Ae Fond Kiss Video

Here is another song from the album The Songs of Robert Burns in video format. It is Ae Fond Kiss.

Christine is singing with only light drones accompanying her and so the wonderful words, written by Robert Burns as one of his most famous love songs, are highlighted in this beautiful version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcOJSqi_3rg

 

My Love is Like a Red Red Rose Video

Here is a video for a song that will be on The Songs of Robert Burns album when it comes out early in 2011.

The song is called My Love is Like a Red Red Rose. It was recorded by Christine Sparks in her home studio and is the song with which she often finishes her live shows - enjoy :-)

My Love is like a Red Red Rose - Robert Burns Songs

Wow - that week was very fast!! Christine was working on A Man's a Man when I wrote my last Blog - just to report that there is still ongoing pre-recording work happening and that another Burns classic,  Ye Banks And Braes O' Bonnie Doon, has made its way onto the recorder ahead of A Man's a Man.

Ye Banks and Braes is, I believe, a very interesting song. The tune is very sweet and when sung with major chords, sounds more like a spring day tune of celebration than the bittersweet message contained in the words. Here are the words:

Ye banks and braes o' bonnie doon
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And i'm sae weary, fu' o' care!
Y'ell break my heart, ye warbling bird,
That wantons through the flow'ring thorn
Ye mind me o' departed joys,
Departed, never to return.

Oft i have roved by bonnie doon
To see the rose of woodbine twine;
And ilka bird sand o' its luve,
And fondly sae did i o'mine.
We lightsome hearts i stretch'd my hand
And pu'd a rosebud from the tree;
But my fause lover stole the rose
And left, and left the thorn wi' me

So true to the heart of the album "The Songs of Robert Burns", Christine has scored a very different piano part that goes deep to capture the feelings encapsulated within Burns' lyrics. A 12 string guitar part has been added to compliment the piano and to add the movement of the water to the stillness of the Banks and Braes. Still to be added are whistle and strings, including a beautiful counter melody, one that everyone will recognise, in the last verse.

I think that I will revisit all the other posts and add the lyrics of each song as appropriate. I hope to be adding some video clips soon as well.

Oh yes, this post is called My Love is like a Red Red Rose. The reason is that I have today recreated the landing page for a free live video of Red Red Rose, recorded by Christine in our home. The link for the page is http://www.myloveislikearedredrose.com/ - here are the words:

O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That’s sweetly play'd in tune.


As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:


Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.


And fare thee weel, my only Luve
And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.


Red Red Rose will also be included on the album "The Songs of Robert Burns".

All for now.

A Man's a Man - a classic Robert Burns song

Tonight is very cold in the West of Scotland  (-10c going down to -20c in some areas). 

However, Christine is busy recording a brand new version of A Man's a Man as I write this blog. I do not yet know what instruments she is using, but I do know know that she wants to do something very different from the usual approach.

Christine feels that the words of Burn's classic song deserve a special treatment to align the music with the message conveyed.

The album, The Songs of Robert Burns will be all the stronger for the inclusion of A man's a Man - I look forward to reporting how the session went in my next Blog.

Here are the lyrics:

Is there for honest Poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an' a that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
A Man's a Man for a' that:
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, an' a' that;
The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.
Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, an' a' that,
His ribband, star, an' a' that:
The man o' independent mind
He looks an' laughs at a' that.
A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Their dignities an' a' that;
The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.
Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.

Ca' the Yowes Tae the Knowes

So, another Robert Burns song has been recorded. Ca' The Yowes tae the Knowes is another beautiful ballad, this version being recorded with 6 and 12 string guitars. The album "The Songs of Robert Burns" by The Sensational Christine Sparks is now really starting to take shape.

Christine recorded her guitar in a single take and then did the same with the vocals. We now need to put on the 12 string part and then either a whistle or a violin for the solo part.

Tomorrow we will be speaking with harmonica player, Stuart Farquharson, to arrange for him to come over and put some harmonica parts down.

I think we will be mastering the three songs recorded in our home based studio over the next couple of days, Parcel of Rogues, Aya Waukin O and Ca' the Yowes - three of Robert Burns very best songs.

