Cock Robin, Forum de discussion

SteeOui

Thinking of the concert in Lille at Splendid a line of a song from Peter Cock Robin did not play yesterday comes to my mind - "Was I surprised? Was I surprised? - No not at all" (Pretty Ballerina). I was not surprised.

I came with highest expectations and the band fulfilled it all. A wonderful concert, a terrific set list, great musicians (and i'm sure that they will even get better when they played more concerts together - all my compliments to the new drummer who did a incredible job, with all those complicated arrangements and changes of pace - knowing that there was only ONE week of rehearsals)

Once again I feel ashamed that I don't speak a word of French, getting to know so many nice people and being unable to talk to them. Nevertheless it was great to meet you, special thanks to Sandrine, Patricia, Fred and Michel for spending this evening with me!

This was only my second time to see Cock Robin live (first was at Hannut 2006), but this feels like the very first time for me - Hannut was great, but it was a festival (Lara Fabian headlining), so the set list was shortened and a most of the audience didn't know what Cock Robin is all about ... this time being at a venue filled with people who especially came to see COCK ROBIN was such an amazing experience - a very touching atmosphere ... i never expected to be able to witness such an event ... especially in all those quiet years between 1990 and 2005 ...

The conclusion first: Cock Robin is alive and well and far away from being a "80s-Jukebox", in my opinion one can expect much more from them in the coming years - i'm looking forward to any step they will take ...

The set list:

1. I don't want to save the world
Staring very quite, only Anna with Peter at keyboards, the band joined in from the middle of the song. I liked the "heavy" version they played at Hannut (which was a little rougher than the one used on the album "Live"), but this also is a very nice version. And a statement at the beginning - we are not doing a "Greatest Hits only show", but the new stuff is great too.

2. Because it keeps on working
The album version is not my favorite song, but live this is a burner. Again this starts very tribal with drums sounding like native Indians - love this! If one hasn't heard them live take a listen to the version on the album "Live" ... this song rocks!

3. Thought you were on my side
Good version of a great song, i'm sure this will grow when the drummer had some more time with the band ...

4. After all is said and done
Another song I highly recommend from "Live" ... from my point of view Anna and Peter are (musically) soul mates ... Anna puts this "extra" to Peters's solo work that make the songs event better ... currently i'm listening to Peter's solo work a lot an explore a lot of songs that I didn't recognize when I first listened to them - a lot of these songs make me curious how they would sound together with Anna. This both voices (and
personas) work so wonderful together ... So this song is great, very much the way they played it in 2006.

5. Me and my shaman
One of my favorites from their latest studio album and of the songs they played in Lille. Beautifully rearranged to fit for Anna's voice this will be a live favorite for the years to come i'm sure!

6. Stumble and fall
Liked this rendition a lot which led directly into ...

7. When your hearts is weak
... very similar to the version on "Live" which is a nice one. Nothing more to add to this song!

8. Superhuman
Another favorite of the latest studio album, slightly slower but also a good version

9. Bo
Love this song ... feel always like sitting on the terrace of a house at Joshua Tree watching the sun go down and see a dog playing. Sadly it is not possible to include a sample of the barking dog (which makes the studio version very special), but a wonderful addition to the set list!

10. Once in a million
The live version is a little faster than the original, but as ...

11. World's apart
... the keyboard play of Peter makes this very special. I'm sure that some day he will not be able to control himself and he will give us some solo like Ray Manzarek did with the Doors ... don not know why, but The Doors came immediately to my mind while I was listening to both of these songs ...

12. For experience sake
A heavily reworked version (Anna said: "... That song USED to be very melancholic ..." - kind of Samba influences. Incredible how much the arrangement changed but keeping it a great song ...

13. Just around the corner
Sandrine told all what happened to me when Peter introduced this song, which is my favorite one since 1987 and connected with only good memories ... nothing more to add than that I felt kind of uncomfortable being singled out of this whole crowd of Cock Robin fans ... but I would lie if I told you I was not proud and touched ...

The song itself (as far as I was able to listen when I still was very close to a heart attack) is closer to the album version using the guitar intro I love very much - for me it is the very best live rendition a heard so far!

14. The promise you made
Another great version of a greatest hit - wonderful

First encore:

15. Only The very best
Peter at piano only. Could not be better

15. A different man
Another highlight for me. One of my favorite Peter solo songs in a great rendition - as with "After all is said and done" Anna's addition makes it even better!

16. Italian Soul
Another good one from the latest studio album (and - i think - very personal too). Only critic is that the sound of Anna's voice on the mixer was little to quiet and the guitar little to loud ...

Second encore:

17. Body over mind
Anna with Peter on piano, great song, one last highlight from the last album left us crowd more than pleased ... one very memorable concert!!!

Having the luck to meet Anna and Peter after the concert for the first time i might add that both are the loveliest artists one can meet ... for artist being around for so long and having such a reputation it is amazing to see how much their fans / their audience means to them and how much they care. They deserve all the success they had and all the success they will surely have in the years to come. It has been a blast ... thank you all so much.
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