Up to now his most unusual Album besides Graceland (When I first heard it, I was shocked and thought, now he is kicking himself totally out of the music people like. But it shot to number 1 in the UK within 3 weeks) was Surprise.
Also successful in the UK, but not in the US.
His work with and credits to Brian Eno were something unexpected. And I agree, that it was difficult to perform it on stage. I saw him in London (Bodo was there too) and songs like How can you live... were not very appealing compared to the record.
The final encore was Wartime Prayers, which he sang alone with his guitar. Very well received.
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Bodo May-07-2016, 06:49 GMT USA - United Staates America
Wartime Prayer could be a classic hit - if played more often.
There are some songs from the last 2 ablums that he just missed to play live, or gave up immediately.
"Outrageous" could work well, people like songs with easy sing-along refrains (whos gona love you when your looks are gone) and a simple kicking guitar lick.
I think Another Galaxy could be adapted to a nice live ballade, skipping the long intro and making it a pure accoustic guitar song.
I do not understand why Paul insists on playing songs live like on the record. This song has a beautiful melody and lyrics and voice.
"Love and Hard times" - simply played on piano and some guitar. Would be a wonderful ballad live.
"Love is eternal sacred light" - again a song with a guitar line that you recognize immediately. This song is simply as good as "Boy in the bubble", has a perfect rhythm for a concert and makes people dance.
Does there exist any live recording of the 2-3 times he tried to play that one live?
"Love and blessings" is as good as Dazzling Blue. I think even better, as dazzling blue is too slow and has no changes at all. Love and blessings has a much more interesting change in rhyhtm and melody after 1:30 minutes. Live audiences love the simply "Bop-bop-a-whoa" refrain. And after 3 minutes it has a beautiful horn section that could be extended a little bit.
Paul should play some of those songs! They are not too hard or complex. Live songs have to be simplified a little bit.
Love and Blessings and Another Galaxy are favourites of mine. I Love them as I do love the song Love on YTO.
But I think he insists on playing new songs as they were on record only at first.
Older songs he mostly sang slightly or completely different. Remember Kodachrome in 2000 or Mrs. Robinson or Bridge.
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Bodo May-09-2016, 04:13 GMT USA - United Staates America
Thanks Matthew for the link, think I missed that performance of Love is eternal sacred light.
I must admit this live version does not work at all, it is overloaded with sounds (and I have a feeling it is sung slower than on the record). Sometimes it would be okay to play a song with just 4 people. I think this song should have a country groove like Graceland.
Ans