Corinne Bailey Rae

Hugely acclaimed soul-jazz singer Corinne Bailey Rae has spoken about her emotional new album ‘The Sea’.

Emerging from the jazz clubs of Leeds, Corinne Bailey Rae’s smoky voice and seemingly effortless songwriting skills catapulted her to fame. Her self-titled debut album rocketed to number one in 2006, hailed by critics as the emergence of a powerful new voice in British music.

Married to horn player Jason Rae, the pair seemed a perfect partnership. However the saxophone player lost his life in a tragic accident, overdosing on drugs after a night out with friends.

Retreating from the limelight, Corinne Bailey Rae was finally able to focus on her music earlier this year after a lengthy break. Titled ‘The Sea’ the singer’s second album is a dark, emotional affair clearly influenced by the grief she felt after the sudden death of her husband.

“The record is a personal and intense journey, but hopefully it’s a beautiful record as well,” she told 6 Music. “We’ve worked a lot with string players and using different textures. I think it’s different to anything I’ve ever written.”

On her debut album Corinne Bailey Rae used a variety of different writing partners. However on ‘The Sea’ the singer has worked alone, channelling her feelings into her music.

“I felt it came really naturally, I wasn’t trying to write, but songs just came. It’s not without light but it is a heavier record, and more intense. It’s got more layers and orchestration.”

Corinne Bailey Rae is set to release her new album ‘The Sea’ on February 1st.

Source www.clashmusic.com

Here is her stunning recent performance, on Later…With Jools, of the lead single from the album

“Put Your Records On” – Corinne Bailey Rae

Happy St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew’s Day trails behind Burns Night and Hogmanay in the Scots social calander and does not have the same appeal as say St Patricks Day does for the Irish.

St. Andrew’s Day is the feast day of Saint Andrew. It is celebrated on 30 November.

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew’s Day is Scotland’s official national day . In 2006, the Scottish Parliament designated St. Andrew’s Day as an official bank holiday. Although most commonly associated with Scotland, Saint Andrew is also the patron saint of Greece, Romania, and Russia^.

In Germany, the feast day is celebrated as Andreasnacht (“St. Andrew’s Night“), in Austria with the custom of Andreasgebet (“St. Andrew’s Prayer“), and in Poland as Andrzejki (“Andrews”).

 

“Caledonia” – Dougie MacLean

I dont know if you can see, the changes that have come over me
In these last few days, ive been afraid that i might drift away
And ive been tellin old stories, singing songs
That made me think about where i came from
Thats the reason why i seem so far away today.

CHORUS

But let me tell you that I love you
And I think about you all the time
Caledonia your callin me and now I’m goin’ home
But if I should become a stranger
You know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia’s been everything I’ve ever had.

Well I have moved on, kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed prooving
Lost the friends that I needed loosing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the ladies and left them crying
Stolen dreams yes theres no denying
I have travelled hard with coat-tails flying
Somewhere with the wind

REPEAT CHORUS

Now I’m sitting here, before the fire
The empty room the forest choir
The flames that couldn’t get any higher
But they’ve withered now they’ve gone
But I’m steady thinking my way is clear,
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When the hands have shaken and the kisses flown I will dissapear.

REPEAT CHORUS

Dougie MacLean