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The new millenium was the time for the Seekers to say goodbye to their
friends, fans and followers all over the world.
After the reunion in the early 90s and being together as a group for a longer period then in the 60s,they decided to call it a day.
So their "Carnival of Hits Tour 2000" was declared as their last tour as a group.
Many members of our list went to their concerts and used the opportunity for get-togethers with other members from the Surfin' Seekers.
The tour started in New Zealand and then went through Australia. That was in February, March and April. After a little pause in May they headed for merry old England (and Wales and Scotland) to also say / sing a personal goodbye to the people there. Unfortunately there will be no concerts in the countries of our 'North American Tribe'-members, so all members of the group, who were lucky to see The Seekers performing during this tour, will try their utmost to be at leas good reporters.
Barbara Scott about the Auckland concerts:
....Sounds as though the Melbourne concerts were as sensational as the Auckland
concerts. They're singing better than I've ever seen them before. I'd have to
concur with O'Sullivan's observation re "This Is My Song". The richness,
depth and expression with which Judith sang that song was breathtaking. An
absolutely magnificent couple of concerts to add to the memories. "Colours of
My Life" remains my favourite of all - has been from the first time I saw them live
in 1993, at the concert that started it all for me.
What a way to go out ... on such a high note. Here's to them - all four of
them ... and a very big thank you for everything they've given us. I wish
them all the best of good things in the years ahead...
Julie Logie about the Dunedin concert (who met The Seekers
personally after the show):
.... Anyway the show
was fantastic. They were as usual all in great voice. The Dunedin town hall would be
one of their smallest venues & it was full. I don't know how their voices fill larger
venues but their sound is so strong and feels so close that you could almost inhale it
into your being (if you know what I mean).
At my melancholy moments I wondered how I was going to preserve this moment in time and
make it last my lifetime - perhaps if I breathed even deeper the feeling would last longer
and I could absorb it into my soul? I was going to note down the songs they sung but
decided just to relax and enjoy it all. Ruth and Brian have already done a good job
of naming most of them. The one that bought me out in goosebumps was Judith singing
Plaisir D'Amour (one of my favourites) sung with perfection. Stephen's favourite was
Judith singing This is My Song. ........
Ruth Martin about the Auckland concert (she later met The
Seekers personally after the Wellington concert):
WOW! I've just come back from my 'night in the city' at Auckland's Aotea Centre.
THAT WAS THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE! i could't believe it!! i was just so blown away!
That's the best i've EVER heard TS sing, and they were SO relaxed and jovial. The
mix of songs were brilliant, and the group were all very energetic and happy. Judith,
especially I thought, was cracking a lot of jokes, very relaxed. She even missed her cue
on Myra, yet again! she said something like, 'oh dear, that's happened before, on
the Live video!' The first song TS sang when they burst on-stage was You Can Tell The
World, and it was very dynamically played/sung. (there back-up team of musicians was
brilliant...)
Their harmonies were so sharp and rounded, Judith sounded gorgeous, of course, and LOOKED
it, too :) A couple of VERY surprising numbers came up....especially when Judith began
singing This Is My Song! It was so magical.
Peter Kington about their Brisbane concert (after the show he
handed our group's birthday card to Keith Potger and also said hello to the other
Seekers):
This evening was fabulous. As the lights dimmed, the
now-familiar medley of hits, strummed on guitar, played delightfully as the excitement
within the auditorium mounted. As the medley drew to a close, the spots fixed on the
curtain and to raptuous applause, The Seekers walked, one-by-one, onto the stage.
They broke into a rousing rendition of You Can Tell The World, which set the pace for a
jam-packed evening of all their greatest hits, nicely linked together with some of the
newer tunes like Shores of Avalon, Bush Girl, Keep A Dream In Your Pocket and of course, I
Am Australian. A pleasant surprise and most welcome addition, was You're My Spirit -
although done slightly slower than the '93 edition, still as vibrant and brilliant as
ever.....
Every song they sang was a highlight, but especially Just A Closer
Walk With Thee. There was a very heavy emphasis on the gospel component, which was
AWESOME. Gospel songs performed included When The Stars Begin To Fall, Light From
The Lighthouse, You Can Tell The World, Open Up Them Pearly Gates and We Shall Not Be
Moved. Walk With Me was a delight and their using I'll Never Find Another You as
the opening song for the second act, set a fantastic pace too. Tonight's was
probably the best rendition of Myra and Someday Oneday I've ever heard. They keep
getting better the longer they do this.
They saved the big guns for the last couple of songs and as the crowd sprang to their
feet, shouting for me, the emotion of the whole evening really hit home for me. A
selfish moment had me thinking, "It's not fair, I want them to go on forever",
but then a sense of contentment and peace descended upon me which had me thinking,
"No, this is just perfect. Thank You for all you've given us" and with
that several tears rolled down my cheek as the sang those final notes of The Carnival Is
Over.....
