Tag Archives: Trust

Alfie Boe Kick Starts UK Tour in Newcastle

It was with an intense feeling of anticipation that I embarked on the journey to Newcastle to see the first show of Alfie Boe’s UK Tour…and it’s safe to say that I was not disappointed!  Straight off, I’m going to say that although Sol3 Mio were great, I’m not going to mention them any further here – look out for further blogs.

Alfie, together with his band, started out with stripped down songs from Serenata – the way that Alfie has always wanted to play them.  Serenata Celeste was majestic and My Heart is Yours felt hugely emotional for both audience and Alfie.  Seamlessly moving into songs from La Passione (Parlami D’Amore Mariu), there was an audible sigh of anticipation from the audience when Alfie announced Caruso.  This turned out to be a humdinger of a number, especially when Alfie’s voice rose to a crescendo and the backdrop curtain fell to reveal the orchestra.  Very effective.

Musical theatre featured heavily on Alfie’s first two Decca albums and he returned to this repertoire last night.  Come What May, Wheels of a Dream and Being Alive were powerhouse performances and made an excellent intro to the Les Mis section and an outstanding rendition of Bring Him Home.  A standing ovation duly followed.  Leading into this, Richard Causon played a very effective Do You Hear the People Sing on accordion and got a fair portion of the audience singing along; this could have been encouraged more and perhaps will be in a bigger audience.

One of the most talked about parts of this tour was whether or not Alfie would sing any operatic arias – if you are a fan of his early albums you will be thrilled to find out that accompanied just by Richard Causon on piano, Alfie sang a medley of Recondita Armonia and Nessun Dorma which was simply outstanding.  Goosebumps time.  However, as wonderful as the sound was, the applause was slightly more muted than perhaps could have been expected due to the fact that we weren’t actually sure when Alfie had finished singing!  Recondita Armonia went straight into Nessun Dorma and so were half expecting that a third aria would follow.  A few of us were on the verge of standing up to applaud but weren’t sure and then of course the moment had gone.  Thanks Linda for sharing this:

At this point, I should probably mention that although Alfie’s stage patter was still there, there was much less talk as there was a whole lot of singing!

After a short break (at this point, it was most noticeable that it was the first show as there were a couple of lengthy pauses for set movements) Alfie and the band returned to the stage for Trust and Storyteller songs.  Bridge Over Troubled Water gave way to Trust and Keep Me in Your Heart...I confess to being a little hot and bothered over the “buttons on your blouse” moment… We then returned to where we started with more Serenata.  Chitarra Romana started us off and we then enjoyed Luna Malinconia, Mamma, Volare, Mambo Italiano and Buona Sera where the main performance ended.  We were encouraged to dance during this last part (only where our seats were) and Alfie had us all blowing kisses to him during Buona Sera, and yes, he did reciprocate.

The encore brought an acapella version of Danny Boy which showcased Alfie’s superb vocal abilities (and I don’t normally like this song) but I loved it last night.  The final song of the night was a fabulous Glory Glory Hallelujah from Trust – and Alfie sent us off in style.

Overall, all the fans I spoke to thought the show was absolutely amazing, Alfie at his best, something for everyone and quite possibly his best ever concert.  Writing this now, I am reliving it all over again and I definitely agree – Alfie was simply out of this world.  Having said that, it will be interesting to see how the show goes in Leeds on Friday when the teething difficulties with the staging etc. have been ironed out.

If you don’t have tickets, go and get them now – you won’t be disappointed!

I can’t believe you don’t have Serenata yet but if not, click on the image to order:

serenata

 

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Alfie Boe – The Duets Album?

If this were to happen, who would Alfie Boe love to duet with?  In the virtual sense, in a BFBS interview aired recently, he picks Freddie Mercury (think the new Streisand / Presley duet) but the two female voices he picks are Chrissie Hynde and Barbra Streisand.  They would be two completely different collaborations but I bet they would both produce wonderful results!

