Sentinel_NZ
Group: Members
Posts: 167
Joined: June 2021 |
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Posted: May 27 2023, 21:17 |
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When you think about it, the respective careers of Mike Oldfield and Jean-Michel Jarre share some astonishing & uncanny parallels and synchronicities.
They both released definitive, genre-defining, even genre-establishing, timeless new age/progressive rock albums in the mid 70s (Tubular Bells 1973, Oxygene 1976).
Tubular Bells and Oxygene are both roughly said to have sold around 15 million+ copies.
Both released equally seminal 2nd or 3rd albums in the same decade (Ommadawn 1975, Equinox 1978 - not counting Jarre's first two minor [non]releases).
Both released highly successful sequels to their debut in the 90s (Tubular Bells 2/3 1992/98, Oxygene 7-13, 1997)
Both released trilogies based on their debut album: Tubular Bells I-III, and Oxygene, Oxygene 7-13, & Oxygene 3.
In the 1980s both branched out into exciting, eclectic and highly original new styles.
Both released sequels to their 2nd or 3rd seminal release in the late 2010s, which both ended up being among their greatest ever work (Return to Ommadawn 2017, Equinoxe Infinity 2018).
Both their careers more or less span exactly the same time (Both released their first albums in 1973 and their last important album - with all respect to Oxymore - in either 2017 or 2018).
Jarre has 22 studio albums. Oldfield 26.
Both continued to produce some of their finest work well into their late 60s, something virtually unheard of in popular or any music.
I find it very difficult to believe that the one hasn't been basing their career moves on the other, either consciously or otherwise; or else some sublime mysterious natural external synchronizing influence has been at work.
What's perhaps most fascinating is that they not only never worked together but don't appear to have even ever spoken about each other, if they have been influenced , inspired, rivaled etc either one by the other.
Now, when we start to further look at the life and works of Vangelis, this introduces a whole extra layer in intrigue and coincidental circumstances. Another time perhaps.
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Even the thought of the two greatest musicians of the last 60 odd if not 100+ years (IMHumbleO) working together, the potential is almost too much for the mind to conceive. 
Some great insights there. Shame nothing ever came of the Jarre/Oldfield correspondence. 
