A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Pottel on September 17, 2010, 03:12:59 PM
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just listening to 1999.07.21 Ronnie Scott's and to my surprise i hear Mark say this famous (in the meantime) line...
anyone heard an earlier version??
(it is at the beginning of the show when they come onto stage)
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Ooh, was just listening to something the other week and remember thinking "God, has he been saying it that long?". Trying to remember what it was now...
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And we're all still chuckling politely after all these years! :lol
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I suppose I should have known this, but can anyone tell me what that sentence is actually about? I have never really understood...
Thanks!
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"Taking a swing" at something basically just means trying to do something. So what he's saying is, he wishes they would just come out at the start and say "Tonight we're going to try to do Macbeth".
Funny line, the first 20 times.
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I heard it the first time at the Boothbay Opera House Gig recording and thought that it fitted very well. But I heard about a bootleg from 2001 where Mark already tells the same story. That must be very hard stuff for Guy, Richard, Glen and the other ones, to hear it almost every night on every tour...
LE
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It sounds like an age thing - I am sure that if he was reminded that he had said it so many times before and on so many different tours he would be horrified.
We have the Glenn thing now as well about his lady beating him up every night.
What really makes me cringe though is when he tells us that Guy can mend your watch and fix your bicycle - I actually feel sorry for both MK and Guy at that point because I am sure he believes he is saying it for the very first time each time! And then of course there is the 'It's you and me Richard and everyone else, good luck' - oh dear! The list is endless. He did change the 'good luck' bit to 'bon chance' once though when in France:-)
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To my mind this all is part of his rituals. Being the perfectionist he is, he doesn't want to think about what to tell between songs. I guess, that otherwise he'd feel also a bit uncomfortable as it would disturb his 'flow'. Another point may be, that the other artists know word by word what happens next and they can rely on these rituals.
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The latest one is "The other night a guy at the front said - Just play everything! - err, so we didn't"! ;D I think this one may have a bit of life in it yet! :o
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Good point!
It is difficult sometimes for him I can imagine: People complain if he says nothing or is not too talkative. When he talks it is the same stuff every night...
Not that he would care about what people think of his shows...
But sometimes you can hear him in a very talkative mood. Nashville 2005 for example, or Boothbay... (I really love what he says before "Devil Baby"---
"Sorry Jerry, but..." and when he is so funny to call Romeo & Juliet "this is another first" and gets a good laugh from the audience...
I imagine it must be very funny to have a beer with him in a pub or two and have good fun ... I am sure he knows a lot of stuff to tell...
LE
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Yes and please bear the discussion about the length of setlists in mind. So he has to be 'efficient' when it comes to the talking. I suppose that he makes the best compromise out of it. It's a bit like in a well-oiled theatre. That means, that the occasional visitor is entertained, we get-a-lifers hear some new songs and the band have fun (almost?!) every evening.
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Hi all,
I only know this courtesy of the Frankfurt Symfy recording, but did any of the other tour stops get the "Doctor" story?...
It goes:
"My Doctor, he says...
......... pause.............
... "no dancing".
...... pause..........
"My Doctor, he says...
........ pause ...........
..."no running, no walking".
.....looooooonnnng pause....
"But I can cycle!.... I've got a bike"...
.... another long pause......
"But I like this. I'm just telling you because I like this"....
"And every once and a while"
..... pause .........
"there's an accident" (took me about 8 listens to realize he said, "accident")
"with my elbow and the stool"...
............ pause .............
"it makes me play things differently"
"but these guys, you know, they never play the same thing"
"so it's all, alright"...
"alright..... Prairie Wedding!"............
(I might have some of it out of order but you get the general drift).
Somehow I think it was better if you could see him as he tells the story. But just on the recording, it leaves you guessing what the actions were that went with it. I'm sure it was better in person. I don't mind hearing it at all, it's just a little out of context not having the visual. But what a voice! Personally, I like it when artists chat a bit during the concert. Since I'm usually only at one, it's always new to me!
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Hi all,
I only know this courtesy of the Frankfurt Symfy recording, but did any of the other tour stops get the "Doctor" story?...
It goes:
"My Doctor, he says...
......... pause.............
... "no dancing".
...... pause..........
"My Doctor, he says...
........ pause ...........
..."no running, no walking".
.....looooooonnnng pause....
"But I can cycle!.... I've got a bike"...
