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Admit it, you got a little misty. What's odd is that Clarence Carter usually specializes in licentious cheating songs like "Strokin'" and "Slip Away." But on that song he just pulled out all the stops. He's also blind, which makes it even more hanky-worthy.
(I admit it, I'm a shameless greaser born 30 years too late. It's a hazard of being a kid in the 70's when we were up to our ears in 50's and 60's nostalgia)
the second movement of Beethoven's seventh. Man, that one makes me tear up just thinking about it.
Wow, it's all in the ear of the beholder. That movement is sheer, unadulterated glory for me.
Actually, a lot of those oldies have hidden subtexts that have only come clear now that I'm older. Like this song. Where is Bobby if he isn't home? It occurs to the adult jonmc that Bobby's in Vietnam, and may not come home at all.
Well, I can relate; the last time a piece of music made me cry, it was Bach's Italian Concerto. And the reason was just because it was so strong and beautiful it made everything else seem indescribably frail and shabby.
Now I think about it, it's not usually outright minor-key pathos that gets me. It's almost always the sense of something better and brighter, but fleeting.
People made fun of this the last time I mentioned it, but still.
Now, the front door of yousendit seems to be broken at the moment, otherwise I'd send this one along, too. It's got some extramusical connotations for me that make it especially powerful, but even without those, that rustic, antiquated tone in the lyrics is enough.
This song can make me tear up if I hear it at a "vulnerable moment." The lyrics just sound sort of melancholy, unless you know that Wayne Coyne wrote it about his father dying, in which case it becomes serious fuel for the waterworks.
And Jon, I actually remember my granddad playing "Patches" on his stereo when I was a kid (mid to late 70s). At the time it made me horribly sad, but now I have to admit that it makes me chuckle a little bit, just for being so over the top.
Well, over the top is a virtue in it's own right, man. Me and Pips just finished watching The Wild Angels, a biker movie so over-the-top that the Hell's Angels who played bit parts in it sued for defamation of character.
Damaged by the seventies. I think my first grandparent died the same summer that "seasons in the sun" was released, and since that time I have always found that song a horrifying memento mori. As a child it would make me cry uncontrollably. As an adult I find it doubly horrifying; the original childhood emotions are there, but the adult can also appreciate the horror of its maudlin wonkiness.
*shudder*
Oh, I agree, Jon. Hell, if I wasn't a fan of "over-the-top"ness, I wouldn't love Lou Reed like I do. I have friends who consider some of his stuff depressing, but I swear I grin at a lot of it. (Can't find my CD of The Blue Mask or I'd share a prime example.)
Oh, I agree, Jon. Hell, if I wasn't a fan of "over-the-top"ness,
Yeah, but on a weird level, I understand that there's something genuine behind all the schmaltz in "Patches," so that keeps my appreciation from being completely about the outrageousness, thus rendering it geuinely moving, even now. If that makes any sense.
But I truly acknowledge that balancing the over-the-top outrageousness that's essential to rock and roll style with genuine emotional content is an incredibly delicate balancing act. Witness this Dictators song (yeah, they're my boys, big whoop, ya wanna fight about it?). It's over-dramatic and ridiculous, but so are human emotions a lot of the time, at least most people's are, so that's where the trick comes in. I'm also on my 9th or 10th beer of the night so I'm not making as much sense as I'd like. Or I'm making more sense. Whatever.
Oh yeah, that make sense... I don't know that I agree with you that there's anything genuine behind "Patches," but who knows? Maybe there is. Weirder things have happened. :)
BTW, The Wild Angels is the source of a sample in one of my favorite Primal Scream songs. I also love Roger Corman, but haven't seen that particular flick.
I don't know that I agree with you that there's anything genuine behind "Patches," but who knows?
Well, Clarence Carter did grow up in Alabama, and the description seems relatively accurate for a black man of his age bracket. But in the Dictators song I uploaded, the guitars are maudlin and so are the vocals, but it captures the sensation of lost love (especially for a young man) perfectly; I mean "pass the beer/while I shed a tear...This just aint my parade...the mood is right/I need my freinds tonight" who hasn't been there?
Frankly, I think that the whole fact that modern culture has made the deadpan/"whatever" the acme of cool has made artists afraid to show their more maudlin/outre emotions and that's frankly why most modern popular music sucks ass, IMHO.
And there’s even some evil mothers
Well they’re gonna tell you that everything is just dirt
Y’know that, women, never really faint
And that villains always blink their eyes, woo!
And that, y’know, children are the only ones who blush!
And that, life is just to die!
