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Let go and enjoy

The charismatic Elizabeth digs into Perfect Strangers off the infamous ’93 Birmingham gig.

I have been absolutely enthralled by Ian Gillan’s vocal prowess, and Richie Blackmore’s captivating guitar solos. So here we are with the next of your most recommended Deep Purple songs, this time without a solo for me to interrupt with a pause…

Thanks to Mike Whiteley for the heads up.



25 Comments to “Let go and enjoy”:

  1. 1
    James Steven Gemmell says:

    She is learning Purple, which is a good thing. “I don’t want to taste your poison” line obviously is one Gillan sang on the original Jesus Christ Superstar album. This was a great title track, and one of Jon Lord’s masterpieces on organ.

  2. 2
    Uwe Hornung says:

    It must be an age group thing, but I find her standard youtube-influencer-cute-facial-expressions-regime tiresome (wrinkle nose here, roll eyes there, do eye lid flutter, look surprised …).

    But in a effort to not just sound grumpy: high marks for her noticing the 9/8 meter (or 4/4 and 5/4) time signature of the riff. Ritchie’s attempt at out-Kashmir’ing his nemesis Jimmy Page.

    Unlike Zep with their stronger Ethno Music influence, Purple have always been comparatively conservative as regards odd meters with only a few songs breaking 4/4 boundaries – the Love Child riff’s sneaky 7/4 meter (you don’t really notice it until you start thinking about it) being my favorite. A riff Tommy admitted to have purloined from Joe Walsh in his James Gang days. With the advent of Steve and Don the band has become more adventurous as regards time signatures too.

    Contrary to some of his more sour comments at the time re the Perfect Strangers album (“It’s nice to hear Jon Lord play something other than a Hammond for once.”), I’m sure DC gave the album more than just a few spins (or perhaps American radio did the job power-playing the title track). It sure left a lasting influence on his own writing. When I heard Slip of the Tongue’s Judgement Day for the first time (one of the few decent tracks on that totally overcooked album), my immediate thought was: “Oh, here we go again!”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA0iCUuGzco

  3. 3
    Eitablepanties says:

    The face lady again…..Sheeech!!!

  4. 4
    Uwe Hornung says:

    Rainbow practice makes perfect (strangers):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utXgiReGYsk

    Blackmore jamming with Rondinelli around the “Difficult to Cure” era. Both Glover and Airey have confirmed that the riff first showed up then in Blackmore’s playing. It was resurrected for the Perfect Strangers sessions. Luckily, who knows what Joe Lynn Turner might have done with it!

    My wife’s favorite Purple song along with Child in Time and April. Though she adores Paul Rodger’s voice (whether in Free or Bad Company), she’s noncommittal about David Coverdale (whether in DP or WS) and don’t even get her started on Glenn Hughes (“Sings well technically, but gives me headaches!”)!

  5. 5
    Rascal says:

    I fail to see what we get out of a unknown persons reaction to a piece of music or a song. The face pulls alone are enough for me to shut it down.

    Gillan isnt on form here so a vocal analysis or reaction seems completely pointless

  6. 6
    Uwe Hornung says:

    Now, did I start something with my curmudgeonly and disparagingly misogynist comment on Miss Charisma’s lively and expressive demeanor?

    Perhaps we just need someone with a more age-appropriate restraint of his facial muscles to do the reviews. I’m for Tilda.

    https://thumbs.gfycat.com/PlumpElatedBarasingha-size_restricted.gif

  7. 7
    Adel Faragalla says:

    Uwe @4
    That’s proves what Ian Gillan was arguing about all along that DP is a five members band that everyone chips in and the songs are created.
    To be honest with all due respect to ex Rainbow singers not even the great RJD could have done anything better with this riff that what IG did.
    IG is a genius.
    Peace ✌️

  8. 8
    Uwe Hornung says:

    We’re not done yet + it’s largely facial contortions-free:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI3wtRVgJaI

    Ritchie’s solo over the shuffle rhythm really makes the feline take notice (at 02:20)!

  9. 9
    Uwe Hornung says:

    My guess is that Big Ian not only came up with the verse and bridge vocal melodies, but also the chorus:

    “And if you hear me talking on the wind
    You’ve got to understand
    We must remain
    Perfect strangers”

    It sounds like something from his Gillan days. His vocal lines became adventurous in the IGB/Gillan era (a Colin Towns influence perhaps?) and he really upped the ante with Sabbath’s Born Again which contained vocal lines no one else in heaven or hell (or on earth) would have come up with. He retained that adventurousness when Purple reformed (to Blackmore’s disdain).

    Ian’s vocal lines are unconventional and not really pandering to commercial tastes – I always admired him for that. His own man.

    When “Perfect Strangers” came out as a single in 1984, everyone took the intro question “Can you remember, can you remember my name?” to allude to Ian’s time outside of or without DP (which had lasted eleven years). Of course the song was about no such thing, but the coincidence was a nice touch and drew a smile on my face. Yeah, I sure did remember his name. The album was played in full on German radio one night pre-release, I listened in rapt attention. Even more than Perfect Strangers, Knocking On Your Back Door was the stand-out track to me, Blackmore’s last hurrah of a majestic riff in the SOTW, WFT, Burn and MOTSM tradition.

  10. 10
    RLH says:

    #2 the lady in question is not a standard you tube influencer and doesn’t warrant your usual ego post. Ms Zharhoff is a successful opera singer with a considerable fanbase outside of your bedroom.

