A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:15:21 PM

Title: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:15:21 PM
For those interested by this discution

Below the message originaly posted in the original thread : https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?topic=7910.0
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:15:34 PM
We really do have an amazing ability to turn any thread into a discussion about what we think Mark’s future holds don’t we?!!
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:16:08 PM
We really do have an amazing ability to turn any thread into a discussion about what we think Mark’s future holds don’t we?!!

"Looking forward only" :lol
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:17:00 PM
We really do have an amazing ability to turn any thread into a discussion about what we think Mark’s future holds don’t we?!!

This thread is about the future!
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:17:45 PM
Yes, and they say Mark's only looking forward and not back, so I guess this thread is ok.  ;)
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:18:18 PM
It is interesting. Mark doesn't look back. But in songs, he often looks to the past. He writes more and more autobiographical songs.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:18:54 PM
It is interesting. Mark doesn't look back. But in songs, he often looks to the past. He writes more and more autobiographical songs.

I think he does actually look back but Guy uses this statement in order to avoid answering awkward questions.  ;)
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:19:39 PM
Yes. He does not return to DS, he does not present new versions of old songs. He doesn't record covers etc. But he looks back in his songs. And for that I appreciate him very much.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:20:09 PM
Yes. He does not return to DS, he does not present new versions of old songs. He doesn't record covers etc. But he looks back in his songs. And for that I appreciate him very much.
.

Very well said!  :thumbsup I exactly see it like you.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:20:35 PM
I'm glad :)
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:21:01 PM
Yes. He does not return to DS, he does not present new versions of old songs. He doesn't record covers etc. But he looks back in his songs. And for that I appreciate him very much.

And yet he plays them, as well as other old solo songs at his shows.  The only time he didn't look back was on the first tour!  People buy tickets for his shows based on his past.  His considerable reputation, for which he should be proud of, is based on his past.  It's not a realistic statement to make.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:21:42 PM
Agreed, but I didn't think about concerts specifically. I was thinking about the future of MK. There are 20 new songs on each album. He is very creative  with the passing of time. I wrote earlier that I appreciate him that he doesn't record any covers, Christmas songs. Mark writes new songs all the time - this is his future.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:22:26 PM
It is interesting. Mark doesn't look back. But in songs, he often looks to the past. He writes more and more autobiographical songs.

I think he does actually look back but Guy uses this statement in order to avoid answering awkward questions.  ;)

What he means with that is that he doesn't look back to unreleased songs or unreleased live cds or dvds.

When it comes to songs released, they are all his songs and, as he says, he plays what he feels like playing.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:23:11 PM
Personally, I would only see Mark now in a NHB type of setting, where he'd play blues, country and light rock stuff that doesn't require virtuosity or a lot of finesse. I'm not interested in a half-assed version of the kind of shows he has done up until now, especially not in a big arena, nor am I interested in an evening with acoustic "campfire" songs.

How about if he were to play some small shows like the 'showcase' ones he did in 2007 which were awesome! and the added bonus - No blooming Brass! Just a pure 5 piece Knopfler band!!
I mention this as I've just re-watched both the Berlin & Basel Showcases and reflected on how good these were!!
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:23:59 PM
It is interesting. Mark doesn't look back. But in songs, he often looks to the past. He writes more and more autobiographical songs.

I think he does actually look back but Guy uses this statement in order to avoid answering awkward questions.  ;)
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:24:37 PM
It is interesting. Mark doesn't look back. But in songs, he often looks to the past. He writes more and more autobiographical songs.

I think he does actually look back but Guy uses this statement in order to avoid answering awkward questions.  ;)

What he means with that is that he doesn't look back to unreleased songs or unreleased live cds or dvds.

When it comes to songs released, they are all his songs and, as he says, he plays what he feels like playing.


