First public views of Robin Hood with his Merry Men. Proud warrior Allan A'Dayle can be seen second from the right, the enticingly formidable fellow upon the imposing black steed, who is named "Arthur" for his kingly stance, I am thinking. A horse who suits his rider.
That's Russell Crowe to the right on the stately white horse and Scott Grimes to the left on the statuesque black beauty; no clue who the dudes in the background are.
Here is the original, full-size (and unedited) photo, with more Robin Hood shots (incuding a few showing some dandy riding on Russell's part) to be found at a site with the utterly delightful name Accidental Sexiness. Though from what I can see in this picture, there is a delicious abundance of wonderfully Deliberate Sexiness to come. Even from a distance, Alan looks spectacular astride his trusty mount. And Arthur looks like he knows full well how to take good care of such precious cargo.
He does it all so well - no matter how hard he has to work to make it so. Of all there is to love about Alan, that characteristic is near the top of the lengthy list.
And that's a right proper segue to this entry's batch of "Flipped, Resized, And Uploaded Alan" rotated videos, especially in continuance of the Alan The Most Excellent Songwriter theme. In the preceding entry, I included videos for two of the three songs Alan has written that have taken up abiding residence in and claimed permanent possession of my own heart: now it is time to acknowledge the final member of that trio: Straight To Hell, a song which embodies and exemplifies all that is powerful and persuasive, all that is subtle and straightforward, all that is honest and witty and courageous and poignant and clever in the songwriting of Alan Doyle. It is a true story, brutally so and charmingly so, painfully and endearingly so. It is songwriting at its best, from one of the best at that craft.
Straight To Hell is one of the strongest songs on the Fortune's Favour CD (in spite of some aspects of the instrumental arrangement thereon), one of the best songs GBS has done so far, and as best as I can tell, it is a song which is very nearly universally enjoyed - with enthusiastic approval coming from trad fans and pop/rock fans alike, the only exception apparently being those few who allow their own narrow-minded religious (mis)interpretations to not only interfere with their own enjoyment but who also decree that others' enjoyment should be equally impeded. There will always be those who want no part of the truth and who clamour for the withholding of that self-rejected truth from everyone else. What to do about such people? Shag 'em. Seriously. If you have an excellent song that almost everyone loves, a song that gives great pleasure to many while telling a true story which is keenly appreciated by some ...then that song should be played. Needs to be played. Over and over, again and again.
As well as delighted in over and over, again and again...one of a few things I can do so well. In the midst of an abundance of horizontal videos of Straight To Hell, I found these five vertical videos, each lingering with assenting pleasure on the man with the sweet smile across his face, the man in the spotlight who always keeps his end of a hard-driven bargain, regardless of cost. The man whose excellent song begins with an irrefuseable demand for love and an irresistible offer of heaven on earth in conjoined recompense.
The very first time Straight To Hell was performed live, in Chicago back in the Spring of 2007 - it was love at first sight and first listen, and not only for me.
A hot, sweaty night at London's Borderline, not all that far from where Alan is right now.
This performance at Denmark's Tonder Festival was one of the sweetest of them all.
At the Fortune's Favour promo show ("secret show") in Toronto.
This from Quebec City's Festival is one of the most beautiful of all, from the same...song, man, and city alike.
Enticingly formidable on horseback, formidably enticing on stage - proud warrior on both, and all points in-between. Heaven on earth will more than suffice.
I wonder if there's any way they might be able work a horse into the shows. I'll bet Arthur would be game for the gig.
I am very proud and pleased to let you know that, Daffodil Place is set to open in a couple of weeks. I’m even more pleased to tell you that the members of the fundraising committee, myself included, have reached the goal of raising 7 Million Dollars to construct this 24 Suite Residence for Cancer Care Patients. We planned to raise the money in three years and, thanks to the kind help of the band, and folks like many of you who have supported the cause, we have raised the required funds in only two years. Quite a feat, I think. Especially in such a small Province and in these tough economic times. I have to offer my congratulations to the other members of the committee, and in particular, John Steele, our leader who put the whole campaign together and brought us to such an early success.
