ommadawn.dk - Mike Oldfield

Nakskov and New York

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Me, Mike Oldfield, Movies, Music, New York, Pat Cadigan

Nakskov and New York are just like each other. Right?

Storyboard
Lise Andreasen

Camera
Lise Andreasen

Edited by
Keld R. Hansen
HeartWare Productions

Video equipment
IMMA

Music
"In dulci jubilo"
interpreted by
R. L. Pearsall
arranged and performed by
Mike Oldfield
courtesy of Virgin Records
&
"In dulci jubilo", BWV 729
interpreted by
J.S. Bach
performed by
Kevin Bowyer
courtesy of Nimbus Records

Filmed on location
Nakskov, Denmark, Dec 2004
&
New York, NY, USA, Feb 2005

Edited on a
Casablanca Avio

(C)2008 Lise Andreasen

KANG - KA'NANG - KAKA

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Mike Oldfield, Music

For your listening pleasure, and if you've already worn down all your Oldfield albums, here's something new: KANG - KA'NANG - KAKA.

Mike Oldfield

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Mike Oldfield

The reason all of this home page was originally built was to have a home for various Oldfield related stuff. Right now that means: a home for the Mike Oldfield University and for the searchable discography.

This site also has impressions from a few concerts.

This site is a member of WebRing. To browse visit here.

Music

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Me, Mike Oldfield, Music, Olivia Newton-John

As I said, my main hobby is music. I started singing when I was 12 years old, and for many years my biggest dream was to sing like Olivia Newton-John. I've also admired the Danish band Shubidua for years, they have such great lyrics, and I wanted to write as good as they do. (In fact I've had new tunes written for a few of my texts :-) Queen was added to the collection of idols later, after I had a chance to sing Bohemian Rhapsody. Oh, Freddie has such a great voice as well. Miss you, Freddie! And recently, Robbie Williams has been added to the CD collection. Great lyrics. But I guess my favorite piece of music of all times (the one I put on when I'm stressed, sad, or just want to enjoy life a bit more) is Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield. This led to me listening to other pieces of his music, going to Hamburg to a concert and so on. And now - well, I'm hooked. And it doesn't help one bit that a lot of my friends are bigger fans than me!

And let me just repeat that: Olivia Newton-John, Shubidua, Queen, Mike Oldfield, Robbie Williams.

Or you can listen to my contribution to the tributation project (a project to make a CD with Mike Oldfield music, played by his fans), one clap.

Or how about an Olivia Newton-John discography. Why? Because nobody else had made it!

Check out Events, with some Oldfield events from my life.

Quotes

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Books, Mike Oldfield, Movies, Music, Olivia Newton-John, Quotes, Science fiction, Star Trek

I include a quote in my signature, changing once every week. And I try to choose quotes, that tells you something about me: my hobbies, my beliefs and so on. If you don't want to wait and send me a letter every week, just to see a new quote, you can cheat and look here. Quotes in italics are now retired.

Music

Olivia Newton-John

And if I close my eyes to the wild silent ruin, then I'm just like everyone else.: -- Olivia Newton-John, Gaia
I can sing one song - you can sing another, doesn't mean I'm wrong, don't let anything get in the way of love.: -- Olivia Newton-John, Gaia

Mike Oldfield

So if you feel a little glum, to Hergest Ridge you should come. In summer winter rain or sun, it's good to be on horseback.: -- Mike Oldfield, "On Horseback"

Others

Angels we have heard on High Tell us to go out and Buy.: -- Tom Lehrer
All you need is love: -- Beatles

Books

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams

Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.: -- D.Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
The large yellow ships hung in the sky in exactly the same way that bricks don't.: -- D.Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
Duleek: Sudden realisation, as you lie in bed waiting for the alarm to go off, that it should have gone off an hour ago.: -- Douglas Adams, "The Meaning of Liff"

Terry Pratchett

The light was misty and actinic, the sort of light to make Steven Spielberg reach for his copyright lawyer.: -- Terry Pratchett, "Equal Rites"
Time passed, which, basically, is its job.: -- Terry Pratchett, "Equal Rites"
What time�s sunset around here? We normally manage to fit it in between night and day: -- Terry Pratchett, "Mort"

