To: paperlate@atom.ansto.gov.au
Subject: Affirmations!
Sender: paperlate-owner@ansto.gov.au
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: SBSHMS@aol.com
Greetings all,
Just to add an opintion to the "In The Air Tonight" NBA spot -- that is not Phil's original version. They did a pretty nice job recreating the instrumental and vocal production, though -- but that is not Phil's vocal.
Regarding the shakuhachi (aka "Sledgehammer" flute) sample, I've heard the same interview that Linda Darling has, in which Phil and Tony comment on its overuse and their surprise that Peter would have used such a well-worn sample.
Oli, you're right on the mark concerning the use of songs in commercials and spots like the NBA promo. There are two phases to this -- use of the recording and use of the song. The NBA has clearly paid the publisher for the use of the song itself, but either was denied use by the record company, found the price for usage too high, or determied that it would be easier to do a new recording that would be easier to work with.
Finally, a comment on "Down And Out," which a previous post discussed as an indication that Mike & Tony are ready to do different styles of music. My take on this is a little different -- I've always seen it as a comment on the difficult lifestyle of the musician on tour. I've mentioned on Paperlate in the past about a PBS documentary I produced on musicians on tour, and during production of the program this song came to mind a lot. Being a musician on tour is a grueling, demanding way to live, even at the superstar levels. I'll never forget visiting Phil backstage in Chicago during the "Both Sides" tour shortly after we'd recorded the "Kira" soundtrack with him, and how impressed I was at the stress and strain he was under (granted, he had bronchitis and the news of his divorce had just hit the papers, so it was not the best of nights for him). But I recall after hearing how the tour has going, my business partner's wife asked him if he really had any fun on tour, and he said it was pretty much limited to the time the gig begins until the time it ends. Other than that...
What a concept! This experience, and the whole process of making the documentary. makes me feel incrediblly indebted to the artists who give so much of themselves when they tour. It's a big chunk of their lives that they sacrifice for us, and while I'm sure they love the moments of adulation they get while on stage, when I stop and think about it, those moments comprise a very short percentage of the average day.
Perhaps this explains my very forgiving attituded about the musicians I follow, Genesis included. Any album or tour represents a big personal and professional risk which I always find very touching, particularly when the work is as personal as these guys' work can get (and whether we like the songs or not, we can never debate the personal attention and energies that go into creating them). I assume -- and really believe -- that every song on every album contains a lot of effort and personal investment, and from that perspective I find it unthinkable to share in the criticisms of "selling out" or "going commercial." "Down And Out" offers some genuine clues into what this life is like, and it's ironic in a sense that at the time Genesis had no idea how much bigger -- how much more rewarding and how much more stressful -- it was all going to get.
Well I went on longer than intended... so what else is new! Hope everyone's New Year has started off happily and safely.
Best to all,
Scott
HMS Media
