Sportsman of the Year - A Suburban Philosophy

RNZ Originals
RNZ Originals
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A celebration of life, its foibles, & its perfect imperfection. It's singer-songwriter Jan Hellriegel's life journey; a story (& songs) not about the destination, but about grit and never giving up.

  1. Episode 1

    Hound Dog

    In episode one of Sportsman of the Year, Jan Hellriegel argues that some of the worst things in life might just turn out to be the best. "Looking back, I realise some of the worst things ever just happened to be some of the best things in disguise. I just didn't know how to read the signs" - Jan Hellriegel 2019. HOUND DOG (IT'S A GOOD LIFE) Shuffling around with my nose to the ground and my eyes all covered in scrim I'm feeling sorry for myself and I don't know why because in truth I have everything. What am I to choose as I fluff along this mortal coil? What am I to lose if the road I choose is a lighter toil? It's a good life if you want it if you let it into you. It's a great life if you call it if you call it into you. But it's a Hound Dog if you let it eat away at you. So come on call it in the good life. Let it in to you. Days and days and hours and hours working for the man. The rents catching up and you're going nowhere but you're doing the best you can. What am I to choose as I fluff along this mortal coil? What am I to lose if the road I choose is a lighter toil? It's a good life if you want it if you let it into you. It's a great life if you call it if you call it into you. But it's a Hound Dog if you let it eat away at you. So go on call it in the good life. Let it in to you. Days and days and hours and hours. You watch your folks become tethered and soured. In and out around the round. There's no respite from the daily grind. La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la. It's a good life if you want it if you let it into you. It's a great life if you call it if you call it into you. But it's a Hound Dog if you let it eat away at you. So go on call it in the good life. Let it in to you. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

  2. Episode 2

    Love and Conviction

    Doing something, even if it fails, is better than doing nothing. "Doing something is way better than doing nothing, even if it's hardly doing anything at all."  - Jan Hellriegel 2019. LOVE AND CONVICTION  I've walked this earth a long time and I've done all kinds of things. Delivered fish to fancy restaurants, sold gold and bling and rings. I've cleaned a lot of hotel rooms, sold beer in dirty bars. Packed records in cold warehouses and polished lots of cars. One thing I'd like to say right here and will say it loud Is that I've loved you with a passion in the here and in the now. Some things I'm really proud of and I don't mind if I share. Other things I've screwed right up, they're whispers in the air. I've met a lot of people I know I won't meet a second time. Some friends have now departed and I know my wrongs from right. One thing I'd like to say right here and I will say it loud Is that I've loved you with a passion in the here and in the now. I say it now to all who'll listen I've loved you long and I've loved you hard. I say it now and with conviction You have my love. You have my heart. Well there's been some pretty bad times and oh so many good. Sometimes I've been bewildered, other times I've understood. But I've always kept on loving you, never faulted from the path. Sometimes I've been defeated but I knew it wouldn't last. One thing I'd like to say right here and I will say it loud Is that I've loved you with a passion in the here and in the now. I say it now to all who'll listen I've loved you long and I've loved you hard. I say it now and with conviction. You have my love. You have my heart. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

  3. Episode 3

    Ice IV

    They say knockbacks, rejections and mistakes just make us stronger. The worst gig in the world tested this philosophy. "If everything was super easy and I didn't have to face the odd bump in the road or difficult time, then I guess my resilience muscles wouldn't be in such good shape." - Jan Hellriegel 2019. ON ICE III Gentle sparkle so serene. This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. And a good friend took me there. All I could do was stop and stare into this place, This space. Oh I, I'm on ice can't move anywhere. And it's so cold here on ice. The rune said you can not move. You're weighted down by forces, which are hidden from view. Take comfort that the time will come. When you will thrash your arms in legs in all directions And all will be forgiven. Oh I, I'm ice can't move anywhere And it's so cold here on ice. On ice the ghosts go stalking. They start to rearranging your mind. They get your mind And I've seen it and the sound that it makes. Could turn the warmest blood into the coldest of crystal If you would let it. The hue of the place is such That it could break your heart in two if you would let it. But will you? Will you? Go down to the lakeside and search out the meaning. Salvage what left you and start disbelieving. Will you, oh will you go down With me? Oh I, I'm on ice, can't move anywhere. It's so cold here on ice. On ice. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

  4. Episode 4

    For the Love Of Glory

    They say you should never meet your heroes. But that isn't always true. "I realise that things are pretty good right now and although I know there will always be trials and tribulations which accompany life, today I just say 'phew!'" - Jan Hellriegel, 2019. FOR THE LOVE OF GLORY I have trekked across the Tundra And wrestled in Japan. Sailed around The Horn And raced the Isle of Man. And it's all following you. Crossing desert plains on barefoot I discovered Noah's Ark. I worked 10,000 hours, left my family cold and dark. And it's all following you. Oh for the love of Glory, she is such an elusive Queen. Oh for the love of Glory, she will lick the damage clean. I have acted out in stadiums And made them beg for more. Humiliated lovers Smeared their hearts across the floor. And it's all following you. I have desecrated temples And I've told a thousand lies. I've sacked and burned and pillaged And I've left good men to die. And it's all following you. Oh for the love of Glory, she is such an elusive Queen. Oh for the love of Glory, she will lick the damage clean. I have lied and stolen, cheated Made them get down on their knees. Eliminated rivals, left them twisting in a tree. All for the love of you. Oh for the Love of Glory, she is such an elusive Queen. Oh for the love of Glory, she will lick the damage clean. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

