Well done, Steve! I hadn't spent much time thinking about much more than switching radio stations when it comes to "Seasons." Same with "Time in a Bottle," really, and as one who never paid/pays much attention to lyrics, I might have just assumed Croce had simply lost his watch in a jar.
Enjoyed your audio recording...boo-boos and all! I respect that (and writing about death, something else I wouldn't do)! I'll try to inch toward recording a piece...we'll see.
My death songs run together, and one of them is one of Brian Wilson's reportedly most personal lyrics; the other has lyrics by Van Dyke Parks ("Surf's Up"). It's "'Til I Die"/"Surf's Up" on the Beach Boys' 1971 "Surf's Up" album. I always have "pictured" them together (to me, they just naturally go together), and they do close out the album.
It never fails, though: I'm left all but weeping during/after! Less to do with death, etc, but just the sheer beauty of Brian's chord structure, and it's the perfect example of what music, just by itself, sans language, can bring about deep emotions. At least, in me!
Thanks, Brad! I figured you would have known the history of the tune if anyone! Glad I could provide a little bit of Kyle-ifying here. And thanks for listening to my VO attempt! It was 2:30am when I did it and wasn’t about to do it more than once, but considering my dry mouth, stuffed nose and brain deadedness, it came out better than I expected. I’ll try doing that more now. Even if no one listens to it. It’s a great way to know which sentences need editing...:). And the BW/VDP collabs always have a darkness beneath the gorgeousness. That is what provides such timelessness I suppose (or a continuous rebirth).
Westlife (an Irish boyband produced by Simon Cowell) did a horrendous version of Seasons back around 2000. I felt very sorry for tweens at the time, who deserved better than a poppy rendition of a grim death anthem.
Personal favourite death song is My Death, also by Brel. Bowie’s live version at the final Ziggy Stardust show is exquisite.
Ha- I did see the Westlife version but decided not to mention it, both because the piece was already long and also because like you say, the song is atrocious. I discovered that Brel “My Death” song while researching his career and yes, it is amazing. I need to school myself on Brel as I’m sadly ignorant on his contribution to musical and cultural history. Always more to learn where music is concerned!
Ok, I lied. I’ll share a song about death. Here’s a wonderfully moving song from Frank Turner’s latest album about his friend Scott Hutchinson, the singer from Frightened Rabbit who took his own life in 2018.
Thanks for this one, Rand. Yeah, I heard this one I think earlier this year, maybe not aware that it was about Scott Hutchinson. But although I wasn't a huge Frightened Rabbit fan, I did like them and knew of Scott's struggles with depression and mental illness. This song cuts deep as to so many Frightened Rabbit songs.
Another thoughtful and compelling post, Steve. The message at the end was well worth all the death talk.
I won’t mention any effective songs about death that I know, though I’m sure there are plenty (including many by the Hoodoo Gurus). Instead I’ll drop the earworm that landed sharply in my head after reading a few particular words that appeared early on in your post.
Friggin' love "Escalator of Life." Funny how the very beginning of the song sounds like Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing." What a truly horrible video though! I think I probably also had this song appear for a second or two when I wrote that sentence that inspired this for you.
Love this Weeve! A great reflection piece for end of 2022. I like how you "weave" the start of this year, A Year To Live (I've been thinking of that book!), stories of Nana (pic is priceless) into the discovery of this song from Dead to Me. I loved that scene. This season of DTM is deeper and more visceral than previous, combo of it being the last season, Christina's diagnosis, the behind the scenes love between Christina and Linda's real friendship, life imitates art imitates life. It's slower this season, more present. The song that brings me to tears about death is Prince's "Sometimes It Snows in April" from Under the Cherry Moon. I can't get through it without breaking down. Specifically, D'Angelo's rendition of it on piano a week after Prince died in 2016(on Tonight Show accompanied by Princess). It's heartbreaking and hauntingly beautiful, it sort of became a eulogy of his death, in April. Myth has it that song was written 31 years ago to the day Prince died. He was magic, the Purple guy.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to savoring the final 7 episodes (which shouldn't be hard to do as I have so little TV watching time these days) of Dead To Me.
"Sometimes it Snows in April" is definitely one of his very best. And several amazing tributes to Prince after he died that chose that song. I've been playing his first "symbol" album a lot lately, "My Name is Prince" and "Sexy MF" and so many other great ones on that album.
I almost skipped this because, well, the Terry Jacks song is one of the most unfortunate things, ever. But it was too late, the chorus started up in my amygdala as you no doubt intended, so I read on. First thought: your Nana reminds me of so many members of my family! I have also written an obituary for myself, will have to compare notes. OK, some of my favorite Death songs:
Nightwish "Shoemaker" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjp_DfvJimg This last one is an ode to Eugene Shoemaker, the first person whose ashes were intentionally laid to rest on another planet.
Haha- I don’t know why I get such a sense of accomplishment every time one of my earworms infects you! :-) Good choices with Fleetwood Mac and Oingo Boingo, hadn’t thought of that Oingo song for this theme, great pick. I will check out the Nightwish song when I can get back to my computer.
Well done, Steve! I hadn't spent much time thinking about much more than switching radio stations when it comes to "Seasons." Same with "Time in a Bottle," really, and as one who never paid/pays much attention to lyrics, I might have just assumed Croce had simply lost his watch in a jar.
Enjoyed your audio recording...boo-boos and all! I respect that (and writing about death, something else I wouldn't do)! I'll try to inch toward recording a piece...we'll see.
