Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DIVINE MUSIC HELPS TO COPE WITH HORRORS OF THE PAST
EARLIER this week I revisited the track ‘Sunrise’ by Divine Comedy. Apt, given its reference to the Enniskillen bomb, the 30th anniversary of which was marked this week. I recalled how my dad roared at me for listening to a radio report live from the scene – it was as if he’d caught me watching a certificate 18 horror. ’Turn that radio off’ he shouted – to shelter me from the horror which was unfolding. To be fair – I remember feeling sick and utterly bewildered that this was happening just up the road from where I was stood. I was only 8 – and didn’t really understand. Not that any of it made sense, of course.
While I’m lucky not to have been directly affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland – I do recall feeling scared and anxious on numerous occasions growing up, convinc something terrible was going to happen my parents on a night out at their local, f example. There’s a whole generation of k who have never really experienced that type of fear – and while the country is currently in a bet of a mess – it’s reassurin to reflect on how things have changed. ‘Sunrise’ captures this feeling of cautious optimism – and for me is the finest song inspired by those awful days. If you’ve never heard it – please have a listen – it’s stunning piece of music. Speaking of The Divine Comedy – I was chatting to Neil Hannon just last week – and he was tellin me about his new record – a double albu no less! It’s expected to be released sometime next year.