I am very appreciative of the responses to my very first Blog. I was a little nervous about my first one, but it's okay...because here's the second.
I will be back on the road in a few days doing concerts in different states -- some "blue" some "red" -- then on to Italy for two more concerts.
I have never said anything on stage about the President or the administration at my concerts, and very little of my concert could be called political.
Italy provides a challenge, as it is important that the words and message I am conveying through my most-recent songs be understood; so I plan to use a translator, especially for the song, 'Who Are These People.' I will have the translator speak the words before we do the song. It's something I did once before in Italy, when, after 9/11, I felt it was important that we perform 'Windows of the World.' I will continue to do the more-familiar songs in concert, as well as the new music from 'At This Time.' I want to get the message out, and I am a messenger, as well as an entertainer. I do both the best way I can through my music.
The response from some concert promoters and others has been interesting. After concerts and touring for so many years, my agent is actually getting calls to "make sure" I'm not going to be too "controversial" in my concerts. There's no need to worry. I know people come to my show to hear the music that they are familiar with and the music I will continue to perform. But, it is very important for me to do four or five songs from the new album; I want to do newer songs as well as the older. The newer material carries a political charge that I want to be heard.
I was shocked shortly after the new album came out when a business executive who had hired me for a private date backed out. He read an interview I gave, and said he did not want any "trouble" with "someone like Bacharach." This I found humorous, as the last time I was fired I was 19 years old and was playing piano in a restaurant in Cape Cod. I even offered to play only the older stuff. I must say I was proud to be fired for those reasons. He was stepping on my artistic freedom.
I didn't know what to expect once I started touring the "red" states after the release of the new material. I'm happy to report that no one has thrown anything - yet - although I did get my first-ever stomped on CD returned to me with a nasty letter.
To quote one of my earlier songs, I'm just Wishin' and Hopin' I can make even a small impact. Thanks for all your encouragement on The Huffington Post. It means a lot to me.
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BB
6/20/06