Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST,thetwangman
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 04:41 PM

Christy Moore is a pure gem, so he's precious in that since. He may well indeed be a little bit precious about his music, but that's a good thing. He wouldn't be half as good if he wasn't, but I don't think he is too precious. He takes himself just seriously enough but not too seriously. Christy's problem is he is so damn good that he has a very big and a very eclectic audience (a problem a lot of other folk singers probably wish they had). It might be a cliché, but Christy Moore fans really do come from all walks of life. Sometimes it almost seems as if his audience clashes, it's like a Pogues audience and a Daniel O'Donnell audience turning up on the same night by mistake. But Christy should be proud of the fact that he attracts such a cross section of society, it is something I have not witnessed to the same extent with any other singer in any genre. But having such an eclectic audience can be problematic on occasion. I have seen him get slightly annoyed on a couple of occasions, but justifiably so. Audience members shouting out songs when he already has a song in mind or indeed when he has already started a song must be annoying. A happy-clappy audience during a non-happy-clappy song is extremely annoying. I myself once got so annoyed at a guy beside me constantly shouting out all the obvious songs that I started saying "Christy, sing all the songs off the only album I have" (I said it loud enough so the guy beside me could hear me, but not so loud that Christy could hear me, I hope).

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 02:46 AM

No not at all Bonnie. In fact, its not my first foray into writing jolly songs about mass murderers.

http://bigalwhittle.co.uk/id22.html

I had a snappy chorus worked out for the Monster of Dusseldorf, I just never thought he had quite the stellar qualities to really mark him out in the Homicidal Maniacs Hall of Fame.

Apparently he used to wear make up a lot, and whilst there is something rather fascinating about the idea of him powdering his nose and doing his lippy, after polishing another one off - I don't know.......if you believe Isherwood and Visconti - half of Germany was walking round with frilly knickers stitched inside their bowler hats and wearing mascara, those who weren't actually in drag.

I have a sneaking suspicion, he fitted in rather well. I'm sure Hitler could have found gainful employment for someone with his proclivities.

And I don't do conformists.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Ernest
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 02:03 AM

Oh no, harpmolly:

Now we will forever remember him as Chrisssssgol (or Moooron) from J.R.R.R. Talkum`s trilogy "The Lord of the Strings".

;0)
Ernest

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: harpmolly
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:53 PM

My precioussssssssssssssssss...

(well, *someone* had to say it. ;))

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 07:49 PM

Semantics/pedantics! You know very well what I meant, and it was in response to a posting further up this thread anyway, which you may or may not have read!

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 07:46 PM

had his songs changed

Singing a song a different way doesn't "change" the song. It just adds a variant. The original version is still there.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 07:45 PM

So Moving Hearts still play together? cool - that album is one of my favourites.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:18 PM

Just bought a ticket to see Christy in Edinburgh in June: will report back thereafter! Last time I saw him must be going on ten years ago: then a heckler shouted, "Christy, what about the potato famine?", to which he replied, "Well, what about it?" which silenced the heckler.
RE Ralph McTell: he's not the only one to have had his songs changed by a certain other Irish group, who changed words and added a 4/4 rhythm to Tom Paxton's "Every time" which was previously in pretty free time, and they also changed the title and one note (resulting in a horrible clash on the word "down" when both versions get sung together) of Eric Bogle's "No Man's Land". While folk are encouraged to "make this song your own", I do have reservations about such radical changes, and say you can't beat the author's original version.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 02:01 PM

Ahhhh go on, Randy Newman beat you to it, admit it...

;-)

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 02:00 PM

Actually I did think about writing a comedy song about Peter Kurten, the monster of Dusseldorf - but I was persuaded not to.

I wrote one about the Hitler diaries instead, but it didn't really take off. The only one they would release was a pretty crap song about Franz Beckenbauer.

record companies eh....?

