September 5

 

When I couldn't do anything over the weekend due to a bad cold, I watched the feature film September 5 - The Day The Terror went live by Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum. There are many films about the hostage-taking of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team by the terrorist group Black September, but this film focuses on the media's first takeover of terror (it got much worse in Gladbeck in 1988, when Rösner and Degowski held hostages for several days). Over 900 million people watched as hooded men pointed guns at innocent people, as overstretched police officers tried to control the situation and as politicians tried to act as negotiators.

I remember these days as young kid, when my father bought his first color TV and we watched together the Olympic games in Munich. To be honest I was far too young to understand the whole dimension of this terror attack but these pictures were burned in my mind since. On the peaceful days of the games there was one song who provided the musical accompaniment to the day's sporting highlights.

It was If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lightfoot, a Canadian singer/songwriter who had his best times in the seventies. I loved his songs and his baritone voice since then and come back to his songs regulary.

Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind

Gordon Lightfoot - Early Morning Rain

Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown

Gordon Lightfoot - I'm Not Saying/Ribbon Of Darkness

Happy Birthday Gordon

On this day in 1938 Gordon Lightfoot was born. For those who don't know him, he is probably the greatest Canadian singer-songwriter and treasure of folk-music. He started his career in the early 60's and his songs became classics during the years. His songs were often covered by other artists and climbed high in the charts. The first time I came in touch with his music was way back in 1972 on the Olympic games in Munich. When German television made a summary of the days highlights they lay If Yo Could Read My Mind underneath the footage. Listening to his baritone and the way he played his 12-string guitar made me a fan of him. I have to admit that I didn't listen often to his songs during the last years but they didn't lost it's attraction to me.

Gordon Lightfoot - I'm not saying
Gordon Lightfoot - Wherefore and why
Gordon Lightfoot - If you could read my mind
Gordon Lightfoot - Early Morning rain