A Mark In Time
Previous Tours => 2013 Privateering World Tour => Topic started by: communique on June 12, 2013, 04:52:54 PM
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Hey folks. There has been a lot of complaining and wondering why Mark is seldom playing Sultans of Swing anymore. It is not because he can't, Mark has certainly proven this tour that he can still play sultans with speed and enthusiasm. The reason why is because Mark is getting tired of the fact that the biggest applause of the concert comes after a song that only half of the band is on stage for, and the fact that it is an old Straits song. Mark is a very unselfish person, he wants the biggest applause to be for the whole band, not just for him and a song he wrote over 35 years ago. It's time to let it go folks. Just my two cents.
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That post seems so conclusive and certain that I almost wonder whether you phoned him and asked
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That post seems so conclusive and certain that I almost wonder whether you phoned him and asked
;D
+1
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Sultans has been played 15 times from the 32 concerts so far this tour. So seldom is a wrong word.
And my 2 cents on this:
MK is doing more variation, as we all wished for in earlier years, and now everyone is complaining.
I think he likes to vary.
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Sultans has been played 15 times from the 32 concerts so far this tour. So seldom is a wrong word.
And my 2 cents on this:
MK is doing more variation, as we all wished for in earlier years, and now everyone is complaining.
I think he likes to vary.
I like it. He can play what he wants, as long he doesn't play Les Boys.
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I'm afraid I don't agree with your hypothesis on this. It's interesting, but not for me. The reason still remains unclear. As you say, he still can play it and that hasn't been in question so it's a puzzler all right.
As for varying the set, I think a set needs a structure with some basic songs to be played night after night, then a few songs in-between that can be altered if one wants to vary the set. Just like a house needs foundations. Sultans shouldn't be one of the songs that pops in and out but one of the foundation songs in the set every night like WII, CBC, P...
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Sultans has been played 15 times from the 32 concerts so far this tour. So seldom is a wrong word.
And my 2 cents on this:
MK is doing more variation, as we all wished for in earlier years, and now everyone is complaining.
I think he likes to vary.
I like it. He can play what he wants, as long he doesn't play Les Boys.
If Mark wants the whole band to be involved, it's pretty easy: go back to the super-bad-ass versions of the BIA and OES tour ! give us back the keyboards, and above all, the sax break ! :D I know some people hate the sax and even the keys, but to me they are wonders. The keys give depth to it, more volume variation, more power, and more emotion too...
I just can't understand why he chose this one to sacrifice to allow more setlist variation.... Sonny would have been the perfect candidate for that. Oh well... I think nobody knows why. Not even Guy, I'm quite sure.
As for Les Boys, ok this is not a fantastic song, but listening to the story in Boston'80 is soooooo funny !! these were the days where Mark was speaking a lot, I love it ! :)
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I'm afraid I don't agree with your hypothesis on this. It's interesting, but not for me. The reason still remains unclear. As you say, he still can play it and that hasn't been in question so it's a puzzler all right.
As for varying the set, I think a set needs a structure with some basic songs to be played night after night, then a few songs in-between that can be altered if one wants to vary the set. Just like a house needs foundations. Sultans shouldn't be one of the songs that pops in and out but one of the foundation songs in the set every night like WII, CBC, P...
100% agree with you on this one !
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Enough of the Les Boys bashing, it's a good song! It has a lot in common with Sultans in terms of the way it's written and a nice melody.
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Enough of the Les Boys bashing, it's a good song! It has a lot in common with Sultans in terms of the way it's written and a nice melody.
Pick Withers even starts to play a discobeat (boom boom boom...). And it features hilarious storytelling by MK.
Boston 1980 is one of the very best "early" bootlegs in my humble opinion.
Errr, I feel a strong attack of oldalbumitis right now, must dig out Communiqu
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Enough of the Les Boys bashing, it's a good song! It has a lot in common with Sultans in terms of the way it's written and a nice melody.
Pick Withers even starts to play a discobeat (boom boom boom...). And it features hilarious storytelling by MK.
