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Dear Kush ~

I've posted this in the Member's Poetry section because I have received pure poetry from you in the words and singing of Scott Walker. The glorious instrumentation of the first song of Brel's that he sings, "If You Go Away," brought to mind, after many years of its not even crossing my mind, the Maurice Chevalier album I had. It's not that he sounds like Maurice himself, but the song itself immediately brought memories of listening and singing along to his album, hours upon hours.

Scott does wonderfully with capturing the emotional essence of Brel's song, in English. What a pleasure!!! I've been listening, unending, for hours! It arrived last night, but I had only listened to it once, and didn't feel able to adequately respond at that point.

His own songs ~ WOW!!! What does he do publicly, or to earn his living performing? His songs have incredibly insightful lyrics and he sings them with the "same" quality that Brel does. If I start reciting my favourites, you'll end up with the whole dang playlist! I love his Brel-like energy with his songs, and his high-energy with his own. You can really hear Brel's influence in Walker's lyrics, bittersweet vocals, melodies, instrumentation, and energy [including the ballads]...truly wonderful .

The sound and flow of "Duchess" is somehow reminiscent of Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay," with me. How about you?

Thank you so much for such beauty, Kush . This cd will get played a lot. Two Ragged Soldiers is playing right now. Heartrending melodies; lush instrumentation; emotionally-evocative, refined, and rich vocals; poetic, insightful, bittersweet, and poignant lyrics. My kind of songs . Thank you, Kush .

Love,
Lizzytysh

Glad you are enjoying it Lizzytysh. Always happy to share the music I love.
Yes, his voice and vocal prowess is a wonderful instrument and a throwback to another era. In addition to Brel he has also sung songs by other songwriters too who I think are from 30s - 50s.
Two Ragged Soldiers....my favorite imagery in that song is "There were knights on park benches, stale bread for the pigeons."
Check out Angels of Ashes...the imagery is a little similar to Cohen's 'Love Itself' if you substitute ashes for dust particles.
"Their light shafts will reach through the darkness and touch you, my friend"

Hi Kush ~ I'm pleased to see your reply .

Ah, yes, so do I ~ on the sharing of music I love. I'll be glad when I have the capability to do a lot more of it! Right now, however, Raffi is being recorded by the owner of the record store that I frequent. It won't be long till you have him in your hands, too......though I'm amazed how some things from England can get to me faster than something of the same size from New York .

I noticed that lyric, too, in "Two Ragged Soldiers," perhaps because pigeons and park benches have always seemed to signify for me the forlorn, the downtrodden, the homeless, the alone, the lonely, the old, the poor, their often keeping company with the pigeons, feeding them popcorn or bread crumbs ......even when it's an old, obviously-financially-secure and engaged, Jewish gentleman in glasses reading a newspaper, there's a certain essence in the picture that emerges that I love. Not sure where these associations started or all came from. Perhaps, the old woman feeding the pigeons to that exquisite song in "Mary Poppins" started it, even though she sat on the wide expanse of steps. It's been reenforced since in black-and-white photography, which I love. So, that phrase leapt out at me and was met with appreciation.

I'll certainly listen to "Angels Of Ashes" from that perspective. Thanks. His lyrics are not to be passed over quickly or lightly. Much depth to take in there!

With the timing of your answer, I'm not sure if you read what I added about "Duchess" and "Lay Lady Lay" ~ and some other things [you know me ~ as Midnight noted, never quite a "final" word, it seems .] Very true on his other-era sound .

Thanks again, Kush.

~ Lizzytysh