Here is the interview in full – a great listen if Trust is your favourite Alfie Boe album (thanks to Marcia for sharing):

 

Serenata is available now – don’t forget to pop a review on Amazon:

serenata

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Download Alfie Boe’s Luna Malinconia!

The time has come (if you can access MP3 downloads that is) – the first track from Alfie Boe”s Serenata is now available to download!

As with Alfie’s previous album, Trust, in which Keep Me In Your Heart was released early, Serenata’s first release is Luna Malinconia (Blue Moon).  This is a beautiful song (we didn’t expect anything else, I hear your chorus) and as a first single release, it’s a cracking choice.  Listening to this one song made me even more impatient for the rest of the album.  As always with Alfie Boe, we find ourselves wishing our lives away just so we can hear the next amazing song.  As Alfie tweeted a short time ago, Manchester City supporters should be downloading in droves!

To download Luna Malinconia, just click on the image below (unfortunately, I suspect that as with previous Amazon downloads, it will be UK only).serenata

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Alfie Boe’s Lyric Writing Debut!

Be still our beating hearts!  Alfie fans, tomorrow night is the time we get to hear Alfie’s own lyrics!  And appropriately enough, the words were written for My Heart is Yours, the theme from the film Il Postino.  This information was revealed by Alfie in a BBC interview ahead of his Belfast Proms in the Park appearance (click here for the full interview).  I am reliably (hopefully) informed that if you’re unable to watch the Proms, you should be able to listen live on BBC Radio Ulster – click here.

The chance to hear Alfie’s own music is the latest titbit of Serenata news this week; the official artwork for the album cover has been released (click on the image below to pre-order, if you haven’t already done so – and if not, why not???)

serenata

Alfie’s Facebook page also offers fans the chance to vote for their favourite photo for the 2015 calendar – so far, January is the only month that can be voted for but I’m sure that the other eleven will follow…wait for it…SOON!

This week, we also learnt that Alfie’s previous album, Trust, has been nominated for Best Solo recording in the Broadway World.com Awards – way to go Alfie!  If you haven’t yet voted, click here to do so.

Before we get to Saturday night UK time, let’s enjoy Alfie’s appearance at the Glasgow Proms in 2013 in which he showcased Trust (thanks to Annie Lloyd for sharing):

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Alfie Boe’s Trust Needs Your Vote!

Alfie Boe’s 2013 album, Trust, needs your vote!

The inaugural Broadway World.com awards have listed Trust as Best Solo album.

If we all vote and share the poll with friends, I’m sure Trust will win!  Here’s Alfie singing Trust at the Royal Festival Hall in 2013 to help you along:

 

Don’t forget to vote and share!

Alfie Boe’s Proms in the Park

Alfie Boe’s recent BBC Radio Ulster interview  was a gem!  The presenter started by playing Alfie’s version of Pure Imagination and then delighted Alfie by telling him Liverpool won 3-0 against Tottenham!  Then it was straight into the usual tour and album promo and great news, Serenata will feature at the Belfast Proms. And apparently, the ice bucket challenge was “cold” – yeah, we got that Alfie!

Classical fans will be thrilled to know that Alfie will also be singing “La Donna e Mobile” in Belfast! Wow, can’t wait to hear that.

Ahead of his appearance at Belfast Proms in the Park, it seems a good time to look back at Alfie’s previous Proms appearances. Indeed, Last Night of the Proms around the UK has been one of Alfie’s most regular gigs over the last few years; 13 September marks his fourth appearance in a row.

Last year, 2013, saw Alfie sing songs mainly taken from his Trust album, whilst in 2012, he performed some more traditional songs, including Chitarra Romana and You Are My Hearts Delight as well as Bring Him Home.   The year before saw an appearance in Dundee where the highlight was Recondita Armonia.

