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April 03, 2008

Loser Music

People like to ask writers if they listen to music while they work and, if so, what kind. No one has asked me this question, but never mind. I’m gonna make like I get it all the time and that there’s something oppressive in having to go through it all yet again. So yes, I listen to music. What kind? Whatever iTunes shuffles out. God. Right now, I’m into Icelandic music—Mum and Amiina—but probably I’m saying this because it sounds cool and I want to prep you for disclosures that are forthcoming and that are considerably less cool. So here goes: Last summer, my friend Nina and I were supposed to drive to Storm King. That or some singing-rock garden  in Pennsylvania. Anyway, she had the genius idea of making playlists for the ride—guilty pleasures, she called them—of songs we like in secret, for whatever reason, likely nostalgia or psychosis. I got all excited about this because I got some doozies to share. Sadly, we never went on our trip. So: playlist, yes; an experience of mutual humiliation, no. After all, what is confession but a road to intimacy? I felt cheated. So now I’m going to make up for it, which is to say: Apologies to all of TEV’s readers for subjecting you to the following, except to those of you who feel closer to me for it:

1. “Making Love out of Nothing at All” -- Air Supply
2. “Seasons of Wither” -- Aerosmith
3. “Any Way You Want Me” -- Bread
4. “My Help Cometh from the Lord” -- Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
5. “How Can I Tell You” -- Cat Stevens
6. “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” -- Chicago
7. “I Love To Hate You” -- Erasure
8. “Fast Love” -- George Michael
9. “Mr. Brownstone” -- Guns & Roses
10. “Nursie” -- Jethro Tull
11. “Chief Rocka”  -- Lords of the Underground
12. “Another Part of Me” -- Michael Jackson
13. “1984” -- Jay-Jay Johanson
14. “Beloved Wife” -- Natalie Merchant
15. “I Remember You” -- Skid Row
16. “Father and Daughter” -- Simon & Garfunkle
17. “Not an Addict” -- K’s Choice
18. “Je Suis Malade” -- Serge Lama  (beware)

Yeah, like anyone’s going to buy my book now. I’m a loser! Well, I also like Radiohead? And the Pogues? And Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave, Iggy Pop and Animal Collective? I grew up with music (my parents are musicians) and I think as a writer it’s incredibly important to cultivate a good ear—to try to listen for the rhythm and cadence of your sentences—and I’d like to think I try to do this when not, you know, in haste, which is why I listen to music when I work, even to music of dubious value. Nina, are you reading this? Is anyone? Because I expect to see some compensatory posting in the comments section within the next hour, please.

Posted by Fiona Maazel at 10:17 AM in Guest Bloggers |

Comments

REMEMBER YESTERDAY?
WALKING HAND AND HAND...
LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND..
I REMEMBER YOU!

Posted by: charlie | April 03, 2008 at 10:28 AM

You said I love you babe, without a sound
I said I'd give my life for just one kiss
I'd live for your smile and die for your kiss

I love how Sebastian Bach rhymes kiss with, uh, kiss. Ingenious! I saw Skid Row open for Aerosmith in 1989. I was in 8th grade. Best show ever. We all loved Sebastian Bach because even though all those glam rockers were femme--remember the lead singer for Poison?--SB had something authentically sweet about him that seemed to relieve the malaise of being an 8th grade girl with problems.

Posted by: Fiona | April 03, 2008 at 10:41 AM

Fiona, what disturbs me most here is that you think we aren't still going to DO this field trip. WE HAVE TO DO THIS FIELD TRIP, if for no other reason than to play this terrifying mix. My playlist is no less terrifying, you should know. Among other things, I was going to have to come out to you with my deeply held love of the Doobie Brothers and The Little River Band.

Posted by: Nina Katchadourian | April 03, 2008 at 10:59 AM

This is precisely why I am scared to death about being asked to do a Paper Cuts post on my music (as much as I'd love to try) - I accept that, in popular music, my taste sucks. (Jazz, classical, that's another story but that seems to obvious an attempt to be seen as highbrow - though I had some great, rare Bill Evans takes to share.) Lately, I've been downloading one-hit wonders from my youth - anyone remember Sky High by Jigsaw?