My death songs run together, and one of them is one of Brian Wilson's reportedly most personal lyrics; the other has lyrics by Van Dyke Parks ("Surf's Up"). It's "'Til I Die"/"Surf's Up" on the Beach Boys' 1971 "Surf's Up" album. I always have "pictured" them together (to me, they just naturally go together), and they do close out the album.
It never fails, though: I'm left all but weeping during/after! Less to do with death, etc, but just the sheer beauty of Brian's chord structure, and it's the perfect example of what music, just by itself, sans language, can bring about deep emotions. At least, in me!
Thanks, Brad! I figured you would have known the history of the tune if anyone! Glad I could provide a little bit of Kyle-ifying here. And thanks for listening to my VO attempt! It was 2:30am when I did it and wasn’t about to do it more than once, but considering my dry mouth, stuffed nose and brain deadedness, it came out better than I expected. I’ll try doing that more now. Even if no one listens to it. It’s a great way to know which sentences need editing...:). And the BW/VDP collabs always have a darkness beneath the gorgeousness. That is what provides such timelessness I suppose (or a continuous rebirth).
Westlife (an Irish boyband produced by Simon Cowell) did a horrendous version of Seasons back around 2000. I felt very sorry for tweens at the time, who deserved better than a poppy rendition of a grim death anthem.
Personal favourite death song is My Death, also by Brel. Bowie’s live version at the final Ziggy Stardust show is exquisite.
Ha- I did see the Westlife version but decided not to mention it, both because the piece was already long and also because like you say, the song is atrocious. I discovered that Brel “My Death” song while researching his career and yes, it is amazing. I need to school myself on Brel as I’m sadly ignorant on his contribution to musical and cultural history. Always more to learn where music is concerned!
Yeah, I really only know Brel from various English covers, although the few originals I’ve heard are all stunning https://youtu.be/-Z0UGGvb4sQ
Ok, I lied. I’ll share a song about death. Here’s a wonderfully moving song from Frank Turner’s latest album about his friend Scott Hutchinson, the singer from Frightened Rabbit who took his own life in 2018.
A Wave Across A Bay
https://youtu.be/FzXQVG5uPLI
Thanks for this one, Rand. Yeah, I heard this one I think earlier this year, maybe not aware that it was about Scott Hutchinson. But although I wasn't a huge Frightened Rabbit fan, I did like them and knew of Scott's struggles with depression and mental illness. This song cuts deep as to so many Frightened Rabbit songs.
Another thoughtful and compelling post, Steve. The message at the end was well worth all the death talk.
I won’t mention any effective songs about death that I know, though I’m sure there are plenty (including many by the Hoodoo Gurus). Instead I’ll drop the earworm that landed sharply in my head after reading a few particular words that appeared early on in your post.
Enjoy the flashback…
https://youtu.be/yD-id0xBO_k
Friggin' love "Escalator of Life." Funny how the very beginning of the song sounds like Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing." What a truly horrible video though! I think I probably also had this song appear for a second or two when I wrote that sentence that inspired this for you.
Love this Weeve! A great reflection piece for end of 2022. I like how you "weave" the start of this year, A Year To Live (I've been thinking of that book!), stories of Nana (pic is priceless) into the discovery of this song from Dead to Me. I loved that scene. This season of DTM is deeper and more visceral than previous, combo of it being the last season, Christina's diagnosis, the behind the scenes love between Christina and Linda's real friendship, life imitates art imitates life. It's slower this season, more present. The song that brings me to tears about death is Prince's "Sometimes It Snows in April" from Under the Cherry Moon. I can't get through it without breaking down. Specifically, D'Angelo's rendition of it on piano a week after Prince died in 2016(on Tonight Show accompanied by Princess). It's heartbreaking and hauntingly beautiful, it sort of became a eulogy of his death, in April. Myth has it that song was written 31 years ago to the day Prince died. He was magic, the Purple guy.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to savoring the final 7 episodes (which shouldn't be hard to do as I have so little TV watching time these days) of Dead To Me.
"Sometimes it Snows in April" is definitely one of his very best. And several amazing tributes to Prince after he died that chose that song. I've been playing his first "symbol" album a lot lately, "My Name is Prince" and "Sexy MF" and so many other great ones on that album.
You wrote your will without me? Can I have a copy?
Where there’s a will there’s a way
I almost skipped this because, well, the Terry Jacks song is one of the most unfortunate things, ever. But it was too late, the chorus started up in my amygdala as you no doubt intended, so I read on. First thought: your Nana reminds me of so many members of my family! I have also written an obituary for myself, will have to compare notes. OK, some of my favorite Death songs:
Fleetwood Mac "Dust" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i3w576gr9o
Oingo Boingo "We Close Our Eyes" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF2F88q0YDc
Nightwish "Shoemaker" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjp_DfvJimg This last one is an ode to Eugene Shoemaker, the first person whose ashes were intentionally laid to rest on another planet.
Haha- I don’t know why I get such a sense of accomplishment every time one of my earworms infects you! :-) Good choices with Fleetwood Mac and Oingo Boingo, hadn’t thought of that Oingo song for this theme, great pick. I will check out the Nightwish song when I can get back to my computer.
It's because I wear my suffering on my sleeve...
Great piece! Lots of food for thought and love the eulogy!
Thanks Felicia! And thanks for reading the eulogy! Felt too much add to an already long piece.