Ricky Ross on 2010, A Year Of Song
Post categories: Celtic / Folk,ÌýJazz / Classical,ÌýRock / Pop,ÌýYear of Song
| 16:01 UK time, Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Next year Radio Nan Gaidheal and Radio Scotland celebrate the wealth of song in Scotland with 12 months of special programmes and events.
We asked Another Country presenter, Deacon Blue frontman and writer of more than a few classic songs to tell us about it.
Over to Ricky :-
There's a memory I have of being on a student ploy to Statford-upon- Avon and discussing the production merits of Twelfth Night. One of the mantras of the great Jim McIntosh, my friend and lecturer, was: "listen to the song of ." And he was right. Because in that lyric the essence of the play emerges in its simplest form. Perhaps it made more of an impression on me as a young songwriter because there, in the middle of looking at some of the greatest English dramatic language of all time, the song was still taking centre stage.
That is why 30 years on I'm still chasing the song. Often you miss, but you know when a good one lands in your lap because people tell you how much it means to them. "That song got me through some bad days.""It was the one song which we played at our wedding."
"...the only song I needed to hear at that time in my life."
These are all things that have been said to me about songs that I've played on the radio or I have had the good luck to write. I take immense pleasure in both duties.
In 2010 Radio Scotland will celebrate A Year of Song. From Gaelic to Scots, traditional to contemporary, jazz to rock, opera to pop, song will be a theme throughout the year and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland will promote and feature songs and songwriters, wherever possible, across Radio Scotland, television and online.
Radio Scotland's year of song will start at Celtic Connections in January where artists from different traditions will celebrate Scottish songs from the Twentieth Century at the Royal Concert Hall on 16th January and at the Gaelic Night at The Fruitmarket on 17th January. Both events will be broadcast and will set the tone for Year of Song events, programmes and concerts throughout 2010.
If you want to get into the mood early join me for the first in a new series of Another Country on New Year's Day at 8pm when we present an exclusive session and extensive interview with one of America's greatest songwriters: Jimmy Webb. After that we will be on air every Friday with our usual road trip of Alt-Country and Americana.
Catch Ricky and Deacon Blue performing at Homecoming Live - The Final Fling on Saturday 28th November.
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