My gift is my song
‘How was your day, Mark?’
‘Oh, yeah, fine. You know. Someone wrote me a song and so on.’
That’s right. This afternoon I was just minding my own business when Josh sent me a tweet with a link to a ‘Christmas present’. I opened it, confident that it would be a genuine offering rather than the sort of ‘Christmas present’ which you click on only to find your computer has been permanently immobilised by a ‘Trojan horse’ virus called HO HO HO. And sure enough it was a real gift. And WHAT a gift.
The recording quality is variable, not all the words can be distinguished, but there’s no denying it: IT IS A CHRISTMAS SONG ABOUT ME. Entitled ‘I’m Sending My Christmas Wishes to Mark Watson’. I mean, you can’t ask for a lot more than that, can you?
Aside from the fetching way Josh enunciates the word ‘wishes’ (which reminds me of the lead singer of 90s bedsit band Hefner, for those readers of my age and indie background), the song impresses by seemingly crediting me with the ability to make the singer’s ‘dreams come true’ and with being able to ‘do anything’. I’m not sure how valid these claims are, and not sure either about the wisdom of some lyrics (hard to make out) which seem to draw rough parallels between me and the Christ-child. But I’m extremely touched.
If you want to download this festive treat, here it is:
http://digs.by/eMwFkt
I’ve got no idea if this will work for any or all of you. It doesn’t look like this link is going to be clickable-on. But you could cut and paste it into your browser (bit of technical bluffing here) and it should do the trick. I think you need a Google account or something. Anyway, I managed to make it work, and as we’ve seen, I can barely persuade a computer to go online half the time, so it can’t be that bad.
Many thanks to Josh for supplying the latest proof of Watsonians’ multi-talented and slightly cultish ways. I would challenge other people to do something similar, but I’ve learned not to do this lightly. You should see how many pens I’ve been given on this tour. And some of the weird stuff I’ve signed. iPhone. Toy goats (the other night, from Rachel whose TYSIC revolves around getting goats). The Statue of Liberty. A golf ball. I made one of those up.
So, thanks again Josh. And for the people who were asking about Substantially Better… there is news about its possibly coming back. Or not so much news as pretty advanced gossip. I will divulge more tomorrow. Unless someone sends me something else incredible. Any sculptors reading? We could do with something for our drawing-room.
Posted by Jamie/James on December 17, 2010
I feel this is a perfect time to mention I’m currently mid-composing a musical about you. Once I’ve foraged people’s ideas from the forum.
I should also point out, I’m not very good at writing opera’s in languages other than English and Pirate english. Sorry.
If you want to contribute to the plot, go to the forum and add something to the thread. This is definitely going to happen, I’ve already contacted a composer and know three fringe directors whom are up for it.
And merry christmas.
Posted by Tracey on December 16, 2010
What a great gift! It’s all I can do to persuade this pc of ours to power up these days but after a while and usually a lot of bad language from me, it settles down! Just looking out at the snow showers and hoping it’s not going to be too heavy….Tracey x
Posted by Cathy on December 16, 2010
I expect you’re just kidding about the toy goats.
*badum tish*
Posted by Phill on December 15, 2010
Fantastic! Love the song
Posted by misha on December 15, 2010
Have you not heard the talk of a musical?!
And Ash made a loo roll WNA…
Who watches the Watsonians eh?
Posted by Rachael on December 15, 2010
I hope you are having a good last gig of the year. My brother is there, I told him that he must not, under any circumstances, be late.
Posted by Anji on December 15, 2010
When I get to actual computer based connection I shall have a listen to the song!
On the pen front Mark, I have been making a collection for you! And I’m on the case of something different for you to sign….I’m wondering if I can sneak the dog in…..
And you have a drawing room?! You live in a stately home?!
Posted by Alistair on December 15, 2010
Darren Hayman is the mentioned lead-singer of Hefner, he still gigs as Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern and hangs out with Josie Long at the UCL occupation if twitpics are to be believed.
Posted by Lydia on December 15, 2010
That’s awesome. I will go and listen to the song now. x
Posted by Josh on December 15, 2010
The link above leads here:
http://markwatsonfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=472
Glad you’re enjoying it.
Posted by Patrick on December 15, 2010
Josh is my brother, in every way apart from the real one.
Ooh, Substantially Better news? Nobody send him anything, we must hear this!!
And if you want to play Josh’s song for yourself/sing along, the lyrics and chords can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AbrPiJZ9CGzpZGR3NDc5bXpfMTEyZjRiNWhiaG0&hl=en_GB
Posted by Declan on December 15, 2010
How does one go about signing a golf ball? It’s quite small and it has all those dimples…
I’d bet good money that that’s the one you’ve made up.
Posted by Lora on December 15, 2010
Well that little song just jollied my day right up.
Posted by MusicalLottie on December 15, 2010
Ooh good, it was. That’s really cool that Josh wrote a song for you; if I ever did anything like that (which is highly unlikely) I’m not sure I’d ever have the courage to ever show it to the intended recipient.
I would like to see what happened if you challenged Watsonia to do more creative things along those lines though!
I have nothing interesting to ask for a future blog topic, so I’ll pass that over to the next person who has something interesting to ask/prompt.
Posted by max on December 15, 2010
The link does work. Great tune Josh!!!
Hopefully this will go through before anyone beats me to it… There’s 0 comments right now… so, Mark can you tell us exactly how much of your past experiences you “dump” into your writing?
I read your 3 books and in each one of them I’ve been surprised at the fantastic way you capture trivial moments. It’s as if you actually lived them. So, yes… my question is, have you ever included personal anecdotes in your writing or is it all fabrication?
Posted by MusicalLottie on December 15, 2010
First comment?