In
the 1980s, my older brother listened to Queen, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Michael
Jackson and other great artists.
In
1987, when I was eleven years old, he wisely recommended me:
‘’Listen
to this tape. It’s very good”.
That
day my life has changed forever. I looked at the light blue cover with a
beautiful silver guitar (Later I have known that this was a steel guitar). I
had no idea that this beautiful blue sky would give me so much joy.
“I am
going to listen to it now!”
When
I pressed the play key something magical happened.
“I
have already listened to this song! What a cool song! What is this wonderful
band? ” I didn’t understand a word of English language at that time, but I
loved the melody of So Far Away.
In the next
track, the hallucinating guitar and the powerful drums impressed me.
“Great! Who is
this drummer? Who is this fantastic guitar player? ” Money for nothing infected me by the curiosity and fascination virus.
I
started dancing in the enthusiastic rhythm of Walk of Life, which is my favourite Dire Straits song ever. Mark,
John, Alan, Guy, Terry (Omar Hakin), and Jack has caught me with their perfect
sound. A lifetime passion has begun. But still there have been a lot of great
things to find out in the brilliant road of the best British rock band I have
ever seen in my life. When my English became fluent years later I found out
that the lyrics are about a musician who wants to be successful.
I loved
the saxophone in Your Latest Trick. It’s
magical and sensual.
I was
amazed by Why worry. I loved the
piano, the guitar, the melody and the lyrics. Everything is perfect in that
song. It’s my Knopfler mantra. I have used it many times when I am nervous or
to calm down my explosive temper. I have listened to this song so many times
that I almost erased the tape. I had to buy another copy of Brothers in Arms because I have to
listen to my favourite record very often.
I was
intrigued by Ride across the River funny
melody which fits the lyrics about a group of guerrillas.
The Man’s Too Strong impressed me with
the hallucinating guitar and drums. The lyrics are a thief’s confession having
an ironic tone.
In One World Mark’s fantastic guitar makes
me want to jump from my wheelchair. But all I can do is to dance with my arms
and my head to enjoy my favourite record.
In the title track Brothers in Arms Mark makes the guitar cry. It’s one of the most
poetic Knopfler lyrics. It’s such a beautiful hymn against violence and war and
it’s the Dire Straits song which always touches me in the bottom of my soul. Brothers in Arms closes the album
brilliantly.
There
was no Google or you tube at that time and I became addicted to listening to
the record. The next year the collection of hits Money for nothing was released . Brazilian TV programs started to
recall Dire Straits history. The old Brazilian channel TV Manchete broadcast
one of the Brothers in Arms tour Dire Straits concerts in Wembley and I could
see the band for the first time. I can’t
remember exactly in which year it has happened. But I got very crazy and hypnotised
by Mark’s magic guitar, John’s precision on the bass, Terry’s powerful drums,
Alan’s brilliance and fine touch on the keyboards, Jack's happiness and competence on the rythm guitar, the soft backing vocals by John, Jack and Guy, who is also a keyboard
player and Chris fantastic saxophone. I was more enchanted by Dire Straits
music.
I was
so eager to listen to Money for nothing
album, so I insisted on my mother on giving me my Christmas present before
Christmas Eve in 1988.
She
gave me tape and pressed the play key in a hurry. It was another magical
moment.
I was striken by Sultans of Swing fantastic guitar solo, Down to Waterline mysterious and poetic
guitar solo, the beauty of Portobello Belle live version, Twisting by the Pool swing, the lyricism, the poetry and the spectacular
piano and guitars of Tunnel of love,
the delicacy of Romeo and Juliet, the mysterious and jeauousy atmosphere of Where Do You Think You're Going, the
different and enchanting sound of Private
Investigations in which Mark, John and Alan show such a big talent, the awesome
melody, guitar and piano and the epic lyrics of Telegraph Road. I understood
the meaning of the lyrics of these songs little by little, as my English
language studies have gotten advanced. It
was the first time I listened to these classic Dire Straits songs. I also enjoyed
the happiness in Walk of Life and Money
for Nothing and the beautiful Brothers
in arms, which already have been running in my veins. In Money for nothing insert I found out the
names of the albums names of the band lead by Mark Knopfler and the lyrics of
the songs, which I had been deciphering with the help from my English teachers.
In
1991 I was given all this wonderful band discography as my 15th
birthday present. I dived deeply in Dire Straits world. The albums Brothers in Arms and Money for Nothing are milestones in my
life and have changed it forever. The fever they have provoked on me is good
and cureless. It makes my live happier. Listening to Dire Straits and Mark
Knopfler music gives me joy, peace and makes me want to visit the UK. If I
don’t listen to Dire Straits, I will be more stressed than I usually am. When I
am tense, I fall back on Knopfler. Only this guitar genius music calms me down.
Because of that, I pay a deserved tribute to Dire Straits.
I
intend to analyse each Dire Straits album in my blog whenever I can.
