We were going to use an Olympic Screengrab, but we thought they might send the boys round
Yesterday evening, a staggering 26.9 million people were watching the Olympics Opening Ceremony at its peak, and as people settled into their seats for the pre-show, who else would appear aloft the Glastonbury Tor but Frank Turner?
After an incredible year so far that has seen him headline Wembley arena, Frank Turner has further cemented himself as one of our generation’s prominent troubadours, and though “the scene” is split on him, there’s no denying that it was special seeing someone that’s more than paid their dues (if there is such a thing) achieve so much.
Of course, it’s fair to say that the setting in which he performed was twee and a little bonkers, but if I try to think of someone I’d have put there instead, I can’t. Although his performance sparked the standard willy waving “I saw him in a room the size of a cupboard in Bexley Heath and made him a cup of tea” comments (which probably irks those who tend to have a negative opinion on him), the overwhelming reaction was that of pride, and it ended up being a microcosm of what Boyle’s show managed to stir in general over the next few hours.
There’s many hardworking artists in the scene who don’t get the attention Frank does and many who’d be just as deserving of the platform and success, but if you take a look at the lyrics from the track fully broadcast track last night (‘I Still Believe’), it’s easy to see why he was perfect for the task:
Here ye, here ye, friends and Roman country man
Here ye, here ye, punks and skins and journey man
Here ye, here ye, my sisters and my brother and the time
Is coming near
Come ye, come ye, to soulless corporate circus stops
Come ye, come ye, to toilet circling touring stops
Come ye, come ye, bedrooms, bars and punker squats
The sound is ringing clear
Now who’d of thought, that after all
Something as simple as rock n roll would save us all
Now who’d of thought, that after all
It’s rock n roll
Here ye, here ye, now anybody could take this stage
Here ye, here ye, and make miracles for minimum wage
Here ye, here ye, these folk songs of the modern age
Will hold us all in their arms
Right here, right now, Elvis brings his children home
Right here, right now, never had to feel alone
Right here, right now, teenage kicks and gramophones
We hold them, in our hearts
Now who’d of thought, that after all
Something simple as rock n roll would save us all
Now who’d of thought, that after all
It was rock and roll
I still believe In the saints
Yeah in Jerry Lee and Johnny and all the greats
I still believe In the sound
That has the power to raise a temple and tear it down
I still believe In the need
For guitars and drums and desperate poetry
I still believe That everyone
Can find a song for every time they’ve lost and every time they’ve won
Just remember folks we’re not just saving lives, we’re saving souls
We’re having fun
I still believe
Now who’d of thought that after all
Something as simple as rock n roll would save us all
Now who’d of thought, after all
Something so simple, something so small
Who’d of thought, after all
It’s rock n roll
I’ve interviewed Frank before (like anyone who’s done any online / print music journalism in the UK), and his music comes across as he does; honest, forthright and to-the-point. These aren’t songs about nothing from a vacuous pair of lungs with a haircut, they’re songs about friendship, the right kind national pride, unity, music and life from a man with a guitar that’s dedicated his life to music for the love rather than the money, accolades or fame.
Like Frank’s music or not, it was a wonderful moment. For the scene, for guitar-based music, and for Frank and his team at Xtra Mile more than anyone else.
I still believe that honest music has a place in the mainstream without needing to water itself down, I still believe that you can be a successful artist without having to resort to lowest common denominator themes and, most of all, I still believe we have one of the most amazing music scenes in the world.
Well done Frank.
Skip to 1:42:00 to check out the performance on BBC iPlayer.