.... another long pause......
"But I like this. I'm just telling you because I like this"....
"And every once and a while"
..... pause .........
"there's an accident" (took me about 8 listens to realize he said, "accident")
"with my elbow and the stool"...
............ pause .............
"it makes me play things differently"
"but these guys, you know, they never play the same thing"
"so it's all, alright"...
"alright..... Prairie Wedding!"............
(I might have some of it out of order but you get the general drift).
Somehow I think it was better if you could see him as he tells the story. But just on the recording, it leaves you guessing what the actions were that went with it. I'm sure it was better in person. I don't mind hearing it at all, it's just a little out of context not having the visual. But what a voice! Personally, I like it when artists chat a bit during the concert. Since I'm usually only at one, it's always new to me!
??? ???
Did he say that?? Wooow! :D That's new to me ;D ;D ;D :lol
Kidding :disbelief
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In amsterdam third night he said to someone who was shouting...
That's a very good word english you speak there sir......staggering!
That sentence was really new to me, and i'm sure it was voluntarily (is that the right word?)
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"Taking a swing" at something basically just means trying to do something. So what he's saying is, he wishes they would just come out at the start and say "Tonight we're going to try to do Macbeth".
Funny line, the first 20 times.
Thank you for sorting that out :)
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I don't think that being a perfectionist has anything to do with his ad libs between songs. To tell a bunch of people 'what a great place this is to play in, what a lovely theatre' is one thing - but to tell another bunch of people the next night, the same thing basically suggests he was just passing the time of day and looking for something to say - yet this is not the case - he is quite eloquent when being interviewed and never lost for words. His ad libs lose their value each time they are repeated. And yes, we got the 'play everything' story in Newcastle too.
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And yes, we got the 'play everything' story in Newcastle too.
At the third time of hearing, I was silently mouthing the words along with him! ;D OK, I know there are many people in the audience who are hearing these anecdotes for the first time, but for many of us, it's getting a bit of a joke now! :)
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I don't think that being a perfectionist has anything to do with his ad libs between songs. To tell a bunch of people 'what a great place this is to play in, what a lovely theatre' is one thing - but to tell another bunch of people the next night, the same thing basically suggests he was just passing the time of day and looking for something to say - yet this is not the case - he is quite eloquent when being interviewed and never lost for words. His ad libs lose their value each time they are repeated. And yes, we got the 'play everything' story in Newcastle too.
antwerp too
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"it makes me play things differently"
"but these guys, you know, they never play the same thing"
"so it's all, alright"...
"alright..... Prairie Wedding!"............
The funny part on it is he says that it makes him play things differently, and that his musicians never play the same thing, in a song that they always played exactly the same way, no matter which version you listen to...
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We musn't forget that the vast majority of the people in the audience only see one show, I am not even talking about one show per tour, but simply one show of any given artist. So to most people, these little jokes are great to hear. It's all part of the show.
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The funny part on it is he says that it makes him play things differently, and that his musicians never play the same thing, in a song that they always played exactly the same way, no matter which version you listen to...
well that's not true is it? I hear loads of small variations in most songs. For ex. the intro to Coyote: the bass line is different in Glasgow than the others I've heard. The outro of Coyote with the MFN riff only in a couple, Marbletown jam. etc..
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Play everything started somewhere during the european tour. And then stayed till the end
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Well although this sound being the same old jokes repeated I found this interesting about the mood Mark is. This just evolve during the tour, on some show he will extend it and another they will be shortened.
During the London residency at the Albert Hall I found him quite talkative compared to other cities I attended but maybe because he has no curfew/airplane schedule and the majority of the audience was english speaking.
I noticed that year that the ritual "you and Richard and the other good luck" was less present. The Guy extensive "fixing" list was left for "once he rang at my door with a keyboard under the arm..."
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There is also the "He plays four bass, ... not all at thes same time" about Glenn. :-[
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The funny part on it is he says that it makes him play things differently, and that his musicians never play the same thing, in a song that they always played exactly the same way, no matter which version you listen to...
well that's not true is it? I hear loads of small variations in most songs. For ex. the intro to Coyote: the bass line is different in Glasgow than the others I've heard. The outro of Coyote with the MFN riff only in a couple, Marbletown jam. etc..
Actually I
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I forgot about Guy with his keyboard knocking at MKs door for work! He must be pig sick of that by now.
