I had never heard of Ray Lamontagne before Taylor Hicks sang a soul-and-heart-felt 'Trouble' on American Idol back in 2006...
I really 'got', I understood where Taylor was coming from as an artist, his musical vibe, his soulful riff... And who cared that he was prematurely grey-gray-haired, like Leno, and could dance like your uncle at a wedding, according to Scowl... (Simon Cowell of Syco - Never was a company better named! ;) I love him really, even the high-waisted troos and regimental loo-brush coiffure! )
I was pleased when Taylor won the competition, but I was concerned that he'd have to compromise his musical style as a result of the 'Hollywood Artiste Mincing Machine', which he sort of didn't, but then again he got dropped by his record company just last year ~ So, hey-ho...
But I was intrigued, who the hell was Ray Lamontagne?
Please listen to this, if you can find the time...
Here are the Crazy lyrics
Songwriters: Burton, Brian Joseph; Callaway, Thomas Decarlo; Reverberi, Gian Piero; Reverberi, Gianfranco;
I remember when, I remember
I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place
Even your emotions have an echo in so much space
And when you're out there without care
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Probably
And I hope that you are
Having the time of your life
But think twice
That's my only advice
Come on now, who do you
Who do you, who do you, who do you think you are?
Ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you're in control?
Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me
My heroes had the heart
To lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember
Is thinking, I want to be like them
Ever since I was little
Ever since I was little
It looked like fun
And it's no coincidence that I've come
And I can die when I'm done
But maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably
© CHRYSALIS MUSIC; UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBL. RICORDI S R L; WARNER/CHAPPELL MUSIC INT'L LTD;
This was Ray's version of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy (above), which I also adored.
But Ray's own singing and song-writing is something else -- Soulful, pained, soaringly beautiful, and I have just managed to procure one ticket to see him in Newcastle later in the year...
This will be the second time I have been to one of his concerts, and he has been touring almost relentlessly, building his audience, over the past few years...
Ray is still seen as something of an underdog in the music industry.
'Under The Radar', a little like Taylor Hicks' first album...
He is avoiding the music gurus' strong sway... To cut his hair, wear what they dictate, lose the beard, be more outgoing - less private... To be more commercial in fact...
Ray has been known to perform like a soulful angel, but to say nothing to the audience at all...
Why should we expect that of anyone? Their art should be enough to cover the price of our theatre ticket, in my oh-so humble opinion...
There may be some hope for lovely Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent after all...