Nothing to boast about here, I fear. Now's a good time to drop Elgar's name and beat it.

Posted by: TEV | April 03, 2008 at 11:01 AM

For the record, Fiona, Sebastian Bach did not write any of I Remember You. The record was already written when the Skids hired him as their lead singer. He rhymed the song that way on the track, yes, but that's because it had been written as such, primarily by Snake Sabo, but also by the rest of the band.

Bonus points if you name the New Jersey rocker who helped get the Skids signed, and who continues to collect royalties for any and all sales of that song.

Double bonus points if, without doing a Google search, you can name the band who, during the eighties, gave us the immortal song: See You In Hell My Friends.

Posted by: Savage Animal! | April 03, 2008 at 11:41 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcmVhXpt_ps

"I am a savage animal!
This band is a savage animal!
Rock and Roll is a savage animal!
It rolls off the tongue."

Posted by: Savage Animal! | April 03, 2008 at 11:48 AM

I like "Toxic" by Britney Spears and most show tunes. Your list is lightweight loserdom at best.

Posted by: Cheryl | April 03, 2008 at 12:01 PM

Oh, I had a feeling there was more to the Skid Row story than that. I don't purport to be an expert. Grim Reaper, though, that I got. Hilariously, the very excellent Charles Bock just emailed me the song in toto. He also says it's Sebastian Bach's 40th birthday. Weird.

As for my musical taste, AHEM, I was dishing out the humiliating stuff. Probably I could do better if I didn't want to be humiliated. You should totally do a Paper Cuts post.

Posted by: Fiona | April 03, 2008 at 12:08 PM

Cheryl, you rock. Maybe I should have added "My Immortal" to the list. "My Immortal"!

Posted by: Fiona | April 03, 2008 at 12:12 PM

Finally, someone who knows Season of Wither. Alas, I can't say much for the rest of your list, but it's damned good idea

Posted by: Lori | April 03, 2008 at 12:51 PM

Whenever I karaoke Welcome to the Jungle, which is whenever I karaoke, I like to sing a little Mr Brownstone / Paradise City medley during the break or bridge or whatever you want to call it.

Posted by: Antoine Wilson | April 03, 2008 at 01:06 PM

Why is listening to classical or jazz highbrow?

I mean, aside from maybe some Scriabin sonatas and some Mahler symphonies, the music from the classical and romantic periods is pretty easy to listen to. Only when you start getting into 20th century stuff do things become more complicated.

Is Charles Mingus' "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady" considered highbrow?

Schnittke's "Concerto Grosso No 1" sounds like a Donald Barthelme story. If Don B. had lived under the Soviets.

Besos,

Cesar Bruto (que bruto!)

Posted by: Cesar Bruto | April 03, 2008 at 01:10 PM

Every year for about FIVE in a row, I dressed up like Slash for Halloween. I certainly have the hair for it. And, uh, being a late bloomer, I also had the chest.

Posted by: Fiona | April 03, 2008 at 01:11 PM

"Beloved Wife" is brilliant - it's the never-ending "I May Know the Word" or "Rain" from TigerLily that makes me hang my head in shame.

Natalie Merchant's so pretty.

Posted by: Mark B. Snyder | April 03, 2008 at 02:33 PM

"Beloved Wife" is brilliant - it's the never-ending "I May Know the Word" or "Rain" from TigerLily that makes me hang my head in shame.

Natalie Merchant's so pretty.

Posted by: Mark B. Snyder | April 03, 2008 at 02:34 PM

Yikes - I meant the Phoenix tribute "River"

Posted by: Mark B. Snyder | April 03, 2008 at 02:37 PM

Just have to send a little more love Amiina's way--their live set is fantastic.

Posted by: Darby | April 03, 2008 at 09:54 PM

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