THIS ONE DOES IT FOR ME!

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A Thought for Today

To walk away from love is to turn your back on life.

One of the most rewarding things about being involved with this web site is watching as members of the younger generation discover Rod's work for the first time. We get a lot of mail from youngsters who have come across an old McKuen book or album belonging to their parents (in some cases grandparents) and the enthusiasm with which they greet this new discovery is a joy to behold.

This process is, of course, helped immeasurably when a contemporary artist includes Rod's work on a new album. Remember how excited we all got when Madonna included some McKuen material on her "Ray of Light" album? When Westlife recorded "Seasons in the Sun" on their smash debut album?

I recently got excited all over again when I discovered that Claire Johnston, lead singer of Mango Groove, one of Africa's most successful bands ever, had included a brand new version of "If You Go Away" on her debut solo album "Fearless". This was an event that called for immediate further investigation so I paid Claire and husband John Leyden, bass guitarist, songwriter and founder of Mango Groove, a visit at their home in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

At this stage, let me put the success of Mango Groove into perspective. On the local front, they've enjoyed over 12 No. 1 hits on the South African charts and received every SA music and video award you care to mention. They are the only South African group to have filled the Sun City Superbowl and Standard Bank Arena on six occasions each. Their music was used as the main theme for the ABC world-wide broadcast of Nelson Mandela's release from prison and they performed at his inauguration as President a few years later.

Internationally, they topped the bill at the famed Montreux Jazz festival where they received 3 encores, participated via a direct satellite link in the Freddie Mercury Tribute in London, performed in front of 200,000 people at the "Rock Against Racism" concert in Paris and were the only African act to be invited to perform at the "Celebrate Hong Kong '97" concert to commemorate the hand-over of Hong Kong to China.

Successful? You bet! Their unique blend of African marabi/kwela/ pop music has endeared them to audiences everywhere and they represent all that is good about a post-apartheid South Africa.

A still of Claire Johnston taken from the "If You Go Away" music video

My first question, naturally enough, was how does an artist get from marabi/kwela/pop to McKuen/Brel?

"It was actually John's idea" said Claire proudly.

"I've always loved this song" John explained. "It's so evocative of the introspection that was prevalent during the sixties. It can also be interpreted in a number of different ways. For example, it could be about a gay relationship, or a straight one".

"It also depicts the incredible highs and lows of a relationship. The utter despair of 'if you go away, on a summer's day, then you might as well take the sun away' to the soaring hope of 'but if you stay, I'll make you a day like no day has been or will be again'. That's powerful stuff!"

"We listened to a number of different versions; some good, some rather dreary", continued John. "We liked Rod's version best".

No wonder I like these people!

Claire admitted she wasn't wildly enthusiastic about the song at first.

"It was only when I started writing the lyrics down, and read them properly for the first time, that I appreciated what a powerful, wonderful song it was".

Claire & Vic Coppersmith-Heaven in the studio

Just to prove that there's no such thing as coincidence in life and that some things are just meant to be, "Fearless" was produced by the spectacularly named Vic Coppersmith-Heaven. Vic has been involved in the industry for a number of decades now, working with the likes of Joe Cocker, The Rolling Stones and Elton John to name just a few. Most importantly, he worked with Rod on the soundtrack of "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" as well as a number of other albums Rod recorded in Britain so he was uniquely qualified to shape Claire's rendition of the McKuen/Brel classic.

The music video of "If You Go Away" is stunning to behold and is receiving a lot of airtime on South African networks including a "making of" segment on one of our most popular and widely viewed magazine shows, "Top Billing".

Outside of the music business Claire is passionate about her involvement in wildlife conservation and her role as a Human Rights Ambassador for "Rights Africa", a project of the Human Rights Institute of South Africa. 

As I was leaving, I mentioned that I was pretty sure Rod would love her version of "If You Go Away".

"Gosh, I hope so! It's such a responsibility, you know".

In addition to being a really nice person, Claire Johnston is a consummate professional who deserves every bit of the success she's had over the years and will undoubtedly have in years to come. I know you'll join me in wishing her all good things for her first solo effort and here's hoping we get to hear more McKuen songs on future albums.

If you'd like to hear some clips from Claire's album, or place an order, you can do so at the following address:

www.musica.co.za

Musica also stock a full range of Mango Groove albums. In both cases, just do a search by artist.

Claire's album can also be ordered direct from the record company, Sting Music.

www.stingmusic.co.za

Next week Sharon McElroy shares one of her favorite pieces from "The Power Bright and Shining" so make sure you join me then. If you have a favorite McKuen song or poem you'd like to share with us, drop me a line at ken@mckuen.com and I'll do the rest.

 - Ken, Johannesburg, November 14

Balance is everything. Instead of adding more fuel, take away a little fire.

Don’t be afraid to look directly into a stranger’s eye. The worst thing that can happen is a look away. The best, a moving toward eternity.

IF YOU GO AWAY

 - © Rod McKuen & Jacques Brel