If you'll allow me to indulge myself slightly, I have completed a recording of possibly my favourite song; Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill. This is one I'd like to share with everyone, so please have a listen.

The song is about Peter Gabriel's decision to leave the band Genesis, not an easy choice given he put a huge emotional investment in a lot of those songs. In Solsbury Hill he's emerged at the other side of that difficult decision and has regained his own sense of personal identity.

Years later after a very painful and traumatic breakup with a girl this resonated with me. NB said girl had a tendency to quickly replace a partner... and I was no exception.

Of course the band Genesis continued (flourished even) by replacing Peter Gabriel with their drummer Phil Collins. Given how much those Genesis songs meant to Peter Gabriel, that surely can not have been a pleasent experience. However he did go and see some of the early concerts and was man enough to humbly approach Phil Collins back stage and say:

"You sing my song better than me, but you don't sing them like me".

Aha. I know how that feels... and I agree with this sentiment. Of course people move on and are replaced (that's natural)... but it's never exactly the same, always a slightly different dynamic. I'm still me with all my plus points and I am still unique, as we all are.

There is an underlying positive message though, that breakups and change can be for the best. Plus there is the sheer elation of being able to be yourself again and face the world with a new spring in your step (recall that Peter Gabriel went on to reach new heights). So join me on a journey of personal liberation as we climb atop... Solsbury Hill.

~ Tony

P.S. Peter Gabriel often writes very moving songs and this is one of his finest. Indeed there is a whole website dedicated to people's stories of his music which I strongly encourage you to read: http://rec.horus.at/music/gabriel/Songs/about/