Chorus.-Ca' the yowes to the knowes,
Ca' them where the heather grows,
Ca' them where the burnie rowes,
My bonie dearie

As I gaed down the water-side,
There I met my shepherd lad:
He row'd me sweetly in his plaid,
And he ca'd me his dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.

Will ye gang down the water-side,
And see the waves sae sweetly glide
Beneath the hazels spreading wide,
The moon it shines fu' clearly.
Ca' the yowes, &c.

Ye sall get gowns and ribbons meet,
Cauf-leather shoon upon your feet,
And in my arms ye'se lie and sleep,
An' ye sall be my dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.

If ye'll but stand to what ye've said,
I'se gang wi' thee, my shepherd lad,
And ye may row me in your plaid,
And I sall be your dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.

While waters wimple to the sea,
While day blinks in the lift sae hie,
Till clay-cauld death sall blin' my e'e,
Ye sall be my dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c. 

Sensational Christine Sparks sings Robert Burns Songs

The songs of Robert Burns featured heavily in the live set we did yesterday in Glasgow being also broadcast live on Celtic Music Radio.

Christine started with Ae Fond Kiss, and during our two short  also included, My love is like a red red rose, Bonnie Dundee, Parcel of Rogues and MacPherson's Rant.

Christine is struggling with the limited sounds that she has available on the keyboards we currently have. With this in mind we had a look at the new Roland RD-700NX. Phew!! Need to do some smart stuff to raise the £2K fast - we need these sounds and this quality!!!

Tomorrow there will be more on new ideas for songs for the album.

Oh yes, Celtic Music Radio are going to make The Songs of Robert Burns their Album of the Week - well done Sensational Christine Sparks!!

More Robert Burns Songs

Christine was trying out some guitar for the album version of Ye Banks and Braes last night. I think that she has found new freedom in working on songs with the piano first - she is a classically trained musician, so she has a good musical knowledge on that instrument that goes beyond knowledge of chords. She finds the piano a very freeing instrument to work with. So I think that it will again be a "score it on the piano first" song. We may then have a look at working a guitar part to sing with - we shall see.

I had a go at recording a bass part for Aye Waukin O, but it simply detracts from the overall sound. Without the bass it sounds open and free - adding bass makes it sound like a band. To be fair, there is a fair amount of bass on Christine's guitar part anyway.

Cant wait to get stuck into finishing of Duncan Gray - we are going to go to town on this one creating a great party sound - all alcohol free as well :-)

OK Mr Robert Burns, more work on yer songs tomorrow. We have a live gig also going out on radio tonight, so we'll be doing three or four on there. More tomorrow.

Time Flies - Good Grief Its Saturday

Wow!! This has been a very busy week. We have two more Robert Burns songs on the boil thanks to Christine spending another day chained to the digital recorder.


Duncan Gray is now a reality. We have the traditional version leading into the decidedly bawdy version - it is being presented in the ambiance of a room where people are partying and having a good time - great fun to record.


Aye Waukin O has turned into something very special. I hear another version with a duet between Eddie Reader and Christine and a harmonica solo by one of the world's finest harmonica players, Stuart Farquharson. We are going to do our own version for the album but will speak with Eddie about a special version via our good friend and Prince maestro, Rory Nicoll.

Plated several Robert Burns songs last night at our live gig in Dumbarton. Many thanks to Billy and Jim for booking us again - great night.

All for now

John

ps Dont forget to check out Christine's Blog at http://www.thesongsofrobertburns.com/

Duncan Gray Lyrics:
Can ye play me Duncan Gray,
Ha, ha, the girdin' o't;
O'er the hills an' far awa,
Ha, ha, ha, the girdin' o't,
Duncan came oor Meg to woo,
Meg was nice an' wadna do,
But like an ither puff'd an' blew
At offer o' the girdin' o't.

2. Duncan, he cam here again,
Ha, ha, the girdin' o't,
A' was oot, an' Meg her lane,
Ha, ha, ha, the girdin' o't;
He kiss'd her butt, he kiss'd her ben,
He bang'd a thing against her wame;
But, troth, I noo forget its name,
But, I trow, she gat the girdin' o't.