  11. 11
    MacGregor says:

    I never watch ‘look at me’ so called reaction videos. The closest I will ever get to youtube music videos being analysed is Rick Beato & his wonderful breakdown of certain classic rock songs & albums & the occasional interviews with certain musicians. Bohemian Rhapsody & Comfortable Numb are excellent & of course Rush’s Xanadu track from the A Farewell To Kings album, although unfortunately he said he didn’t have access to the individual tracks to separate them. His take on Stairway to Heaven ‘how successful would this song be today” was hilarious & very true indeed. Also his look at John Dowland & the 1500’s Lute songs & their impact on modern music. A wonderful insight that some of us may also think about at times. Rick does over do the ‘reaction’ thing a little & the facial contortions etc, he is genuine though.
    Regarding the riff to PS, yes the Difficult to Cure album is a very good Rainbow album & well above any other post Dio Rainbow album for creativity. The band was full of energy & had a passion to create new music indeed. With Roger Glover on board & Don Airey still there & a new vocalist & drummer, it was a strong ‘debut’ for a new lineup. So I am not surprised at all to hear the early PS riff, thanks for that. No doubt Gillan was the key to completing the song as he also was earlier in Purple’s career. We must not forget Glover’s input at times though, in regards to song writing & vocal & lyric ideas. I personally think that is why Straight Between The Eyes is a weaker Rainbow album. According to the album credits from my memory, Glover isn’t as involved in the writing, Turner seems to be more so on that album. Just my two pennies worth of thought. Cheers.

  12. 12
    Rascal says:

    I dont think anybody is doubting Ms Zharhoff’s credentials or opera singing ability.

    I just find the ‘reaction’ concept bizarre – what is the the ‘youtube viewer’ getting out of this?

  13. 13
    Uwe Hornung says:

    Honorable brethren RLH @10: Anything you say, buddy, inside and outside of all galactic bedrooms: 42 is your ultimate answer.

    https://64.media.tumblr.com/43297558f469e0adb943269f3fb26cc6/0ea3f48a1be5b59e-1b/s500x750/cce799b44c0242ece27c3e863e21be2fa12b28ec.gifv

  14. 14
    Uwe Hornung says:

    And for the record: Charismatic Lizzie’s ability to sing, whether in real life operas or as a World of Warcraft character (a MMORPG played from bedrooms as well, so I’ve heard)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLxqFbP_QaQ

    was never in question. All credit to her, even if I don’t do or dig elves, these guys excepted of course …

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sVAM-RAp8Y

    Great track btw.

  15. 15
    Svante Axbacke says:

    I have also wondered why these reaction videos are so popular. My theory is that people get a kick out of seeing someone enjoying something those people have liked for years and have tried to get people to understand for years. If the reactor then is from the “fine arts” (“Classical Composer”, “Opera Singer”, “Vocal Coach” etc.), it gives some credibility to rock music that has been seen as “bad arts”. “See, I told you it was good music. Just hear what this person says on YouTube.”

    Add some semisexual moans and groans and funny faces, or as some other YT’ers, comments about doing drugs to the music, and some people are happy to spend hours watching this stuff.

    Is there a market for “Random old fart from Sweden reacts to…” videos? I think I just got a idea. 🙂

  16. 16
    Eitablepanties says:

    @ 8. Cute cat 😺 Whats it’s name snowball?

  17. 17
    Uwe Hornung says:

    Papa Svante @15: Just for me and if it’s not too much asking, could you wear some face paint and ritual attire while commenting? I do like the complete Swedish package, jawohl, among us NATO buddies.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyxrzUe_TDM

    I need my own channel too. I could go on for hours why I find U2 and Coldplay utterly unremarkable!

  18. 18
    Svante Axbacke says:

    @18: Pax vobiscum!

  19. 19
    Uwe Hornung says:

    Takk, how reassuring, I’m Catholic.

    And I thought you were all pagans up there, dancing around bonfires.

  20. 20
    Micke says:

    @ 10 I agree, if some (grumpy) fart don’t like it, don’t watch it.. easy as that.

  21. 21
    Dr. Bob says:

    My Easter tradition is to listen to the orginal recording of Jesus Christ Superstar and/or watch the 1973 film. I made a request for her to react to Gillan’s recording of Gethsemane from JCSS. It’s one of his greatest vocal perfomances. There is a video with him lip-syncing to the soundtrack but they only have video of the 1st half of that performance. So the rest of the video shows the album back cover and him not lip-syncing to the end of the song. But the recording is fantastic.

  22. 22
    max says:

    @ Uwe

    I’ll never forget the night in 1984 when the reunion-album was aired in Germany. Had to do the night shift as an ambulance driver, so I got two friends of mine (just in case one would fail …) to sit by their radios and record the show with their taperecorders for me! Hearing that riff at the very beginning of KAYBD for the first time took my breath away. Here I was, having discovered DP as a 12years old – just the year they had disbanded – and now they were back and I was there .. and 1985 in Mannheim you bet!

    Couldn’t agree more about the U2 and Coldplay remark. You sure know this one: “There is such a horrible sound somewhere in my car…” “Have you tried removing that Coldplay cd…?”

  23. 23
    Uwe Hornung says:

    Micke @20: Don’t worry, I don’t! I just skip through it out of loyalty and interest for Purple, but Ms Charisma teaches me better quickly. I’m then back to listening to fine arts with a trained female operatic vocal.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EBvXpjudf8

  24. 24
    Uwe Hornung says:

    Max @22: Ah yes, Mannheim, a historically noteworthy gig as Jon’s Hammond broke down mid-set and he played piano for the rest of the gig – a magical night when, figuratively speaking, ‘Elton John guested with DP’! Jon always had nice things to say about the other John’s piano playing and that night you heard it.

  25. 25
    RLH says:

    #13 The ultimate answer is useless without the ultimate question. And another thing…. try not projecting

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