Musical musings

[kellinator]

(written last night in my living room)

While up in Nashville a couple of weekends ago, I was seduced by the moody smoulder of a posthumous poster into remembering that all the Really Cool People with Impeccable Taste in Music worship at the shrine of Jeff Buckley and wasn't it past time for me to check out the tragic golden boy, the John Keats (i.e., romantic poet who died too young) of our generation?

Now I'm sitting here in my living room listening to Grace and wondering what the hell is wrong with my shallow ass that I don't get it.

Granted, the songs I fall in love with at first listen rarely stick with me over the ones I grow to love. There are a million songs I've heard on the radio and just loved and unless I went out and impulse-bought the CD the next day (a not inconsiderable number), how many do I remember? But I know I didn't like Bob Dylan the first time I heard him, and now I adore him. Acquired tastes and all that. And I know I didn't like "Baby Got Back" the first time I heard it!

But I'm sitting here, and... it's okay, but it's not anything I would have run out and bought if I'd heard it on the radio. I mean, as far as the classic Leonard Cohen balad "Hallelujah" (also known as "If Anyone Needs Me I'll Be in the Bathtub Crying"), I think I have to give the edge to the Rufus Wainright version. Cripes. The version from "Shrek." They're going to take away my indie cred. Wait. I don't have indie cred anymore. I took it off my interest list to put in "geek cred," which is a made-up interest if I ever heard one and makes me a dork and not a geek.

But I really want to like Jeff Buckley. One of my college friends just adored him and drove four hours on a school night to hear him play in Memphis. Jeff was terrifically nice to him and they played a game of pool. Jeff drowned a couple months later... I hadn't even heard his music, but I felt the loss anyway. Rest in peace.

Comments

[wolvy]

I bought Grace years and years ago, because I'd once heard the song "Last Goodbye" and loved it.

I absolutely could not stand any other song on this disk.

Then, a few years ago, I was probably falling in love with someone and he mentioned listening to Grace...and so I put it on, and it was all kind of magical. Now it's a very emotional thing to listen to...so if it doesn't do much for you now, put it on a shelf for a while!

It'll grow on you, and soon you will understand. (and I forgive you for the rufus wainright comment).

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

I had a feeling it would be a case like that. Some CDs I've had for quite a while before realizing how wonderful they were.

[hooper-x.livejournal.com]

You THINK "geek cred" is a joke...

-HX

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Now I am struck with an overwhelming urge to get accepted into one of those non-ugly geek/nerd communities. Oh dear. Help me, Hoop!

[hooper-x.livejournal.com]

Be strong, ma'am.

I'm still not sure whether I should be honored or insulted by the results, you know?

I kinda wish it had been a unanimous Up Yours, tho.

-HX

[tikimama.livejournal.com]

I don't get Jeff, either. I wouldn't worry about it--taste is so subjective it doesn't really mean anything.

The fact that I think Radiohead is way overhyped and only marginally talented has killed and indie geek cred I had, so I suppose the Buckley thing is ok.

[bannanna.livejournal.com]

Wow...I don't know if you remember reading it or not, but I actually made a post about the very same song about a month ago. Weird.

[mybelle.livejournal.com]

eeks. sore subject. deserves its own entry so i'll give it one later tonight. check it out if you care to.

On a lighter note, jeff's version of hallelujah is depressing while rufus' is quite nice and uplifting. and rufus is equally as amazing live and i'd recommend seeing him perform live. he's on my top 10 of all time great shows!

[mybelle.livejournal.com]

eh. fuck it. its going here.

i'll try not to generalize but i think you may find the same appreciation for jeff that you now have for dylan. not because they write catchy lyrics that everyone loves to hear and sing along to, but because they tell real stories that many people can relate to.

i remember hearing last goodbye for the first time shortly after breaking up with my boyfriend of 4 and a half years. even though i considered it a good breakup and a positive thing for my life the song still hit home pretty hard.

This is our last goodbye
I hate to feel the love between us die
But it's over
Just hear this and then i'll go
You gave me more to live for
More than you'll ever know

This is our last embrace
Must I dream and always see your face
Why can't we overcome this wall
Well, maybe it's just because i didn't know you at all

....

Well, the bells out in the church tower chime
Burning clues into this heart of mine
Thinking so hard on her soft eyes and the memories
Offer signs that it's over... it's over

I think his stories speak for themselves. Keep listening to his stories, not the album, but his stories. because just like dylan he tells real ones.

sorry for the rant, but i think everyone can "get" him. they just need to listen to what he's saying.

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. I believe I will probably learn to appreciate him... in fact I'm almost sure of it. I'm just kinda disappointed because I figured I'd "get" him instantly, and now I'm afraid I have bad taste...

[mybelle.livejournal.com]

nah...i'm not sure if there is such a thing as bad taste as long as you really enjoy it.

unless its britney spears of course...but then again the songs aren't so bad...when she's not singing them...

blah. whatever.

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

scarcrest says the greatest song never recorded would be an Afghan Whigs cover of "Baby One More Time."

[mybelle.livejournal.com]

yeah, thats a good one.

[hooper-x.livejournal.com]

I think Henry Rollins might be able to do it better...

-HX