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 01:20 PM

Guest, Chris Murray - would you consider posting a review of the Moving Hearts show you saw?
I'd be very interested in how they sound after all these years.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST,Hopeful
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 12:28 PM

As probably one of the few people contributing to this thread who actually knows Christy Moore I'd say he's one of the least *precious* people I've ever met in my life and I'm thankful for the privilege.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Ernest
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 12:23 PM

Here`s a question inspired by Nick E.`s remark and all those "John Lennon (& others) -Folksinger " threads:

Is a songwriter who is trying to keep his songs from being folk-processed, still folk?

Just wondering...
Ernest

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 12:04 PM

It's on Right Of Passage (Topic 1988) which is, I suppose, the first studio recording. It is also one of my favourite Martin Carthy collections. Which reminds me, I should be setting off to see him later on at The Plough . . .

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 11:51 AM

Eric, "Stitch in Time" is recorded by Martin on "Mighty River of Song". Recorded at the Udazkenean Festival, Donostia Spain - previously unreleased - it says. It's on Disc Three.

I shall probably be playing that version on my show next week. (Already planned - before this thread!!)

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 11:33 AM

Nick, it was me that said HIS music. I'm pretty sure Christy never said it.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 11:29 AM

I don't think Ralph McTell was being arrogant. He just wanted to sing his song his way. Don't blame him!

Christy usually attributes "A Stitch in Time" to Mike Waterson when he performs it on stage. I assumed they couldn't find another version so asked him to record it specially.

He really is a very modest man who just wants to perform the music in a way that most of the audience will enjoy. I think he's just a perfectionist.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 11:28 AM

Nick - What you said is interesting. I think that initially it is the performer's music - s/he's written/found it, interpreted it, made it into something. S/he's then presenting it to - and yes, sharing it with - the world, whereupon it does become something like "ours". But it's also an act of giving and receiving, and I guess we choose how we receive. Me, I'd prefer not to ungraciously interfere with or spoil what I'm given.

I don't think that's much different from your "organic combination with a life of its own" - but if you let that take its own course, you could end up with people storming the stage to join in with the performer! and that would be justified by your idea...

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 10:19 AM

Bonnie, on reflection I think you're right. But we were speculating at the time that, because most folk is farmed out to Smooth Ops these days, they may well hang onto the BBC folk archives for Mike Harding's programme. So it's possible that D.I.D really didn't have access to another recording...

Mind you, they managed to get hold of John Reilly - far rarer.

Nick E, I think it's about respect for the performer - any performer - rather than "his" music.

Mind you, one of my favourite things about seeing John Tams live is when he says to the audience: "Go on, have a slice." - meaning "Come on, join in!" But at least you've been asked.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 10:10 AM

Martin Carthy was first to record it, it's certainly on ' The Carthy Chronicles '

eric

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:56 AM

Elisabeth Schwartzkopf, I think. (I'll no doubt be corrected if I'm wrong.)

Disagree with you. Humility - or lack of - isn't always the driving reason for doing something. Read the "Christy Moore" thread where there are some good points made on this issue.

Can anyone tell me what other recording there ARE of A Stitch In Time? If he wanted to include that song and there's no other way of getting ahold of it...? Also, if you're going to blow your own trumpet, surely you'd choose a studio-produced no-rough-edges recording, not that one, which was obviously done in one take with whatever speaking mic they had to hand.

You are one critical customer Rogthedodge.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST,Rogthedodge
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:48 AM

IIRC Ruth he recorded track 2 'specially for the programme.

I know there was a female (opera?) singer who famously chose 8 of her own records but surely anyone with an ounce of humility would avoid choosing themselves?

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Nick E
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:46 AM

I think it is interesting, when talking about a live performance to say things like the performer wants you to "Respect HIS Music". Should not the whole point of a live performance be to share, so that it becomes "OUR" music? Im not saying that the audience has to sing and clap for all or even any of the songs, but I do think there is a very different mind set when a performer, the music and the audience are all part of an organic combination that has a life of it's own, as opposed to being told Ok audience, this is your part here, this is my part here.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:46 AM

I seem to remember hearing something like that too, Ruth - certainly comment was made about the fact that he had recorded it especially for the programme (right there in the Beeb studio as they taped the rest of the show?) but Mike wasn't mentioned because I remember asking in Mudcat who wrote the song - I'd thought it might be Jake Thackray.