However, those are not Alfie’s only Proms appearances – he has been to Northern Ireland before (Carrickfergus in 2007) and Swansea in 2008, back in the days when he was still performing in opera.  Here he is with Rebecca Evans at Swansea, singing Brindisi from La Traviata:

Alfie’s new album, Serenata is released on 20 November  – just click on the image below

serenata

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Alfie Boe’s Best Ever Song: Number 7

Rosie, the Number 7 song in the Top Ten and the highest placed song from Trust, is credited on the album as a traditional American song and is co-arranged by Alfie himself.  Song archivist Alan Lomax came across the song in 1947 at the Mississippi State Penitentiary’s Parchman work camp and went on to record a group of prisoners at one of the 15 work camps in existence at the time.  Remarkably, youtube has a clip of this:

Chain gang music is not necessarily about the literal interpretation of the lyrics; the melody and the opportunity to release aggression are just as important.  Rhythm is especially necessary to help productivity and teamwork in what must have been back breaking physical activity and makes the music of the chain gangs instantly recognisable.

Listening to Alfie’s version (the video below was shared by Annie Lloyd at the Royal Festival Hall in December 2013), the emotional intensity and the rawness of his voice are the things that first hit you.  The rhythm drives the track and the meaning of the lyrics is almost not worth worrying about.  Alfie Boe’s Rosie is an almost visceral song – it grabs you by the throat and forces you to listen.  This is a song in which movement is very much a part of the listening experience.

If you don’t yet have Trust, click here to order:

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click here to listen to the complete Top Ten songs on Spotify – the next song in the countdown will be revealed a week today

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Alfie Boe’s Best Ever Song: Number 8

Number 8 in the poll is Alfie’s version of the Jacques Brel classic, If You Go Away, or Ne Me Quitte Pas as it was originally.  Recorded in 1959, it has since been translated into English and recorded by a number of artists such as Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones.  I listened to all these versions and to be honest, they did nothing for me.  Some were downright awful but I suppose that’s just my taste and fans of these artists would say I was biased towards Alfie.  To which I would unequivocally say “yes, I am” – his version is superb!

Alfie sang If You Go Away at the Royal Festival Hall in December 2013, thanks to Linda Wellington for sharing:

If you don’t yet have Trust, click here to order:

 

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click here to listen to the complete Top Ten songs on Spotify – the next song in the countdown will be revealed a week today

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Alfie Boe’s Best Ever Song: The Top Ten!

Thank you for sending in your nominations for Alfie Boe’s Best Ever Song and then voting for your favourite.  The poll has now closed and the Top Ten is here!

Hopefully, your favourite has made the short list but if not, click here to listen to the new Spotify playlist and choose a new favourite to vote for.  Also, due to popular demand, this poll is open to multiple votes!  Time to find out if Bring Him Home is indeed the fan’s favourite Alfie Boe song or if we prefer something else.

The longer playlist (still available on Spotify) contains songs from all Alfie’s albums, and the Top Ten continues this, albeit with one exception. Judging from this, classical and rock are the favourite Alfie sounds.  Bring Him Home is the only musical theatre song to make the grade.

So come on, get voting!  The poll will be open for two weeks and then we’ll be counting down the Top Ten in the lead up to the UK release of Serenata.

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Vote for Alfie Boe’s Best Ever Song

We all have our favourite Alfie Boe songs, whether they are from the early, operatic part of his career, the musical theatre albums or the more recent rockier songs. Here are thoughtsofjustafan we wanted to find out if Bring Him Home is indeed the fan’s favourite Alfie Boe song or if we prefer something else.

Lots of you sent in nominations for your favourite song and it was obviously a very difficult task as some people sent in up to six songs!  One commenter said that it was impossible, “like choosing your favourite child”.

Somewhat predictably, Bring Him Home received the most nominations but several other songs were also nominated multiple times. All Alfie’s albums are represented on the very long playlist (2 hours 23 mins!!!) although Trust is the lead album with nine songs on the list.  How we didn’t nominate the whole album I’ll never know!

Click here to listen to the playlist on Spotify and then vote for your favourite from the list below:

This poll is for recorded songs only so if you nominated for a song that Alfie has sung live and not recorded, you won’t find it on the list.  Don’t fret though, as we hope to do another poll for Alfie’s Best Ever Live Song in the lead up to the UK tour later this year.

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