Geneviève Guedra


Meet Geneviève Guedra from Perpignan, France.

THE WORLD IS NOT SO BIG...

Like many of you here (people haunting Steve's site), I have been an America fan for many, many years, even if back in 1973, I was only a ten-year-old child.

I was born in France (near the German border) in the early 60's, the lucky little sister of a brilliant boy (Hey brother, don't forget my birthday present!!!) whose musical tastes were to influence us (i.e. my younger sister & me) more than my parents probably wished (LOL). He indeed introduced me to the Beatles, The Doors, Hendrix, Soft Machine, CSNY... to mention just a few, at an early age.

Put aside my love for music, I quickly took a deep interest in VOICES. Jim Morrison's is still a fave. I confess I just can't help shivering with pleasure when hearing Riders on the Storm. Among today's first class voices, R Orzabal (from Tears for Fears) ranks as a top one. And of course I'm also a huge Opera fan. Now maybe you think this is irrelevant, out of topic? It's not, believe me! Just imagine what a thrill it was to hear the voices on this America LP a friend of my brother's had brought home on some occasion! It was INSTANT LOVE for the guys' voices/music & this "Horse" LP which I still regard as one of my most precious possessions. Of course I soon bought their second album & a copy of each of their subsequent records on the very day they were released in my country.

The only trouble is, to me, that being a fan of this outstanding band has been no bed of roses - especially in the 80's (I then used to live in England & unfortunately it was even worse there than it is "on the Continent" IMO). I think the guys never received half the attention they deserved from the media, which made it hard work for fans to keep in touch & get updated info about their work & gigs. Nevertheless, I seized the opportunity to attend one of the three concerts they gave in France in July 1985, an experience I still regard as my best personal "adventure".

And now thanks to people like Steve L., it seems that in the end, THE WORLD WAS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO LOSE TRACK OF THEM!!!

I now live in the South of France (in Perpignan), not far from the Spanish border (a 2 hour ride from Barcelona), & next to some wonderful historical places like Collioure (a small town on the Mediterranean sea much visited by tourists from all over the world & even by many American citizens for its great colors attracting famous painters from around the world & its GREAT -high quality- WINES as well)!!! I wish America will pay us a visit very soon. And what about you, guys reading my words?

Feel free to send your comments or questions to Geneviève.



Written: 21 March 2002