MacD on Music: China In Your Hand

Music history is filled with legendary sax solos.

There’s iconic intros like ‘Baker Street’ by Gerry Rafferty (sax solo by Raphael Ravenscroft), ‘Careless Whisper’ by George Michael (sax solo by Stephan Gregory) and ‘All Revved Up With No Place to Go’ by Meat Loaf (sax solo by Edger Winter).

Then, of course, there’s the solos. Songs like ‘Born To Run’ by Bruce Springsteen (sax solo by Clarence Clemmons), ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ by INXS (sax solo by Kirk Pengilly) and, the song driving this week’s column, ‘China In Your Hand’ by T’Pau (sax solo by Gary Barnacle).

As you may have heard, T’Pau are going to be playing St. Columb’s Hall this week (24th November). I recently got to speak with Carol Decker, the iconic frontwoman of the group, ahead of the gig.

First of all, we spoke a bit about the gig itself and St. Columb’s Hall. Carol told me that she was “really looking forward” to playing the legendary venue.

She told me she’d been looking it up online and had heard all about the refurbishment and how she was honoured to be “the first rock and roll booking” since it reopened.

I asked her if this was her first time playing our fine city and she told me that she doesn’t think so, but she can’t quite remember where she may have played in the past (perils of touring the world for thirty-five years).

She did, however, tell me that she played an event last year in the Derry area with James Nesbitt and Ash.

After this, I had to ask about the song that gave this article it’s headline, the iconic ‘China In Your Hand’.

Carol told me about the two versions of the song that exist, the album cut and the single cut. After the initial recording, they were told that the song was too long for the radio and that they had to edit it down.

Unfortunately, when they tried to edit the song, it messed up the tempo and didn’t sound right, and so they went back into the studio and re-recorded it, Taylor Swift style, only without the second verse.

This version featured the “amazing” Gary Barnacle on saxophone. Carol told me that she loves solos that have a “definite melody”, be that guitar, synth or saxophone.

Speaking about the success of the song, Carol says that it’s a “privilege” to have written a song that is so beloved and says that she had “no idea” that it would go on to be so successful, getting to number one for five weeks, or that it would chart around the world. She says that the song has “given me such a long career” and that she “barely has to sing it any more” thanks to adoring audiences.

Of course, T’Pau had other hits (eight other top twenty hits, to be exact), including ‘Heart and Soul’ and ‘Valentine’. Even in recent years, they continue to release new music, including their most recent album, 2015’s ‘Pleasure & Pain’ (available in Cool Discs). Since then, T’Pau have released even more music with the singles ‘Be Wonderful’ and ‘Guess Who’s Sorry Now’.

The former was released around the time of the first Lockdown, meaning that the video had to be shot in Carol’s garden, featuring a cast that included her chickens, ducks and Irish setter.

Carol also mentioned that she’d lost her mojo for writing music for a while but that she was hoping to get back into it soon.

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She also joked how, during the first Lockdown, she “hated people that were really productive, writing books and learning new languages”, telling me that she was “angry and depressed” and would just “drink and shout at the TV”. She told me, though, that she does “intend to do new stuff” soon.

And that’s it from Carol Decker. T’Pau will be playing St. Columb’s Hall this Friday so get tickets while you still can.

Now, onto other business. Last week saw TomCat announce the release of their debut single ‘It’s Not Always Gonna Be Like This’. The song is coming on the 9th December, when they’ll also be playing a show in Bennigan’s with support to be announced.

Also, on the 3rd December, Sandino’s will be hosting an incredible gig for an extremely important cause. Irish Artists for Palestine, in association with Derry ISPC, will be putting on a Gig for Gaza to raise money for Medical Aid Palestine.

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The gig features probably the best line-up the town can offer (I know I’ve said that a lot this year, but somehow they keep outdoing themselves), with Cartin, Meryl Streek, Touts, CHERYM, Dirty Faces, George Houston, Craicpipe (in their last ever gig), Nicki Mac, Paddy Nash and Alix Darwin, as well as speakers Eamonn McCann and Bernadette McAliskey.

This is not one to miss so make sure you get your tickets before they sell out. They’re available on Eventbrite for £10 or £12 on the door.

Finally, social time. TomCat can be found on Instagram @tomcat_band and Irish Artists for Palestine @irish.artists.for.palestine. Carol and T’Pau can be found on Facebook at T’Pau/Carol Decker and Instagram @tpaucaroldecker.