Posted January 15, 200916 yr The Stars Gather to Toast Scotland's Favourite Son The BIG Partnership 15/01/2009 Region : All SOME of Scotland’s top stars will be toasting the Bard this Saturday at the annual West Sound Burns Supper. As part of the 250th anniversary celebrations, funny woman Karen Dunbar, who performed last year, will join platinum-selling recording artist turned actor, Darius Danesh, alongside River City’s Joyce Falconer and Scottish sporting hero George McNeill. West Sound, the radio station based in the hometown of Burns, has hosted the West Sound Burns Supper event since 1986 and because of its popularity, organisers have even taken it overseas to Colorado and The Kremlin to celebrate the life of Scotland’s finest poet. This year’s event, which takes place at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow will be attended by around 600 people, and will once again be sponsored by Rolls Royce, which has supported the event for many years now. Reality TV star, Faryl Smith, who stunned Simon Cowell with her angelic voice on Britain’s Got Talent, will also be part of the entertainment alongside some of the Only Men Aloud singers, who triumphed in the BBC’s Last Choir Standing. West Sound’s Station Director, Brenda Ritchie, said: “2009 is such an iconic year for the 24th West Sound Burns Supper, especially as it started off in 1986 as a one-off event. The success has grown ever since and we’re so excited to be welcoming back Karen Dunbar, who will no doubt keep the crowds entertained on the evening as well as Darius, who has made a special trip from his home in LA to be part of the celebrations. “As a station based in Ayrshire, we are so proud to be hosting this event once again and would like to thank our main sponsor, Rolls Royce as well as The Stagecoach Group, which has also supported us over the years. Ardgowan Homes, The Scottish Building Society and o2 are also providing their support this year, which we are very grateful for.” Guests of the event will be treated to a five-course banquet as well as live performances from Darius, who is expected to cover Caledonia amongst others and singing sensation Faryl , who will stun crowds with Ave Maria. Some of the Only Men Allowed choir will treat the crowd to a live performance as well as Craigholme School’s Head of Music, Mark Donnelly and John Carmichael and his Ceilidh Band. Len Murray, whose Immortal Memory was once described as ‘legendary’, will once again return to chair the event. Len is no stranger to West Sound, having proposed the Immortal Memory in 2001 and the Toast to the Lassies in 2003. He has chaired the Supper for the past two years and is delighted to chair it once again in this Homecoming Year. Sheriff David Smith, will perform the Immortal Memory, with George McNeill, who was inducted into the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame in the National Museum in Edinburgh for his career in sprinting, will give the Toast to the Lassies. River City star Joyce, famous for her strong Aberdonian accent and playing Roisin McIntyre in the BBC Scotland soap, will perform the Reply fae the Lassies. Joyce writes and performs her own material (mainly in Scots) with her most recent being ‘A Guid Scots Tongue’. She has performed at many Burns Nights at home as well as in Boston, New York and Ontario. The Young Burnsian of the Year, Ewan McCall (16) from Dumfries, will be attending the event, alongside the Junior Burnsian of the Year George Davidson (12) from (Aberdeenshire). Both scooped their titles at an event organised by the World Burns Federation open to all youngsters from Primary and Secondary schools and attracts over 165,000 youngsters from the length and breadth of the UK.
