Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tears In Heaven song analysis
Eric Clapton’s, Tears In Heaven, is an example of elegy. The song is about his son, Conor, which fell from a high-rise apartment to his death. Clapton uses the term elegy to better explain his feeling about his son.
Clapton says, “Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven.” It seems that he has not seen his son in so long; he might not even know his name. Then he says, “Would it be the same, if I saw you in heaven.” When Clapton last saw his son, he was six. That is a long time, and Clapton did not really get to know his son because he was so young. The verse, “Beyond the doors, there’s peace I’m sure, and I know there’ll be no more tears in heaven.” he knows that his son should be happy in heaven because there’s peace, and he will no longer be sad about anything anymore. Lastly, Clapton says, “I must be strong and carry on.” its definitely not easy getting over the death of a son, and/or loved one, but it cant take over your life, and you have to move on.
No one takes death lightly. This song made an impact on me, and probably the world because it was sad. No one wants to lose someone they love.
Clapton says, “Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven.” It seems that he has not seen his son in so long; he might not even know his name. Then he says, “Would it be the same, if I saw you in heaven.” When Clapton last saw his son, he was six. That is a long time, and Clapton did not really get to know his son because he was so young. The verse, “Beyond the doors, there’s peace I’m sure, and I know there’ll be no more tears in heaven.” he knows that his son should be happy in heaven because there’s peace, and he will no longer be sad about anything anymore. Lastly, Clapton says, “I must be strong and carry on.” its definitely not easy getting over the death of a son, and/or loved one, but it cant take over your life, and you have to move on.
No one takes death lightly. This song made an impact on me, and probably the world because it was sad. No one wants to lose someone they love.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Ten Interesting Facts
-It was difficult for a 16 year old to raise a newborn child in the 40's. Eric's grandmother raised both his mom and him, so he grew up thinking his mom was his sister.
-At 16, Eric began studying at the Kingston College of Art, on one-year probation. He was expelled for lack of progress.
-At 17, Eric joined his first band, The Roosters.
-Before turning to music for full time, he supported himself as a laborer at building sites, working for his grandfather.
-He earned the nickname "Slowhand" because his forceful string bending resulted in broken guitar strings, He would replace them on stage while the crowd engaged in a slow-hand clapping.
-"Layla" was inspired by a difficult love triangle between Clapton, his close friend George Harrison, and Harrison’s wife, Patti.
-His son Connor fell forty-nine stories from Manhattan high-rise apartment to his death; leading him to write, "Tears in Heaven".
-He was cured of his heroin problem through electro-acupuncture.
-In August, 1998 issue of the British rock magazine, "Q", Clapton ranks number 10 on the list of the 100 richest rock stars with a fortune of almost 75 million dollars.
-He's the only artist to be inducted in the Rock Hall of Fame 3 times; as a member of The Yard Birds, Cream, and as a solo performer.
-At 16, Eric began studying at the Kingston College of Art, on one-year probation. He was expelled for lack of progress.
-At 17, Eric joined his first band, The Roosters.
-Before turning to music for full time, he supported himself as a laborer at building sites, working for his grandfather.
-He earned the nickname "Slowhand" because his forceful string bending resulted in broken guitar strings, He would replace them on stage while the crowd engaged in a slow-hand clapping.
-"Layla" was inspired by a difficult love triangle between Clapton, his close friend George Harrison, and Harrison’s wife, Patti.
-His son Connor fell forty-nine stories from Manhattan high-rise apartment to his death; leading him to write, "Tears in Heaven".
-He was cured of his heroin problem through electro-acupuncture.
-In August, 1998 issue of the British rock magazine, "Q", Clapton ranks number 10 on the list of the 100 richest rock stars with a fortune of almost 75 million dollars.
-He's the only artist to be inducted in the Rock Hall of Fame 3 times; as a member of The Yard Birds, Cream, and as a solo performer.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Timeline of Eric Clapton
1965: Eric Clapton leaves the Yardbirds and joins John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
Summer 1966: Eric Clapton forms Cream.
December 11-12, 1968: The Rolling Stones film the ‘Rock and Roll Circus’, with guests Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Jethro Tull and the Who.
February 1969: Soon after Cream’s breakup, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker join forces with Steve Winwood (of Traffic) and Ric Grech (of Family) to form the “instant supergroup” Blind Faith.