Boston 1980 is one of the very best "early" bootlegs in my humble opinion.
I love Boston 1980 too - great versions and sound. :thumbsup
Skateaway+++ 8)
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I'm afraid I don't agree with your hypothesis on this. It's interesting, but not for me. The reason still remains unclear. As you say, he still can play it and that hasn't been in question so it's a puzzler all right.
As for varying the set, I think a set needs a structure with some basic songs to be played night after night, then a few songs in-between that can be altered if one wants to vary the set. Just like a house needs foundations. Sultans shouldn't be one of the songs that pops in and out but one of the foundation songs in the set every night like WII, CBC, P...
totally absolutely in agreement with you. We may never know why. My theory is simple, Mark is getting tired of playing it. :) I wonder how many thousands of times SOS has been played throughout his touring career ?????
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Sultans has been played 15 times from the 32 concerts so far this tour. So seldom is a wrong word.
And my 2 cents on this:
MK is doing more variation, as we all wished for in earlier years, and now everyone is complaining.
I think he likes to vary.
I like it. He can play what he wants, as long he doesn't play Les Boys.
I'd like to hear "les boys" :)
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Sultans has been played 15 times from the 32 concerts so far this tour. So seldom is a wrong word.
And my 2 cents on this:
MK is doing more variation, as we all wished for in earlier years, and now everyone is complaining.
I think he likes to vary.
I like the variation as well. The more new songs the better as far as I'm concerned. You are right Ingrid, but he has only played sultans 4 times in the last 20 concerts. That to me is seldom. I wonder if those of you who attended the RAH on the final night have witnessed sultans being played live for the final time ever.
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Im sure he will play it again this tour
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Sultans has been played 15 times from the 32 concerts so far this tour. So seldom is a wrong word.
And my 2 cents on this:
MK is doing more variation, as we all wished for in earlier years, and now everyone is complaining.
I think he likes to vary.
I like the variation as well. The more new songs the better as far as I'm concerned. You are right Ingrid, but he has only played sultans 4 times in the last 20 concerts. That to me is seldom. I wonder if those of you who attended the RAH on the final night have witnessed sultans being played live for the final time ever.
I actually wondered the same..not a pleasant thought!
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I don't think so he will play a guitar fest this summer and SOS had to be there.
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I wonder if those of you who attended the RAH on the final night have witnessed sultans being played live for the final time ever.
Of coure not. I'm sure he will play it again... on the next "corporate" show (juste like the Range Rover one), the only place where he plays the DS hits. :hmm
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I don't think so he will play a guitar fest this summer and SOS had to be there.
I follow your logic, but I don't think Mark is driven by logic.
Mark is driven solely by what he wants to do. He has earned the freedom of the great man who not only does what he wants, but also does not feel the need to justify himself. So, as far as he is concerned, I don't assume *anything* and I consider that *everything* is possible. Even replacing TR with the Fish and the Bird (hope not, though !).
Isn't "never complain, never explain" the motto of the British crown, after all ? ;)
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I wonder if those of you who attended the RAH on the final night have witnessed sultans being played live for the final time ever.
Of coure not. I'm sure he will play it again... on the next "corporate" show (juste like the Range Rover one), the only place where he plays the DS hits. :hmm
I am sure he does so when he finds the time after this 80 gigs in front of big fan audiences he does at the age of 63 right now, leaving nothing but highly excited crowds so far. Crowds not caring if DS was played or not, but only jugding what I have witnessed myself three times so far on this tour: a damn good concert experience...
LE
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I don't think so he will play a guitar fest this summer and SOS had to be there.
I follow your logic, but I don't think Mark is driven by logic.
Mark is driven solely by what he wants to do. He has earned the freedom of the great man who not only does what he wants, but also does not feel the need to justify himself. So, as far as he is concerned, I don't assume *anything* and I consider that *everything* is possible. Even replacing TR with the Fish and the Bird (hope not, though !).
