All of the entries in this series are impressive -- interesting and so thorough that they don't leave much to respond to. But, in this case, I was struck by the implications that songs which reference musicians as cultural icons are, in some way, less interesting than songs which tell us more about the musician. They are certainly more common, and less distinctive, but some of my favorite songs about musicians are simply about the importance of the music and the subjective experience of listening.
I do think a song like that is most interesting when it feels specific; when the artist isn't just an example of a general category, but you feel that the songwriter responds to that specific person's music.
Thanks for that comment, and I agree with you. While it's true that a couple of people I quote in this piece imply that there should be more about the musicians themselves in the songs, that is not my position, and at one point I argue against it (in the section on 'Kristofferson'). So I hope I haven't implied that songs that use musicians as cultural icons are less interesting.
I do evaluate the extent in each case that the song is about the musicians rather than the person who wrote and/or sang the song. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is that, in setting up a multi-part series called 'Songs About Musicians', I didn't just want to provide lists of songs that named musicians. I can come up with several of those in much less time than it takes to write these pieces, and it would be quite fun to do, but it wouldn't really lead to the kind of writing I want to do here, which is more discursive.
Another is that, having settled on that name for the series, I felt I had to address the 'About'. I briefly considered calling the series 'Songs that Cite Musicians', which would have avoided that issue, but that felt too clunky. When I answer the 'About' question for each song, it's not supposed to be a value judgement on whether the song is interesting. In many of the cases, the songs have been important to me in my own listening life. This was the first post in the series where I included a song (or two) that are only in there because they fit the concept and context of the piece rather than because I've listened to them a lot. I was therefore a bit judgy in places, but that's about my opinion of the song's quality as a song or performance.
Thanks for flagging Tom Russell's 'Nina Simone'. I'm a big fan of both those artists and have been thinking about doing a future post in the series on Nina, so that would be a great example. And Tom Russell has written so many homages to artistic figures that he could be a good case study for stretching the boundaries of the series and maybe discussing song about artists beyond music.
That all makes sense. Part of why I acknowledged that songs which mention musicians are more common was that I recognized that you needed to have a clear focus for the series and that's a reason to be a little stricter.
To some extent I was just using the comment as an excuse to mention some of the songs which had come to my mind since you started the project . . .
Speaking of which, since you close with the possibility of songs about artists other than musicians, one of the first songs I thought of was Laurie Anderson's, " The Rotowhirl" about Andy Kaufman. (Years ago I made a mix CD which contained within it a series of songs that I called the "artist-as-hero triptych. Two of those were "Lady Day and John Coltrane" and "The Rotowhirl" I can't quite remember the third one).
Ooh, songs about Andy Kaufman would be a good post if extending this beyond musician subjects, with songs by REM and Sage Francis (and others) to add to Laurie.
I am always impressed, intrigued, and amazed at the direction you take us and the research in your pieces, Richard. I also never know where you will next take us! 😊
All of the entries in this series are impressive -- interesting and so thorough that they don't leave much to respond to. But, in this case, I was struck by the implications that songs which reference musicians as cultural icons are, in some way, less interesting than songs which tell us more about the musician. They are certainly more common, and less distinctive, but some of my favorite songs about musicians are simply about the importance of the music and the subjective experience of listening.
For example Tom Russell's "Nina Simone " -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1bTJyRdy0U
Gil Scott Heron's "Lady Day and John Coltrane" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aRNUsmfeck
Or Iris Dement's version of Greg Brown's "The Train Carrying Jimmy Rodgers Home" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8txoip5hxo
I do think a song like that is most interesting when it feels specific; when the artist isn't just an example of a general category, but you feel that the songwriter responds to that specific person's music.
Thanks for that comment, and I agree with you. While it's true that a couple of people I quote in this piece imply that there should be more about the musicians themselves in the songs, that is not my position, and at one point I argue against it (in the section on 'Kristofferson'). So I hope I haven't implied that songs that use musicians as cultural icons are less interesting.
I do evaluate the extent in each case that the song is about the musicians rather than the person who wrote and/or sang the song. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is that, in setting up a multi-part series called 'Songs About Musicians', I didn't just want to provide lists of songs that named musicians. I can come up with several of those in much less time than it takes to write these pieces, and it would be quite fun to do, but it wouldn't really lead to the kind of writing I want to do here, which is more discursive.
Another is that, having settled on that name for the series, I felt I had to address the 'About'. I briefly considered calling the series 'Songs that Cite Musicians', which would have avoided that issue, but that felt too clunky. When I answer the 'About' question for each song, it's not supposed to be a value judgement on whether the song is interesting. In many of the cases, the songs have been important to me in my own listening life. This was the first post in the series where I included a song (or two) that are only in there because they fit the concept and context of the piece rather than because I've listened to them a lot. I was therefore a bit judgy in places, but that's about my opinion of the song's quality as a song or performance.
Thanks for flagging Tom Russell's 'Nina Simone'. I'm a big fan of both those artists and have been thinking about doing a future post in the series on Nina, so that would be a great example. And Tom Russell has written so many homages to artistic figures that he could be a good case study for stretching the boundaries of the series and maybe discussing song about artists beyond music.
That all makes sense. Part of why I acknowledged that songs which mention musicians are more common was that I recognized that you needed to have a clear focus for the series and that's a reason to be a little stricter.
To some extent I was just using the comment as an excuse to mention some of the songs which had come to my mind since you started the project . . .
Speaking of which, since you close with the possibility of songs about artists other than musicians, one of the first songs I thought of was Laurie Anderson's, " The Rotowhirl" about Andy Kaufman. (Years ago I made a mix CD which contained within it a series of songs that I called the "artist-as-hero triptych. Two of those were "Lady Day and John Coltrane" and "The Rotowhirl" I can't quite remember the third one).
Ooh, songs about Andy Kaufman would be a good post if extending this beyond musician subjects, with songs by REM and Sage Francis (and others) to add to Laurie.
And, I'd argue that it feels more closely connected to songs about musicians than, for example, getting into the many songs which reference painters.
Good call on the Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson track, Nick!
I am always impressed, intrigued, and amazed at the direction you take us and the research in your pieces, Richard. I also never know where you will next take us! 😊
Thank you, Michael. I feel similarly about your posts!
Really interesting and thought-provoking.
Thank you.