Shannon’s Perspective:

Disclaimer:
By now everyone probably knows how important music is to Larry and I and to the family we have created but what most of you probably don’t know is how different Larry and I “hear” music.  Larry is one of those people who can hear all the different layers of a song, me not so much.  I am all about the lyrics.  I can usually get past a song whose musical composition may not be the greatest but the lyrics speak to me.  I have a much more difficult time getting past “bad” lyrics with a good beat.  For Larry though, all those layers are just as important if not more so than the lyrics…..which partially explains his love of soundtracks.  I wish I could hear music the same way he does but alas I am tone deaf.  But that’s ok, my experience is just different from his, not any less enjoyable, just different.  Because of this difference I will approach my song write ups from a different angle.  I will start by quoting a lyric or lyrics of the song that speak to me because sometimes it is just a particular line of two of a song that says it all.

On to the song...

“pure magic we will see, pure magic we will be.”

The perfect song for a beautiful moment in our wedding, or so we thought.  Turns out kneeling for 4 minutes in a wedding dress is not exactly the most comfortable thing a bride can do.  Also turns out some of the attendees didn’t quite see what we were going after here, but that’s ok, Larry and I have always marched to the beat of a drum that sometimes only the two of us can hear.

I knew the band Yes and I knew Vangelis from Chariots of Fire fame but I did not know that the lead singer of Yes (Jon Anderson) and Vangelis worked together until I met Larry.  Even though this didn’t quite turn out the way we planned/hoped I have no regrets about using it in our wedding.  The song is absolutely beautiful to listen to, the lyrics really speak to me and I still think it is a perfect song to play for a unity candle lighting portion of a wedding.

Larry’s Pick: Anyone Can Light A Candle

So this is a song released on the 1991 album Page of Life which was a collaboration between Jon Anderson (vocals, of Yes fame) and Vangelis of, well, Vangelis fame. Ok - you might recall his one hit wonder "Chariots of Fire", but I relate to him first from the Blade Runner soundtrack, second for his work with Jon Anderson and lastly Chariots of Fire.

So not a lot of time between its release and our wedding date. And since I'm a typical guy who never thought twice about how he wanted his wedding to go, I was stoked when I heard that part of the ceremony included the lighting of a unity candle. Because I had the perfect song! Or so I thought.

This baby clocks in at three minutes 46 seconds. So take an already nervous groom, throw him in a hot tuxedo, have him kneel by open flame with his back to the crowd beside his beautiful bride who he can't look at due to ceremonial protocols...for three minutes...and 46 seconds. Longest. Song Ever.

I thought I was going to pass out. I thought the crowd was going to start rioting. I thought Shannon was going to leave me at the alter.

But I didn't care. The song is beautiful and I consider Jon Anderson to be one of the greatest vocalist's ever. This won't be the only song from this album on this year long journey.

I should note I still have this original CD. I state that because it has been released a couple of more times with songs dropped, added, remixed, etc. But nothing beats an original, right?  

Rest In Peace, Vangelis - 03/29/43 - 05/17/22