Angelo Kelly: Smile for the Picture

YouTube has become a cornucopia of musical artists and styles that it has renewed my interest in listening to and finding new (to me) artists. It has confirmed my belief that there is a lot of great music out there that the general public never hears because particular songs lack a certain formula or that the promotional dollars are not flowing. The cream, hopefully, will eventually rise to the top. With that in mind, I recently discovered an artist who is no stranger to European audiences – Angelo Kelly. Today’s song is called “Smile for the Picture.”

Angelo Kelly was born in Spain to American parents and is an Irish citizen that makes his home in Germany. Did you get that? He began his career as part of the vagabond family of musicians who travelled all over the world performing and supporting themselves with their musical craft. The family that contained 12 children and parents were wildly popular in Europe, but are virtual unknowns in the USA. Throughout the years they have sold over 20 million albums.

Angelo, the youngest child of Dan and Barbara Kelly, has an interesting story in his own right. When his mother was pregnant with Angelo, she was diagnosed with cancer. Her physicians encouraged her to abort the baby so that she might be able to get the treatment she desperately needed to live. She refused and in essence sacrificed her life so that her youngest would live. He did and she died shortly after he was born.

At the age of two, Angelo began performing with his father, brothers, and sisters and has grown in his musical ability. He is a multi-instrumentalist that plays virtually anything that is put in front of him. During his teenage years, he honed his skills as a songwriter and producer.

Today’s cut not so subtlety places the blame of Lady Di’s death on the scourge of the rich and famous – the paparazzi. Don’t let his adolescent looks influence you, as his voice is full of power and can really drive a message. This particular song has more of an edge than his normal fare – and it really is reminiscent of the grit and determination one finds on Bruce Cockburn’s album “Stealing Fire.” This hard hitting song really drives. I hope you like it.

Lyrics

She's a comic figure now, we read about it in the magazines
How she lived and died
Some say she was a saint, others say she was a whore
But in the end everybody cried

Won't you smile for the picture while you die tonight
Because the world is watching, you know the world is watching

It ain't personal don't take it wrong, I'm just tryin' to do my job
Gotta get the picture in
The people have the right to know 'cause when you're down it makes them happy
Who cares if it costs your life

Won't you smile for the picture while you die tonight
Because the world is watching, you know the world is watching
Won't you smile for the picture while you die tonight
Because the world is watching, you know the world is watching

Io io oh oh, io io oh oh, io io oh oh, let's send a prayer
Io io oh oh, io io oh oh, io io oh oh, let's send a prayer

Ten years have past and nothing has changed, we still finance all those criminals
'Cause we love to see the blood

Won't you smile for the picture while you die tonight
Because the world is watching, you know the world is watching
Won't you smile for the picture while you die tonight
Because the world is watching, you know the world is watching

Io io oh oh, io io oh oh, io io oh oh, let's send a prayer
Io io oh oh, io io oh oh, io io oh oh, let's send a prayer

Angelo Visits Folkfriends in Hamburg, Germany