ABC Dig Music

The 2010 Melbourne International Arts Festival wrapped up with a towering night of song at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday.

Our winner, Ken Bryant, won return flights, accommodation, reserved seating for the performance and the opportunity to mix it in the green room with the musicians. 

Here's his review of the event:

Seven Songs to Leave Behind – such a wonderful concept delivered with passion and heartache by some of the greatest of modern songsmiths.

Gathering an eclectic group of master musicians together at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and asking them to perform seven songs of their choosing was a masterstroke of an idea. Just brilliant!! Yet their choice was not made easy. Each of these artists were asked to choose songs that fitted loosely defined categories – a first song, a song of their own, a song to covet, a song to share, a song of the living master Leonard Cohen and then a song to leave behind. How could one possibly choose.

There was indeed so much to covet. The simple magic and haunting voice of Gurrumul singing Bapa, Ricky Lee Jones dressed as an aging peacenik belting out 'Gangsta's Paradise', Dan Sultan mixing it with the crowd with his strong and beautiful rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'If It be Your Will' or perhaps some of the Black Arm Band – Lou Bennett and Shellie Morris - providing such stunning harmonies that moved the soul, discovering for the first time the extraordinary gift that is Meshell Ndegeocello – where has she been? Or perhaps it was simply listening to Sinead O’Connor in all her heartache and angst perform with such passion to still draw a tear from a dusty eye: 'Nothing Compares to You'. So very much to covet .

Leonard Cohen once wrote "There is a crack in everything, That's how the light gets in."  Well the light shone through in the words, the feats and voices of these iconic songsters. For me there were no cracks. Perhaps voices weren't as they were thirty years before, but I for one would not have changed a moment.

I just wanted this night to go on and on and on, even after the much anticipated climax of John Cale leading this band of brothers and sisters in the anthemic 'Hallelujah'. Such a inspirational concept. Such extraordinary musicians. Such a night to keep.

- Ken Bryant

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Feature Type: 

• Competition

Tags: 

• Melbourne International Arts Festival

More about: 

• Sinead O'Connor
• John Cale
• Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
• Rickie Lee Jones
• The Black Arm Band
• Dan Sultan
• Me'Shell NdegéOcello

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