3. She took him tae the cellar then,
Ha, ha, the girdin' o't,
To see gif he could do't again,
Ha, ha, ha, the girdin' o't,
He kiss'd her ance, he kiss'd her twice,
An' by the by he kiss'd her thrice
Till deil a mair the thing wad rise
To gie her the lang girdin' o't.

4. But Duncan took her to his wife,
Ha, ha, the girdin' o't,
To be the comfort o' his life,
Ha, ha, ha, the girdin' o't,
An' noo she scauls baith night an' day,
Except when Duncan's at the play,
An' that's as seldom as he may,
He's weary o' the girdin' o't.

********************

Duncan Gray cam' here to woo,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't,
On blythe Yule-night when we were fou,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't,
Maggie coost her head fu' heigh,
Look'd asklent and unco skeigh,
Gart poor Duncan stand abeigh;
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

2. Duncan fleech'd and Duncan pray'd;
Ha, ha, the wooing o't,
Meg was deaf as Ailsa Craig,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't:
Duncan sigh'd baith out and in,
Grat his e'en baith blear't an' blin',
Spak o' lowpin o'er a linn;
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

3. Time and Chance are but a tide,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't,
Slighted love is sair to bide,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't:
Shall I like a fool, quoth he,
For a haughty hizzie die?
She may gae to-France for me!
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

4. How it comes let doctors tell,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't;
Meg grew sick, as he grew hale,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.
Something in her bosom wrings,
For relief a sigh she brings:
And oh! her een they spak sic things!
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

5. Duncan was a lad o' grace,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't:
Maggie's was a piteous case,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't:
Duncan could na be her death,
Swelling Pity smoor'd his wrath;
Now they're crouse and canty baith,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

********************
 Weary fa' you, Duncan Gray!
Ha, ha, the girdin o't!
Wae gae by you, Duncan Gray!
Ha, ha, the girdin o't!
When a' the lave gae to their play,
Then I maun sit the lee-lang day,
And jeeg the cradle wi my tae,
And a' for the girdin o't!

2. Bonie was the lammas moon,
Ha, ha, the girdin o't!
Glow'rin a'the hills, aboon,
Ha, ha, the girdin o't!
The girdin brak, the beast cam down,
I tint my curch and baith my shoon,
And, Duncan, ye're an unco loun-
Wae on the bad girdin o't!

3. But, Duncan, gin ye'll keep your aith,
Ha, ha, the girdin o't!
I'se bless you wi my hindmost breath,
Ha, ha, the girdin o't!
Duncan, gin ye'll keep your aith,
The beast again can bear us baith,
And auld Mess John will mend the skaith,
And clout the bad girdin o't.

Today is the day for Aye Waukin O

Christine is on the piano, having worked out her guitar part, coming up with ideas for Aye Waukin O - another beautiful example of the songs of Robert Burns. The first parts are due to be recorded tonight. Christine is better to be able to do it when the mood is right - but hey, emotion comes from motion, right, so putting the plan in place is a good first step.


We spoke with Alan Grant yesterday - a very nice man who seems to be connected to everyone :-) We are speaking with Alan to see how we can help each other in what we are aiming to achieve.


Going to be getting a few instrumentalists together soon - or maybe work with each one independently - not sure yet. Want to start getting a few sounds down as we move forward with the Robert Burns' songs project rather than wait until we have got all the raw tracks down. Who knows, new ideas may flow from bringing in other musicians.


Must keep the stripped back sound though - no clutter - space for the voice - space for the words - just raw and pure emotion - just like Robert Burns.

Aye Waukin O Lyrics:
Summer's a pleasant time
Flowers of every colour
The water runs o'er the heugh
And I long for my true lover

Chorus:
Aye waukin-O
Waukin still and weary
Sleep I can get nane
For thinking of my dearie
Ay waukin, O

When I sleep I dream
When I wake I'm eerie
Sleep I can get nane
For thinking of my dearie
Aye waukin-O ...

Lonely night comes on
A' the lave are sleepin'
I think on my bonnie lad
And blur my eyes wi' weepin'
Aye waukin-O...

Robert Burns at the Doubletree Dunblane Hydro

Last night's live gig went well - the Dunblane Hydro really is a lovely venue now that it has been refurbished - burning log fire and Victorian splendour.