January 16, 200916 yr Thanks Nina He's back then.....I wonder how long for!! I hope we will get some press coverage of this event and maybe some news of his plans while he is here! :D Julie
January 16, 200916 yr Thanx Nina :D ........Yay,I'm so gald he's back again thats Fantastic news!,OMG i hope he stays for a long time! ,and we get some news,about the album and gigs!!! :dance: Sounds a great event,and this is a Fantastic opportunity for Darius to get some more publicity too! Edited January 17, 200916 yr by darius4me
January 16, 200916 yr Darius back and singing - good news. 2009 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns who spent much of his life in Ayrshire, West Sounds area. I'm not sure how many songs called Caledonia there are but this one has lyrics which Darius could sing with conviction and it's an acoustic song so he'd probably only need his guitar. http://www.vimeo.com/734537 I wonder what the others are - traditional Scottish, new Darius, or ................... Edited January 16, 200916 yr by Baytree
January 16, 200916 yr Apparently Burns wrote or collected a song called Caledonia too, Caledonia There was on a time, but old Time was then young, That brave Caledonia, the chief of her line, From some of your northern deities sprung (Who knows not that brave Caledonia's divine?) From Tweed to the Orcades was her domain, To hunt, or to pasture, or do what she would. Her heav'nly relations there fixed her reign, And pledg'd her their godheads to warrant it good. A lambkin in peace but a lion in war, The pride of her kindred the heroine grew. Her grandsire, old Odin, triumphantly swore:- 'Whoe'er shall provoke thee, th' encounter shall rue! With tillage or pasture at times she would sport, To feed her fair flocks by her green rustling corn; But chiefly the woods were her fav'rite resort, Her darling amusement the hounds and the horn, Long quiet she reign'd, till thitherward steers A flight of bold eagles from Adria's strand, Repeated, successive, for many long years, bold eagles from Adria's strandThey darken'd the air, and they plunder'd the land, Their pounces were murder, and horror their cry; They'd conquer'd and ravag'd a world beside. She took to her hills, and her arrows let fly- The daring invaders, they fled or they died! The Cameleon-Savage disturb'd her repose, With tumult, disquiet, rebellion, and strife, Provok'd beyond bearing, at last she arose, And robb'd him at once of his hopes and his life. The Anglian lion, the terror of France, Oft, prowling, ensanguin'd the Tweed's silver flood, But, taught by the bright Caledonian lance, He learned to fear in his own native wood. The fell Harpy-raven took wing from the north The scourge of the seas, and the dread of the shore; The Wild Scandinavian Boar issued forth To wanton in carnage and wallow in gore; O'er countries and kingdoms their fury prevail, No arts could appease them, no arms could repel; But brave Caledonia in vain they assail'd As Largs well can witness, and Loncartie tell. Thus bold, independent, unconquer'd, and free, Her bright course of glory for ever shall run, For brave Caledonia immortal must be, I'll prove it from Euclid as clear as the sun: Rectangle-triangle, the figure we'll chuse, The upright is Chance, and old Time is the Base. But brave Caledonia's the hypothenuse; Then, ergo, she'll match them, and match them always! Meaning of unusual words: Orcades=Orkney Odin=Swedish god (an allusion to the blief that the Picts came from Scandinavia Camelon-Savage=Picts in war paint (Camelon near Falkirk was one of the legendary capital of the Picts. bold eagles from Adria's strand=Roman legions from the Adriatic Harpy-Raven=Danes Largs=Scottish victory over the Vikings in 1263 Loncartie=Luncartie - a Scottish victory over the Danes in 990AD I think that's quite a mouthful, even for a Scot. If it's this song, it's a good job Darius is good at retaining lines and lyrics. I'll see if I can find a sung version of it.
January 16, 200916 yr Thanks for that Baytree. Just had a listen. A pretty song well within his capabilities, wont stretch him. Two of the other acts have been on tv recently, Men allowed won the BBC tv programme last choir standing and were very good and Faryl was in Britains got talent, 13 years old didnt finish in top three but a trained opera style voice signed but not sure if its to SC or universal. Should be a good evening.
January 16, 200916 yr Lyrics for the modern Caledonia Caledonia Dougie MacLean I don't know if you can see The changes that have come over me In these last few days I've been afraid That I might drift away So I've been telling old stories, singing songs That make me think about where I came from And that's the reason why I seem So far away today Oh, but let me tell you that I love you That I think about you all the time Caledonia you're calling me And now I'm going home If I should become a stranger You know that it would make me more than sad Caledonia's been everything I've ever had Now I have moved and I've kept on moving Proved the points that I needed proving Lost the friends that I needed losing Found others on the way I have kissed the ladies and left them crying Stolen dreams, yes there's no denying I have traveled hard with coattails flying Somewhere in the wind (Chorus) Now I'm sitting here before the fire The empty room, the forest choir The flames that could not get any higher 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 are shaken and the kisses flow Then I will disappear © 1982 Plant Life Music Ltd
January 16, 200916 yr http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMpSg78s684 This link leads to a youtube of Dougie McLean singing his own song, Caledonia, to his own guitar accompaniment.
