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celebrate
composers
Composers: Kerr / Burchill / MacNeil / Forbes / McGee
Authors: Kerr
(Earlier sleeves simply state:- Lyrics: Kerr: Music: Simple Minds)
publisher
© EMI Music Publishing.
© Bucks Music/Hornall Brothers/EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (Post 2012 credit)
© JKMC-Bucks Music Group Ltd / Hornall Music / EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (Post 2013 credit)
background
"It's funny that when you play the tracks I remember. There's odd different kinds of thoughts that go through your
mind because - sometimes I remember walking into the studio that day. And usually if it's those early ones, there will
be an element of fear involved, because we didn't have the budgets then - if we didn't get it right we couldn't do it again -
it was real hit-or-miss stuff. And also, on those early records, we weren't really selling records but we were under pressure
to sell records and at any time the record company was maybe going to pull the plug on us. If you asked if that was in my mind
when I walked up to the microphone to record the vocal on Changeling or
Celebrate then yeah, it was. Because I can tell you, the lead vocalist - in the case
how Simple Minds worked we would construct the songs as a kind of soundscape and I have to say the guys did - if you hear
Celebrate without the vocal, it's probably better without the vocal, it sounds immense.
And then I had to go up - none of them had heard yet what I was going to do, or they knew there was a working title called
Celebrate - but it was like 'I'm taking a penalty here. And I better score.'
Not only for the public outside, but the guys in the room - I was working on their ideas. So things like that come back when I
listen to those songs." - Jim, Interview with Billy Sloan, 2nd November 2019
First featured on the album's demo tape, Celebrate
quickly became a live favourite, prompting
Arista to issue it as
a single after the band had left the label.
It was recorded at Rockfield, Wales. "Recording 'Celebrate' in Wales 'back in the day'...
the band needed 'handclaps'... I was asked to contribute... After about 6 'takes' enough was enough and I was asked
politely to... leave the session. Say no more, but it happened often!" - Bruce Findlay, October 2014
lyrics
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Act of love,
Is a luxury.
The suit he wears,
Belongs to me.
The road is long,
Seven thousand miles.
Soldier talk,
And uniform.
We can live,
I can live,
Celebrate,
Celebrate.
We can live,
I can live,
Celebrate,
Celebrate.
She rag doll,
Keeps him warm.
This negative,
Shows no form.
He salutes the crowd,
"Go west young man".
Run, run, run,
The hollow man.
We can live,
I can live,
Celebrate,
Celebrate.
We can live,
I can live,
Celebrate,
Celebrate.
To a distant land,
Sand and sand,
Touch to touch,
A marble man.
The house is glass,
Furniture's chrome,
Soldier talk,
And uniform.
We can live,
I can live,
Celebrate,
Celebrate.
We can live,
I can live,
Celebrate,
Celebrate.
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discography
Edit (2:53)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones
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Album Version (5:03)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones
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Extended (6:48)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones
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Live Version (5th January 1985) (5:43)
Recorded: Barrowlands, Glasgow, UK
Mixed by: Callum Malcolm and Simple Minds
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Demo (4:24)
Producer: Leckie
Mastered by: Simon Heyworth
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Live Version (10th June 2011) (6:05)
Recorded: Bedgebury Pinetum And Forest, Gouldhurst, Kent, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
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Live Version (16th June 2011) (5:36)
Recorded: Hampton Court Palace Festival, London, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
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Live Version (25th June 2011) (5:28)
Recorded: Cannock Chase Forest, Near Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
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Live Version (16th July 2011) (5:29)
Recorded: City Rocks, Inverness, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
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Live Version (25th July 2012) (5:17)
Recorded: Riviera Rock Festival, Gould Arena, Antibes, France
Recorded by: Olivier Gerard
Mixed by: Olivier Gerard
Engineered by: Rudy Coclet
ISRC: GB01A1201421
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Live Version (30th November 2012) (5:24)
Recorded: Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Produced by: Zach Bair
Recorded and Mixed by: Matt Dever
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Live Version (4th December 2012) (5:23)
Recorded: Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, Australia
Produced by: Zach Bair
Recorded and Mixed by: Matt Dever
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Live Version (9th December 2012) (5:26)
Recorded: Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, Australia
Produced by: Zach Bair
Recorded and Mixed by: Matt Dever
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Live Version (12th December 2012) (5:24)
Recorded: Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia
Produced by: Zach Bair
Recorded and Mixed by: Matt Dever
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Live Version (24th October 2018) (5:44)
Recorded: Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA
Recorded by: Olivier Gerard
Produced by: Andy Wright
Mixed by: Gavin Goldberg
Assisted by: Lewis Chapman
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sessions
demo discography
Demo Version (4:24)
Producer: Leckie
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live history
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