September 12, 1969: John Lennon appears at the Toronto Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival concert, accompanied by Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, Alan White and Yoko. ‘The Plastic Ono Band – Live Peace in Toronto’ is released in December.
September 20, 1969: Blind Faith - the only studio album by the “supergroup” comprising Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech - tops the U.S. and U.K. charts for the first of two weeks.
1970: Eric Clapton releases “Layla and Other Love Songs” featuring Duane Allman.
January 1,
1970: Eric Clapton records his self-titled solo debut album in Los Angeles. He is backed by Delaney and Bonnie and their band, which includes Leon Russell. It yields such staples of Clapton’s repertoire as “After Midnight,” “Blues Power” and “Let It Rain.”
August 1, 1970: Eric Clapton is released, peaking at #13. This same month, Clapton begins recording in Miami with his new band, Derek and the Dominos. They record the monumental double album Layla...and Other Assorted Love Songs in ten days. One writer called it “the most valid double since [Bob Dylan’s] Blonde on Blonde.”
August 1, 1971: The concert for Bangladesh, featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton, takes place in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
January 13, 1973: Backed by an all-star band, Eric Clapton performs a solo concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre. It is promoted as a comeback concert, returning Clapton to the public eye after a reclusive period of heroin addiction. Eric Clapton’s Rainbow Concert is released in abbreviated form on LP (6 tracks) in 1973 and in expanded form on CD (14 tracks) in 1995.
May 1, 1974: A drug-free Eric Clapton launches his solo career in earnest, recording 461 Ocean Boulevard in Miami. Both the album and its key single, “I Shot the Sheriff,” go to #1. Virtually reinventing himself in the space of one album, Clapton takes few guitar solos and adopts a more laid-back stylistic demeanor.
September 8, 1974: I Shot the Sheriff (Eric Clapton) was a hit.
September 14, 1974: Eric Clapton’s version of the Wailers’ “I Shot the Sheriff,” written by head Wailer Bob Marley, hits #1 and helps generate interest in reggae.
May 1, 1977: Eric Clapton’s biggest-selling album of the Seventies, Slowhand, finds him recording at London’s Olympic Studios for the first time since Fresh Cream, the first Cream album. Slowhand yields Top Forty hits in “Lay Down Sally” (#3) and “Wonderful Tonight” (#16), and an FM favorite and live staple in “Cocaine.”
1982: Appearing with Eric Clapton, Waters makes his final public performance.
February 1, 1983: Money and Cigarettes, one of Eric Clapton’s stronger albums of the Eighties, is the inaugural release on his own Duck Records label.
April 18, 1988: A four CD box set documenting the first quarter century of Eric Clapton’s career, Crossroads, is released. The 73-track retrospective, which includes rare and previously unreleased material, reaches #34 and goes on to sell more than two million copies.
February 5, 1991: The first date in what becomes an annual stand of Eric Clapton concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall finds Clapton joined in different segments by a four-piece band, nine-piece band, blues band, and orchestra. The series lasts for 24 nights - hence the title of a live double-CD documentary, 24 Nights, released later in the year.
January 16, 1992: Eric Clapton performs an all-acoustic set for that is taped for the MTV series Unplugged. It airs on March 11, winning a record audience for the show, and is released on CD and videotape in August. The 70-minute live set, which includes an acoustic arrangement of “Layla,” reaches #1. It goes on to sell three million copies and earns a Grammy for Album of the Year.
1992: Johnnie Johnson’s third solo album, ‘Johnnie B. Bad,’ finds the piano great backed by Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and NRBQ.
January 8, 1993: “MTV Unplugged” with Eric Clapton is nominated for four Grammy Awards and Mariah Carey’s performance on “MTV Unplugged” is nominated for three Grammy Awards by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.
1994: Eric Clapton releases his first all blues album ‘From the Cradle’.
March 1, 1995: From the Cradle, an album of blues interpretations released the previous fall, wins Eric Clapton a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album.
March 10, 1998: His Pilgrim album yields the introspective hit “My Father’s Eyes,” which wins Eric Clapton a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
2000: Eric Clapton and B.B King release ‘Riding With the King’.
March 6, 2000: Eric Clapton is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fifteenth annual induction dinner. Robbie Robertson is his presenter.
[http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/eric-clapton]
Summer 1966: Eric Clapton forms Cream.
December 11-12, 1968: The Rolling Stones film the ‘Rock and Roll Circus’, with guests Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Jethro Tull and the Who.
