I was sitting in my living room a few nights ago thinking of my favourite singers.  Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Charlotte Church …

And another – Chris de Burgh. 

Sometime before I left Canada for Belgium, I gave away all my DVDs.  Included was a Chris concert video: “The Road to Freedom”.  I had spent hours over the years drinking in the majesty of the music and the singer.  All gone.

So this week I found a few songs from that concert on YouTube.  I was re-entranced.  Such melodies, such lyrics, such a voice.

Then a memory … Chris singing a medley as he walked among the audience.  The kindness in his face, the eye-to-eye contact with so many. 

I searched some more and found a 15-minute clip that included what I was looking for – the singer strolling through the journey of standing fans.  Yes!

He stopped in front of an older woman and knelt down, continuing to sing and play his guitar.  Then a young man with a stiff body, sitting in his wheelchair.  Chris held his hand.  After conducting the audience’s singing for a few seconds, he turned towards a girl of about 12, extended his arms and sang …

And drink to the memories of what you mean to me

The audience was enthralled.  And me.

“How sad that Chris has died, that I’ll never get to hear him in concert,” I told myself.

Then I bet a funny look came over my face.  “I wonder.”

I Googled Mr. De Burgh.  Et voilà …  He’s alive and well, 75-years-old, living with Diane, his wife of 47 years.

And …

He’s doing a European tour!

***

Where will you be on October 22, 2024?

I’ll be in Wuppertal, Germany

At a concert