For Peter Gabriel

I first heard Peter Gabriel some time in my teens when I had much less mature ears than I do now. A musician friend of mine lent me an album, most likely the 1992 album Us, and I listened to it only once, briefly listening to each track, scanning through and then skipping. Still though, a distinct seed had been sown, a memory of a sound that would lay dormant for years until a week ago.

Two Peter Gabriel songs came about before the fateful day a week ago, I have the touch which appears on the Phenomenon soundtrack, and I grieve, which appears on the City of angels soundtrack, two films which I watched during my youth. I loved them both, I have the touch being a much more traditional rock tune, and I grieve a very unique, quiet and sober song about death. I should also add that I’d heard Don’t give up perhaps once or twice, but not enough to stick in my mind as Gabriel until I recognised it just recently.

A week ago as Chibi-R and I were browsing at JB Hi-Fi, I came across Secret World Live for merely $10. Not having much to lose for that much, I quickly grabbed a copy – how foolish I was, I would have quite happily paid the full price of admission had I known what a awesome experience awaited me.

A week later, and I now also have the Growing Up Live DVD, the Still growing up live DVD, the Secret World Live double CD, and the Hybrid SACDs of So, Us and Up, as well as the soundtrack to Ovo.

Something very special happens when you listen to Peter Gabriel and you have the right, mature frame of mind. Every one of his songs (from the modern era) is an emotional ride, be it through exuberance, anger, peace, sexuality or hope. I might also add that Solsbury Hill, which most definitely isn’t from the modern era and from his very first solo album after leaving Genesis in 1977, still stands up today as a brilliant song, and in modern performances has turned into a magnificent celebration of new beginnings, full of hope and energy.

Thank you Peter, it’s been a long time coming, but I’m finally with you.