2020 was a tough year. The sort of year that makes you question what on earth life is all about. Now heading into 2021, it feels like we may finally be getting our priorities straight.
There will always be those of us who never fail to keep the important things; kindness, compassion, understanding, LOVE!!…at the tips of their tongues and fingers. In this world where anything is possible these people dedicate their lives to reminding us of those fundamental virtues and that although we might not ALL get along ALL of the time, in the end we ALL wind up back in the same ethereal soup together anyway so just, love…today!!
2016 was another tough year. As a human race we lost some of the greatest minds in love, connection and the human experience, and at the very front of the procession singing “It’s a wonderful, wonderful life…” with a sarcastic smile and waving a black flag with a red rose on it, my father.
“We gather up the dreams we need to fly, but leave with nothing…”
(Colin Vearncombe – Parade [Blind Faith 2015])
Thanks for leaving the love behind. We’ll see you in the soup
Love you Dad,
Max
2 comments on “The Black Parade”
Hi Max,
Missing Colin right now.
Much love to you and all.
MD
I miss your dad so much, Max.
We had a short epistolary relationship in the 2000s.
He had thanked me for my words of encouragement, in which I stipulated that in my opinion, time is not a linear but cyclical datum… which will lead, one day soon, I am sure, to recognize what a wonderful songwriter/composer Colin was (and what a performer! what a singer! what a voice!).
He had asked the little Frenchman that I am to give him leads on how to discover Gainsbourg’s musical work (reference records, etc.), and I had sent him this information.
I had even sent him some audio cassettes from France (yes, time flies…) so that he could discover certain French singers I had told him about.
I was then able to discover that in addition to the artist I adored, the human being was just as marvelous.
I leave below my e-mail address and my name.
If you want to exchange from time to time with an old admirer lost on the side of Bordeaux, no problem; it would be with pleasure.
If I could have said a word to Colin just before he left, I would have told him that, contrary to the title of one of his most beautiful songs,… “Paradise’s not lost”.
See you soon maybe,
Laurent