Isaac Asimov

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent: -- Isaac Asimov, "Foundation"
I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.: -- Isaac Asimov
The most exciting phrase in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka" (I found it!) but "That's funny...": -- Isaac Asimov

Stephen King

It's a long walk back to Eden, dear, so don't sweat the small stuff.: -- Stephen King, Insomnia
When asked, "How do you write?" I invariably answer, "one word at a time.": -- Stephen King

Other science fiction writers

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.: -- Arthur C. Clarke
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy ?: -- Ursula K. LeGuin

Movies

Star Trek

Without freedom of choice, there is no creativity. Without creativity, there is no life.: -- Kirk, "Star Trek"
Live long ... and prosper.: -- Spock, "Star Trek"
In any case, were I to invoke logic, logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.: -- Spock, "Star Trek"
(When asked why he saved Spocks life) Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many.: -- Kirk, "Star Trek"

Star Wars

Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.: -- Yoda, Star Wars V

Red dwarf

No Silicon Heaven? Preposterous! Where would all the calculators go?: -- Kryten, "Red Dwarf"
Given that God is infinite, and that the Universe is also infinite, would you like a toasted tea cake?: -- Talkie Toaster, "Red Dwarf"

Monty Python's Flying Circus

Always look on the bright side of life: -- Monty Python, Life of Brian
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, Because there's bugger all down here on Earth.: -- Monty Python

When Harry met Sally

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.: -- Harry Burns, "When Harry met Sally"

Shadowlands

We can't have the happiness of yesterday without the pain of today. That's the deal.: -- Joy Gresham, "Shadowlands"

Simpsons

The truth is not out there: -- Bart Simpson writing on the black board
I will not use abbrev.: -- Bart Simpson writing on the black board
I will finish what I sta: -- Bart Simpson writing on the black board
When you love somebody, you have to have faith that in the end, they will do the right thing.: -- Marge Simpson to Lisa

Other movies

Well, Miss Vale; ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight? I always ask that of all my prey. I just kinda like the sound of it!: -- The Joker
If you want something very badly, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, it was never yours to begin with.: -- Diana, "Indecent Proposal"
That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.: -- Friedrich Nietzsche

Other stuff

Greenpeace

Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realise that we cannot eat money.: -- 19th Century Cree Indian

The holy bible

... thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself ...: -- Leviticus 19:18
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is plantd;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace: -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Other sources

On the whole, human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time.: -- George Orwell
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.: -- Anonymous
Happiness: The full use of your powers along lines of excellence.: -- John F. Kennedy
Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it.: -- Donald Knuth
Shift to the left, shift to the right, pop up, push down, byte, byte, byte!
If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.: -- Isaac Newton
In the sciences, we are now uniquely privileged to sit side by side with the giants on whose shoulders we stand.: -- Gerald Holton
If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders.: -- Hal Abelson
In computer science, we stand on each other's feet.: -- Brian K. Reid
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.: -- Indian proverb
Trust in Allah, but tie your camel.: --Old Muslim Proverb
Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.: -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing were a miracle, The other is as though everything is.: -- Albert Einstein
I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.: -- Albert Einstein
Imagination is more important than knowledge.: -- Albert Einstein
To work is good as long as we remember to live!: -- Anonymous
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.: -- Galileo
Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.: -- Malcolm S. Forbes
It has been said "it is not by amusing oneself that one learns," and, in reply: "it is *only* by amusing oneself that one can learn.": -- Edward Kasner and James R. Newman
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.: -- Teilhard de Chardin
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.: -- Attributed to Benjamin Franklin
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ... --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...: -- Declaration of independence, Thomas Jefferson

Hamburg, 1993

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Concert, Events, Hamburg, Me, Mike Oldfield, Pictures, Vacation

This text covers March 25-27, 1993, when I traveled with Obi to Hamburg, Germany, to an Oldfield concert.

After the trip I wrote to my diary, and to Obi, twice. And when I put the final touches on this page, I also added a small outro.

Dear diary!