February 1969: Soon after Cream’s breakup, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker join forces with Steve Winwood (of Traffic) and Ric Grech (of Family) to form the “instant supergroup” Blind Faith.
September 12, 1969: John Lennon appears at the Toronto Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival concert, accompanied by Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, Alan White and Yoko. ‘The Plastic Ono Band – Live Peace in Toronto’ is released in December.
September 20, 1969: Blind Faith - the only studio album by the “supergroup” comprising Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech - tops the U.S. and U.K. charts for the first of two weeks.
1970: Eric Clapton releases “Layla and Other Love Songs” featuring Duane Allman.
January 1,
1970: Eric Clapton records his self-titled solo debut album in Los Angeles. He is backed by Delaney and Bonnie and their band, which includes Leon Russell. It yields such staples of Clapton’s repertoire as “After Midnight,” “Blues Power” and “Let It Rain.”
August 1, 1970: Eric Clapton is released, peaking at #13. This same month, Clapton begins recording in Miami with his new band, Derek and the Dominos. They record the monumental double album Layla...and Other Assorted Love Songs in ten days. One writer called it “the most valid double since [Bob Dylan’s] Blonde on Blonde.”
August 1, 1971: The concert for Bangladesh, featuring George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton, takes place in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
January 13, 1973: Backed by an all-star band, Eric Clapton performs a solo concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre. It is promoted as a comeback concert, returning Clapton to the public eye after a reclusive period of heroin addiction. Eric Clapton’s Rainbow Concert is released in abbreviated form on LP (6 tracks) in 1973 and in expanded form on CD (14 tracks) in 1995.
May 1, 1974: A drug-free Eric Clapton launches his solo career in earnest, recording 461 Ocean Boulevard in Miami. Both the album and its key single, “I Shot the Sheriff,” go to #1. Virtually reinventing himself in the space of one album, Clapton takes few guitar solos and adopts a more laid-back stylistic demeanor.
September 8, 1974: I Shot the Sheriff (Eric Clapton) was a hit.
September 14, 1974: Eric Clapton’s version of the Wailers’ “I Shot the Sheriff,” written by head Wailer Bob Marley, hits #1 and helps generate interest in reggae.
May 1, 1977: Eric Clapton’s biggest-selling album of the Seventies, Slowhand, finds him recording at London’s Olympic Studios for the first time since Fresh Cream, the first Cream album. Slowhand yields Top Forty hits in “Lay Down Sally” (#3) and “Wonderful Tonight” (#16), and an FM favorite and live staple in “Cocaine.”
1982: Appearing with Eric Clapton, Waters makes his final public performance.
February 1, 1983: Money and Cigarettes, one of Eric Clapton’s stronger albums of the Eighties, is the inaugural release on his own Duck Records label.
April 18, 1988: A four CD box set documenting the first quarter century of Eric Clapton’s career, Crossroads, is released. The 73-track retrospective, which includes rare and previously unreleased material, reaches #34 and goes on to sell more than two million copies.
February 5, 1991: The first date in what becomes an annual stand of Eric Clapton concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall finds Clapton joined in different segments by a four-piece band, nine-piece band, blues band, and orchestra. The series lasts for 24 nights - hence the title of a live double-CD documentary, 24 Nights, released later in the year.
January 16, 1992: Eric Clapton performs an all-acoustic set for that is taped for the MTV series Unplugged. It airs on March 11, winning a record audience for the show, and is released on CD and videotape in August. The 70-minute live set, which includes an acoustic arrangement of “Layla,” reaches #1. It goes on to sell three million copies and earns a Grammy for Album of the Year.
1992: Johnnie Johnson’s third solo album, ‘Johnnie B. Bad,’ finds the piano great backed by Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and NRBQ.
January 8, 1993: “MTV Unplugged” with Eric Clapton is nominated for four Grammy Awards and Mariah Carey’s performance on “MTV Unplugged” is nominated for three Grammy Awards by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.
1994: Eric Clapton releases his first all blues album ‘From the Cradle’.
March 1, 1995: From the Cradle, an album of blues interpretations released the previous fall, wins Eric Clapton a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album.
March 10, 1998: His Pilgrim album yields the introspective hit “My Father’s Eyes,” which wins Eric Clapton a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
2000: Eric Clapton and B.B King release ‘Riding With the King’.
March 6, 2000: Eric Clapton is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fifteenth annual induction dinner. Robbie Robertson is his presenter.
[http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/eric-clapton]
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