Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity of wishing farewell to Roberta Cleopatra Flack who died this very day in New York City at the age of 88. She was born on February 10th 1937 and was blessed with the voice of an angel. She could take a song and get lost in it, totally absorbed. I have mentioned her a few times in this blog and five years ago I showcased a video of her singing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" on the BBC back in 1972. She was thirty five and at her peak, comfortable in her own skin and at one with the lyrics of one of the most plaintive love songs ever written. Here it is. In her memory, please give it a listen.
Secondly, I would like to welcome Arctic Fox back into the blogging fold. He was lost but is found again. I used to joust with him in the early years of my life in blogging but then, in 2012, he disappeared as sometimes happens. However, In Arctic Fox's case, he chose to return just this year after a thirteen year gap - possibly because he had time on his hands after losing his job. He is a Yorkshire lad like me and the way he writes is kind of quirky but genuine too. Why not roll over there and check him out?
Thirdly, one of the other guys who regularly contributes images to the Geograph project is a fellow called Julian Paren who worked for many years with the British Antarctic Survey team. He is retired now. The other day, I stumbled across a video he was commissioned to produce eight years ago by the Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust. It looks appreciatively at the island of South Uist in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. I found it peaceful, mesmerising and enticing - taking me away from the continuing worries most of us are having about Ukraine, Gaza & Israel, Putin, The White House and the future of our planet. Maybe you would like to visit South Uist for a little while too, courtesy of Dr Paren's video...
"Strumming my pain with her fingers; singing my life with her words."
ReplyDeleteRIP Roberta!
She knew she had a special gift.
DeleteRoberta Flack was awesome. I didn't know that she was that old or had passed away.
ReplyDeleteSorry to be the bearer of such sad news Red.
DeleteI was sorry to read about Roberta Flack earlier today. One of my faves for many years, and her heart was always in the right place.
ReplyDeleteShe was only married for a short while and I believe she died childless. I wonder what the back story was there.
DeleteYes, what a voice!
ReplyDeleteTransporting us as though riding a magic carpet.
DeleteRest in peace, Roberta.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the thoughtful tribute, Neil.
I am going to have a look at Arctic Fox‘s blog.
Maybe Arctic Fox will "sound" a bit like your Steve.
DeleteSorry to hear about Roberta Flack, but thinking back I don't think I liked her music. I'm a Rock and Roll person mostly. I'll have a read of Arctic Fox sometime tomorrow. I tried watching that video, but I'm falling asleep here...
ReplyDeleteOh dear - sorry to have troubled you Elsie!
DeleteNot your fault, I had a tiring day running around catching buses to get places and come home again.
DeleteFlack was rather brilliant. I'm sorry to hear she has died, and I hope she had a good life.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm not troubled about the matters you list. I am worried about ME, ME, ME.
Isn't that rather selfish Andrew? I know you are in your late sixties now but isn't it time that you started to think about others as well as yourself? With your "ME ME ME" you sound like that old fellow in The White House Asylum.
DeleteShe was a marvellous singer with the songs that were so different. I enjoyed the video of South Uist he covered the natural landscape very well in his photographs.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until fairly recently that I realized that Roberta Flack was born in Black Mountain, NC, which is where my son-in-law's people are from and where they have lived for generations. So interesting to me. It's not a big place.
ReplyDeleteMs. Flack certainly made her mark on our world.
We were lucky to grow up in an era of music that you could understand and be moved by.
ReplyDeleteShe had such an amazing voice, the world will be a lesser place without her in it.
ReplyDeleteSouth Uist is an absolutely beautiful place. Thanks for sharing the video.
hey - hello everyone - thanks YP for the plug.... appreciated and such kind words about my efforts at writing..... i thank you...... for me Roberta Flack was all about Killing Me Softly..... perhaps we ought to get down the karaoke?
ReplyDeleteKilling me softly has been a part of my sad times all my life
ReplyDeleteThanks to GB's blog (Eagleton Notes) + Peter May's books, I feel that I have come to feel quite familiar with the Hebredian landscapes even though I've actually never visited the islands in person. Enjoyed the video, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI loved Roberta Flack. Her voice was pure magic.
ReplyDeleteWikipedia tells me this song was a folk tune, but I only ever heard Roberta Flack's version and it is so beautiful I can't imagine listening to or enjoying any other. She had a wonderfully rich voice and perfect control of it. Thanks for this post and for reminding me to listen to this song again.
ReplyDelete