I wish he would feel like playing Two Skinny Kids ;)

Which is an unreleased song and those are the ones he doesn't look back, only forward!
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:25:10 PM
It is, ironically, a song about looking back. He did look back when playing Once Upon a Time in The West though, so the looking forward thing is not always true. Like has been said, it is a get out of jail free card for Guy to play when asked these type of questions, and I would do the same if I were him.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:25:48 PM
It is, ironically, a song about looking back. He did look back when playing Once Upon a Time in The West though, so the looking forward thing is not always true. Like has been said, it is a get out of jail free card for Guy to play when asked these type of questions, and I would do the same if I were him.

Technically we all live in the past, so you can't really look forward, and any song becomes "old" upon being released. The song was released, which means it's an old song, not a new one anymore, and you're looking back when playing it! A true looking forward guy would only play brand new songs each time only once and never recorded any of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTOODPf-iuc
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:26:18 PM
It is, ironically, a song about looking back. He did look back when playing Once Upon a Time in The West though, so the looking forward thing is not always true. Like has been said, it is a get out of jail free card for Guy to play when asked these type of questions, and I would do the same if I were him.

I insist in "looking back" doesn't mean looking back to his released catalogue in order to play it live in concerts, but to do nice things with that catalogue (like releasing a full edition of Alchemy or a special edition of the first album with demos or unreleased tracks) or release unreleased stuff, like the Madrid 2001 dvd, the unreleased STP songs etc

Looking forward means to them to release new stuff, not revisiting the old that wasn't released no matter these are worth to be revisited.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:26:45 PM
Exactly. Mark doesn't have to go back to old topics. He doesn't have to do anything. Has many new songs for each album. Of course I would like to hear Batting For England and Back in the Day but I'm looking forward to new songs.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:27:10 PM
Exactly. Mark doesn't have to go back to old topics. He doesn't have to do anything. Has many new songs for each album. Of course I would like to hear Batting For England and Back in the Day but I'm looking forward to new songs.

Hasn't he just released a set of remasters?  That's looking waaaaay back!  Also including Long Highway, an unreleased song first played in 1991!
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:27:39 PM
But these songs existed before. This is nothing new :)
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:28:17 PM
Exactly. Mark doesn't have to go back to old topics. He doesn't have to do anything. Has many new songs for each album. Of course I would like to hear Batting For England and Back in the Day but I'm looking forward to new songs.

Hasn't he just released a set of remasters?  That's looking waaaaay back!  Also including Long Highway, an unreleased song first played in 1991!
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:28:57 PM
Exactly. Mark doesn't have to go back to old topics. He doesn't have to do anything. Has many new songs for each album. Of course I would like to hear Batting For England and Back in the Day but I'm looking forward to new songs.

Hasn't he just released a set of remasters?  That's looking waaaaay back!  Also including Long Highway, an unreleased song first played in 1991!

Are you serious?

Yes.  The first show of the OES tour, 23rd Aug, unless I'm mistaken.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:29:26 PM
But The Long Highway is the B side of the single What It Is 21 years ago.
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:30:05 PM
But The Long Highway is the B side of the single What It Is 21 years ago.

This is my point.  You are saying he doesn't look back.  :hmm
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:30:29 PM
Why are you mentioning The Long Highway? :think
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:31:01 PM
Why are you mentioning The Long Highway? :think

It has been released as part of the recent remaster series.  As I never bought the entire remaster package I decided to buy the WII EP from Apple Music, so I decided to use LH as an example.  The title is also quite apt!
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: ds1984 on October 31, 2021, 06:31:33 PM
Ok. I thought you forgot about maxi single What It Is (2000) :)
Title: Re: Is Mark Looking Back ?
Post by: quizzaciously on November 03, 2021, 07:55:41 AM
Speaking of looking back, I just realized ABBA recently released their 1978 song, an unreleased song from their 1979 album, updated with new music 43 years later.

This is "looking back" I certainly enjoy! I wonder how many 43-year old song Mark will have on his new album :lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy4bLOYDmsQ