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On
15 August 2000, Iva unveiled "Circles in the Sky" at
the Press Launch of the Olympic Live Sites. Here's what
Iva had to say about it before the event:
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A song of mine called "Circles
in the Sky" which was written during the course of
work for the new album has been selected by the Olympic
Co-ordination Authority as the theme for the Olympic Live
sites during the celebration of the Sydney 2000 Olympic
Games.
During the course of writing this song
I felt that it would benefit from the use of a real string
orchestra and in order to achieve this end approached Richard
Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Happily
they agreed to participate in the recording and so I composed
a full orchestral score (I also wrote some solo violin parts
for Richard who is recognised as one of the world's
leading virtuoso's on his instrument). In order
to check my orchestration I engaged the services of Christopher
Gordon, who is a specialist in this area.
This alliance was, believe it or not,
the seed from which the project of "The Ghost of Time"
sprang.
The song was not written with the Olympics
in mind at all. I wrote it while my family was away on holiday
and I was alone in the house for 10 days. It was, in part,
inspired by an observation about my children's drawings
and paintings. I noted that there seem to be at least 2
common elements in all children's pictures viz. 1) They
will almost invariably include a 'sun' or a 'moon'
in the sky and 2) children have a complete lack of fear
in the use of colour and do so with such dramatic abandon
that their approach to colour is often envied by adult artists.
This is where I started...
Having virtually finished the song (certainly
I could hear the whole thing and all the lyrics were complete)
the penny suddenly dropped that it was the sort of song
which had such broad terms of reference that it would be
perfect for the Olympics without the need of compromising
its wider meaning.
It was on that day that Craig Peacock
happened to be visiting Australia and he was due to visit
me at my studio. We went to lunch from there and it
was during the course of that lunch that I alluded to the
fact that something remarkable had just 'fallen into
my lap'.
I also realised that I needed a lot
of voices for the song and so, to that end, approached a
number of great singers to assist with backing vocals. As
a result the song contains additional backing vocals from
Christine Anu, Wendy Matthews, Mark Williams, Annie Crumer
(who was in 'Rent' with Christine), and Ian Moss.
"Circles in the Sky" will
have its debut airing on Tuesday 15th of August with a live
performance in Martin Place, Sydney at 1.30 pm featuring
myself, Richard Tognetti, Paul Wheeler, Steve Bull, Paul
Gildea and Naomi and Juanita (2 female backing vocalists).
This performance will be the accompaniment
to the Press Launch of the Olympic Live Sites and the launch
of this song as the theme.
Although 500 copies of the song will
be presented to the press corps with their press kits there
will initially be some copies of it for sale.
This CD will contain just this one track
and it will be an extremely limited edition. There
are loose plans to possibly produce a more comprehensive
CD with a number of versions or tracks. I am currently
experimenting with these.
On Thursday evening of September 14th the Olympic torch
will arrive at Sydney Town Hall. This will be welcomed
by the Mayor and dignitaries. Proceedings will then move
to the Domain where at 8.30 pm, to an estimated crowd of
40,000 and a possible telecast, a live performance of "Circles
in the Sky" will launch the Live sites. The song will
accompany the City Lights Spectacular which will incorporate
the whole of the inner city and the Harbour Bridge etc.
The design of the lighting spectacular has been choreographed
to the song. The city will be equipped with viewing screens
of the Domain performance (similar to The Millennium Eve)
and it is estimated that there will be 1.5 million people
in the Central Business district of Sydney covered by the
screens.
I hope that some of you will be able
to support the performances and the song ... I am very proud
of it and all the people who assisted in giving it this
opportunity.
P.S. If you're watching the Opening
Ceremony on TV on the 15th of September and you happen
to note the choreography of the assembled masses incorporates
a "Mexican Wave" style gesture which is 'Circular'
in nature ..... the idea was stolen from me!! They
probably won't do it .... but it seemed like a good
idea at the time. I'll be watching for it! (Now
how do I get royalties for that!!)
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According to Iva, the launch went well. There will possibly
be some mention on Channel 7 (Entertainment Tonight?), Channel
10, The Daily Telegraph (small article in today's issue).
Iva also did an interview with City Weekly (free CBD paper) and
a few others. We're sure there will be much more in the
press about this between now and the opening of the Games, so
keep on the lookout!
Some
basic information about the Olympic Live Sites can be found at
the
Leisure
& Tourism Link.
Iva has provided the lyrics to the new song:
CIRCLES IN THE SKY
we draw the circles
draw the circles in the sky
they roll and roll,
they're rolling
we paint with the colours
of the rainbows in our minds
they shine and shine,
they're shining
we're wishing that all
that all wishes would come true
but love is all,
it's all we're given
they come to life
we make them spin,
we make them fly
we turn them round,
we draw the circles in the sky
we ask why the heavens
sometimes smile,
they sometimes cry
but after all,
we're only guessing
and we are drifting
drifting far above those clouds
they roll and roll,
and we are passing
they come to life
we make them spin,
we make them fly
we turn them round,
we draw the circles in the sky
they come to life
we make them spin,
we make them fly
we turn them round,
we draw the circles in the sky
we draws the circles,
draw the circles in the sky
they roll & roll
© DIVA 2000
It has been announced that a CD single will be available 11 September
2000, released on the Warner/DIVA label (catalogue #8573849462).
So if you're in Australia, hound your local record shops to order
in some copies and call your local radio stations to request "Circles
in the Sky"! Overseas fans may be able to purchase copies
from Internet music services.
Sean Fagan has created a comprehensive "Circles in the Sky" tribute
web page, which showcases some great photos from the Olympic
Live Sites Press Launch on 15 August 2000.
More news to come as it becomes available!
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