A stellar performance, full of emotion, thanks and positivity. This was The Seekers
at their best; they've received the recognition they deserve, they retire still at
the peak of a long and exciting career together and we've all had the chance to say
Goodbye, one last time.....
For our group this were the most important and most frequented concerts. A lot of gatherings of group members and a backstage meeting with the Seekers took place. There are loads of personal memories, which fill pages. Just click here:
The Bournemouth concert # 1 & 2 / Personal concert reviews / Surfin' Seekers at Hengistbury Head
But there were also some press reviews:
Scotsman newspaper:
WORLD OF THEIR OWN
At 10pm on Monday night, as the nation tuned to the BBC and sang Perfect Day on
Music Live, The Seekers' audience packing the [Edinburgh] Playhouse were maybe just having
one. On the dot of 10pm, the full-throated sound and upbeat melody of Georgy
Girl, the foursome's greatest hit, rang round the theatre.
It was 1967 again, only better. This time the perms in the stalls were silver,
but the sound was still gold. The kids who had never seen them before gawped,
chewed gum and clapped in delighted captivation. The Seekers had come; they had
sung; they didn't have to conquer. They rode the wave of good-time
memories. The rest was just applause. Deservedly so.
These Sixties greats played with verve and brio. Right from the opening chords
of You Can Tell The World, their warm-up number, you knew they could hack it.
The boys had improved their voices more mellow, rich and textured; while Judith
Durham, slimmer, slinky and hot to trot, drew lascivious whistles from the
crowd. Her voice is a dictionary of emotions: warmth that mingles a
certain wistfulness, unalloyed joy, regret, celebration, and its power was undiminished.
They covered their catalogue of hits, from I'll Never Find Another You, through
Morningtown Ride and A World of Our Own. What we got was fullsome and ripe,
backed by keyboards and subtle percussion. And it was gripping. Bathed in the
lyrics of The Carnival Is Over, the audience caught the poignant vibe.
The Seekers were making their last farewell. The stalls and balcony sang in
harmony. Then they were gone, but not forgotten. "
Newcastle Evening Chronicle:
JUST LIKE A FAMILY:
The Seekers have been together for 36 years now and they can still boast the original
line-up from the 1960s when the picture was taken. But they have decided to call it a day
with their final tour
IT'S 10pm and Judith Durham is starting to wind down after yet another hectic day. Despite
the blistering heat, 25 degrees even at that time of night, she has been working all-out,
preparing for The Seekers' farewell tour.
Many pop acts have had farewell tours in the past and then found themselves back on the
road a few years later. But Judith Durham and The Seekers are adamant that this is it,
after an incredible 36 years together. "This is definitely, definitely the final
time," says the amiable singer from her home and office in Melbourne, Australia.
"We're giving it our all, as we always do, but this time around we are realising how
much the music does mean to our fans."
"The response we've been getting has been overwhelming, from toddlers to
grandparents. We've worked hard to get this just right and it's paid off." "So I
don't mind the long days, as we are doing what comes naturally to us. We're enjoying it
more this time around, even though it is all coming to an end."
The Seekers still boast their original line-up. They first set the charts alight in the
mid-60s, with hits like Georgy Girl, I'll Never Find Another You and, of course, The
Carnival Is Over, which knocked the Rolling Stones off the top spot.
The good times did eventually come to an end when, in the late 60s, the members went their
own ways. But you can't keep a good thing down forever and the band reunited for a series
of gigs to mark 25 years in the business together.
Now, though, they all agree that the time is ripe for finally calling it a day. "We
all have a sense that time is running out and we all have so many different things we want
to do with our lives, so it's time to say the carnival is over," says Judith.
"We have a very good mutual respect and appreciation for each other's contribution.
We are four different characters but that seems to give us that unique sound."
"And we have been together for so long now that we are really one big extended
family, I suppose."
So what will Judith do now that The Seekers are calling it a day?
"I will go on singing myself but this is definitely the last time we are going out
touring. And I'll also be concentrating more on my writing,"she says." "I
feel so blessed at being a creative person and being able to absorb myself so much in what
I do and to be doing this thing that I've always wanted to do."
"It's just a love that I've had ever since I was a child." "I would love to
have a stab at the charts again. But I don't think it will be easy for me to get
airplay." "Radio is so strange these days, many acts are just not given a chance
to be heard."
"But, who knows, maybe this tour will relight some flames for us and maybe some radio
stations will start playing my music again."
Judith Durham and The Seekers are at Newcastle City Hall tonight."