I went over to visit my very talented friend Ros Cuthbert for a coffee and a catch-up; Ros is a renowned painter and artist, and has begun a second career as a singer and song-writer. I was asking her about her latest gig, and about the songs she is writing in collaboration with an amazing Dutch pianist. She told me that a song she has been working on is the Jacques Brel composition Dans le Port d’Amsterdam. her translation has all the rough vigour of the sailors in the song, and I imagine she sings it very well… I look forward to hearing her!
I don’t know many songs by Brel, but one I do know is Dans le Port d’Amsterdam because one of my favourite groups, The Glade, sing it! Their version is very different from Ros’s! There have been many artists who’ve also recorded this song, but here is the great Bowie…
Lois Elsden 