We were billed as The Sensational Christine Sparks Show and started with Burns' Ae Fond Kiss. Later we played A Man's a Man and My Love is Like a Red Red Rose. In front of a burning log fire with a very attentive audience,Red Red Rose is the perfect song on which to end.


I am really looking forward to the release of the Songs of Robert Burns album - his songs go down really well wherever we play them,


We have a goal to record another three in the coming week.


Till tomorrow


John

Robert Burns Songs in "Song and Spirit Seminars"

As well as recording the songs for The Songs of Robert Burns album, we are busy conceptualising our new keynote talks and seminars called "Song and Spirit Seminars" - designed to help people use acoustic song and music to access their true spirit and live with enthusiasm and passion to become all they can be. Will deal with personal growth, inspiration and business growth. The seminars will be delivered in Scotland first and eventually worldwide. Already booked for a major event in the US next year. Exciting times!!

Robert Burns songs will feature in the seminars because of their embedded passion. We will get more of an idea which ones as we record them. Certainly, songs like Red Red Rose and Ae Fond Kiss are likely contenders.

Till tomorrow - John

The Songs of Robert Burns Playlist

Here are the songs from the album "The Songs of Robert Burns". The list is not necessarily complete, so if you have any ideas, please do not hesitate to let us know on here.

Ca’ the yowes

Dainty davie

Duncan Gray

It was a’ fur oor rightful king

John Anderson my Jo

Leezy Lindsay

Rantin Rovin Robin

Rattlin Rorin Willie

Such a parcel o rogues

Christine is doing another session this afternoon and this evening. Can't wait!!

Parcel of Rogues - WOW!!

So - the piano part was laid down and then Christine spent all of Sunday creating a superb vocal. She recorded a really excellent version - very accomplished - but then had a sneaking feeling that she was too attached to the "good technique" she had used. She wanted a really authentic "woman who was there when the song was written" vibe from her vocal. Something earthy and of the time.


So despite having sung Parcel of Rogues for around six hours, she powered up the system again and laid down an fabulous version.


So, The Songs of Robert Burns album is on the way. We now have to decide whether to keep the track simple or to add more instruments. Will let you know what we decide :-)


Till tomorrow.


John

Parcelof Rogues Lyrics:
Fareweel to a' our Scottish fame,
Fareweel our ancient glory;
Fareweel ev'n to the Scottish name,
Sae fam'd in martial story.
Now Sark rins over Solway sands,
An' Tweed rins to the ocean,
To mark where England's province stands-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

What force or guile could not subdue,
Thro' many warlike ages,
Is wrought now by a coward few,
For hireling traitor's wages.
The English steel we could disdain,
Secure in valour's station;
But English gold has been our bane-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

O would, or I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld grey head had lien in clay,
Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace!
But pith and power, till my last hour,
I'll mak this declaration;
We're bought and sold for English gold-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

Live Music with Robert Burns Songs

We played at a local venue last night to around 50 people. The songs they liked the best were the songs of Robert Burns.


We played Burns' "Ae Fond Kiss" - this is the opening number with The Sensational Christine Sparks :-) on strings and vocal.Christine uses the strings as bagpipe style drones - the effect is very powerful.  


We do a selection of songs from the "Songs from a Scottish Heart" album including the Burns song "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose".


We always finish with My Love is Like a Red Red Rose - just Christine's voice and dead silence from the audience - its is amazing to be part of it. I have to have all the lights on red to add to the feeling :-)


Caledonia went down a storm as well - we hit it on the button and the sound was just right. Again, you could have heard a pin drop and you could see the moist eyes reflecting from the stage lights.


As I write this, so I can hear |Christine putting down a piano part for Parcel of Rogues - piano tuned and sounding great - Christine's chord are stunning. Cant wait to do my bit!!


Sunny here, so I am of out to immerse myself in the Scottish countryside - more later.


Best wishes from Scotland


John

Ae Fond Kiss - Robert Burns Songs

Have now created the landing and thank you pages for the Ae Fond Kiss video - another video being given free of charge as an introductory offer for the album,. This song is being re-recorded especially for the "The Songs of Robert Burns" album.


