Podunkian Music Club

Chris de Burgh-Borderline

Our month long tribute to Ireland and all things musical will soon be coming to an end. Next Sunday will bring our grand finale with biggest and the best that the Island has offered.

With our time diminishing, we find ourselves in a bit of a state this weekend, still so many artists to choose from, yet so little time left.

We considered featuring the Hothouse Flowers in this spot tonight, one of the many Irish bands that found a strong following beginning in the late 1980’s. There were also the Waterboys, The Cranberries, The Corrs, The Boomtown Rats or even those heavy metal Gods of the Old Sod, Thin Lizzy. All would have been a correct choice as a sampling of the musical diversity of Irish music today.

However, while all would have been worthwhile stops on our musical journey, we’ve decided to go towards a more traditional balladeer, an apparent citizen of the world, who has developed a strong Canadian following over the years. Including a period of time which included a heavily Canadian populated back up band that was part of his early popular years.

Chris de Burgh, the master of the ballad who found the epicenter of his success the overwhelmingly gushy and very successful Lady in Red, which became the standard of many a wedding in the 1990’s. Beyond that one song that probably has set the man up for life however is a wealth of music that has captured the world over for years.

From the Spanish Train recordings of the late seventies, through Crusader, Eastern Sky and on to the most recent production The Storyman, de Burgh has weaved magical tales of ancient times and current moments to an always appreciative audience...

Based out of Ireland for these over thirty years, he has traveled the world, a multi million seller of songs, treasured in Canada like few other international artists. In the seventies and eighties he was as large a presence as any export from Europe and to this day commands a loyal following in his Western kingdom.

Regularly providing for a sold out show on the Canadian tours, his early success came from the Canadian niche, which found a certain resonance in his early material of travellers and ancient knights in battle.

Our selection tonight Borderline, is one of the many favourites of during a Chris de Burgh show, a strong ballad with ample opportunity for full audience involvement and ownership. It's rather indicative of the style of music that has caught the fancy of music fans the world over.

His latest musical direction, The Storyman has returned him towards a world view of music with many different styles, including a haunting song "My Father's Eyes" with Middle Eastern sounds which he blends in nicely with his western arrangements.

It’s just the continuation of a long and successful career that can’t be properly pigeonholed, but shows that he’s much more than just the Wedding singer that many sometimes incorrectly identify him as.

Artist--Chris de Burgh
Recording--The Getaway