Isn't "never complain, never explain" the motto of the British crown, after all ? ;)
But Mark is "not quite exactly in the service of the crown!" ;D
P.S. It's really just a quote from The Queen's mother rather than the motto of the British crown.
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Sultans has been played 15 times from the 32 concerts so far this tour. So seldom is a wrong word.
And my 2 cents on this:
MK is doing more variation, as we all wished for in earlier years, and now everyone is complaining.
I think he likes to vary.
I like the variation as well. The more new songs the better as far as I'm concerned. You are right Ingrid, but he has only played sultans 4 times in the last 20 concerts. That to me is seldom. I wonder if those of you who attended the RAH on the final night have witnessed sultans being played live for the final time ever.
Being one of the lucky ones who was there for the last night at the RAH i have to say that if it is the last time he plays it live {which i doubt it will be } then he definitely went out with a bang,Stunning version!! :) :clap :clap
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I can say that MK can certainly belt out SOS having heard it twice during this current tour! But agree with most on here that he likes to vary the tune/song selection - maybe because he knows so many of us 'fans' follow him around the globe??!!
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So, what do you guys think. Is Sultans gone forever? Was the RAH it's final farewell?
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Nope. I am gonna stay positive on this one... :P I am holding out hope that he will play SOS in Z
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So, what do you guys think. Is Sultans gone forever? Was the RAH it's final farewell?
I sure hope not !!! >:(
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So, what do you guys think. Is Sultans gone forever? Was the RAH it's final farewell?
I don't think so. After all, he did play MFN and WOL just a couple of month ago.
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So, what do you guys think. Is Sultans gone forever? Was the RAH it's final farewell?
I don't think so. After all, he did play MFN and WOL just a couple of month ago.
He'll play it at when he's playing at a corporate event in front of VIP's, but paying fans who actually love the music... I despair. :(
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So, what do you guys think. Is Sultans gone forever? Was the RAH it's final farewell?
I don't think so. After all, he did play MFN and WOL just a couple of month ago.
He'll play it at when he's playing at a corporate event in front of VIP's, but paying fans who actually love the music... I despair. :(
Sure, I just mean that the possibillities are rather good, even for such songs as MFN to be played during future tours.
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So, what do you guys think. Is Sultans gone forever? Was the RAH it's final farewell?
I don't think so. After all, he did play MFN and WOL just a couple of month ago.
He'll play it at when he's playing at a corporate event in front of VIP's, but paying fans who actually love the music... I despair. :(
Sure, I just mean that the possibillities are rather good, even for such songs as MFN to be played during future tours.
I really don't think so. If you look at the set lists over the years, very little has changed as far as DS oldies is concerned (R&J, SOS, BIA, SFA). Only the new songs introduced to the set is what is changing it (plus one or two surprises).
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If he's never playing it live again I'm finding that ironic for myself because while I always enjoyed the song itself it wasn't until I heard it live for the first time (Get Lucky tour) that I really took a liking to it and since then it's been one of the 'highlights' of every concert I've attended, so when he didn't play it in Malm
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So, what do you guys think. Is Sultans gone forever? Was the RAH it's final farewell?
I don't think so. After all, he did play MFN and WOL just a couple of month ago.
He'll play it at when he's playing at a corporate event in front of VIP's, but paying fans who actually love the music... I despair. :(
Sure, I just mean that the possibillities are rather good, even for such songs as MFN to be played during future tours.
I really don't think so. If you look at the set lists over the years, very little has changed as far as DS oldies is concerned (R&J, SOS, BIA, SFA). Only the new songs introduced to the set is what is changing it (plus one or two surprises).
I think of a "I'm telling you for the last time" situation. At least I wish for that. ;)
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we will always have this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH9GzyTDnoE
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we will always have this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH9GzyTDnoE
LOL! Maybe he can open for Mark.