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We musn't forget that the vast majority of the people in the audience only see one show, I am not even talking about one show per tour, but simply one show of any given artist. So to most people, these little jokes are great to hear. It's all part of the show.
true. also he does indeed play stuff differently, small things, but they are there every night
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Well, I do enjoy the banter and if there is another tour, I do hope he continues to chit chat a bit. I, too, think it gives a little insight into how the night is flowing (to that point, so does the way the music is flowing), plus he has a nice voice to listen to (at least I think so).
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KitKat, I agree with you, MK has a lovely speaking voice and I really enjoy the chit-chat, even though I have heard it all so many times. I don't even skip these parts when I listen to the recordings - not all the time anyway! ;D Nice to see you here btw! :)
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KitKat, I agree with you, MK has a lovely speaking voice and I really enjoy the chit-chat, even though I have heard it all so many times. I don't even skip these parts when I listen to the recordings - not all the time anyway! ;D Nice to see you here btw! :)
Considering MK's lyrical skill and his keen eye for observation, it always seemed very strange to me that he speaks so little and even uses the same jokes tour after tour. But, like setlist variation, it just seems that it will remain that way.
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KitKat, I agree with you, MK has a lovely speaking voice and I really enjoy the chit-chat, even though I have heard it all so many times. I don't even skip these parts when I listen to the recordings - not all the time anyway! ;D Nice to see you here btw! :)
Considering MK's lyrical skill and his keen eye for observation, it always seemed very strange to me that he speaks so little and even uses the same jokes tour after tour. But, like setlist variation, it just seems that it will remain that way.
It just wouldn't be the same without MK's little anecdotes, though, would it? I think we would all miss them if they weren't there - just so long as he discards a few old ones and adds a few new ones now and again! Anyway, it puts a smile on the faces in the audience and gives us a few laughs, even if we may cringe occasionally! :lol
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I forgot just how much he spoke at Glasgow. I suppose he had another band member to introduce Phil Cunningham so some encourangement to talk there then, but I just got the impression that MK spoke to the Glasgow crowd more that usual.
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At the first night in London he spoke definitely too much. After Coyote, when he told us the story about his back and everybody thought now come on, he hesitated and then "swinged at Macbeth". And then he said, as you of course all can hear on the recording, "that's all it is it's an attempt..."
I also remember "blokes are bad at dates" and I must admit I skip these parts in the meantime because it is too long and spoils the run of the set.
LE
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I also remember "blokes are bad at dates" and I must admit I skip these parts in the meantime because it is too long and spoils the run of the set.
LE
Oh yes, he did the "blokes are bad at dates" line at Bournemouth and a female voice just behind me shouted "but you're still gorgeous, Mark!" to which MK replied "Thank you sir!". That's another newish thing creeping in - calling ladies "sir" and blokes, "madam"! ;D
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At the first night in London he spoke definitely too much. After Coyote, when he told us the story about his back and everybody thought now come on, he hesitated and then "swinged at Macbeth". And then he said, as you of course all can hear on the recording, "that's all it is it's an attempt..."
I also remember "blokes are bad at dates" and I must admit I skip these parts in the meantime because it is too long and spoils the run of the set.
LE
I know what you mean when it spoils the run of the set but when he says something different it always gives me a smile because I then know I've been at a slightly different show.
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I usually attend MK concerts together with people that doesn't read forums, listen to bootlegs etc. And even if these people hear many of the same jokes or anecdotes tour after tour, they don't remember that he said almost the same thing two years ago. What they notice is the new jokes, the variations etc.
What we/you are talking about here is very normal, I think. Even Bruce Springsteen (whom I've been to more concerts with than MK) repeats himself show after show, tour after tour, (and has been critisized for it by his music friends, Southside Johnny, for instance), though he has loosend up a bit lately.
And the band, I'm a 100 % sure they don't bother at all! It's all a part of the show. When you're an actor, you do the same show after show, and so do the fellow actors. If you play classical music you do the same show after show. And it's more or less the same when it comes to rock music. When I'm doing speeches and courses and such together with other people, it doesn't bother me at all that the other ones make the same openings or tell the same jokes every time. It's all a part of the "show". (I say different things every time, and the drawback is that my speaches vary more in quality than many other's, but my best are quite good ;D.)