I’d also like to thank the cast and crew and management of GBS who gave so much of their time and talents to a few big events that raised a pile of money for and even more awareness of this worthy effort.
Working on this project has been my first time sitting on a board of any kind, and I am grateful to the other members for showing me the ropes in a few cases. I wandered into unfamiliar territory a few times, standing in from of Government and Bank executives and the likes, doing Power Point presentations on the project and answering some tough numbers questions to the best of my BA ability. I actually bought a suit. And almost, but not quite, bought a tie, for a few of the meetings. I learned a lot from the other members and have been honored to be a part of what I consider to be one of the most classic demonstrations of the kindness, generosity, and hard work that have long been defining points of where I belong. - Alan Doyle, May 27th journal entry
No way Alan says those three magic words without bringing to mind and heart the song - a song co-written by Alan and friend/fellow songwriter (and now fellow actor) Russell Crowe - that best expresses a defning point of Alan's own fundamental identity:
There are times, sadly-too-frequent times, in this terrible wonderful life when someone you already thought was an outright stinker turns out to be even worse than your wariest suspicions. And then there are those blessed-though-preciously-rare occasions when someone you already thought was wonderfully dear is revealed to be even better than your sweetest dreams. A sincere and admiring "Well done" to all whose kindness, generosity, and hard work have turned hope into the reality of Daffodil Place, followed by a heartfelt and proud "You never cease to amaze me" to the Hard Rock's Lovin' Son.
The official opening is set for Friday, June 12. Looks like I may have to miss it as I am slated to be here in Movie Land on that day. I hope to get home just before then for a day or two, and will drop by the facility to check it all out. I’ll bet it is grand.
I wish he could come to the opening ceremonies. Given how hard he worked to make Daffodil Place happen, given how successful his efforts have been, given how many Newfoundlanders have come to associate Alan Doyle with the Daffodil Place campaign, it really is where he belongs - so much so that even if his Movie Land responsibilities and commitments prevent his attendance, he will still be there, regardless. He will be present in the mind and heart of each person who knows the full measure of his efforts and the value of his contribution - accomplishment and legacy and much-deserved pride and respect.
Just hearing again from Alan in this latest journal entry is grand enough to keep me in silly, delighted smiles all day today; what he had to say about how he's been spending Movie Land downtime was enough to send me straight over the moon:
I’ve spent a bunch of the downtime writing and recording music. I’ve got a new software program called Logic Pro that allows me to record decent multi-track demos of songs to sing and tunes to play on the lute right here in the trailer. It’s been quite a productive time actually, as I’ve managed to have a few new songs and instrumentals worked up while waiting for the knock. Hopefully, some of this music will see the light of day on the next GBS CD.
Exciting news - exactly what I'd hoped would happen during those inevitably and inescapably long periods of waiting for all that needs to be right for shooting scenes to fall into proper place. Rock Stars spend most of their day waiting to get from last night's gig to tonight's; Movie Stars watch today's hours slip inexorably past while waiting for the sun to come out from - or at times to go back behind - the clouds. It might very well be true that they also serve who only stand and wait, but how much better to write and wait instead? Especially when it is Alan Doyle who is doing that writing. There he is in a place so far removed from where he usually finds himself, learning how to do something he has never done before, surrounded by unaccustomed vistas and fresh perspectives, new challenges and different companions...circumstances filled with abundant potential for the creation of something even better than what has come before it. I can't wait to hear what he has written - a light of day to be eagerly anticipated and impatiently awaited. Sweet dreams are made of these.
Looks like there will be a few weeks of dates in the Fall following the Summer gigs that have already been announced. I’m very eager to do a concert or two, I must say.
"Eager" will do, though it understates the desire - for sure it understates how much he is missed, and I suspect it understates his own fierce passion to perform. I bought a ticket today for a show more than four months away; in spite of the excruciatingly long wait, in spite of the ache of absence, there was - there is - the same familiar rush of keen excitement and sweet anticipation. As it has always been; as it will always be. Yes, "eager" will do, right alongside "impatient". An interminable time before desire's satisfaction, to be sure...but he is always worth the wait.
