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Kaieteur News
Friday February 08, 2013
=== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ===
Three songs for my wife on our 34th anniversary On this date, 34 years ago, I married a Wortmanville girl. How and why she put up with me for three decades and four years I do not know. They say opposites attract and indeed that is so. Quiet, totally non-aggressive, and so soft spoken that it will strain her vocal cords if she tries to shout, she is the opposite of me. But there are things we need in each other. In Janet, I see someone that I can talk to without being deceived and someone who I know will honour her word to me and freely and dearly walk the extra mile for me. I met her in 1978 at the height of the WPA activities when she knew that forever my life would walk a political pathway. It has not been easy for her since 1978, but she has stood with me in the raging tsunamis that have drowned my life. In me, Janet sees someone with a willingness to offer protection and provide sincerity in a world of uncertainly, selfishness, fragility, deceit and deception. We do share a lot in common - a passion to help the poor, literature, poetry and music of course. Music
played a huge part in our courting days. In my vast music collection, I have so many songs that remind me of her. Whenever I listen to them, her image comes up in front of me. On this our anniversary I dedicate three songs to her. IL MONDO I first heard this Italian love sung by Engelbert Humperdinck when I was a 17-year-old youth in Wortmanville. The voice, lyrics and arrangement were a confluence of magical moments. I liked it since then. I would play it often for her when we studied together in Canada. In 2005, the Italian baritone, Patrizio Buanne, made a superb cover of it with lush orchestral accompaniment that was a huge international hit. I think he equaled Engelbert but I still cling to the version of the old master Lyrics Stay beside me, stay beside me Say you’ll never leave me How I love you, how I love you How I need you, please believe me
In your arms I found my heaven And your lips have done their parts Il mondo Your love is all I need in my world Let tender kisses plead in my world How could I ever live without you Il mondo My heart belongs to you, so take it And promise me, you’ll never break it Say you’ll stay here in my arms ALWAYS THERE I heard this song a few years back by the tumourstricken English tenor, Russell Watson and thought how vividly it applies to my life with Janet Kissoon. I suggest you listen to it and dedicate it to someone who has always there for you and on whom you know you can count. It is the perfect song about commitment that comes out of love and believing. Of course it is a lovely song that will be appreciated by anyone who loves music despite cultural differences. Lyrics
When I’m less than I should be When I just can’t face the day When darkness falls around me And I just can’t find my way When my eyes don’t clearly see And I stumble through it all You I lean upon You keep me strong And you raise me when I fall You are there when I most need you You are there so constantly You come shining through, you always do You are always there for me When life brings me to my knees When my back’s against the wall You are standing there right with me Just to keep me standing tall Though a burden I might be You don’t weary, you don’t rest You are reaching out to carry me
And I know that I am blest I WON’T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU When I met my wife, she was crazy about Karen Carpenter. She thought that Karen was the best female pop singer music produced. We spent countless days in Guyana listening to the Carpenters. The same in other countries in which we lived. I have every song that Karen Carpenter published. It was an uncanny situation because as I got older in my marriage and forever brought turmoil into our lives, I realized that the Carpenters actually sang two songs that were so applicable to me. Later these two songs turned out to be so popular that today they are among some of the most covered ballads in pop music recorded by internationally acclaimed singers and musicians in many genres. The other favourite Carpenter song is “A Song for You” but I’ll let that one pass. Lyrics Day after day, I must face a word of strangers Where I don’t belong I’m not that strong It’s nice to know there’s
Frederick Kissoon someone I can turn to Who will always care You’re always there When there’s no getting over that rainbow When my smallness of dreams won’t come true I can take all the madness the world has to give But I won’t last a day without you So many times When this city seems to be without a friendly face A lonely place It’s nice to know that you’ll be there if I need you And you’re always smile It’s all worthwhile If all my friends have forgotten half their promises They’re not unkind Just hard to find One look at you And I know I can learn to live without the rest I’ve found the best.