Maybe I'm the only one who does this, but I find myself thinking about the songwriter/singer and who he/she was writing/singing the song about.
There are some famous tunes, like Suite Judy Blue Eyes (Crosby, Stills & Nash) that chronicle a real relationship (in this case, Stephen Stills & Judy Collins).
Or the Jenny song, with the famous phone number.
But most songs go unattributed. Maybe they aren't about anyone. Or maybe they're written about a conglomeration of former lovers.
I know Paul Simon draws on real life. Hearts and Bones and Train in the Distance really resonate with me. It may help when the lyrics are based on real life experience versus something that's pure invention.
On the other hand, I'm a huge fan of Kat Edmonson, and I have no idea if she sings about real people. All I know is, she pours her heart out.
Also, no one, to my mind, ever owned Beyond the Sea the way Bobby Darin did. Easy, breezy on the surface, but with deep longing just below the surface.
And, while I like Frank Sinatra, and I appreciate that he could really belt it out back in the day, I never felt like Old Blue Eyes got anywhere near my soul when he sang.
Now, Ella, on the other hand, was pure passion. Awesome.
Janis Joplin still makes my heart ache.
Carole King's Tapestry is pure gold.
Boz Scaggs soothes my soul.
Sorry I'm rattling on this morning. I should just wrap it up and move on with my day.
A little James Taylor, you say?
Yes, that will work just fine.
No comments:
Post a Comment