Beautiful songs from a truly gifted and beautiful songwriter. Please, don't let your songs die on a forgotten, dusty desk. Offer them..... GIVE them to any of today's "talent". I transcribed "Clair" for my big band remaining as faithful to the original as possible and I include it in my programs as often as I can. Please continue to gift your genius to the world.
Few I'm sure will agree, but for me, Ray O'Sullivan is the Gilbert and Sullivan rolled in with Irving Berlin, in the modern era. He has written so many classics that are timeless and that tug at the heart strings, they will endure for many generations. The reason they will endure is, the simplicity and truthfulness of them. His music strikes a familiar chord in us all.
Beautiful lesson about the creative process. This program is gold for human knowledge. I hope to visit the npo radio someday. Greetings and lots of supports from Argentina!
I think - as a dutchie - it’s not as easy to get in. The Beeld en Geluid in Hilversum is and has great archives about (Dutch) tv & radio and its accessible - as a visitor.
Really enjoyed the whole thing. What a Pro! - He reinforced what I already knew and forgot. 'Write for yourself', 'Just do it' ... All simple and powerful words. Long may he continue. Jules
I saw him about 10 years ago at the Albert Hall. Amazing. And even more amazing when he sang Clair and then introduced her in the audience (Gordon Mills daughter)
Most probably Britain’s most underrated singer/songwriter ever . . . Gilbert could write a song about a washing machine and it would be an instant hit I personally love his simple no nonsense songwriting talent and we are very blessed to have him God Bless you Gil and hello from us all here in Scotland.
Fantastic insights! As a songwriter myself(etc) I find it to be an amazingly mystical process. It took me till my mid-30's to really start writing, but that's when it was right. I needed the experience and desire to create.
Love his music but he always lately reminds me of Roy Keane just the eyes and mannerisms And love that too. he's dedicated to his music, and still as he used to lays out all his music on his floor in a certain order to know where it is .... Just a lovely man
Thanks for this Top2000 Special! I knew the one about 'Nothing Rhymed' but this one - about the craft of songwriting - is even more interesting. As is Gilbert Himself!
Not knowing his full biography but appreciating his early 1970s "purple patch" , I wonder if Gilbert might have benefited in his fallow years from engaging in more song-writing collaborations.
Mijn achterneef Gilbert is naar hem vernoemd! Deze clip van Matrimony was ik helemaal vergeten. Overigens is Gilbert (de zanger) nog steeds actief, ook op facebook.
Good melody waters the eyes! I can write 10 songs using the different melodies in Clare alone. By the time that song gets to the harmonica outro I am a bowl of mush. Every Single Time! I can’t listen to it in public. The structure of his songs are just breathtaking to me. The bridge in “ Naturally” has 8 moves in it. EIGHT! Just the bridge! It’s how he comes out of that bridge “what do we do” 2x. Masterful! He’s a melody machine and a lyrical genius. Glad he goes to church. I thought he was mad at God. He shouldn’t be. Because his gift comes directly from the throne. I’m not Irish but he validates my theory that the Irish historically are the kings of melody. Whoever wants to argue that just ain’t paying attention. Blacks have soul. Italians have gusto and high emotion. The Jews have amazing adaptation. But there’s something about those simple but complexed melodies of the Irish…. They make me happy to be sad.
I had the same question and thanks to some Shazam magic I found it! The Song is Swimming by Bernard Herrmann from the soundtrack of a film titled Twisted Nerve. The title track from the from the movie’s soundtrack was featured prominently in Kill Bill!
When I was a kid I was living in Weybridge, Surrey. Gilbert O. had a big house in St. George's Hills (posh private estate). Me and my mate were doing bob a job (scout's thing), He had a big Rolls outside on his drive. We rang the bell at the gate and he answered. We told him what we were doing and asked if we could wash his car for the good cause. I'll never forget, via the intercom he shouted F..k off. Lol! I guess he was having a bad day :/
Quite an interesting character seems to be an air of dissatisfaction in his personality which is surprising as he had a great career,I noticed the same thing with Leo Sayer.
All through the years there's been a lot of people who mocked, derided, even despised him. Could it be for his original image, or his court-case against his manager. I don't know. I think he's Great with a capital G! And I agree when he says: "Those who can, write songs; those who can't, become critics."
A lot of posts here with many saying "Under rated Artist ". He was never under rated where I'm from. Maybe in the African Congo or somewhere like that.