And, everyone who ever had a heart
They wouldn’t turn around and break it
And anyone who ever played a part
Oh wouldn’t turn around and hate it!
Sounds like a man who understood emotional honesty to me.
Frankly, I think that the whole fact that modern culture has made the deadpan/"whatever" the acme of cool has made artists afraid to show their more maudlin/outre emotions and that's frankly why most modern popular music sucks ass, IMHO.
posted by jonmc 30 September | 21:39
"Popular" music, maybe, but the indie scene is all about wearing your heart on your sleeve. (I don't think that's a bad thing.) A lot of it is unfortunately more whiny than affecting (the entire "emo" genre, to me) but man, you don't get much more emotional to me than the Flaming Lips (song posted above), Mercury Rev, Neutral Milk Hotel, etc. In fact NMH's album In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is another piece of music that has made me choke up on more than one occasion... the overwhelming sense of LOSS on that album is just... well, overwhelming.
the indie scene is all about wearing your heart on your sleeve.
Bullshit. It's about being cute and coy and ironic and appearing hip while you do it. Nothing the emo crowd has ever come up with can touch a Ramones or Dictators or Replacements b-side, let alone a Stax/Volt or Elvis Presley song for emotional honesty. If the indie kids could let go of their fear of eye-rolling and being thought uncool, they might amount to something, but I ain't holding my breath. And yes, I'm a cranky old fart.
I don't wanna sound like I'm scolding you, boringpostcards, but something like the Miracles "I Gotta Dance To keep From Crying," is way more affecting(at least to me) than any indie rock song, so I gotta state my case. YMMV, of course but I can't resist the urge to expose you to something that'll enrich your life.
Bullshit. It's about being cute and coy and ironic and appearing hip while you do it.
posted by jonmc 30 September | 21:54
No, you're falling for the hype there. Did you hear "Waiting For A Superman," that I linked above? Have you ever heard Neutral Milk Hotel? There's a very strange band from Athens called Of Montreal who ARE about as uncool as you can get, and some of their songs will tear you in half, once you get past how dorky and uncool they are. (And having talked with several of the members at length, I can tell you, it's not an act.)
There IS a lot of the ironic-ness you talk about in the indie world, of course... I admit, I like a lot of those bands, too. But there are some of them who can convey rich, mature emotion in their music, and I love 'em.
There's a very strange band from Athens called Of Montreal who ARE about as uncool as you can get
By Britney-pop standards they're uncool, but by indie standards they're too cool for school. They'd rather die than write and perform something as straightforward as the stuff I've linked. They've traded one silly standard for another. I've listened to the bands you've mentioned and they leave me cold for the most part (although "She Don't Use jelly" by the Flaming Lips is an inspired goof). I think that the problem is that the people who would write songs like the ones I find moving are uninterested in both the pop and indie scene, which leaves them no place to go.
Also, just so you don't think I'm some redneck philistine, I spent most of my teens and twenties listening to college radio and hearing bands in dank basements and buying records in weirdo indie/used stores. I've been in the world you're talking about. I also took my share of eye-rolling for my tastes and opinions there, but i wouldn't trade it for anything.
Also, realize that I love LOTS of kinds of music, so it's not like I'm an evangelist... I am a Motown freak, I am not ashamed of the prog-rock in my collection, I've seen Marilyn Manson in concert more times than any other artist, and I consider Dolly Parton to be a national treasure.
On preview: looks like we issued our disclaimers at the same time. :D I did not think you were a redneck philistine, I'm just wanting to share other stuff that I get excited about. Just as you do, and I always appreciate it.
My better half is calling me to dinner, so I'm gonna drop out of sight for now, but I look forward to more of these discussions in the future.
Also, realize that I love LOTS of kinds of music, so it's not like I'm an evangelist... I am a Motown freak, I am not ashamed of the prog-rock in my collection, I've seen Marilyn Manson in concert more times than any other artist, and I consider Dolly Parton to be a national treasure.
Sounds like you're a guy who could join me and Divine_wino's barrom salons on music, my man. welcome aboard.
Patches used to make me cry when I was a little kid - I'd forgotten all about it. Patches and, from the same era, here, I give you the most truly shameless tearjerker song of all time. Be glad I didn't link to an actual version.
jon, do you know the Refreshments? They're up there in my favorite bands of all time/desert island discs list. If I ever figure out Winamp & Yousendit (this is not at the moment looking too damn likely) I'll send a couple of songs along.
Well give your ID card to the border guard
Yeah, your alias says you're Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Of the United Federation of Planets
'Cause he won't speak English anyway
Everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people...
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