George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles

Subject: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 09:33 AM

Dear George, (OK El Greko to all you Mudcatters)

This is especially for you...from the Radio 2 board:


"OK! It's time to return The Elgin Marbles to Greece…but….and this is a big but…BUT the deal is that WE get to keep George Papavgeris! This man is truly a National Treasure, but he is NOT to be put into The British Musuem….Oh No!
George is to be left free to roam our folk clubs and our festivals all over Britain, turning people onto his wonderful songs and his breathtakingly wise lyrics........"

You can read the rest here: Erm...there's quite a lot though!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbradio2/F2142825?thread=1093442

I'm sorry if I've embarrassed you....but there are some people who have a talent that is so important that you need to spread the word!
I didn't start out to write 2,000 words on you...it just sort of happened, as that is what you're music does...it takes you to a thousand different places!

'Anytown' in particular is wonderful. You see it George, don't you?
You see it all and I am so grateful that you are writing it all down and getting the message out there. My children absorbed every word...they see it too and it worries the heck out of them as they are having to grow up in it.

I had a friend round yesterday and her daughter is 13 years old. We got chatting and it all came tumbling out....how many of her friends are already drinking, how they go clubbing...the club in Sidmouth has 'special' nights for younger children....(Don't get me started or my BP will explode!)....and they have something known as 'The Girly Gang' down here, the leader of which...allegedly goes around with a small knife tucked inside her shirt!!!

Is it me? Have we completely lost the plot in this country?

The week before Folk Week this year a young man was killed in Sidmouth. He was killed with a Samurai sword by someone out of their brain on drink at 2.30am one morning. Even during Folk Week there were gangs of young teenagers over by The Ham, every night, drunk out of their young minds....that too finally ended in a stabbing, but not a fatal one...although the young lad concerned has now lost the feeling in his lower jaw and one of his ears. And this morning I heard on the local news of the death of a 17 year old lad in Taunton who was killed in a drunken brawl last night.....I could go on and on as I'm sure all of you could too.

Oh George, how we need your songs!


Thank you so much for a wonderful gig in Otley...as you can see it has had quite a profound effect on me.

And if anyone else is reading this who has not heard of George before then you can find him here:

http://www.folk4all.net/

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: MMario
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 09:38 AM

This man is truly a National Treasure

ahem!

amend that to "International Treasure" please.

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 10:28 AM

Yep, he's one of a kind. I am lucky to have him as a friend. And all of us are better off to have his songs in our heads. Go get yourself a red Tootsie Pop, George.

Mike

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 12:49 PM

*sucking away* mmm!
Thanks folks, thanks Lizzie. Glad to have touched someone, it's why I write the damn things!

I put the lyrics of "Anytown" up on the website, there's a link on the front page of www.folk4all.net.

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Micca
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 01:32 PM

George I thought it was an Ad, and you had got yourself a backing band!!! :o) it has a certain ring to it
" and Now Ladies and Gentleman we proudly present .....

George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 01:45 PM

...and here's the link direct into 'Anytown':

http://www.folk4all.net/Anytown.htm

Go and read it and then make the effort soon to wander round your town late at night and take note of what's happening. Don't just stay indoors and stick your head in the sand...get out there and then work out how we change it all around!

Like that 'backing group' idea Micca....that's very good! ;0) That made me chuckle. I think it could catch on George....

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 08:43 AM

George,

I thought yuu had lost your marbles. Have you found them again?

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: GUEST,Nervous
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 09:34 AM

Lizzie writes about gangs of drunken youths and teenage girls roaming Sidmouth at night with knives and other weapons.

"Even during Folk Week there were gangs of young teenagers over by The Ham drunk out of their minds".

Not the best advertising for Sidmouth Folk Week.

Hardly likely to attract new visitors to next year's event.

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 10:34 AM

I wrote about that over on Radio 2 as well Nervous, a while back actually, you're slipping! ;0)

'Anytown' hits the problems, that are all over the country, right on the button. That's why it means so much and is so powerful.

Tell you what though, instead of trying to bring Sidmouth Festival down....again...why don't you take a look round your nearest town or city centre and see what's going on at night? And then try and do something about it, even if you just ring your local MP or police station, but get involved and do something.

Oh and at least we're not as bad as Exmouth. You can't move in Exmouth for cameras and police on every corner and then there's Plymouth too of course and Exeter. In Plymouth they've just installed a M.A.S.H. style hospital to deal with the 'fallout' (stabbings, punches, broken glass injuries, you name it...)from the clubs on Union Street. Derriford Hospital A&E can't cope anymore with it all, so this is the new 'solution'

And then there's Nottingham where, I believe, they have over 300 pubs and clubs within one square mile in the city centre...and Cardiff...and........

