from dust beautiful things

..... is for Cold Chisel and Céline Dion 

Firstly Cold Chisel - oh yeah, as a true blue Aussie, how could I NOT have these guys on my list. Who hasn't head-banged to "You Got Nothing I Want"? Who hasn't cried drunkenly to "Choir Girl"? (yes, we all have a past.......) Who hasn't sung along (getting most of the lyrics wrong) to "Khe Sanh"?

I saw Cold Chisel live at a small pub in northern New South Wales in early 1979, only a year after "Khe Sanh" was released. I loved every moment of the live music experience. I had no idea at the time, as a naive 16 year old, that the lyrics of their signature song were actually about an Australian Vietnam veteran trying to deal with his return to civilian life.

This classic Australian rock band is well entrenched on both my "housework" and my "great driving songs" playlists. Being able to sing along at the top of my voice, to lyrics some of which I've known for nearly 30 years, is essential, of course.

I love Céline's version of "All by Myself", for her incredible, soaring vocals - what a voice that woman has - and of course the joy of singing along, very loudly. But the "original" song that I fell in love with as a teenager was by Eric Carmen in the 70s. I say "original" because whenever Carmen's version came onto the weekly music show Countdown in the 70s, my dad used to take great delight in pointing out to us how Eric Carmen had outrageously plagiarised Sergei Rachmaninoff's piano concerto number 2, second movement. If you're dubious (as I most certainly was, scathing teenager that I was at the time) have a listen here but be warned, the full clip is over 36 minutes long. The second movement starts at about 11:50 but the crucial bars come at about 12:58. It used to pain me listening to this as a teenager (my dad loved to play his classical music loudly!) because I found myself on edge throughout this movement, waiting, waiting, waiting for the expected rousing crescendo of the all-important "All by myself" chorus. But it never came!!! Clearly Rachmaninoff had no clue..........


Of course, if Céline's inimitable vocals intimidate you and you're not sure how you can possibly sing along, then there's always Bridget Jones to inspire you.........