January 16, 200916 yr Thanks, Bramley. Interesting that Dougie doesn't sing this line "I have kissed the ladies and left them crying" but one even more appropriate for Darius "Oh and I have tried, I've kept on trying" Do other people hear "coattails" ? I think I hear "conscience" Edited January 16, 200916 yr by Baytree
January 16, 200916 yr The site I visited said D is definitely singing Caledonia, plus other songs. Also there are a few tickets left at the Thistle Hotel, Glasgow.........£75 each, plus £80 B&B. Me, I couldn't face the haggis. Tried one last year....... one tentative taste and it went in the dustbin. Edited January 16, 200916 yr by Bramley
January 16, 200916 yr Unfortunately I've already agreed to go to Irvine, Ayrshire on Saturday. I'm committed because I'm the driver and 3 other people are relying on me.
January 16, 200916 yr Thanks Nina. Yes I can hear Darius singing that. (He has tried, oh how he has tried!) It's a pity you didn't know earlier BT before you had made other arrangements. Hope D is staying a while now he's back. Sue
January 16, 200916 yr I'm used to the frustration of so near yet so far away. It's happened so many times in the past.
January 17, 200916 yr Thanks Nina I saw this and didn't get chance to post it. Thanks BT for finding all the lyrics and links
January 17, 200916 yr I like the Dougie Maclean version best because he sings it passionately in his own Scottish accent. Thanks for finding it, Bramley. Paolo Nutini had it on his album (as a bonus track?) but Idon't like his version at all. Paolo always sounds to me as if he's half-cut or under someone's or some thing's influence. Amy Mc Donald had it on her debut album too but I find her rendition very bland. She has a nice voice but doesn't really float my boat. Female singers rarely do, because I prefer lower ranges. I wonder if Eddie Reader ( ex Fairground Attraction) ever recorded it. IMHO she has a great voice and I know her last album had interpretations of traditional Scottish songs including some of Burns. I think it would suit someone like Barbara Dickson too.
January 17, 200916 yr I SO cant wait to see him again, and hear him singing his new stuff!!!!......hope its VERY soon!!!!
January 17, 200916 yr It's cheering that he's back. However he needs to do things down South before he'll come within the national media's scan. Do you remember at the 19 Management party night, the media went on about it being D's first event for ages when in fact he'd been working pretty non-stop in Scotland and the North of England. They obviously never even bothered to do the simplest of research which a Primary kid could do - use a search engine. That was the first time I ever felt riled up enough to write a letter in response to an article about Darius. It was the culmination of years of the North/South divide irritating me. They published my letter and added some sort of apologetic statement.
January 18, 200916 yr I had to plough through a load of Spam e-mails, so I listened to West Sound online. In an item about the Burns Night as part of the 12 o'clock news today, I was rewarded with a teensy tiny snippet from an interview with Darius. The female interviewer said in her intro that Darius was now living in LA and that he sang Caledonia and it was an emotional night for him. All they included was D saying how great the evening's celebration was, not only to honour Scotland's finest bard but also for friends and family ( That's only a paraphrase.) I was thrown by Darius repeating the same phrase he'd used half a minute before. It's not like him. Maybe he was going to say something and changed his mind quickly or maybe the whisky had been flowing a bit too freely as it often does at Burns' Night. It was so good to hear Darius's voice on radio again. It always seems a bit huskier and sexy. About 15mins later the show presenter said that he wasn't able to go last night but listening to Darius just there on the news, it sounded like another great night. He'd been there last year. and..........he went on to say that highlights from last night would be broadcast on West Sound some time next week.
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