Blogcritics Comments on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:23:22 EDT

Do I have to turn my gay membership card in if I can't stand musicals?

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:19:32 EDT

I don't feel old... do you?

Comment by Tom Johnson on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:40:08 EDT

Thanks Clavos, I never knew what that song was (sorry, not old enough and never have seen Guys and Dolls.) I knew it wasn't something created for the movie, but had no idea what it was.

Comment by El Bicho on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:44:44 EDT

I first heard it from the 1973 "Julie [Andrews] on Sesame Street" special when some Muppets sang it.

Comment by Clavos on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:35:45 EDT

Thanks to Oh God, You Devil I have had "I got the horse right here, his name is Paul Revere" in my head for the past 24 years. If you're old enough, it could have been in your head for the past 58 years. The line is from a song titled "Fugue for Tinhorns," from the musical, Guys And Dolls, which opened on Broadway in 1950, and starred an actor named Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo, who was Alan Alda's father, and whose stage name was Robert Alda. A movie version, starring Brando and Sinatra, came out in 1955.

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:15:24 EDT

Thanks Tom, I actually have one and three on DVD. The solo piano part he was always playing is one that I pluck out on my piano every so often. I watch either one when I'm down in the dumps. I liked the end when he couldn't figure out if he were talking to the devil or God.

Comment by El Bicho on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:57:41 EDT

Because I say it is so. Considering that's the form of logic you use, you can't take issue with it now unless you want to make a number of retractions above. Or there is this tact: rub some cinnamon or nutmeg in your eye. You will see they are not spicy at all.

Comment by Tom Johnson on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:54:46 EDT

I think the second one was called "Oh God, This Sucks." Thanks to Oh God, You Devil I have had "I got the horse right here, his name is Paul Revere" in my head for the past 24 years. I can't imagine God not being George Burns. I'm betting I'm one of millions who feel the same way.

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:16:50 EDT

John Denver played an assistant grocery store manager, Terri Garr played his wife in the original "Oh God" movie. The 2nd Oh God sucked (the little girl) The 3rd-(Oh God-you Devil) was great. George Burns played both god and the devil. A 2nd rate singer/songwriter sells his soul to the devil in order to become famous, he seeks out god in Las Vegas to get out of the deal and God plays a hand of poker with the devil to win it back.

Comment by Tom Johnson on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:37:01 EDT

I never made it past the 70 page mark of Dune, nor was able to sit through the movie, but that only proves that I think it's boring. I did enjoy John Denver in whichever Oh God movie he was in. When I was 8, or 6, whatever. "Think God!" Maybe that was the second one with the little girl, now that I think about it.

Comment by Jordan Richardson on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:58:58 EDT

The Bible? Gosh Chris, try and keep up. That's from Dune.

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:40:44 EDT

Main Entry: opin�ion Pronunciation: ə-ˈpin-yən Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin opinion-, opinio, from opinari Date: 14th century 1 a: a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter b: approval, esteem 2 a: belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge b: a generally held view 3 a: a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert b: the formal expression (as by a judge, court, or referee) of the legal reasons and principles upon which a legal decision is based -- opin�ioned -yənd adjective synonyms opinion, view, belief, conviction, persuasion, sentiment mean a judgment one holds as true. opinion implies a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute (each expert seemed to have a different opinion). view suggests a subjective opinion (very assertive in stating his views). belief implies often deliberate acceptance and intellectual assent (a firm belief in her party's platform). conviction applies to a firmly and seriously held belief (the conviction that animal life is as sacred as human). persuasion suggests a belief grounded on assurance (as by evidence) of its truth (was of the persuasion that everything changes). sentiment suggests a settled opinion reflective of one's feelings (her feminist sentiments are well-known).

Comment by Mark Saleski on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:36:23 EDT

"dull", "bland", and "insipid" all inhabit the same universe in definition, which is why most dictionaries list each as alternate entries. all opinion.

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:19:37 EDT

Careful Chris, Maj. Winchester on MASH made that very same vow, and Hawkeye & BJ went all out to make him talk until he cried "Uncle"...