Certainly the playlist doesn't reflect any egotism that I can see -

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:38 AM

To be fair, I think they only used that version of Stitch in Time because it was the only one they could get hold of. Wasn't Christy talking about it as a Mike Waterson song?

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:36 AM

The Desert Island discs show is discussed in the "Christy Moore" thread above (58 posts). And, for everyone's information, here's the playlist off the BBC website:

1. Ave Maria
Performer Felicity Lott
Composer Gounod
CD Title Songs by Charles Gounod
Track 4
Label HYPERION
Rec No: CDA668012

2. A Stitch in Time
Performer Christy Moore
Composer Mike Waterson
LIVE PERFORMANCE

3. Lonely Boy
Performer Paul Anka
Composer Paul Anka
CD Title Paul Anka: 30th Anniversary Collection
Track 7
Label RHINO
Rec No: R271489

4. Brennan On the Moor
Performer The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
Composer Trad.
CD Title The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
Track 1
Label TRADITION
Rec No: TCD 1022

5. Taimse Im' Chodladh
Performer Planxty
Composer Trad.
CD Title Planxty: Words and Music
Track 3
Label SHANACHIE
Rec No: 79035

6. Joe Hill
Performer Luke Kelly
Composer Robinson
CD Title The Dubliners: 20 Original Hits, Vol.2
Track Side 2 trk 5
Label CHYME
Rec No: CHLP 1014

7. The Joy of Living
Performer Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger
Composer Ewan McColl
CD Title MacColl: Black and White – the Definitive collection
Track 20
Label COOKING VINYL
Rec No: Cookcd 038

8. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
Performer John Reilly
Composer Trad
CD Title The Bonny Green Tree
Track Side 2 Trk 2
Label TOPIC
Rec No: 12T 359

Record: Taimse Im' Chodladh
Book: Collection of Popular Songs of England & Scotland –Francis Child
Luxury: A set of Uillean Pipes

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:33 AM

I believe this might be a bit of a Christy trade mark. I'v only seen him 3 times, (I'm an american). '84 in Dublin, early '90s here, early '00s there again, and he's made that audience participation point each time, while his performance has grown and changed over the last 25 years. Some songs are clapping songs and some are listening songs. He also at a specific point in the concert had called juke box time at every concert. Though not untill he had done what he come to. There's more to him than his foot stomping humorous raps, and it's important to him for his audience to experience that. Audiences today have grown up with all their entertainment coming through a sound system, and there by comfortably feel that they can do what ever they want. The performer should just turn up to accomidate them. That's just plain rude. Christy is Precious. He's a valuable treasure.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST,Rogthedodge
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 09:22 AM

I think he does take himself too seriously, perhaps more than his talent merits?

Anyone who chooses their own music for Desert Island Discs deserves derision IMO

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 08:13 AM

singing along with choruses is a folk tradition, and I doubt you'd stop it even if you wished to. Clapping, on the other hand...well, people who do it clearly don't realise how disruptive it can be. Inevitably, the audience goes out of time and screws up the song.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 08:06 AM

I do remember McTell saying that, though when I heard him (Hastings Folk Fest, eons ago) he was perfectly polite about it and not at all arrogant. In fact he seemed bemused that the other version had acquired such a life of its own. He remarked that after some gig where he'd performed this song, a member of the audience came up afterwards and informed him that he was doing it wrong, and "corrected" him! Perhaps by Hastings this sort of thing had happened so often that he simply grew philosophical on the subject -

I also recall that at the Planxty Reunion gig in Hammersmith (I'm not sure whether it was Christy or one of the other band members who spoke) when they were about to play a Horo [spelling?] the audience was asked politely BEFORE the number began to please not clap, as its rhythm was very complex and it wouldn't work. Andy Irvine had just collected this piece on his travels and obviously he wanted it to come across well. Horos were unfamiliar to most Irish-music fans at that time, so this was an introduction to something new.