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It would break my heart if I never experience sultans live again! :(
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Don't panic my friends it's only 9 or 10 concerts no SOS
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Dont panic? I am closing in on a seizure anytime... ;)
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Folks, PLEASE!!! There is only one reason: He doesn't play Bonaparte anymore (ok, just a couple of times), so why would he play the song before Bonaparte? No reason at all! :lol
We all know this, but you guys, you don't want to admit it, do you? ;D
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we will always have this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH9GzyTDnoE
He's good!
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I don't like Sultans on this tour. Drums don't fit the song.
We can still enjoy this classic version of Sultans, by all known, Chad C. being actually pretty good on that one, great mini piano break during the song : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJlmnqxZUQ
This one is really rocking, great band, I would have liked to see them live again, but it didn't happen, from London 2002. Great music, great atmosphere, simply AMAZING : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9zn5AUo_uU
Or listen to that one from Bercy 2010, probably my fave in years, so smooooth on drums by Danny and on guitar by MK
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I think that Mark don't play Sultans is one fondamentally: he saves physically.
The current set list is made for a quiet mood (too quiet) with few peaks like farmer, speedway and telegraph.
Throughout in the set Mark spend much time with acoustic guitar in privateering, Marble or slide for corned or more lenght playing like father, piper, postcards shangri and so far......away.
In this way for him is very easy to spend 3 or 4 months city by city, hotel by hotel with the least possible effort.........so in any case will have applause at the end of every night.
Golden heart tour is the best that he made all time ............anyway I'll love his music forever, though not by all that he can.
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I
In this way for him is very easy to spend 3 or 4 months city by city, hotel by hotel with the least possible effort.........so in any case will have applause at the end of every night.
I respect your opinion of course but I think that this sentence could be interpreted as a little bit disrespectful to Mark, don't you think?. Remember he has a tight schedule with 80 shows within three months, and I cannot remember having read lots of bad reviews about the shows so far but only enthusiasm. Downpoint for me would be the hangover show at Glasgow maybe, but all in all the audience was more than satisfied it seems. To call a two hour show of GREAT QUALITY "the least possible effort" don't do him justice in my opinion. He has never done that. Why should it be easier for him to offer a well-played and well sung version of, let's say, Haul Away than from Sultans? It is very much about interpretation and feel. And maybe it is just as one AMITer wrote lately: Maybe he wants to have the full band on stage for fun reasons, and wants to leave the stripped-down performances out of the show.. I cannot imagine that Sultans would be difficult for him to play, after the first 10.000 times it seems he should be into the song...
LE
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There is no doubt that the set requires less concentration and is less demanding physically without Sultans.
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i do not care about sultans not being played, or played. but i do feel for the people that unlike some us, cannot do muiltiple shows, and only have this one night where they can hope for SOS being played.but really, why does this have anything to do with respect towards fans? is the show crap all of the sudden because SOS is not played? as much as we do not like it, it is mark and no one else who decides, so live with it. us moaning here will not change his mind.
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You have tot take a look at the setlists of MK when he started the GH tour in 1996. From there untill now old DS songs were replaced for new MK solo songs.
No more: Water of Love, MFN, WOL, the Bug, Calling Elvis. These days SFA Brothers and Sultans are not to be played every night anymore.
I hope sultans will come back again but it's sure not gonna be played every night on this tour or the next. In fact on the next tour only R&J and TR will be the only DS left he will be playing every night...... i think. :think
And you?????
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A complete MK solo set list? That would be a dream come true! :wave
LE
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A complete MK solo set list? That would be a dream come true! :wave
LE
:o :o Nooooooo! A complete DS set list would be a dream come true!
@ Pottel: I don't think people are saying the show is "crap" without Sultans but IMO it is even better with it, so why settle for 2nd best and why disregard the majority who go to one concert. You should only have to attend one show - any more is an indulgence. :)
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Being a long time huge fan (my first touch many years ago when my brother brought home a cassette, a tdk 90 minutes with Dire Straits and Communique' :clap :clap :clap, for me are still the BEST MK's albums it was 1980) at present a full collection of all albums: vinyls, cds, cds single, ep, ost, bootlegs and concerts starting from 1992 passing dates at RAH and HMH in ams at the last tour with Dylan now expect to italian tour.......