I've been uncharacteristically silent of late, I know, and my thanks to those who've expressed their concern and well-wishes in response to the unaccustomed quiet. Rest assured that all is well: yes, I've been saddened the recent loss of a dear friend, but my own sorrow is greatly eased by the assurance that he is finally at peace and free from pain; and, yes, I'm here in St. John's for more adventures in medicine, but everything on that front is progressing exactly as it should. Even with all that's been going on, the past momth has been good to me. This is the longest I've ever stayed here this time of year, and as deeply as I have come to love the Frozen Land and the Windswept Land, this has been a very sweet surrender to the Smiling Land. It's been a quiet time, good for thoughtful reflection and fresh perspectives. A good tine for walks up the hill and around the lake, a good time as well as for high-def hockey and pints at the Duke. Not to mention the erotic fish and chips.
It's also been a good time for working on a few oft-delayed projects that never get done during travelling time, including one I've been wanting to do for months. I have finally learned how to rotate my Quicktime videos in such a way as to persuade YouTube of the veracity of that rotation, and as some folks who have been wandering around on my YouTube page have discovered, I've started in on re-posting upright versions of those irksome sideways videos. Slow but steady work, still in progress and still evoking its own share of thoughtful reflection and fresh perspectives.
Going back through all the videos, those already posted on YouTube and those on MegaUpload or not yet online at all, has felt much like taking a journey through the past four years...watching each video puts me right back in the time and place and circumstance, with all the accompanying emotional responses thereof. Hard times and sweet tines, exhausting times and exciting times, painful times and poignant times...challenging times and unforgettable times. Each day revisited, each show relived, each moment re-experienced - all leading with straight and true aim to one unshakeable conclusion: Because they are part and parcel of the path that leads here, every stumble, every fall, every bruise, every black eye, every tear - every mistake made in sheer foolishness and every lesson learned with stubborn slowness...every storm that has raged before fading away - has been absolutely and utterly worth it. Beyond any doubt or question - well worth my while, for sure.
The joke around here of late is that I have been flipping, resizing, and uploading Alan over and over, again and again, all week long and with no end in sight; as I said, I'm still not done with the video rotations, but since Alan's latest journal entry has gotten me so excited (and, yes, eager) about his new songs, that seems a perfect place to begin with the rotated videos: Alan The Most Excellent Songwriter. That should keep me busy for awhile; I'll move on to Alan The Amazing Performer and Alan The Sweet Charmer in due time.
Although most of my vertical videos are indeed up-close versions of the Sweet Face/Body Beautiful, I do have at least a few very nice ones of Sean too. All in good time. For now, I am getting a great deal of pleasure in the flipping, resizing, and uploading of my favourite Proud Warrior/Wandering Minstrel, and pleasure too in the retracing of the steps taken along my own Path of Passion Chosen.
Just a few for this time, then, with more to come later. What better place to begin than with three that are among Alan's best songs, all of these coming from one collaborative Nashville songwriting session with Gordie Sampson back in the Fall of 2003?
This first song, along with Alan's Straight To Hell and his Where I Belong, has staked the strongest claim on my own heart. There is a very great power to be found in true stories.
One of these days, when I find myself once again in the midst of shrieks of "Donkey Riding!" and bellows of "Old Black Rum," I am going to shout out "Let It Go" at the top of my lungs.
Such a long wait between the first time hearing and the eventual recording and subsequent performing of this beautiful song. Such an impressively long way the song's writer has himself come in that time along his own Path of Passion Chosen.
Well done, indeed. Alan Doyle, right where he belongs.
ETA: If you're having trouble getting the videos to play and you're on Rogers cable in Canada (especially Ontario), it looks like there's presently a glitch between YouTube and Rogers, from what I've been told. Something about coding errors and accidentally blocked IPs screwing up the stream. Supposedly it's being worked on and will be fixed soon. Bell customers are doing just fine, thanks much. Rogers doesn't do very well with cell phone reception either - my phone doesn't work at all when I venture off the TCH or anywhere outside of St. John's - not just in Fogo or Stephenville or Rocky Harbour, but not even in Gander or Grand Falls or Corner Brook either.