And did the audience refrain from clapping along? Did they HELL!!! Did it ruin the number? Well, perhaps not totally but certainly to a large degree. The rhythmic subtlety was completely obliterated, and you simply could not HEAR it with all the extraneous noise coming from the wrong side of the stage. It's already been pointed out that audience-clapping gets out of synch even in a straight reel or jig and drags it down - you can imagine what this ended up sounding like!

And afterwards I still heard mutterings of resentment that the performers had asked the audience not to "join in".

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 07:45 AM

Christy has total control of his audience. There are always a few hecklers but he knows exactly how to deal with them. It's called respect.

Somebody mentioned audiences singing a song which is different from the way the writer actually meant them to be sung. Does anyone else remember Ralph McTell asking the audience not to join in with "It's a long way from Clare to here"? Apparently the way we've all be singing it is not the way he originally wrote it. He said that it's his song and he'll sing it the way it should be sung.

If anyone's interested, the chorus should go: "It's a long way from Clare to here". We all sing "It's a long long way from Clare to here." The "long" should last 3 notes.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: KeithofChester
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 07:13 AM

I though the actual quote about audience participation might be on YouTube. Quite a bit of that DVD is. Here it is, about a minute in.

Live in Dublin - the actual quote

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:58 AM

Sorry, cross-post. Mine was in answer to the lady from Ambridge -

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:56 AM

I think he was right! (Have you any idea how LOOOONNNNGG Lisdoonvarna is?!)

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Ernest
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:55 AM

I have heard the man twice:

First time he made a fuss when a photographer from one of the bigger papers made a few photos - apparently the clicking of the camera was too much for him (he still got a half-page picture in the paper next morning - not the ordinary thing for a folk musician here in Berlin).

Second time he threatened to stop when a few of his fans requested a song (during the announcements, not during a song).

That was the first and the last time I went to his concerts. I prefer listening to his CDs now.

"A bit precious" is a good way to put it IMHO.

Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:52 AM

When I saw him for the first time in around 89/90 at the Beacon Theatre in NY, there was no bar at all. I'd seen another band there the month before and the bar was open. When we asked why this was a dry gig, we were told it was at Christy's insistence. There was a lot of talk in the audience about the fact that, following his heart attack, Christy was teetotal, and didn't like alcohol to be sold at his gigs. I never found out whether that was true or not.

At the same gig, a woman made her way up the aisle and asked, very politely, for a particular song. The audience held its breath - but, presumably because of the way the request had been made, he immediately played it.

On the other hand, at Cambridge a couple of years ago, he was one song into his set and someone bawled out "Lisdoonvarna!!!" He said, "Look, if that's the only song you've come to hear, do everyone a favour and go to the bar, and come back in about an hour."

But he encouraged everyone to have a sing during the choruses of Ride On...

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:49 AM

In Dusseldorf, Weelittledrummer? Remember (or have you heard) Newman's chilling song "In Germany Before The War"? Though I can't think of any clever or lighthearted song-relevant comment one could make on THAT subject.

(For anyone who doesn't know this song, it's about Peter Kurten, the serial child-killer who lived in that city in the 1930s, narrated from the eerie perspective of the man's own warped mind. Soundtrack features a brilliant Kindertotenlieder-esque accompaniment in dark-toned menacing brass. Outstanding work, but not something you can joke about.)

In scrabbling about trying to make this post Christy-related, it occurs to me that he would do an excellent job on this song. Its powerful understatement would blend perfectly with his style of delivery.

And "precious" is about the last word one could use to describe him. He's very down to earth, very real, not afraid to call it as he sees it, even when it means asking an audience to listen (as if he should have to!) rather than join in. This sort of honesty is the polar opposite of Precious.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:44 AM

Somewhere at home I have a tape of Christy at South Tyne Folk & Blues from around 1968 where he was appearing with John Doonan and he is chiding the audience because only three people are joining in the chorus. I do stress the chorus! I don't like to see people joining in the verses whether the song has a chorus or not.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 06:21 AM

The bigger the auditorium, the bigger the problem with people clapping out of time -- even if they're clapping "in time" with the music as they hear it.

