What do the following artists have in common: Rickie Lee Jones, Natalie Merchant, Lori Mckenna, The Sundays, Bjork, Kate Bush, Ani DiFranco and Dar Williams? Each one, on first listen, made the rest of my world momentarily drop away. This is no joke.
Of course, the first would have been Rickie Lee Jones. I can still remember the way the goosebumps tracked their way up my arms during the first minute or so of "Chuck E's In Love". For a kid who listened to a steady diet of Zeppelin/Nugent/Black Sabbath this music, and my reaction to it, was shocking. It was probably the first time I realized that there was this whole other musical world waiting for me.
I've had a few more of these moments since then. Maybe my level of "shock" has decreased a little. But what remains a common element is the sense of wonder....uhm...I don't mean for this to sound so danged serious, 'cause more often than not I've heard this stuff during a car trip (to or from work), the 'moment' consisting of me thinking "Yow!!! What was that?!!"
The specific songs? "The Man With The Child In His Eyes" (Kate Bush), "Here's Where The Story Ends" (The Sundays), "32 Flavors" (Ani DiFranco), "Birthday" (Bjork/Sugarcubes), "Like The Weather" (Natalie Merchant/10000 Maniacs), "Hardly Speaking A Word" (Lori McKenna) and "When I Was A Boy" (Dar Williams).
Also: "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer. It was probably during Dawson's Creek. As soon as I heard that tune I just knew that Leigh Nash had been added to my dorky "Pop Singer Voice Hall of Fame".
"Kiss Me" came from their runaway hit eponymous CD. A fine pop record. Great music, interesting and uplifting lyrics and that sweet, sweet voice. It's the kind of thing that's immediately ageless...and I bet I would have loved it had I heard it the same day as my Rickie Lee Jones experience.
Article comments
1 - The Theory
i love this cd and this band. you should pick up the single for Don't Dream It's Over... it has a previously unreleased song on it and, this is no joke, it's the best song sixpence has ever done.
peace.
2 - Phillip Winn
Is that the "Hey now, hey now, don't dream it's over" song, remade?
3 - Mark Saleski
yep, dat's it.
4 - BRICKLAYER
What do the following artists have in common: Rickie Lee Jones, Natalie Merchant, Lori Mckenna, The Sundays, Bjork, Kate Bush, Ani DiFranco and Dar Williams?
Answer: The chick from Otep could kick all of their assess with one hand tied behind her back.
5 - The Theory
except for bjork. no one kicks bjork's arse.
peace.
6 - Mark Saleski
that's funny....i was gonna say that nobody kicks Ani's ass.
7 - The Theory
I'd like to see them try...
peace.
8 - BRICKLAYER
That's because she turtles after the first punch is thrown.
9 - Eric Olsen
I hear Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier's daughters are forming a band - THAT will kick ass.
10 - BRICKLAYER
With a rhythm section of Tanya Harding and Amy Fisher. Keyboards by the lady in Texas who drove home with that poor sucker in her windshield.