Alan Doyle (and his Hockey-Dance Guitar): 40 years beautiful, 14 years sweet, forever and always dear.
I spent a good bit of time pondering which pictures or videos might be best to put up in honour of Alan's 40th birthday today - which occasions might be the most special, the most exciting, the most moving, the most impressive, the most unforgettable, and therefore the most appropriate to a celebration of an auspicious day in the life of such an accomplished man. But the more I thought about it, the more pictures and videos I lingered over, the clearer it all became: From the very first tine I saw Alan perform to his most recent time up on stage, it has all been special. Each time he has been exciting and moving and impressive and unforgettable; every time is a celebration of skill, of passion, and of beauty. This photo, from Victoria just a few months ago - Alan's last performance before heading across the Pond to play an altogether different kind of Proud Warrior/Wandering Minstrel - shows all that is most wonderful about Alan Doyle - past, present, and future. It shows him at his best - as he has been, as he is, as he will always be.
And the only time Alan is better than "last time" is "next time".
As a small gift to all who love the chance to see such skill, passion, and beauty, as well as to celebrate the accomplished man on his auspicious day, I've finally gotten around to re-uploading some of the sweetest videos of that man, this time with the recently-added-to-YouTube option of viewing the videos in High Quality, an option these videos lacked on their first upload. Just click the Play arrow, then click the HQ button that will appear to the right along that bottom bar. And for maximum loveliness, be sure to open the video up to a full-screen view.
When Alan performed at the ECMA Songwriters' Circle in Charlottetown in 2006, he put on an amazing show: He did one song that was the first he'd written with brand new collaborator Russell Crowe, one song that he'd sung only once before two years earlier (and I'd been waiting so long to hear it again, I nearly dropped the camera when I realised it was what he was going to perform), and one song that he began somewhat reluctantly (at the pushy host's insistence - he'd planned to do a different song) only to find himself swept right up in the power of his own words, as well as in the delighted response of his audience.
From Alan's gig as Host of the Juno Songwriters' Circle in Halifax, also in 2006, another heartfelt version of Walk On The Moon and an achingly lovely Boston.
Two priceless videos from the Evening Of Doyles in St. John's, 2006 again, when Alan and his Dad shared the stage and made compelling arguments for the power and the charm of genetics.
This from the big 50th Birthday show in Gander last year, a glorious spotlight-full of several generations of the best and brightest talent in Newfoundland, but most memorable to my mind and heart for how Alan sings the one verse of Sonny's Dream that has made me think of him from the first time I heard the song back in Fort Mac.
Finally, a video moment that's here not because it's a re-upload but instead simply because it belongs here, a necessary part of the important story that begins it's 40th chapter today. This is from the last tine Great Big Sea went to Tonder, in August of 2007, and the heart of the matter can be found in Alan's intro, in his description of a young Petty Harbour Boy being taught by his Dad how to play and sing his first song...and how from that moment on, the Boy never looked back.
I am drawn to those with a lust for life, life that inevitably has successes and follies.- Alan Doyle
The only difficult part about the Greatest Accomplishment part of each year's birthday comments comes in the wealth of possible choices. The long and winding, occasionally bumpy and impressively successful Fortune's Favour Tour; continuing leadership in making the dream of Daffodil Place come true; the composition of a Nintendo score: all in all, yet another notable year in the busy life of a consummate Man Of Many Talents. And that's not taking into account where you find yourself at the present moment, smack dab in the midst of what has to take the Grand Prize for this past year's greatest achievement, albeit perhaps with a bit of a twist.
It is indeed quite the feat to find yourself with a co-starring role in a Russell Crowe/Ridley Scott major motion picture, working side-by-side with so many spectacularly skilled artists - but as wonderful as it is of you to have revealed the talent and the ability necessary to win this role, and as much excellent reason as you've given everyone who loves you to be unabashedly proud of you for having done so...it's still not why I call this your greatest accomplishment of the year.
