-part tight harmonies that were instantly recognisable; Robin's clear vibrato lead was a hallmark of their earlier hits, while Barry's R&B falsetto became their signature sound during the late 1970s and 1980s. The brothers co-wrote all of their own hits, as well as writing and producing several major hits for other artists.
It has been estimated that the Bee Gees' career record sales total more than 220 million, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Only Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Paul McCarney have outsold the Bee Gees.