So I know what you are saying, and it's an interesting discussion, but I don't think it's that negative.
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I usually attend MK concerts together with people that doesn't read forums, listen to bootlegs etc. And even if these people hear many of the same jokes or anecdotes tour after tour, they don't remember that he said almost the same thing two years ago. What they notice is the new jokes, the variations etc.
What we/you are talking about here is very normal, I think. Even Bruce Springsteen (whom I've been to more concerts with than MK) repeats himself show after show, tour after tour, (and has been critisized for it by his music friends, Southside Johnny, for instance), though he has loosend up a bit lately.
And the band, I'm a 100 % sure they don't bother at all! It's all a part of the show. When you're an actor, you do the same show after show, and so do the fellow actors. If you play classical music you do the same show after show. And it's more or less the same when it comes to rock music. When I'm doing speeches and courses and such together with other people, it doesn't bother me at all that the other ones make the same openings or tell the same jokes every time. It's all a part of the "show". (I say different things every time, and the drawback is that my speaches vary more in quality than many other's, but my best are quite good ;D.)
racaunteursSo I know what you are saying, and it's an interesting discussion, but I don't think it's that negative.
And I know that even raconteurs of the highest calibre like Phil and Aly come away with the same stories night in, night out while on tour too but some stuff was said in Glasgow that made it very much a worthwhile download IMO. I suppose MK was in a good mood that night! ;D
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They play the same music pretty much note for note every night so I don't see why they would be bothered by MK's tired patter.
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Don't agree with that dusty, listen to all these simfy shows, little differences, all the time. The hooks (that is what i call them)they are the same every night, but those are the bands' waypoints
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Someone mentioned Springsteen. Well, he plays like 100 songs every tour ;D
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Don't agree with that dusty, listen to all these simfy shows, little differences, all the time. The hooks (that is what i call them)they are the same every night, but those are the bands' waypoints
Not exactly huge differences though are they? He's hiring some of the best musicians in the world to play, say, 95% exactly the same, night after night.
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I was at Nathalie Merchant Concert 2 months ago. She spent half the time of the show describing the story behind each song. She even had a giant projector detailing the persons who influenced her song writing. It took her about 5 minutes between each song. At one point, one person in the audience yelled out to her "JUST SING !" She was quite offended by it. But that didn't stop her from continuing her performing style. I was quite bored after about 1 hour. She has an incredible voice if she would just sing. She also interacted too excessively with the crowds. She gave the mic to the fans to sing with her and stuff like that.
I then thought about MK gig. BTW, it was at the same venue. Santa Rosa. I used to wish MK would chit-chat more, but I don't wish so any more. For us die hard fans, we wouldn't mind hearing MK banters the same old anecdotes over and over with or without variations, but for non hard core fans, it could really spoil the concert set.
In my own observations, I think MK is a master in balancing his acts on stage. The order of the setlist is well constructed from the opening song to the encore and to the end. He talks just enough to keep the show captivating. I also like the fact MK distances himself from the crowds. He doesn't feel the need to be acknowledged by his fans. All of these, IMO, make him even more desirable/admirable by his followers. :)
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Hmmm, Natalie Merchant... :-*
Was she barefoot again? Saw her once around the time Tigerlily was released... I can support your observations from that evening about the interaction...
She did some encores when half the venue was cleared and the people stood around her piano... Nice somehow but not imaginable with Mark Knopfler.
I often thought during the last months how great and awesome Marks band is. I wrote it before and might be allowed to repeat it without being slaughtered: The only one to make mistakes seems to be MK. I know mistakes do not count :P, but they are really a bunch of great musos. Matt should be featured more, because he is rather "far from the crowd" so to say, he is really wonderful like all the others.
In Hamburg (I think it was Hamburg?) I liked what Mark said about Phil (...surely the best flute player of the world, I think even John would agree? - and then looking at John who hesitated to agree..)
Nice moment. That is when you realize he is in a good mood...
LE
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I can say that after listening such great talented people that Mark hires it is more difficult to attend some other concerts because now that I am so acustomed wit top notch backing band.
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The only thing I've noticed is that--usually--the smaller the audience, the more chatty he is. Boothbay in 2006 floored me.
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LE,
No, she had both shoes on ! :D I went because my husband wanted me to accompany him.
ds1984,
You're so right about what you said. I'm not excited about seeing anybody else except Mark and his world class musicians.