Monday, December 20, 2004
It’s a hat trick for rocker Rod Stewart with the release of volume three of “The Great American Songbook.” “Stardust” features more crooner classics including “Embraceable You” and “What a Wonderful World.” But Rod, who turns 60 next month, does it all his way. Duets with Dolly Parton and Bette Midler and “Blue Moon” with Eric Clapton on guitar guarantee a new twist on old favorites.
Q. I love the line in your bio, ” a man of wealth and taste with a passion for soccer and a preference for blondes.” It has a Hugh Hefneresque quality.
A. Yes, that still holds true. My soccer career has been put on hold. I just had knee surgery, so I’m hobbling around the house on braces at the moment. Hugh was never good on the football field, you know [laughs]. I think it keeps you young. If you can be involved in a team sport that’s got some sort of bodily contact, physical contact, I think it keeps you very, very young, and I’m in a young business anyway.
Q. Is there a difference between singing these classic lyrics and your own? Do you get in a certain mindset — sip a martini?
A. No, no, no. I’m always sipping martinis. I mean, apart from warming your voice up and making yourself comfortable in the studio and making sure you can hear yourself sing, these songs are a lot easier for me to sing vocally, than, you know, the rock ‘n’ roll stuff. We brought these songs up to date, I think. If anything, I try and pay homage to the original melodies and then add my own little touch.
Q. Do you have to feel the lyrics to really deliver a song?
A. Oh, absolutely, absolutely. That’s probably the most important thing. Especially if we are talking about the “American Songbook.” I was brought up on this stuff. I’m sure everybody knows that. I was actually shocked when I started the first “American Songbook” at how many of the lyrics I knew.
Q. Are you thinking of anyone in particular when you sing certain songs?
A. I’m just immersed in the song. I’m not thinking of Billie Holiday or any of the other great people who have sung these songs before me. I must admit when I did “What a Wonderful World” and the lyrics were, “I’ve seen babies cry, watched them grow” or something like that, I changed the lyrics the second time the bridge comes round to I’ve seen “my” babies crying. So I had a bit of a lump in my throat when I sang that, because I’ve got five children.
Q. What was harder, breaking up with Rachel Hunter or thinking you might never sing again with the throat cancer scare?
A. Well, you can’t compare the two, really. One was a career, you know, I may not sing again. The other was just a broken heart. Thank God I’m recovered from both now. But I wouldn’t compare the two. I think it’s impossible. Different scenarios, really.
Q. How have the groupies changed since the “Maggie May” days? Or have they?
A. Groupies! [Laughs.] I haven’t heard that word used for so long. I don’t know. I don’t really hang around the concerts anymore. I’ve got a lovely girlfriend, so I’m not really interested. Once I do a concert I get into the limousine and I go on to the next show. I’m too old for that sort of thing. We took full advantage in those days, as well. They were wonderful days. There was a lot more freedom in those days making love and sex. Now you have to be so careful.
Q. You still have the same hair, same voice as those days.
A [Laughs.] Well, it’s a variation on a theme, really, my hairstyle. It’s basically the same — it just gets a little longer or a little shorter. I started it, and I’m gonna finish it. Just the way it is, that’s the way they’re gonna put me in my coffin [laughs]. I still have the same haircut I had in the ’70s, but I’ve still got hair, which you know is wonderful!
Q. What has changed about you?
A. Oh, so many things. I was talking to my daughter, who was turned down for a modeling job, and she was furious. As you get older, start having children and you have that one you love, the whole perspective on life changes. I’m probably more mellow now than I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve had marvelous success. I have a marvelous family and I’ve got a wonderful girlfriend and I couldn’t ask for anything more. That doesn’t mean to say I’ve joined the pipe and slipper club, just yet. I still go out on a weekend and get smashed if I want to. Or not, if I don’t want to. I’m still pretty rowdy, just not as much as I used to.
Q. Are you getting in the mood to write songs again?
A. I’ve never loved writing songs. It’s something I had to be pushed in a corner to do. So it’s not natural to me. I love the outcome because I think when I put pen to paper it can be pretty good.
Q. Rod, all the women you fall in love with are so much younger! It’s kind of hard on all us over-35 gals!
A. [Laughs.] Well, let me tell ya, I don’t twist their arm. I don’t pay them to do this, so I must have something going for me. I always think they keep me young, too, but I don’t want to upset the girls my age. It’s just the way the cards came down, I suppose. I don’t want to upset anybody now, all right, darling?