27/3-'93

Dear diary!
    I came home today, after being out of town for a few days. Thursday morning I went by (3) trains from Odense to Hamburg, and Obi joined me in Fredericia. All right, in Hamburg we found the 4-starred hotel, ran around some of the nearer city, and then relaxed in the hotel room for a couple of hours. Then off to Sporthalle, and Oldfield concert, TB II tour.
    Friday we ran around in town some more, changed plans a little, and after dinner both went to Vejle to hear some CDs. And today, Saturday morning, I went home to Odense, so I could find myself this evening sitting, watching video (Oldfield live Edinburgh 1992), looking at my poster (unofficial, 5 DM), and my necklace (keyring, official, 15 DM) and reading Shoes & Strings (Oldfield fanmagazine). Yummy!
    Friday morning I wrote down these expressions, coming to mind.
    Painfully beautiful suddenly made sense.
    Abstract music. (And me, who hates abstract art!)
    Can one talk about interpreting the composition? (Traditionally I would by this understand saying what feeling is aroused by what is being interpreted - then my answer would have to be no.)
    Psychedelic lights? (Lights with many colors and shapes anyway.)
    Hyperventilation.
    The light was almost the i under the dot, men just barely. (50% of the experience.)
    The beat of the drums, but also of the guitar. (It affected me more than ever before, and it was natural to clap my hands.)

It's been some good days, it was a good thing to do, and it was done good. Just nice!

Lise

4-starred hotel

Poster

Necklace

Dear Obi! (March)

31/3-'93

Dear Obi!
    <snip>
    I don't think there's any MO left (in this house), I haven't heard. Even "Heaven's Open"'s been on.
    <snip>
    I found a dusty tape with "The Lake" on, and heard it this morning. Compared to a lot of other stuff, it sounds like any fool could have made it!
    <snip>

Have fun
Lise

Dear Obi! (April)

1/4 1993

Dear Obi!

    The first night my new necklace was by my bed. (It's not easy to sleep with, so now I've put it with the rest of my jewellery.) I've seen my videotape a couple of times, read the 2 fanmagazines, I have, heard a lot of music, in the start just TB II, I by now know rather well, and I've been wondering. I like a tune, that's easy to sing with lyrics with good rhymes, rhythms, words and meanings, so what on Earth do I see in Oldfield? And when will I fall from this high, I'm on at the moment? Never? Seen out of context, it's a bit funny that the same guy presents TB to me and invites me to TB II concert, but seen in context, I guess it isn't that weird.
    <snip>
    I'm desperat to get some input in this subject. Recently I had a string of thoughts, something like this:

I think Oldfields music is good.
I want to know more about it, joy of recognition, learn more, themes, instruments, wish I had the notes.
But can you really disect the music like that, analyze it that way?
Why do I really like this kind of music? Did I miss something? Is it really because you like it?
Is music really important? In the big picture with war, hunger, disease etc. it disappears - or?

At this time my thoughts has completely lost their footing, and for a second there I thought I was going mad, and stopped thinking about it!
<snip>

Lise

Outro

There's no question this concert influenced me a lot. I got a lot more music than I had before, and I listened to everything I had a lot more. BTW, I also still have the ticket. And for some reason the only thing I took a picture of in Hamburg was this car ...

Ticket

Car

Berlin, 1999

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Berlin, Concert, Events, Me, Mike Oldfield, Pictures, Vacation

(This was originally an email to Amarok, the Mike Oldfield mailing list. Sent 2 days after June 23, 1999, and the Mike Oldfield concert in Berlin.)

Hejsa!

Back from a 4 day vacation in Berlin - ending with a concert on Wednesday night. The concert was the best part!

Bits and pieces, in no particular order.

They had no program. Sold out? I bought a necklace. It's stamped silver directly on the bell. If anybody figures out, whether is's silver or not, I'd sure like to know.

20.00-20.30 Luca playing. Reminds me of Tracy Chapman - a little. "Julias ordinary day", "Magic jacket", "Homeless", "Strong enough" (cover version), "Alright now" (no, not that one!)... Applause when she ended! She was good, and I might buy the CD, if there ever is one.

20.30-21.00 Boring! Backstage people walking across the stage. Some people in the audience tried to start a wave - not much success... (BTW I was sitting in a very active group of Danes, on the so called 4th row (it really was the 12th!!!), on the right side. People on all sides of us kept looking at us strangely because we sang along, applauded, shouted and so on.)