  5. Episode 5

    Neptune and Me

    How hard is it for a woman to have a career in music? "No matter how uneven the playing field, I resolve to work with what I have on hand today. Because the alternative is to quit and, quite frankly, that is not going to happen." - Jan Hellriegel 2019. NEPTUNE AND ME Wash right through me dark blue currents. I belong to the rolling waters. I belong to the bubbling seas. And you. These things are becoming real. The lighthouse keeper has broken the seals. Light's shining through. Who cares at all about the troubles I've seen? They've got enough of their own. Who cares at all about the lessons I learned? They've got enough of their own. Dark blue ocean Stormy greys. Swimming in the sea is better that way' Being tossed in the waves till your hair begins to fray With Neptune. Who cares at all about the troubles I've seen? They've got enough of their own. Who cares at all about the lessons I learned? They've got enough of their own. Who cares at all about how cruel he can be? Who cares at all about the troubles I've seen? Wash right through me dark blue currents. I belong to the rolling waters. I belong to the bubbling seas. And you. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

  6. Episode 6

    Ode to the Promise of Youth

    When you are growing up, life sometimes seems totally random. But at other times it's all like a set of perfect coincidences. "If the darkest hour is right before the dawn then hold on and make a cup of tea while you are waiting to greet the new day.This episode is dedicated to those friends and family who have left us far too early." - Jan Hellriegel 2019. ODE TO THE PROMISE OF YOUTH There it goes the promise of youth Of handsome and might. There it goes faster than light. These are the stories we have told. These are the stories which go round and round till they get old. And I see you. You're in her eyes. She has your way about her. And shows such promise. And so it goes on Round and round. Till the stories get told and they make no sound. And the reasons why and the reasons because. And the reasons go round and round and round. Until they've gone. I remember the drive. We were young and we were so free. And we had things we had to do. Things seemingly so easy. And I see you You're in her eyes. She has your way about her And shows such promise. And so it goes on. Round and round. Till the stories get old and they make no sound. And the reasons why and the reasons because. And the reasons go round and round and round Until they've gone. Last thing I said was "Have a great day you, We just live down the road now, It was so good to bump in to you" And the stories get old. They go round and round. And the stories get told 'til they make no sound. And the reasons why and the reasons because. And the reasons go round and round and round Until they've gone. They go round and round and round and round until they've gone. Goodbye you x Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

  7. Episode 7

    High Maintenance Man

    Great loves have been the inspiration for a lot of great love songs. And a lot of rubbish, too. "So they don't love you anymore? Be grateful; they are standing aside so the right one can see you better." - Jan Hellriegel 2019. HIGH MAINTENANCE MAN Hot Dog Met him in the city, the neon lights weren't shining But tea and scones and cake were all around. You know I wasn't looking He wasn't looking For lovers But that is what we found. He came over We started talking He asked me questions Never did he talk about himself. I knew it had been a hard one He'd known it tough but The lights still flickered in his eyes. And I was hooked And I was stung And I was done High Maintenance Man. You're doing what you do to drive me crazy High Maintenance Man You demand every ounce, every part of my will High Maintenance Man. It's true Some things are sent to test us To show us new and bold ways To think about the things you've never done. No way Can you decline it The intervention Deep down you know it's what you're looking for. And I was hooked And I was stung And I was done High Maintenance Man. You're doing what you do to drive me crazy High Maintenance Man You demand every ounce, every part of my will High Maintenance Man. And the road is a time bomb Littered in debris. Caught in the cross fire Fake eyelashes mock me. And through all the accolades Blowouts and comedowns Here I stand with my head held high Poised and ready and reaching high High Maintenance Man . Hot Dog Met him in the city, the neon lights weren't shining But tea and scones and cake were all around. You know I wasn't looking. He wasn't looking For lovers But that is what we found. And I was hooked And I was stung And I was done And all the world It made more sense And everything The Art of War.… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

  8. Episode 8

    Mother and Son

    Take one step at a time. Just put one foot in front of the other. "There is no denying life can sometimes be very prickly or it can be the sweet sniff of a rose." - Jan Hellriegel 2019. MOTHER AND SON How did I get caught like this? Tangled up so I can't run. How did I get caught in the cold though I am under the sun? Without the light of a smile of someone I love. How do I feel so alone? In a room full of people I know and they're having such fun. How can I raise the bar when it's so far above? What is the meaning of our nonsensical life? One step at a time my boy One foot in front of the other. The journey may take some time to unfold But you'll get there in the end. How did I fall so far down? Yesterday I was racing for the sky. How do I pick myself up and make it all right? How do I face it now? This wonderful fight. One step at a time my boy One foot in front of the other. The journey may take some time to unfold But you'll get there in the end. And all the things you will discover When you jump on a breeze It'll comfort and take you there. And know that you're loved But some things you must do on your own And I know in my heart You have all that you need. Oh ah. One step at a time my boy One foot in front of the other. The journey may take some time I know But you'll get there in the end. And all the things you will discover And all the mountains you will climb over time. From up there You'll see the world. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

See All Season 1 (13)

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A celebration of life, its foibles, & its perfect imperfection. It's singer-songwriter Jan Hellriegel's life journey; a story (& songs) not about the destination, but about grit and never giving up.

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