Comment by Christopher Rose on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:34:29 EDT

Mark, you're mistaken. The word I used was bland. That is a quality. Dull would be an opinion. My opinion is that Denver's bland music is dull. It is also possible, just, to be bland without being dull. Having just broken my own commitment not to comment any more on this, these really are my last words on the subject, promise.

Comment by Mark Saleski on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:27:27 EDT

Personally, I can't explain or prove gravity either. Does that mean I should deny its existence? Of course not. another logical sidestep. the point in all of this is that you're the only person here who thinks "dull" is a fact and not an opinion. that is a fact.

Comment by Christopher Rose on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:18:02 EDT

Jordan, I just don't like long nerdy and ultimately fruitless conversations, which this has long ago become, so this is my last comment here. You don't seem able to accept that there is a framework or architecture to any group of stuff, such as music, but I do. Things don't exist in a vacuum do they? I'm not a musical historian but it seems patently obvious to me that music evolves and grows and by definition there is some structure to that. It doesn't seem an awfully big stretch to call that a framework. You are criticising me for not articulating the "traits or characteristics" but why should I be expected to? I couldn't explain the characteristics of a house's construction either, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have one. You also state that I "claim to know everything about (funny how you refuse to identify any traits or characteristics of the framework) that explains, objectively and factually," but I have never done that, so once again you are tilting at imaginary windmills. At least half of everything you have written has been either excessive or inaccurate or both. The latest example of this is where you pick out part of my comment #151, in which I asked El B to explain why he thinks the word spicy could NOT be applied to Cinnamon, but you seem to have understood the exact opposite. Maybe you should climb down from your self-constructed high horse of critical righteousness and try to get in touch with the real world, which is full of structure wherever you care to look. I am comfortable knowing that all things have structure and see no problem in describing them for what they are, in the case of Denver's music, that is blandness. You seem to need some proof for this but I am not the one that can supply you with that. That doesn't mean I'm wrong in my perspective, nor does it mean I am lacking in honesty. Personally, I can't explain or prove gravity either. Does that mean I should deny its existence? Of course not. Tom, now that's a spice worth having! Do you know where I can score? Mark, yes, of course. I didn't know you had a written copy of the framework. Can you lend it to Jordan? Jordan, what? Quoting the bible are you? Next you'll be doing something all modern like reviewing Oasis. What a wacky guy! Jet, sure. John Denver is an old fashioned artist working within the mainstream of folky country music. Or is that countryish folk music? Better check with Jordan. Neither Denver nor that kind of music has had a new idea for decades. New Order produced nothing but new ideas and music for well over a decade.

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:08:33 EDT

Grammy Awards Grammy Hall of Fame Award, 1998, "Take Me Home, Country Roads" American Music Awards Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, 1975, 1976 Favorite Country Male Artist, 1976 Favorite Country Album, 1976, "Back Home Again" Country Music Association Awards Song of the Year, 1975, "Back Home Again" Entertainer of the Year, 1975 Academy of Country Music Awards Album of the Year, 1974, "Back Home Again" Emmy Awards Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special, 1975, "An Evening with John Denver" Other recognition People's Choice Award, 1977 Poet Laureate of Colorado, 1977 Carl Sandburg's People's Poet Award, 1982 NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, 1985 Albert Schweitzer Music Award, 1993 Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, 1996 Now, lets compare that with New Order shall we?

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:49:47 EDT

Clavos... Someone actually read the review?????

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:44:21 EDT

Sorry, that sort of came out before I could stop it.

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:41:31 EDT

To grow such chastised yet docile delicate wings on the thermal updrafts of folly in order to escape the verbal cliffs of hyperbole and historically hysterical and yet memorable laughter sought through fascinated verbal thrust and parry... if in only a day of remembrance of a cherished and singular soul of whom's spirit allows the listener to share the rapture of the eagle in flight or the dolphin mid-leap. Ahhhhhh...

Comment by Jordan Richardson on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:37:06 EDT

Damn straight.

Comment by Clavos on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:35:12 EDT

John Denver nothing. YOU inspired it, with your review, Jet.

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:32:59 EDT

John Denver was have been an extrordinary artist to have inspired such intellectual debate...

Comment by Jet on Music Review: The Essential John Denver

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:30:37 EDT

Wild Ass?