Studio Diary 2022

[2manyguitars]

I think we also need to think about the opposite of said mantra. It could be argued that Marks whole creative journey since DS fame has really been about putting the genie back in the bottle, getting back to the simplicity of a storyteller and his guitar, and really seeking the freedom of anonymity.

How many artists can you think of who actually managed to lower their profile while still selling millions. MK is uniquely successful in this...

[qjamesfloyd]

I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.

[2manyguitars]

I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.

I. dont think those examples stack up.Much as I love them both, sales wise they're nowhere near Marks level of success - KB 40 Million approx, and MO somewhere around 30 million. Kate Bush could not sit in a coffee shop outside the venue 3 hours before a performance. Marks anonymity is unparalleled!   

Just my opinion ;-) And a good discussion! ....

[Jules]

I'm not sure MK sells that much nowadays, but however he sold already so much records and still getting paid for his writer rights that he doesn't have to worry about it, further than having his record company happy so he can still record and release his stuff without having to worry doing it himself.

[dustyvalentino]

I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.

I. dont think those examples stack up.Much as I love them both, sales wise they're nowhere near Marks level of success - KB 40 Million approx, and MO somewhere around 30 million. Kate Bush could not sit in a coffee shop outside the venue 3 hours before a performance. Marks anonymity is unparalleled!   

Just my opinion ;-) And a good discussion! ....

I agree, I'm sure a lot of MK's peers are envious of what he managed to do - drop the hits and still fill arena. By 2015 most of the DS songs were gone and he was still packing them in. I know more came back in 2019 but it seems that was through choice rather than obligtion.

Kate Bush would still sell out a week at the RAH because she still has an extremely loyal fanbase, the others not so much.

[qjamesfloyd]

I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.

I. dont think those examples stack up.Much as I love them both, sales wise they're nowhere near Marks level of success - KB 40 Million approx, and MO somewhere around 30 million. Kate Bush could not sit in a coffee shop outside the venue 3 hours before a performance. Marks anonymity is unparalleled!   

Just my opinion ;-) And a good discussion! ....

But, I was mainly referring to the freedom of anonymity they have. They might be recognized in the street, but they keep a very low profile between albums, more so than even Mark.

[2manyguitars]

I don't think he is unique in that, Enya, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield for example. But, I agree he wanted to get back to being a story teller, he still had to keep doing the guitar hero stuff at the start of his career because he didn't want to loose his audience, hence, his first few solo albums and tours were still guitar centered, but that has got less and less, the song is his voice now, where before it was the guitar and song.

I. dont think those examples stack up.Much as I love them both, sales wise they're nowhere near Marks level of success - KB 40 Million approx, and MO somewhere around 30 million. Kate Bush could not sit in a coffee shop outside the venue 3 hours before a performance. Marks anonymity is unparalleled!   

Just my opinion ;-) And a good discussion! ....

But, I was mainly referring to the freedom of anonymity they have. They might be recognized in the street, but they keep a very low profile between albums, more so than even Mark.

I think what I'm getting at is that Marks anonymity allows him to be a part of the crowd, to be the observer, something thats key to his best songs. I cant think of anyone else who is able to do this. Certainly not KB.

I also think those examples withdrew from public life for other reasons as well not necessarily creative ones, more self preservation.....

[knopflertom]

https://www.guyfletcher.co.uk/2023-studio-diary-3/