'Anytown' reaches right across the Country you know....it doesn't matter where you go, there are very few places that are untouched these days. All our children getting sick together.

Of course, NO-ONE is asking WHY a nation's children and young people are all behaving like this, drinking and drugging themselves into oblivion...maybe 'they' don't want to hear the answers..maybe 'they' truly just don't care.

But George cares and he's trying to make a difference and I respect him hugely for that.

And now back to El Greko and his songs, which this thread is about.

Thank you

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: GUEST,Nervous
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 04:51 PM

Er, yes, so why did you first raise the subject of yobbish behaviour in Sidmouth Lizzie?

And having tarnished Sidmouth's reputation why did you then slag off Exmouth, Exeter, Plymouth and Nottingham as well?

I just don't understand you.

You're always so negative, running everyone down.

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Sep 05 - 10:31 AM

Well maybe she was telling hte truth, Nervous. She did not say there was not any good there as well, she simply said why she is worried about being on the streets when drunken nutters are there.

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Sep 05 - 01:34 PM

Hi Nervous....

.....I'm not 'slagging' anyone off my dear. Nor tarnishing anyone's reputation. These things are happening I'm afraid....all over. You can check my words out....and this thread is about George and his songs, in particular 'Anytown' which is talking about exactly the same things that I am.

Check it out on the link above that goes straight to his lyrics.

I also used to live on Dartmoor, before I moved to Sidmouth. We lived right in the centre of the village, overlooking the park and from my bedroom window I watched it all happening. The drunkeness, the fights, the swearing, the dealing! I got so sick of walking through the litter and the broken glass from bottles of alcohol, on my way to school with my children, (they were at school then, before you have another go at me) that I decided to clean it up myself.

Got myself a 'litter picker upper' one of those long-armed gripper things, from the Parish Council and spent months trying to make it look better, but it was a daily job and I had a real insight into what was going on and how much was being drunk.

I appreciate that not all villages on Dartmoor are like this, but mine was and living in the centre of things you become very aware of what's going on.

And the Parish Council? Well yes I tried, believe me, I tried to get them to open their eyes and help, but they felt it more important to talk about whether a Devon Hedge had been returned to its former glory...they spent two hours debating that one day....until I finally flipped and wiped the floor with them! Meanwhile...out on their own streets the kids were drinking themselves senseless....we all need to wake up pretty damn quick to what is going on here!

So....please don't mock what this thread is about, or what is happening in so many of our towns. It's damned important! I have children of 11 and 18 so I know what I'm talking about..for once.

You should be 100% supporting George and his songs, spreading the word about 'Anytown' and not trying to stir up trouble in this thread. George's songs are far too important for you to keep doing this.

Get out there and try and change things...then you may end up slightly less 'nervous' than when you came in here!

Oh..and if you want to have a go about Siddy...go onto the Siddy thread and take a swipe at me over there.

Tell you what though, I tell the truth...you may not like what you hear but those things above have happened in my town and elsewhere and it breaks my heart...but not as badly as the poor Sidmouth lady who lost her son just before Folk Week, that's who all those flowers
were for just by the Chinese Restaurant....perhaps you saw them....perhaps not....some very tender things were said about that young man by his friends and family. But you know, the really dreadful thing is that it should never have happened should it?

And now...once more...back to George, his songs and 'Anytown'

Thanks

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 28 Sep 05 - 01:48 PM

This is great! Thanks for posting it! I would never have known...

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 05:13 AM

Woops! Yes that was me in post above as 'Guest'....typed it from my young son's board in error, didn't notice that I didn't have a name.

Well...looks as if I'm in big trouble again over on Radio 2 for writing 2,000 words about George's music.

But the BBC have missed the ENTIRE point.

The WHOLE point is that this man has INSPIRED me to write 2,000 words in the first place! And the words just raced out....I didn't have to sit and think about them...once I had the time to sit down and type I just couldn't stop!

Oh George....if I could find somewhere to write or talk about you and all our other strong songwriters where people would actually listen!!!

I KNOW that music like this, if it is played to enough people, has the power to make a difference, sometimes a huge difference, and it has the power to change things....but how can that happen when the music is being kept away from the very people who need to hear it!

I was going to give up on the Radio 2 board last night...I was so upset by what was said and the point being missed that I was about to throw an 'old girlie strop' and go marching off into oblivion...but if I do that then George's words won't get out....so I've decided to stay and carry the torch for a bit longer.

But it needs everyone....all of you who come in here and read this, to carry that torch too.....and light as many other torches as you can along the way.

So....get your 'We love George Papavgeris' T shirts on and spread the word.