As delightful as your winning role of Proud Warrior Allan A'Dayle indeed is, it does not begin to approach the far-greater delight of your actually accepting what your talent and skill have won for you. I already believed you could do all these things if ever you chose to; that you did so choose to embrace this challenge in all of its aspects was, and still is, cause for marvel and wonder, cause for surprise and for utter delight. And cause for deep respect for your courage. You have exceeded the high estimation of someone who already thinks the world of you, never an easy undertaking.
As hard as you will undoubtedly have to work to excel at each aspect of this new venture, as much as you will surely be required to pay for your choices, you will also discover the outermost boundaries of your abilities and then you will push against those boundaries and extend them. You will fret and you will laugh; you will learn and you will grow. There will be successes and there will be follies, inevitably - and throughout it all, you will be marvellous. Inevitably.
More and more, you are becoming the kind of person to whom you yourself are drawn. And that is your greatest accomplishment of this past year.
Stay true to your present path and in a few years' time the only upcoming year's advice I'll have left to offer is "Well done, keep it up". But not yet, not quite.
You don't need anyone to tell you to what extent the Push/Pull of Pragmatism and Passion impacts every aspect of this beautiful life. You don't need anyone to tell you how many times the best interests of others will preclude any choice beyond Pragmatism. These things you already know full well. What I will tell you, what I think you might need to hear for this year that lies ahead of you and what could potentially be spectacularly well-timed advice for the first few steps of your journey into your forties, is that on those delightfully sweet and ever-too-rare occasions when a true choice does offer itself to you...choose Passion. Without hesitation, without qualm, without regret, with outstretched arms, with willing smile, with open heart - choose Passion.
Pragmatism will forever stake its claim on you, regardless of best or worst intentions; Passion comes only when embraced. Passion comes always when embraced. To the depth and breadth and height your soul can reach, choose Passion. In the next year and in the next decade. And the one after that.
Happy Birthday, dear Alan. You truly do make Forty something beautiful. God only knows how gorgeous you'll do Fifty. And at any age, through all the ages, Fourteen will still be brightly shining through with eager insistence. Just as it should be.
Speaking of the ages, I am in the dying hours of my 30’s. In just a few days, I’ll say goodbye to my thirty something’s, which served me very well. Many thanks to all of you for your part in making the past decade so outstanding.
I was going to wait until Alan's birthday for all of it - pictures, words, videos - but after reading his most recent journal entry, I'm feeling an irresistible urge to indulge in a bit of Premature Celebration.
From the first hello on a CBC Songwriters' Circle in 2001...
(Note: Watching these videos works much better in Firefox than in IE.)
To his most recent spectacular show last month in Victoria...
In each and every monent, throughout any and all decades, once and still and forever after, Alan has been, he is, and he will be beautiful, brilliant, compelling, talented, dazzling. Fascinating, sweet, sexy, splendid, fierce. Incomparable, irresistible, eager, passionate, endearing. Magnificent and moving, challenging and wonderful and impossible not to love. All these things from the very first moment; all these things abide and endure through every moment after.
A very happy premature 40th birthday to you, Dear Alan.
More to come on the actual Big Day. I really hadn't planned on doing anything at all this early, but when I got back in from a leisurely evening of pints, chocolate, hockey, and cheerfully lewd conversation (much talk of the logistics of tights) at the Duke - all of it kindly designed to try to take my mind off of a very scary tomorrow - and read Alan's latest journal entry (utterly delightful, and highly recommended to any and all who take pleasure in keen writing skills), there was no way I was going to be able to wait until his birthday. No worries - more often than not, waiting is highly overrated as a virtue. Much better to shout out soon and shout out often. And now, instead of staying up all night long weary and worrying about tomorrow, I'll be off to bed - with thoughts of Alan (somewhat tentatively) astride his (mostly) trusty steed Arthur in my mind and with a smile across my face.
The proud warrior/shitbaked folksinger - the sexy man with the sweet boy's face who takes possession of the willing heart - has grown very dear to me over the course of the better part of the past decade. Wishing the same for the next one, and the one after that.
Two photos from Penelope at the Victoria show. The second shows the Sweetest (and Much-Missed) Face of All. The first shows the Body Beautiful in perfect position and puts thoughts of a Wandering Minstrel in historically-inaccurate tights in my mind. A thousand curses upon historical accuracy.
