Castles Made of Sand
Music, Lyrics and Vocals by Karin Maria Andersson
Guitar and video by Olivier Milchberg
Macau (SAR) China, January 2010
This video has clips from the Cirque Du Soleil artists of ZAIA starting in Montreal, Canada from January 2008 during training (and lots of snow!) to late 2009 backstage, and during rehearsals for the show at the Venetian in Macau (SAR) China.
For us in the show the video is extremely emotional. Some of the people in this video are no longer with us in Macau. The time of ZAIA is one that all of us will remember and many of us will cherish. The experiences we had in China for many of us were not what we expected – they were experiences and adventures we could have never imagined; many good and some painful for each of us.
I normally don’t get seen in videos or promo photos – so thank you to Olivier for getting me in there several times. Fun to see the musicians and how all of our looks changed from the beginning in Montreal to the journey in China. As our composer told us: “You all look more shiny.” I would agree. Cirque and China have allowed us to shine.
I think this video will give a sense of closure to many of us for a slice of time we spent together – a “castle made of sand”.
I am personally moved by the video in a way beyond words. Thank you to Maria and Olivier for this truly precious gift of song….
*Update: A new audio version of this song:
https://www.last.fm/music/Feather+And+Down/_/Castles+Made+of+Sand
And a note from Olivier on this video:
These images can seem nostalgic in our situation, but the purpose of this video is only to highlight the strong and moving times we spent together; sharing sorrow and joy, as Maria says.
CASTLES MADE OF SAND
LYRICS
I didn’t know what was waiting
I didn’t know a single thing
Just knew I had to take this chance
But no clue all it would bring
But I knew why I was here
Boy I would sing
And I sang til I was bleeding
As I open up my heart
And my voice filled up the theater
And you were there from the start
To fill every inch with magic
So take me by the hand
All the days we’ve spent together
Were castles made of sand
And the waves came and joined us forever
In the big sea
You’ve been there all the time next to me
You were there through joy and sorrow
You were there with laughs and tears
And we built a dream together
Something beautiful and new
Something shinier than ever
And right here
So take me by the hand
All the days we’ve spent together
Were castles made of sand
And the waves came and joined us forever
in the big sea
You’ve been there all this time next to me
So take me by the hand
All the days we spent together
Were castles made of sand
And the waves came and joined us forever
In the South China Sea
You’ve been there all this time
Next to me….
So how cheesy is it that I had sentiment in my eyes and heart watching that. I can’t imagine what it does to you who “legitimately” belong to it.
Olivier has created a work of art here, it’s true. He has so many skills in playing and producing music, and he’s always had a fascination with video. While in Macau he’s been working very hard on his video skills. We’ve had the blessing of having many friends here who actually make short films and produce movies, so he’s had many people to get ideas and learn from. Looks like it’s paid off.
And Maria, while in Macau, recorded many songs including an album for a Japanese record label. I could tell she really put her heart into this song. What I love most about this song is it’s not so commercial – it’s very personal and about something very specific. And that to me gives it a powerful pull at the heart. In a way, it DOES make it commercial because the end product is such a powerful song.
And the timing of them finishing it; also so powerful for the cast and crew of ZAIA.
The Skagit fishbowl has its worth, but you swim so beautifully with the fishies of a diverse and glorious sea.