It's not a problem I have, frankly. I'm hard pushed to get people to clap when I've finished. ;-)

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: KeithofChester
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 04:53 AM

If you watch the Christy Moore Live in Dublin 2006 DVD, you will hear Christy explain the audience participation issue himself.

As someone above has said, it is all about people showing restraint on certain songs, otherwise (as Christy says) "they'll sound shit"! It isn't just singing, it is people clapping along out of time, etc. Which is just true, and nothing to do with being "precious".

I can't remember if that comment is on the CD version of the concert.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 04:28 AM

we could have another thread - famous people you met in a hotel.

I once stopped in a hotel in Stratford and Seamus Heaney was there eating his breakfast - in a seat overlooking the river. I nearly went up to him and said, don't worry Seamus - the frogs can't get you here! (reference to his poem, Death of a Naturalist).

In the Intercontinental Dusseldorf, I saw Randy Newman going up in the lift.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 04:20 AM

Walter Pardon had to drop two songs from his repertoire because of audiences joining in and dragging out the verses at nearly half the speed.
Can't wait till they put Aida on in Dublin again; I love to sit there and sing along with the lead performers!
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: harpmolly
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 03:24 AM

I dunno...if I don't have any reservations, I'm sure to be disappointed. ;)

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

But in all seriousness, I would love to see Christy live. My mom saw him in Ireland (and in fact, stayed in the same hotel and chatted with him a bit) and she turned me on to his music.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 02:46 AM

He's magic. Big auditorium; one man, one guitar (better in my mind than with an accompanist) - he fills these places with his personality and music.

Just go, you won't be disappointed or have any reservations.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Nick E
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 11:07 PM

Sounds like a Prima Donna To Me!
If his command of the audience is so poor that he can't controll the audience, perhaps the studio is where he should remain. Or be more careful of the venues he chooses, Eh Gad Inapropriate Clapping!

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: harpmolly
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 10:58 PM

One of my favorite moments during "Live at the Point" is in "Knock" when he starts playing the song, the audience starts clapping along, he stops (they laugh) and then he says indignantly, "I spent two days writing this song, and for Jaysus have you ever listened to it!" (Apologies if I transcribed it wrong...going by ear here). I loved it...gently chiding the audience without losing his sense of humor.

As I mentioned on the "best live album" thread, I'm all for singing along with choruses, as long as it doesn't go on even longer than the song itself. Yes, Dougie my love, I'm talking to YOU! ;)

M

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 08:44 PM

I love community singing, and usually I want people to sing along with me. Sometimes, however, I like to make a song "new" by singing it a little differently - when that happens, I want people to listen to me, and wait until I invite them to sing along.

Popular performers may have a real problem with this, since so many people think a song should be sung exactly as it was on a popular recording, and many audiences don't seem to be open to innovation, or to alternate renditions of a song.

Kudos to Christy Moore for insisting on doing what he wants to do with his music. On the other hand, I'll continue to enjoy concerts from Bill Staines and Peter, Paul and Mary, where people sing along with every song.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 08:27 PM

I would think any fan of Christy would understand this already. And you bought tickets?

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: Peace
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 07:32 PM

You pay to hear a performer. Having paid the entrance fee, you do not concomitantly gain entitlement to call the shots. People clapping inappropriately when I am trying to hear a songwriter/singer/performer (for which privilege I have paid) ticks me off. IMHO. No offense to anyone.

Subject: RE: Christy Moore - A bit 'precious'?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 07:23 PM

He played a request for me when I saw him a few months ago.

He usually invites people to sing along or clap during the more popular songs and the ones with a chorus, but he does expect people to listen to his music. I have known him to ask people to stop clapping if he thinks it spoils the song. I don't think it's 'precious' - as he says, if he spent weeks writing a song, he wants people to listen to it.

The bar is usually shut during his performance. I assume this is to minimise the amount of people walking in and out during the songs. Good for him, say I. When I went to see Moving Hearts at the Royal Festival Hall last week, the amount of people wandering about during the performance was appalling. Surely it's good manners to go to the bar or the toilet in between the tunes, not during.