Unregistered
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Posted: June 28 2002, 18:58 |
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I’m sure I must be Mike Oldfield`s number 1 fan. I’ve followed his music from when I was at school as a thirteen year old in 1973. At the age of fourteen I started to play guitar which was heavily inspired by Mikes superb, even though slightly out of tune album TUBULAR BELLS. I learned every note from “grand piano” to “Spanish guitar” and eventually recorded it myself. I’ve visited the Beacon and his house in Denham where I met Sally Cooper (she told me Mike was in Paris with Richard Branson at that time). Over the years I have waited anxiously for Mikes new albums knowing that his trademark sound will always be there no matter what instrument he plays, after all that’s what makes Mike Oldfield, Mike Oldfield. I will never understand why so many people have to be so openly critical about Mike and his music, even though some claim to be fans. When I look around at so many so called musicians and pop stars who have had lifetime achievement awards for their contribution to their art, what about Mike? If anybody deserves it surely he does. Mike was once asked, “why do you make your music so intricate and complicated? Why not keep it simple like The Police (Sting and co) do” to which Mike replied, “ask them to play Tubular Bells”.
Mikes music has always been outstanding from the start, from The Sallyangie up to the new Tres Lunas. As for those who are judging what guitars should or shouldn`t be used on Mikes new venture TB the remake, does it really matter ? THE BEAUTY OF THE MUSIC IS HOW IT IS PLAYED NOT WHAT IT IS PLAYED ON. (Listen to the live version of Broad sunlit uplands from The Art In Heaven concert and that’s a piano, Beautiful). Anybody who plays guitar can play a Gibson sg, fender strat`,PRS or whatever, but can they play it with the feel and conviction that Mike does.
Mike is doing TB again because he wants to perfect the overall sound of an album full of perfect melodies. At the time it was recorded studio time was sparse and so was recording technology and it must be said, “talent does what it can, genius does what it must”. “Go for it Mike, keep it complicated and intricate, sod The Police”
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