More than half a year since I last burbled in writing; verbally, you understand, I never stop. Mabel (V’s mum) described me aptly using expressions like “he can talk the hind legs off a donkey” or “could moan for Greece”. But then, there is so much for an ageing grumbleguts to moan about, from the state of UK politics and politicians to the state of my face in the mirror, passing on the way the celebrity culture, the criminalisation of youth, society’s hovering in mid-air without moral underpinning and the deterioration of the English language (on Radio 4 they would say “deteriation”, bless them): What the heck is this “I was like, she was like” business? And I wish I had a penny for every UK inhabitant who does not know the meaning of “v” in “Everton v Arsenal”. I used to be a Jeremy Clarkson fan – now I find that he is unduly optimistic.
What chance then do I have of writing a happy song? I know I can do morbidity, passion, wistfulness, romance, pain and destruction – they are a cinch. Cheerfulness mostly eludes my lyrics however, to my continuing disappointment. It usually ends up as irony, which is not the point. So I count blessings instead: My continuing mastery of the skills of breathing in and out is a particular favourite of mine.
In the last six months I continued gigging, with Carrington Triangle once more earning the prize for the greatest depth in floorsingers. In the second half I followed a guy who did the most wonderful version of Knopfler’s “Romeo and Juliette” – I nearly smashed my guitar there and then. 2008 finished in pain however, following an episode with my back at Bedworth FF which had me screaming as my back muscles seized up at the slightest jarring. Professional massage (any excuse) did not help, neither did the Osteopath (more like psychopath, I never saw someone so cheerful as they inflicted pain). In the end, salvation came from physiotherapy and enough Ibuprophen to end it all over three months. And apart from the Saturday evening concert at Bedworth, I did not miss any more engagements.
But 2008 also finished with a tremendous feeling of justification. Remember “Toni with an ‘i’ ” from the last album, the song about a transsexual just before the last operation? Well, just before Christmas I was humbled by this email (excerpt reproduced with the sender’s kind permission):
“Today I heard "Toni with an "i"" for the first time and it hit me like a train. What insight you have. I am a transsexual woman who had her main operation back in July. I lay in my bed that morning already being aware who and what I was and am. The surgery itself did not change me, as I was already there in my head, but I relate to your words a great deal.… you certainly do capture the internal perspective on the story with all the thoughts and feelings. Thank you for touching on a difficult topic.”
Thank you, friend.
I also continued writing, though these days there are longer gaps between songs as the dayjob cares take up most of my mid-week time. But I still managed to collect a bunch of 25 or so songs, enough to consider an 8th album. This time the greatest personal satisfaction has come in writing English lyrics for two Greek songs: “The Parting”, one of a family of traditional Greek songs arising from an epic poem called “Erotokritos”; and “For Only A Few Crumbs Of Bread”, a contemporary composition by two favourite songwriters of mine, the Katsimicha brothers. Rough recordings of both can be heard on my MySpace page: www.myspace.com/georgepapavgeris . And yes, there will be an eighth album, probably called “Serendipity”. Recording begins in 2 weeks in Doug Bailey’s WildGoose studio and will likely take a couple of months to complete. Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer have once more agreed to suffer for our friendship, and they will be joined by the Tindalls (Stuart, Paula, Sarah & Kathryn) on vocals, and I hope that there will be one or two guest appearances on the album.
2009 looks good so far: Roy Bailey has just released his album “Below the Radar” with “Friends Like These” on it. An Irish gentleman called Andy Ixxxxx (no names, no pack drill, let’s just say that he has had the most amazing mozaic of a career) has recorded “Empty Handed” and will be releasing it in his long-awaited next album. And Terry McDonald also recorded “Empty Handed” and asked to be allowed to title his album after the song…
As regards touring, two pieces of early good news: In September I hope to be going to Ireland for 10 days, mostly to soak up atmosphere and perhaps gatecrash some song circles, but it looks like two gigs are already being arranged in Dublin, all thanks to the above-named-Andy’s contacts and Paul Lee’s help. And John Thompson once more agreed to help me put together a tour for Australia around Easter 2010 (Sandra, Andrew, Billy, Dave, early warning of pestering to come your way…).
I am now also on Facebook and Twitter (no comments please… I am just trying to be “with it”). Drop in and send me a message. Or go and check out my gig list on my website or MySpace, so that you can best avoid me. But in any case
Keep well, keep singing, keep smiling (it’s wind, but it will pass)