21.00-22.45 (?) Music!

He was sitting center stage, not on the left as he's done a lot lately. Once he walked over the left part of the stage.

Supernova really rocked me....

Ommadawn synth-choir and guitar-harp? Ah well... And during the non-active bits picking his ear?!?

The heart-beat drums of Ommadawn really got to me - I think this is one of the first times Ommadawn has really touched me.

Muse was a nice surprise. Very simple - also very touching. I almost cried... But it made Embers and Summit Day seem boring in comparison. (BTW some times I really felt a lot of emotions. So much so, that I had to "rest" and ignore some music for a while, just to get ready for the next wave... Can't say I've tried that before...)

While introducing the other musicians, he misspoke - and promptly slapped himself on the cheek, before he started over.

I loved that TB became a part of TB3 - although I had a hard time placing all the references, and sometimes was just confused what is this he's playing now? I hope a bootleg will emerge, so I can listen to this again.

The music was loud, but not too loud.

Best concert in 15 years? Best concert for me so far! More varied selection of music than TB2 and HGP. Errors, yes, but also life, feeling and joy!

Really looking forward to seeing him in a month, in Denmark! I get the feeling, that this tour will get better and better.

Lise

I'm afraid I don't have a lot of relevant pictures. But. The ticket.

London, 1998

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Concert, Events, London, Me, Mike Oldfield, Pictures, Vacation

(This was originally an email to Amarok, the Mike Oldfield mailing list. Sent 4 days after September 4, 1998, and the world premiere of Tubular Bells 3, at Horse Guards Parade.)

Hejsa!

Yes, I know, you've already heard all you need to know about the concert... But I have a few scattered thoughts...

One thing I haven't heard much talk about. I thought it was quite fascinating to watch Robin Smith (conductor of TB2, and now TB3, also playing keyboards). He conducted in a quite casual way: a bit here and there, but most of the time just playing things I couldn't really hear on the keyboard (maybe complementing chords of the others?), rocking along and looking quite relaxed and happy. And if it comes to that: I think he's quite cute, but Obi doesn't agree?

Am I the only one who thinks the bass player was not only tough looking, but a bit arrogant looking?

It was great being at the concert with friends from all sorts of places. We were 9 Danes, who went to London together. I also met lots of other people, I mostly know by mail or email. It was quite good. And it's fun seeing my own name mentioned by other people who were there. I have witnesses: I've been to the MO concert! So with that in mind: Chris K., Sunjammer with friends, Paul Ha., Chris D., David P., Simon L., Ralf, Stefan N., Jens L. and probably others, I can't remember right now - good seeing you there! (If you have the picture taken at the DS convention: I'm the one on the right with the ponytail, at that moment getting a signature from Tom Newman!)

Lise

And yes, I can prove I was there. Apart from the picture mentioned above, there was also a picture (384 KB) taken from the stage. This smaller version of it shows me, Ian and Obi. I'm the one on the left, in white, pink and blue.

If you were there, you remember getting wet. That the rain started less than an hour before the concert was to start, and continued - actually kept going for 24 hours. It was rather wet and cold to sit there. But the concert ended with some wonderful extras - and by that time I was dancing and jumping up and down, and had forgotten all about being cold.

And final proof: my ticket.

BTW, if I am infringing any copyright by hosting a copy of any of these pictures, please let me know. I don't remember the source of these pictures anymore.

The miracle on Langeland

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Concert, Events, Me, Mike Oldfield, Pictures

Technical details. Time: July 29, 1999. Place: Langeland, at the festival, in front of the big stage, on 2nd row, center. Occasion: Mike Oldfield playing in Denmark, for the first time in 15 years. Quality: Click picture to get a higher resolution. Other details: that your humble photographer (also your humble webmaster) was surrounded by friends, everybody happy and enthusiastic.

The real miracle here isn't that these picures could be taken - or that they turned out to be rather good, IMNSHO. The miracle (to me) is that I was standing close enough to Oldfield, to take these pictures with my camera.

