Liam Rudden: Ticking off bucket list of songs

GOD on high, I’ve ticked another song off my bucket list of songs to hear live before I die. Songs delivered by specific artists, that have stuck in my head.

Jumpin’ Jack Flash performed by The Rolling Stones is one, Oasis’ Champagne Supernova another. Both I heard at Murrayfield; the first had me on my feet, the second on the pitch, in the middle of the mosh pit (I’m really too old).

Can’t say I’m a huge fan of either band, but could listen to both songs on repeat - that’ll be the OCD kicking in.

Anyway, on Monday, I nipped over to Dublin to see the man they call ‘The Voice of God’ in a rare concert appearance at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre (translated: the Gas Board Energy Theatre - that’s what sponsorship does for you). You might know him better as Colm Wilkinson, the man who created the roles of the Phantom and Jean Valjean - he also played the Bishop of Dignes in the movie version of Les Miserables.

The song in question was Jean Valjean’s famously difficult Bring Him Home. Needless to say Wilkinson didn’t disappoint - as his audience at the Playhouse, next Thursday, will discover.

It got me thinking of the other songs I’ve been lucky enough to tick off my list; Ultravox’s The Voice, Andy Williams’ Music To Watch Girls By, Toyah’s Iyea and Blondie’s Fade Away And Radiate - all at the Playhouse.

The Castle Concerts gave me a chance to hear Cliff Richard sing The Young Ones, Simon Le Bon sing Save A Prayer and Tom Jones sing Delilah.

At the Festival Theatre, Peter Sarstedt’s Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?, Nana Mouskouri’s White Rose of Athens and Luciano Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma, had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

Hazel O’Connor’s Eight Day, Liza Minelli’s Cabaret, Simple Minds’ Up On The Catwalk and Pet Shop Boys’ Being Boring have also been scored off now.

Thankfully, my list is long. I have yet to hear David Bowie sing Heroes, Shirley Bassey perform Goldfinger or Petula Clark belt out Downtown.

There are, of course, the ones that got away. I’ll never hear the Bee Gees sing Paper Mache, Cabbages And Kings or Billy Mackenzie sing The Associates’ Party Fear Two.

On Sunday, another favourite will hopefully ticked off when Elvis Costello plays the Festival theatre. Well, he has to sing Oliver’s Army... Doesn’t he?

Tweet me @LiamRudden, with your #Top3songslive bucket list