It is likely that we will also do a parrallel landing page leading to a separate sales page on http://www.robertburnssongs.com/ as this search term actually shows more hits per month than The Songs of Robert Burns search term.


We had the piano retuned today ready for the first session of the album. Will be setting up the mikes and recorder tomorrow so that Christine may record when the right moment arrives.


Till tomorrow


John

Ae Fond Kiss lyrics:
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me;
Dark despair around benights me.

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
Naething could resist my Nancy:
But to see her was to love her;
Love but her, and love for ever.

Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted,
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.

Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweeli alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

Thank you page

Managed to find our copy of My Love is Like a Red Red Rose on one of our Web sites. I thought I had uploaded it to Google, but although there are excerpts of the song in several of the showreels, I had not uploaded the whole song.

Sooo - have almost finished the "thankyou" page where people can download their free copy and also see it online via an embedded video.

The Sensational Christine Sparks and the Magnificent Robert Burns are pictured side by side - just their heads, looking, for all the world to see, like a couple. Just as well he lived when he lived is what I say!!!

Anyway, will attempt to finish the thankyou page tonight - and more tomorrow.

Best wishes

John

Day Three

Nearly the end of another long day - however, a few more hours to go working on one of the other Web pages.

We tried to organise another keyboard today, but no luck. We need a great natural piano sound. Made the decision to get the piano tuner out to retune our "real" piano - fingers crossed it records well!!

Have been speaking to the CD duplication people about available formats for our The Songs of Robert Burns CD. As always there are complex choices - always involving choices about quality and money. I think we need to get closer to the release date to see how the songs feel. I have a feeling there will be quite a story to tell about why we have chosen to represent Rodert Burn's words in the specific ways we will use in Christine's arrangements of the songs.

OK - time to get coding!! More tomorrow.

John
Management and Production
The Sensational Christine Sparks

March towards release

Sooo - we now have the landing page ready for the release of The Songs of Robert Burns album. The landing page is on www.myloveislikearedredrose.com although not set up with video etc yet. Will have landing pages for all the songs all leading to the main page for the album.

Exciting news is that Christine has worked out the arrangement for "Parcel of Rogues" - stunning version - very different from every other version. I'll let Christine explain the context and arrangement on her blog at http://thesongsofrobertburns.blogspot.com/ .

We have extended the "total connection" metaphor beyond the words and music and wonderful network of friends we are building on Facebook and Christine now has a tiny but beautiful Netbook designed by Karim Rashid + a mobile broadband dongle. This means she is no longer tied by her faithful but brick like Dell laptop that has no battery. I am typing this on said netbook having just set up Facebook, Skype and wireless etc.

More tomorrow. Hope to see some friends here soon. Where are the artists and photographers - its ok Darren, you the man!!! This is a very special project.

Tm then - John

Robert Burns' Songs - The Technical Stuff

This is the place where we will be featuring the story of The Songs of Robert Burns - the soon to be released album from The Sensational Christine Sparks.

I am Christine's fiance and backing musician/vocalist, as well as being responsible for our Internet Marketing campaign, stage production and co-studio production with Christine.

If you would like the in-depth story behind the spiritual connection between Christine and Robert Burns' songs, plus details of Christine's journey in creating her new vehicle for Burns' timeless classics, then head on over to Christine's blog at http://thesongsofrobertburns.blogspot.com/ .

We are purchasing a growing portfolio of domains, and working with Tracy Repchuk, Debbie Allen and Marie O'Riordan - Power of 3 - to create a cutting edge marketing campaign. My job is to take all the commercial pressure off Christine to allow her the freedom to create a masterpiece.

Here are some words from guru to the stars, Watt Nicoll - http://www.wattnicoll.co.uk/ - who works with top celebrities such as David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Chris Bonnington:

"Christine has the quality of voice that Burns' words deserve. Both are masters of exposing raw, natural emotion, creating timeless masterpieces. I have shared Christine's voice with a number of people who are aware of perfection in the human voice, and all agree that Christine is as good as it gets."

So, watch this space for news of the development of the album, latest media coverage and the latest ideas on pictures, packaging and production. We will even put up links to some demos as they are recorded.

I would love your feedback - it could have a very real impact on aspects of the final "product".

More next week.

Best wishes

John