Melissa Waterfield, one of The Mild Ones moderators arranged another birthday/project/present for The Mild Ones. This time for Suede wonderful bassist Mat Osman.
We both picked Europe Is Our Playground for the project. Both in it’s full instrumental version – Melissa – and just the baseline – me.
From Ohio to Portugal the World is Our Playground. 🙂
Here’s what Melissa wrote on the Mild Ones Facebook :
“🎶Happy Birthday Mat🥳🎂🎶
Europe Is Our Playground…….
“One of the most beautiful Suede songs written by our favorite birthday bassist inspired Raquel Pinheiro and I to collaborate on this celebration video for his special day. Raquel combined her amazing photos of Porto with Mat’s bass line while I used photos from my European adventures to see Suede💙 So grateful to Mat and Suede for motivating me to travel more and to go from 🎶Heathrow to Hounslow🎶😉 Wishing Mat a birthday as wonderful as he is!!!!”
words: Paulo Carmona (translated and edited by Raquel Pinheiro) photos: Daniela Tendim
Suede are like a top-quality Port. Once “vintage”, forever vintage. The years pass and the quality improves unequivocally. They never disappoint, never waver, never compromise. Whenever they step onto a stage they are completely focused, always ready to give their best, and their best is of a very high standard.
As it was at Super Bock Arena, in Porto, where they came to present their latest album – Antidepressants – to their newest friends and to those who have followed them for years. A quick glance around the room was enough to realise that Suede captivate every generation.
If Simon Gilbert and Mat Osman are the band’s unquestionable maestros, thanks to their experience and talent, cohesive and brilliant in their rhythmic execution, then Richard Oakes and Neil Codling provide the stylised melodies that shape and define the Suede sound.
As for Brett Anderson – the lead singer – he ought to be the subject of a scientific study. A remarkable performer, an absolute stage monster. He seems to run on batteries that never run out, radiating an emotional energy capable of stirring a bear in the depths of hibernation. I would say he is a teenager recycled at supersonic speed. The audience adores him, every gesture, every mannerism, every swing of his body.
From the setlist chosen for this show, it must be said that they swept across their vast repertoire, with particular emphasis on songs from the latest album — very well received by the audience, it should be noted — but also including the epic and iconic songs of old, songs that belong to all times. I would highlight Trash, Can’t Get Enough and Everything Will Flow, which drove the crowd into complete delirium, and, of course, The Beautiful Ones, which figuratively brought the whole arena down.
Brett did not confine himself to the pit and ventured straight into the middle of the crowd. Amid shouts, tears, applause, hugs and kisses, he somehow managed to slip back onto the stage to close the concert in total apotheosis.
Grab your glasses, and yell from the bottom of your lungs! Cheers, Suede!
The Band: Brett Anderson – lead vocals Mat Osman – bass Simon Gilbert – drums Richard Oakes – guitar Neil Codling – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals.
Setlist: Disintegrate Antidepressants Trash Animal Nitrate We Are the Pigs Personality Disorder Sabotage New Generation Filmstar Can’t Get Enough June Rain She Still Leads Me On Shadow Self Trance State The Wild Ones (acoustic Brett Anderson & Richard Oakes) Everything Will Flow So Young Metal Mickey Beautiful Ones Dancing with the Europeans
Today is World Book Day 2004. Here is a list of a few of my favourite books:
Eça de Queirós – A Cidade e as Serras F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby Herodotus – Histories James Gavin – Deep In A Dream – The Long Night Of Chet Baker Jean Cocteau – Les enfants terrible Sam Shepard – Crónicas Americanas (Motel Chronicles) Simon Garfield – Mauve T.E. Lawrence – Seven Pillars of Wisdom T.S. Elliot – Complete Poems Oscar Wilde – Dorian Gray
recent favourites: Charles Spencer – A Very Private School Mat Osman – The Ghost Theatre
