Summary
Mr Blue Sky is the Electric Light Orchestra's brilliantly off-beam classic song.
It was released as a single in 1978, having first appeared on the ELO album 'Out of the Blue' in 1977. Written by Jeff Lynne, it was a no.6 hit in the UK, and has endured on the radio airwaves ever since.
Tracey Collinson whose husband, Nigel, loved the track tells of the meaning it has for her.
Musicologist, Allan Moore, discusses the anomolous use of the word 'blue': usually associated with downbeat emotions, this is a peculiar subversion of that cultural norm with the word 'blue' conjuring happiness and good weather.
Tremayne Crossley and his friend, Jo Milne, tell the extraordinary story of how Jo heard music for the first time. This track played an important role in that event.
For Dr. Sam Illingworth, Mr Blue Sky will always take him back to the low-flying research-flights he made over the wetlands, greenlands and seas of the Arctic Circle with the shadow of the BAE146 plane beneath him and clear blue skies above.
The children of King's St. Albans in Worcester sing the track featuring at the end of the programme.
Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact
Producer: Karen Gregor
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I met my husband Nigel in the year 2000. We were set up by mutual friends of ours. |
| 0:06.0 | They got us together one night, all going out in a big group of people. |
| 0:12.0 | And that night I met Nigel, I knew I was going to marry him. |
| 0:18.0 | It kind of sounds a bit corny, I suppose, but I just knew. We were |
| 0:22.9 | soulmates. My name's Tracy Collinson and I'm mother to Henry and Charlie Collinson. |
| 0:30.5 | When you saw Nige, he had such a huge aura around him. |
| 0:38.6 | It was six foot five, big burly rugby player. |
| 0:43.0 | We're very fortunate to have two boys. |
| 0:46.9 | Nige, well, his kind of father that every child would wish for. |
| 0:53.9 | It's just wonderful. |
| 0:56.0 | Morning. |
| 0:57.0 | Nice morning. |
| 0:59.0 | Gets morning. |
| 1:00.0 | Gals, blue skies. |
| 1:05.0 | Nigel loved music. |
| 1:09.0 | All sorts of music. |
| 1:15.8 | Mom and it would be dancing around the house to meatloaf's bat out of hell. |
| 1:23.2 | And the next minute's sitting with a of red wine, listening to classical music. |
| 1:28.9 | But Mr. Blue Sky was the song that kind of came along from his university days, |
| 1:32.8 | that followed him along, really, and consequently has come down to us now. |
| 1:38.6 | Mr Blue Sky is living in the day. |
| 1:46.4 | Mr Blue Sky, Please tell us why |
... |
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