I LOVE HIS MUSIC HIS PLAYING HIS WAY TO THINK MUCIC IS MY HEAVEN......
That being said, I observe that in this discussion: reason why no more sultans, is evident the great disappoint of all.
The band now is the best so far. The return of jim cox and the new entry of 'Ianto' are, with the two MCs and the rest, right performers that permit Mark musically wide range on his own folk project. A band like this costs a bit of pennies and with sales of albums that not are like the best years forces the management a tour of 4 months, day by day.
Then the length of the tour that makes demands great effort, is normal for a person born 64 years ago (not forgetting the serious motorcycle accident) consequently happens that in some concert like Lubiana not been played SULTANS and SPEEDWAY, happen but for me it's going wrong: every fan should be respected regardless of you in Slovenian or England.
My impression is that a concert without Sultans of Swing is an uncomplete concert. Everybody knows that SOS is not a simply song but A GREAT TRIBUTE TO MUSIC, the great story of guitar George and Harry that we all love so much.
Perhaps not play it most definitely marks the end of an era and its make me much sadness.
Thats all
straitsway75
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There is no doubt that the set requires less concentration and is less demanding physically without Sultans.
I'm not sure about this.
Mark can surely play Sultans "easily". Of course it demands concentration, but not more than telegraph.
So I don't thnik it is demanding physically to play sultans.
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There is no doubt that the set requires less concentration and is less demanding physically without Sultans.
I'm not sure about this.
Mark can surely play Sultans "easily". Of course it demands concentration, but not more than telegraph.
So I don't thnik it is demanding physically to play sultans.
I was really thinking more in terms of more demanding than the songs that replace it like Gator e.g. but I'm no musician! :)
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Besides the fact that SOS is probably one of the best songs in history its removal from the set also alters the set-dynamics, it was a fresh breath in the middle, without SOS I unfortunately tend to think that the middle-part of the set can easily be boring, slow and too laid-back.. And NO, neither sonny or GB contributes to the opposite..
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Goodbye Sultans. The last ever performance, RAH June 1, 2013? You can even see Mark giving it a waive goodbye at 7:42. I believe he new at this point that it was going to be its final time performed live.
Here is the link of the final performance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0V4lTmd1Vs
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Goodbye Sultans. The last ever performance, RAH June 1, 2013? You can even see Mark giving it a waive goodbye at 7:42. I believe he new at this point that it was going to be its final time performed live.
Here is the link of the final performance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0V4lTmd1Vs
I don't think it's a special "goodbye" waving. he does this many times, even at the end of telegraph road
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Goodbye Sultans. The last ever performance, RAH June 1, 2013? You can even see Mark giving it a waive goodbye at 7:42. I believe he new at this point that it was going to be its final time performed live.
Here is the link of the final performance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0V4lTmd1Vs
I was happy to be there ;)
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Goodbye Sultans. The last ever performance, RAH June 1, 2013? You can even see Mark giving it a waive goodbye at 7:42. I believe he new at this point that it was going to be its final time performed live.
Here is the link of the final performance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0V4lTmd1Vs
I was happy to be there ;)
Dont rub it in ;)
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Goodbye Sultans. The last ever performance, RAH June 1, 2013? You can even see Mark giving it a waive goodbye at 7:42. I believe he new at this point that it was going to be its final time performed live.
Here is the link of the final performance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0V4lTmd1Vs
He did the wave at many concerst at the end of sultans......
I'm sure it will come back again but not in the way it used to be (every night)......
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Unibet or something should give some odds on whether SOS will actually appear again.. I would always place my money on "yes" just out of sheer hope..
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Unibet or something should give some odds on whether SOS will actually appear again.. I would always place my money on "yes" just out of sheer hope..
That's only because you'd get 1,000/1 on "yes!" ;D