Although this interview with the ‘Blue’ band took place more than three years ago, it’s one of my favourites because of the way the band members responded to some of my pesky questions. Here’s an excerpt from it… happy reading!
But first things first, they are four boys who are young, clean-cut, good-looking, well-dressed and somewhat acerbic if truth be told but who can, surprise, surprise, sing. What’s even more interesting than their excellent dance synchronization is the fact that they come out with hit singles often enough to keep them in the public eye. They learned that “Sorry seems to be the hardest word” along with idol Elton John and that “One Love” is all any of us need. Couldn’t get enough of their creed, or their music videos? Here’s a chance to get up close and personal before you catch them Live in your city. Cooler than Pink, the modern version of the stylistic Moody Blues, as rhythmic if not as iconoclastic as Black Sabbath and with more staying power than the hugely-talented Simply Red, say hello to Blue.
The boys are Duncan (Dunc), Simon (Si), Anthony (Ant) and Lee. Simon is spokesperson for the band, and his mood jumps from cheery to bored to antsy and well, we guess he’s bored with the Press. He certainly doesn’t lack attitude, so here it all is, from what Blue thinks of bubblegum pop and pigtailed schoolgirls to a well-articulated, we must admit, diatribe against one too many personal questions on the love angle. Hey, we thought that was what made Blue so successful? Ah, well, live and learn. Now read all about it…
If the members of Blue weren’t in Blue, what would they have been doing?
Bricklaying (Dunc). Laying, er, make that carpet-laying (Si). Cleaning out the elephants’ enclosure at the zoo (Ant). Running an antique bookstore (Lee).
Does music mean more business than art?
Man, I try not to bend my head around that stuff. I mean, money is important, but music is my life. I could live without much money, but life without music… forget it.
At which concert has Blue had the best response and what was the euphoria like?
God, I’d have to say Wembley Arena earlier this year: the crowd was amazing, they knew all the words and sang along. Then they went mental on All Rise and kept waving their Blue flags. It was special: I’ll always carry that memory inside me. Like when I’m all old and doddery, I’ll go… check that out.
What do you make of the fact that bubblegum pop music is more about image than about the music?
Bubblegum pop, Whoa! Look, the whole world as we know it today is about packaging. You got the best product in the world, put it in a shitty wrapper and what you gonna sell? I’d like to think our image is an extension of our music: we stay in shape, work hard at what we do. We didn’t get where we are by accident.
Does it ever bother Blue that the majority of its audience comprises flailing, pre-pubescent, pigtailed schoolgirls – hardly what one can call a mature audience?
Why should it? We don’t do Rotary Club gigs…
Have any of the members been to Bangalore before? Why choose to come here?
No. Because we hear so much about it: Techie hub, Silicon Valley, da-da-da-da-dah. The people here are evolved, warm, and knowledgeable about music. Hey, maybe some of those girls you were talking about would pull some what-was that? mature audiences along and they could decide for themselves what our music’s all about.
Why is Blue Guilty?
It would take too long to list. We got roped into this because we heard it was going to be a short interview… But if you check out the lyrics to Guilty, you’ll find it’s a fairly innovative use of the word.
How important is love in your work?
Lemme count the ways: Hoo baby, too many! Let’s say love is what makes everything else (the crappy bits of life) worthwhile. It’s what?… the oxygen in my bloodstream, gives me fire in my belly, my muse…
What’s the worst experience you’ve ever had in a relationship?
Oh man, do I have to do this? Ok, very quickly then, and I guess it’s not an unfamiliar experience for guys in my line of work: Being used for who I am, as opposed to what sort of human being or kind of person I am.
And what lessons have you learnt from it?
Step back, check it out, not rush into things…
Who, in your view, is an ideal woman?
Someone who is sensitive to moods, has a strong sense of identity, knows who she is and is comfortable with herself, a woman who is deeply feminine, caring, intelligent, thoughtful. Oh, and sexy, definitely sexy.
Do you think there is such a thing as love? And will you define it for us?
The name’s Simon, not Einstein. I’m not really into defining stuff that’s so much a part of me, it doesn’t really have a separate identity. Oh ok, it’s a state of mind that makes the world go round.
Apart from relationships, what are the other subjects crucial to your music?
Dreams, people and their quirks, images.
What was it like to work with Elton John (they did a duet with him on a poignant cover of his 1976 hit ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’ released in December 2002)?
Brilliant, he is a true perfectionist: It was a great experience.
And any lessons learnt?
Punctuality and what talent is all about.
Have you ever dated women who were your fans?
No comments.
In your experience as a pop boy band, has your respect for women gone up or down?
People are different and I’m not going to judge women or slot them into neat little categories. It’s pointless and I have too much respect for women to do that.
Have you guys ever done any wild, extravagant things to woo a woman?
Oh yes, I once had this gorgeous bird over to dinner. I had my chef carve a swan out of a block of ice, had it filled with caviar which I fed her with a silver spoon that Catherine the Great left me in her will. Sipped Krug 1959 from her glass slipper, stuck ‘Signed, Sealed Delivered’ on the stereo, pumped some iron and then bonked her brains out. Is that wild enough for you? Or should I tell you about the time I went ballooning over Masai Mara and fed her antelope steak, medium-rare, carved with an antique sword my ancestor used during the reign of Alfred the Great? She couldn’t keep her hands off me; the steak felt quite neglected.
Gee, Simon, sorry we asked. Bye, bye now.