The Nokia night of the proms 2006

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Concert, Events, Me, Mike Oldfield, Pictures

On 2 December, I made what seemed like a very long journey. I started at home (in Denmark) at about 11.00, and at 19.30 I (complete with TB ear rings) was in my seat in Color Line Arena (in Hamburg, Germany), waiting for the show to start. My only stop along the way was to grab dinner.

It was only later that I realized some of the reason this felt so special: Mike Olfield has done almost nothing live, since I last saw him in 1999.

The Arena was much bigger than I expected. But with German efficiency, I had been guided every step of the way, until I could sit down, torn ticket in hand. At first I was dissatisfied with my seat: on the far left, looking down on the stage, seeing everything from the side, and not very close to the action either. But then I discovered, that I could do, what I always love doing: spying on the artists. I could see who was getting ready to go on, watch the techs at work, etc. Lovely stuff!

Finally the lights went down, and we were ready. Hearing the symphony orchestra (Il Novecento) brought tears to my eyes - I have a weak spot for that sound. And then hearing the ouverture include bits of Shadow on the Wall - marvelous surprise.

Then I had a couple of false starts. Is that man with the guitar... no, that's not him. And when it was announced, that the conductor (Robert Groslot) would do us the honor of playing a very special piece, I thought it would be something new. And then it was Tubular Bells!

TB with symphony orchestra isn't really something new. So when we were at the end of part 1, and I was trying to guess what would happen next, I thought: Ommadawn would be neat now. I guess they read my mind ;-)

What especially impressed me with Ommadawn were the flutes. I don't know why - I just noticed them, maybe because it's not quite the same type of flute in the studio version.

All good things must come to an end. Part 1 of the show had to go on, and with so many great artists to choose from, it was okay.

And then part 2. And again trying to guess: will he come on a second time? And if yes, when? As part 2 wound on, everybody seemed to go on again, so I grew confident MO would be back too. But when and how? As it turned out, he was practically the grand finale.

Moonlight Shadow and To France with the obvious female singer (Miriam Stockley). Shadow on the Wall with the obvious male singer (John Miles) - and 3 guitar players in a row. More work for the flute players - they must love MO! Some innovative arrangements for the symphony orchestra. A chance to dance, and sing along.

Apart from the bits, Oldfield appeared in, I really enjoyed the classically trained tenor (Tony Henry). In part 2 he turned contemporary, first singing Delilah, then Whatever you Say, Whatever you do - but in Italian-opera-versions. Fun. And I wish I could hear them again.

Oh yeah. And that guy from OMD just can't dance. It was almost painful to watch. But I guess his joy of life just has to expressed...

This was in many ways a perfect day. Though my journey to the concert was long, it was without incident. Likewise the journey back to my hotel for the night was uneventful. And I could go to sleep feeling open and connected (with musicians, music, audience, you name it), grateful - and tired. Another happy day in the life of a Mike Oldfield fan.

Concerts

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Concert, Me, Mike Oldfield

This site has impressions from a few Mike Oldfield concerts.

Early design

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: General, Me, Mike Oldfield

Here you can see the early design of this webpage, back in 1996. And of the first Mike Oldfield page, August 1996.

Links

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Me, Mike Oldfield, Science fiction, Star Trek

Mike Oldfield is a fan of Captain Kirk from Star Trek.
In the Star Trek episode "The Galileo seven", Mr. Spock and others visit the planet Taurus 2, also the name of a composition by Mr. Oldfield.
Mike Oldfield was asked to make the music for the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. (Unfortunately he didn't actually do it :-)
Mike Oldfield wrote music, based on the science fiction book "The Songs of Distant Earth" by A.C.Clarke. (Yeah, he must be as big a SF fan as I am.)
Mike Oldfield ~ Vivian Stanshall ~ Bonzo Dog Band ~ Neil Innes ~ Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Kirstie Alley played fabulously in A Bunny's Tale (as a serious Bunny) and in Star Trek II (as Mr.Saavik).
Some time after Harry met Sally, he read Misery by Stephen King.
In 1991 Garfield celebrated Isaac Asimov's birthday.

Some more about me / another kind of links:

A few personal things. Make sure you see Events, some of the big events of my life. Want to read some great quotes from the people mentioned below? (This is also a list of the qoutes I use in my signature.)