If your family was into music, then most likely you might have picked up some of your tastes from them. Its like some sort of audio second-hand smoke. My dad was into classical and jazz. Something clicked, so now I like classical and jazz. My mom was into Neil Diamond. And, no, I don't like Neil Diamond, but I can still remember the lyrics to most of his songs (I do a pretty spot-on impersonation of him too). When I lived in Germany my Euro friends were into Bau Haus and Siouxsie and the Banshees (oh, and the Thrill Kill Cult, too). But now, somehow, I'm into Frank, but with no visible line of connection. I can't stand My Way or New York, New York. I like the stuff from the 50s and 60s - the music with sadness. The man was flawed, but he could sing. No One Cares is one of my favourite albums. I listen to it when I'm down, or the weather is crummy. Give it a whirl, maybe you'll like it, too. If you listen closely on the tracks you can hear Frank cough, or breath in. It's a very human album.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Just a little more
If your family was into music, then most likely you might have picked up some of your tastes from them. Its like some sort of audio second-hand smoke. My dad was into classical and jazz. Something clicked, so now I like classical and jazz. My mom was into Neil Diamond. And, no, I don't like Neil Diamond, but I can still remember the lyrics to most of his songs (I do a pretty spot-on impersonation of him too). When I lived in Germany my Euro friends were into Bau Haus and Siouxsie and the Banshees (oh, and the Thrill Kill Cult, too). But now, somehow, I'm into Frank, but with no visible line of connection. I can't stand My Way or New York, New York. I like the stuff from the 50s and 60s - the music with sadness. The man was flawed, but he could sing. No One Cares is one of my favourite albums. I listen to it when I'm down, or the weather is crummy. Give it a whirl, maybe you'll like it, too. If you listen closely on the tracks you can hear Frank cough, or breath in. It's a very human album.
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6 comments:
My parents were never into music at all, in fact the only album I can clearly recall sitting under the turntable at home was ABBA's Arrival. You know, the one where they are all crammed into the helicopter. Well, somehow or other music managed to get under my skin and I ended up working for Virgin for seven years or so, exposing me to an eclectic range of music. I can even appreciate the entertainer's entertainment genius; Neil Diamond *cough*. Going so far as to see his incomparable routine performed live in the UK. I hasten to add that I didn't actually pay for the ticket, just in case you are thinking about giving me a good slap. Still, you've gotta admit Sweet Caroline is pretty catchy, he did write the Monkees classic I'm A Believer, and he has that great move when he gets down on one knee and points.
For all the great music I had the opportunity to listen at Virgin, I never once heard No One Cares. I know what you're saying about Frank though, so I may just go and check it out. Do you think I can find it to rent and rip in my local Tsutaya?
And Kit ten, you are one of only a handful of people I know who enjoy Kid A. I adore that album, and am dismayed that it is routinely dismissed as not being as good as their earlier stuff. If only people would listen to it without feeling the need to endlessly compare one album to another, perhaps they could uncover the sublime pleasure to be found in its series of understated, and at times bizarre, songs.
When I am seeking a dose of melancholy I invariably settle down to Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On or his overlooked, underappreciated, funky, soulful, jazzy, swinging, 70s 70s 70s, soundtrack to Trouble Man. Check it out, the music that is not the movie, which I've heard is truly diabolical.
"Sweet Caroline" is played during the seventh inning stretch (a traditional break in baseball) at Fenway park, so it is quite popular in Boston.
You might find No One Cares at Tsutaya (it is there that I found the Leningrad Cowboys: Go Space! - an amazing album; you guys should listen to it - with songs like "Space Tractor"... oh, brilliant!).
And you can never go wrong with Marvin Gaye.
Then, of course, too, there is always Bobby Darin.
OK, exactly why do they play "Sweet Caroline" during the beer break? I'm still reeling from the fact that the Red Sox are so called because they wear Red Socks, so I'm guessing the team owners wife is called Caroline or some other such simple explanation.
Tsutaya have just started a new delivery service, meaning I can pick and choose things from their website. I'll have a look for Frank and the Lennys and let you know how I get on.
Alex,
I'm not sure exactly why they play "Sweet Caroline" (there are a few different theories: some say it was to celebrate the birth of the daughter of one of the Red Sox's media managers, others say it was a fluke choice by the Fenway D.J. and it just hit a note with the fans) - all I know is that it is immensely popular (the crowd sings the trumpet part after Neil sings "...Sweet Caroline...").
They also play "Dirty Water" by the Standells right after a home team victory at Fenway. Oh, and I made a mistake: "Sweet Caroline" is played in the middle of the 8th inning, not the seventh inning stretch (that's when they play "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" on the organ - very traditional).
Hope this answers some of your Fenway music questions!
Wow, Tsutaya has moved into the 21st Century... let me know how you like Frank's album, and I can't wait to hear your reaction to the Leningrad Cowboys (these were the guys who were in the Finnish movie Leningrad Cowboys Go America - absolutely brilliant film).
Hey rc-1172!
Was that the piece that was on NPR?
How are things back home? I've only been gone a week, so all that much shouldn't have changed (I hope!).
That's great to hear (the Sox beating the Yanks - not the imminent Flood... ). Not that we could ever get tickets, but it would be great to see the Sox and the Yankees play at Fenway (gosh, ANY game at Fenway would be nice!).
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