Dave Dobbyn: The Songbook (+comp)
Dave Dobbyn is celebrating 30 years as a recording artist with a compilation of his songs Dave Dobbyn: The Songbook.
The hardback anniversary edition of Dave Dobbyn: The Songbook includes lyrics, personal photographs, piano scores and guitar chords. Dobbyn shares the inspiration behind 39 of his best-loved titles, including 'Be Mine Tonight', 'Welcome Home', 'Slice of Heaven' and 'Loyal'.
In this extract Dave Dobbyn reflects on the inspiration behind one of his songs, ‘Love You Like I Should’. Also see the lyrics and guitar chords attached.
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‘Love You Like I Should’ is a rant. I had no idea what I was on about at the time.
I just liked the guitar riff - any excuse for some rockin’. The lyrics came first, in a great hurry, then the riff. I could hear a horn section from the start. I love horns.
I guess I wanted to write an assertive love song and this is what came through. Iggy Pop’s version of ‘Real Wild Child’ was an inspiration.
Some songs are insistent in the process. They can drive you mad, compelling you to work on them ahead of getting on with other things, like life. This can be an all-consuming thing. It’s like a distraction that you learn to turn into an attraction — or go crazy. You can choose. Whatever, you can’t avoid the craft of it.
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Comments
8 December 2009 - 10:56 AM
Thanks for sharing your favourite song. Here is a message from Dave Dobbyn!
Thank you so much for your encouraging comments.
It's great to know I hit the right notes for people.
The music never stops, so I'll keep playing.
Merry Christmas and Peace
from Dave Dobbyn
Competition winner: Kelly Moroney has won the autographed copy of Dave Dobbyn: The Songbook and the CD/DVD of Beside You - 30 Years of Hits.
Slice of Heaven, as it means so much to the people of Gisborne & the East Coast where I live
I'm torn between The Lap Of The Gods and Language, both from the album Twist; the opening guitar riff of Lap of the Gods gets me every time, simple yet strong (especially when played loud!) and such a signature sound. I remember hearing that opening riff live, when he was sound checking at the wrap party for Lord Of The Rings (I was sweeping the venue at the time) at such incredible volume that everyone in this giant brick building just had to stop work and stare, open mouthed.
But ultimately (if I can have only one choice) I think Language wins for brilliant lyrics, another great guitar riff, the opening drum track and just overall greatness.
And if I win the book, I can figure out how to play both of them, overdrive my Telecaster to get the sound, and ruin my neighbours' lives for weeks to come!
Cheers,
R!
Robert Catto, Photographer
Box 15 456, Miramar Wellington
robert@catto.co.nz / http://www.catto.co.nz
644 388 7999 / 6421 38 33 77
The lament Beside You.
http://nzart-lizzie-l.blogspot.com/2009/02/dave-dobbyn-parachute-music-f...
Heard the sound-check at the last Parachute Festival. Very moving.
When living in England the song Welcome Home always resonated, it'll always remind me of being overseas and seeing Dave perform in London.
Brendon Doran
http://www.brendondoran.co.nz
I have Dave Dobbyn songs for different seasons and reasons.
I am going to go with Welcome home as it is the song my young late husband chose to play at his funeral to represent his returning home to New Zealand, returning to his family and returning to his ancestors.
I never see it as a sad song, although I can hear the brass intro from a mile away... for me it is like the musical embodiment of what it means to be kiwi, diverse and destined to be here.
For me it has to be "Slice of Heaven'. It sums up the way I feel about my homeland - my total pride! Every day I work with little kids, many of them from non-English speaking and even war-torn countries. And when they start to sing and dance along to this song, then you know something magical is happening. New Zealand is a Slice of Heaven, and Dave Dobbyn, one of our country's icons, is the champion at serving up a generous dollop of good old-fashioned nostalgia, love and loyalty, even in our newest citizens... :-)
Slice of heaven- from the first bar dup's to the bottom lip fair draggin on the ground.It's up, hip, funky, multicultural and anthemish with a hint of hoon. Still moving even after about a year of high rotation when it came out. Ahwoooo!
Slice of Heaven always brings back memories of my youth
I see that there is a theme emerging here: Dave Dobbyn's songs evoke powerful and deep memories of home when we're away from New Zealand.
Though I love and admire many of his songs for the clever poetic and many-layered lyrics and the strong and original melodic lines, when I was living in Japan it was Outlook for Thursday that I kept wanting to hear.
Thanks Dave.
Mary Celeste, textile artist, clothing designer and noted Granity style commentator
Slice of heaven, because it evokes memories of my childhood and I just love the footroot flats movie too.
Plus slice of heaven is a great song to sum up our beautiful country.
I hope you have another 30 years Dave xox
'Naked Flame' from 'Twist' - not only is this one of the sexiest songs ever but when Dave sings "I catch my breath, I catch my breath, in the middle of a dance with you" I mist up every time - the repetition is sheer genius - but then we are talkin' Dave Dobbyn!
"Welcome Home" has a genuineness about it in a way that most kiwis can relate to on some level. I think in that quintessential sense, even in its simplicity "Welcome Home" has an affinity to many instances in a kiwi-persons life, whether in coming or going. I know I for one think of "Welcome Home" when I need to get back to the place that for me epitomises the essence of who I am. Not as a means to hide from the world but more as a sense of knowing I'm not going to be overwhelmed by it. "Welcome Home" reminds me of the place and the people who give me strength to be who I am.
Its hard to choose one of DD's songs when so many of them cast a significant impression and reflection on all of the senses, not just the ability to hear.
Hooo, it's a tough choice but I'm going with Loyal. It's a love song but also a break up song, sad but beautiful, and not only a mark of the man's talent but also of his character. And so catchy!
Got to be Slice of Heaven for me classic
Pam Joyce
16 December 2009 - 19:22 PM
Thanks for sharing your favourite song. Here is a message from Dave Dobbyn!
Thank you so much for your encouraging comments.
It's great to know I hit the right notes for people.
The music never stops, so I'll keep playing.
Merry Christmas and Peace
from Dave Dobbyn