A few days after I wrote about Eileen King’s passing, a reaction video for the Thomas Dolby song “I Love You Goodbye” appeared in my YouTube recommendations. To my knowledge, there was never a BusinessObjects conference in New Orleans. But if there was, Eileen would have been right at home.
I would never normally go bowling
On a Friday morning in New Orleans
But I like to come here to remember
The kind of places you took me
Thomas Dolby, I Love You Goodbye
Thomas Dolby is best known for his 1982 technopop hit “She Blinded Me with Science”. His session work as a synthesizer programmer and musician left an indelible and identifiable mark on Foreigner’s hits “Juke Box Hero”, “Urgent”, and (my personal favorite) “Waiting for a Girl Like You”. You’re forgiven if you cannot remember his soundtrack for the 1986 film Howard the Duck.
“I Love You Goodbye” expresses what is often difficult to put into words- the non-romantic love you have for a friend. It’s an unusual combination of Dolby’s signature electronica, a Bruce Hornsby-esque piano solo, and Cajun influences from Louisiana musicians Wayne Toups, Michael Doucet, and Al Tharp. You can find the music video and several reactions on other channels but the audio recording can be found on Thomas Dolby’s official YouTube channel. Take six minutes to listen and reflect on somebody that is now missing from your life.
Some words are sad to sing
Some leave me tongue-tied
(But the hardest thing to tell you)
The hardest words I know
I love you, goodbye
Thomas Dolby, I Love You Goodbye
Goodbye, Eileen.
Astronauts and Heretics is a great collection of songs, but if you are short on time listen to the two bookend tracks- “I Love You Goodbye” and “Beauty of a Dream”.
Actually … i think the 1st or maybe 2nd BOIUC was in New Orleans … vaguely remember Dave Rathbun telling me about it (how small it was) … my 1st was San Diego (Sea World party)
My first was BusinessObjects Insight 2006 in San Francisco. First time this midwestern kid tried sushi. Hey, it was free.