by John Hanlon | Jul 26, 2019 | Uncategorized |
The café door opens and the young woman breezes in talking on her phone. She approaches the counter and, by pointing and mouthing, conveys her order to the incredibly patient man behind it while continuing her conversation. Loudly. She then settles at a table next to...
by John Hanlon | Jul 18, 2019 | Uncategorized |
As we grow older we are expected to know stuff, to acquire something approaching wisdom through experience and observation. However, as I age bewilderment and disappointment far outweigh my wisdom. I’m disappointed in us. From the top to the bottom of society we act...
by John Hanlon | Jun 12, 2019 | Uncategorized |
It would be fair say that more than a few people, my wife included, were shocked and offended when I laughed out loud during funeral for a dear departed friend. In my defence I’d like to offer the following: Terry sighed and rubbed his unshaven chin. ‘I was never the...
by John Hanlon | Feb 28, 2019 | Uncategorized |
For as long as I can remember I’ve been an idealist. I wear that label with pride, despite occasionally being derided for it over the years. I’ve noticed that since your now famous ‘kindness’ speech you’ve been subjected to a deluge of similar derisions by those who,...
by John Hanlon | Sep 25, 2018 | Uncategorized |
For quite some time I have been deliberately vague when asked if and when I will perform again. I’d now like to explain the reason for my evasiveness. I do this reluctantly but my life pretty much depends upon it so here goes: I have a terminal kidney disease known as...
by John Hanlon | Sep 16, 2018 | Uncategorized |
My friends, this is a long piece and represents my beliefs, not necessarily yours. I make no apologies for that. However, please think about what I say and why I say it and, at the very least, accept that my intentions are good: I’m working on a song that begins with...
by John Hanlon | May 16, 2018 | Uncategorized |
Here’s a scenario familiar to some of you I’m sure: Large gathering, friends and family, lots of boisterous conversation about nothing in particular. Off in a quiet corner — smiling, content and largely ignored — sits Granddad who contributes the odd granddad joke,...
by John Hanlon | Oct 6, 2017 | Uncategorized |
For two years I lived in Cate Blanchett’s apartment overlooking the sea at Coogee Beach in Sydney. That opening was a blatant attempt to borrow interest with a tenuous truth. In actual fact, while Cate and her husband Andrew Upton owned the apartment, seeing...
by John Hanlon | Sep 14, 2017 | Uncategorized |
As some of you know, my songwriting traverses a range of genres. I don’t fit neatly into any particular box as much as some have tried. ‘Protest Singer’ was a category often applied to me in the early days along with folk singer and, in the case of...
by John Hanlon | Sep 3, 2017 | Uncategorized |
I’m often asked which of my songs I like most. In some senses this is like asking a parent which of their children they like most. Truth is I can’t be that specific and even if I were the answer would likely change from time to time. What I can say is that...