And one more - this from Run, Runaway - because it is quintessential "Alan Doyle, Rock Star" and because I am seriously missing him in the centre-stage spotlights.
I will confess to "holding out" a bit: I have one photo of Alan from When I Am King in Victoria that might very well be the most breathtakingly sexy photo of him I have ever taken - and that because it might very well be the most breathtakingly sexy he has ever been on stage. And as such,the photo of that moment will fit perfectly in his upcoming birthday entry; what better time for a man to be the sexiest he has ever been than right before his 40th birthday?
I don't have enough time to do all I wanted to do here, so the thought-provoking Bob interview (as well as the subsequent thoughts it provoked about what kind of book to write to a Newfoundland audience and what challenges might possibly lie ahead at home for Alan post-Robin Hood) will also have to wait till after I get to St. John's. I'll have plenty of time to think about it all on the three planes today; I do some of my best thinking on planes...when I can stay awake, that is.
I will try to get the Bob interview/thoughts up before we head to the Duke for Saturday brunch, though, since the plan is to remain there until well past supper. Best not to be writing anything after I get back from that Excursion, not unless I want any semblance of discretion to wind up being thrown straight to the winds. You just never know what might get said after an afternoon-into-the-evening of erotic fish and chips, pints, chocolate peanut butter balls, and more pints....perhaps even something along the lines of the only way Alan would look better than if he were wearing tights would be if he had been, but were now no longer wearing those tights. I might even add that the cute outer shirt could stay, albeit unbuttoned, of course. Oh yes, the black socks too. Perfect.
I wonder if any wardrobe consultants could perchance be needed on the Robin Hood film set?
ETA: Nearly forgot to include this...Caught Yarmouth Town on Ugly Betty last night. It's cool that GBS got the tune placed in the show, and I hope it leads to more of the same, preferably with some of their original tunes and not only in pub-type scenes. It was also really good to see the YT placement get a mention by both Sean on Twitter and gbs.com in the News on the home page. It's only speculation - and speculation that requires a whole lot of if/then to boot - but I think that if I knew nothing about GBS and if I were a watcher of Ugly Betty, then what would have caught my ear and attention about the song at the start of the show would have been the accordion part. I love that accordion.
One last Yarmouth Town comment: I've seen the song performed live only once - as a solo by Sean in, of course, Yarmouth. Sea Of No Cares Tour, 2002. It was a big, rowdy Maritimes crowd, and Sean came out all by himself and utterly charmed every single person there with his performance. It was the first time - though certainly not the last - I realised what a really good solo show Sean could put on, if ever he felt the inclination to do so. Still waiting and still hoping to see that happen some day.
All download links here take you to the Megaupload file-sharing site, which has its own set of glitches, but it's the best option I can find right now. Megaupload works better (not surprisingly) if you have a Premium Account, but you can still get the downloads for free, though it might take a few attempts. If you get a "File Temporarily Unavailable" message after clicking a link, try again later. If you get another error message or have any other troubles, please let me know. You can contact me by posting a comment on the most recent blog entry. You don't have to give an email address unless you choose to.
YouTube Videos
Selected Videos From This Blog On YouTube This is still in process - a slow process because YouTube sometimes has a hard time swallowing big video files. Nothing is up for viewing on YouTube that is not also here for downloading, and the videos that turn out sideways on YouTube (there seems to be no accommodation for flipping videos made vertically, and I am not about to switch to an all-horizontal format...a lovely body really should be seen in all of its glory, and vertical works way better for all closeup videos) will all be right-side-up here when downloaded. No way will all of the videos here ever be up on YouTube - that is simply too much work - but over time I will go back and add selected older video files in addition to putting up newer files. For those who have the software to download from YouTube, that's fine with me, even though the quality is better downloading from Megaupload. As always, let me know here (or there) about any problems.
Some links are for video files, some for audio fiiles. Many of the older files play in Real Player format, others in Quicktime or Windows Media audio/video & a few are FLV files. Sketchy quality on some of the oldest files, but still priceless to those of us who love GBS. Many thanks to Mike & others. More of these to come eventually - perhaps a few more for each GBS birthday.
