BEMU Honorary Fellow ceremony 2023: GRAHAM GOULDMAN (10cc) (including Q&A and concert)

In this event from Oct 4, 2023, at Brunnsvik College of Music (BEMU) which took place in BEMU’s facilities at Gamla Brandstationen in Borlänge, Sweden Graham Gouldman is bestowed with BEMU’s first ever Honorary Fellowship by principal Peter Holmstedt who hands over the award and reads the motivation after which Graham gives a little thank you speech.
This is followed by an extensive Q&A about songwriting moderated by program director and senior lecturer David Myhr. Graham answers many questions about songwriting both from David and students at BEMU. Graham begins by explaining how it all started for him. And for the first time he plays his first ever composition from when he was eleven that he "never had the gut to play that to anybody before”. The interview gives an interesting insight into how Graham approach songwriting. How he, when he gets onto "that songwriting track" often rather than actually writing he ”can hear what’s coming” in a process that he calls ”chasing the song”. He talks about how ”the best songs come really, really quickly” and that sometimes "it's almost as if the song almost already exists”. He shares anecdotes about some of his most-loved songs including the song that he picks as his own favourite from his vast catalogue spanning over 60 years: "Bus Stop”. In the middle of the Q&A he also performs an acoustic version of this classic song originally recorded by The Hollies in 1965.
The whole event finishes with a mini-concert with a full band where Graham sings three of greatest hits he had with 10cc; ”I’m Not in Love”, ”The Things We Do for Love” , ”Dreadlock Holiday”. As well as a couple more of his 60’s classics ”Heart Full of Soul” (The Yardbirds) and ”No Milk Today” (Hermans Hermits). The backing band consists of above mentioned BEMU program director David Myhr (who is also a songwriter/artist and label mate with Gouldman on English indie label Lojinx.com) , principal Peter Holmstedt, plus BEMU guest lecturer Peter Kvint (songwriter/producer), BEMU guest lecturer Niklas Hilleskär, as well as session players Lisa Bengter and Mårgan Höglund.
Price awarded by: PETER HOLMSTEDT Principal
Q&A conducted by: DAVID MYHR Program director
GRAHAM GOULDMAN Lead vocals, bass, acoustic guitar
DAVID MYHR Acoustic guitar, background vocals, tambourine
PETER KVINT Acoustic and electric guitar, background vocals
LISA BENGTER Keyboards, background vocals
PETER HOLMSTEDT Bass
NIKLAS HILLESKÄR Percussion
MÅRGAN HÖGLUND Drums
Photo by Stefan Altzar and Julius Wiklund
Video edited by Stefan Altzar
Sound by Jakob Grundtman
Graphics by Thomas Alm
Special thanks to: Graham Gouldman
Andrew Campbell/www.lojinx.com/
Björn Ulvaeus/Every Song has a story
Linnéuniversitetet/Make Music Matter/Göran Nikolausson
Clarence Öfwerman, Magnus Börjesson, Christoffer Lundquist and Magnus ”Norpan” Eriksson
Learn more about BEMU at bemu.se/
‪@bemucollege‬

[@Ronaldvanklooster]

Lovely to hear more detailed stories...

[@steely_Bob]

Happy belated 78th birthday(5-10-1946) Mr. Gouldman. I have been enjoying your beautiful music since the early 60’s. Thanks!

[@chartstuff000]

Marvellous! Graham living his best life, passing around his musical skill, knowledge and experience. Brilliantly presented. Great band! Thank you

[@user-sv8ji9kp6m]

Underbar musik känner mig som tonåring igen❤️❤️❤️

[@guellrich]

Graham's body of work is so impressive, I'm still discovering new (old) songs of his after more than 50 years. BTW he will release a new album soon!