And I'll leave you with my favourite quotes that mean so much to me and they'll keep me writing about 'Anytown' and all the other songs for some time yet.

"One good song with a message can bring a point more deeply to more people than a thousand rallies" - Phil Ochs

"If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music." - Jimi Hendrix

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 06:13 AM

I think the good Dr King might disagree with Jimi there.....

Don't remember him saying 'I have a tune'....

Neither do I hear many songs on radio these days that encourage multiracial harmony, only the foulmouthed insults and clannishness that festers hatred and incites violence.

LTS

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 01:18 PM

No Liz, I'm afraid that I think you're wrong there.

Music such as I'm listening to right at this moment, on my new 'Ordinary Heroes' CD of George's, which arrived this morning, has the ability to make the dreams of Martin Luther King come true.....

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood"

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character."

And maybe if Martin were still here today, he would know that they would get there through singing songs together, for as George states in the information about his song 'Valentine' on his 'Works' page, "every song, once written, is immortal"

http://www.folk4all.net/Works.htm

Take a look at some of the topics of his songs. That link should take you directly into the 'Works' page. And to read his lyrics, click on the CDs link and then click on each title and hey presto!

And here are some more wise words from Martin:

"Injustic anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

And it is a total injustice that there are songs 'out here' that are not being played by the BBC and many other radio stations. Songs that have the capacity for healing many, many ills in our society and teaching our children to think deeply about themselves, their lives, others around them and the peaceful future of their world. They offer the dream of being able to change things and turn this world around.

And I'm only up to Track 6 Liz, so goodness knows how I shall be feeling by the end.

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Col K
Date: 29 Sep 05 - 08:15 PM

How come we never met at Otley Lizzie. I agree with what you said about Georges songs especially Anytown----what a powerful song.
I had the pleasure and honour of being the MC for the opening concert at Otley, and was very pleased with the response that George got for all his songs. If you were there you will know how I feel about him, he is,in my opinion, one of the best songwriters around at this moment, and I hope that he continues to write and inspire us all with his deep thoughts.
Keep up the good work E G
Your mate
Col

Subject: RE: George Papavgeris And The Elgin Marbles
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 11:12 AM

Here you are then, this is where 'Ordinary Heroes' took me. Apoligies for copying my post from the Radio 2 board, but time is short today:



______________________________________________________________________

George Papavgeris will teach you about reality and ordinary people…battling, celebrating the curses and joys of life itself..

Read George's words below, on the 'Ordinary Heroes' CD. Click each title, the lyrics will come up and you'll realise that you're reading something very special.

www.folk4all.net/Alb...

So, let's take two men, thousands of years…..and a million miles...apart:

"Ask me my three priorities for Government, and I tell you: education, education and education."
Tony Blair

"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." – Aristotle

If Aristotle were alive today, he would take this music to his students. He would sit them down and play the songs of his fellow countryman, George Papavgeris and afterwards,there would be lively discussion between them all, as they walked up and down.

Aristotle's Pupils:

They'd marvel at this man's words, at his ability to encapsulate so much of the human condition within a few verses. They would feel the warmth of friendship and learn how music can bind people together. They'd feel the despair of a man unable to provide for his family and learn to understand how humiliating unemployment can be. Their emotions would be opened up to the frailty and frustration of old age, but also to the sheer delight of George's grandfather as he meets the love of his life, sweet Vassiliki, and how they would yearn to capture that magical feeling of falling in love in an instant, a love that will last a life-time.

George would walk them around the regimented graves of the young German soldiers in Langemarck WW1 Cemetery and they'd debate the on-going madness that makes humans kill their own species, discussing these words:

www.folk4all.net/Lan...


…and realise that something has to change. They'd question why the people who so wanted to 'make love, not war' were unable to make their leaders understand. They'd find out about the words "…Where are the flowers that we put into the muzzles of the guns?..." and feel the sorrow of a generation who tried so hard to make that change happen. Perhaps they may decide to become the next generation to try, and this time succeed.

And they would discuss the importance of childhood and the memories that come with it. Hopefully they would realise that memories are all that we have to leave behind us and strive to make their own ones beautiful. They would open their eyes and ears to the world around them, recognise how truly beautiful it is and question the spirituality behind it all.

The air would be alive with thoughts, visions, hopes and emotions as George's music illuminated their minds….and Aristotle would smile, a rare smile, at the powers of reasoning going on in front of him…

Tony's pupils:

Will never hear it, as it teaches children to think deeply, to question everything and.....it educates their hearts….which is not on the National Curriculum I'm afraid…..

Education, Education, Education?

"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all"

______________________________________________________________________


With apologies about the website links. The 'blue clicky' thingy isn't working from my computer at present.

Lizzie :0)