http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Sun, 13 Mar 2005 15:39:20 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/23/153904.php#comment-128113 It had an effect on me, but mostly by circumstance. I grew up in NYC, and as an early teen became obsessed with the Beatles. John Lennon was killed in 1980 when I was 15 (my mother was in hospital dying of cancer; it was a rough winter). 1981 was a better year, and one of the highpoints was teh Concert in Central Park by Simon and Garfunkel, hometown heroes from Queens, who were reuniting for the first time since the 60's. I was there; it think of it as my personal Woodstock experience. "The Late Great Johnny Ace" was unveiled for the very first time at that show. A hush fell across the New York crowd as they listened to a stark, naked song andout stark, naked emotion, and stark naked sadness we all shared. Then, mid song, a guy rushed the stage and went right for Simon, shouting "I need to talk to you, man". Simon paused, looking shaken, for a second, but resumed the song and played it to the silent crowd. A week later, Simon played it on Letterman. As he got to the same part where the guy rushed the stage, the string broke. "Something always happens when I play that" he said to Letterman. The one on Hearts and Bones gets that philip Glass treatment, which is appropriate, and while I prefer the scary Central Park version, I do like the studio one. It is I think, a song with a real "you had to be there" caveat attached. Hearts and Bones (which was supposed to be Simon and Garfunkel, till Simon erased all of Garfunkels vocals) is Simon's most difficult album. It's spare, chilly, dreary, depressing. I never played it much myself. So if you don't dig the tune, I can see why. But it means something to me. 128113@blogcritics.org Sun, 13 Mar 2005 15:39:20 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/23/153904.php#comment-39117 It's a good, sad song, but not as tuneful as some of my PS faves. 39117@blogcritics.org Fri, 23 Jan 2004 17:17:04 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/01/23/153904.php#comment-39070 <i>Nobody really needs one more contemplative musical sigh about how it's kinda sad when your woman leaves you or you realize you just don't fit into society or you're getting old.</i> like hell i don't. it fits snugly right into my commie, pinko liberal wheelhouse. ;-) dang, i had no idea mr. glass was on that record. i may have to check it out. 39070@blogcritics.org Fri, 23 Jan 2004 15:49:11 EST