Don't Think Twice It's All Right: the moment I 'discovered' Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan!!!

 

I don't know what to say, I adore his music more than almost anything, except The Beatles.

 

And that my friends, is really saying something.

 

But it wasn't always this way, I knew Dylan, knew his stuff, as a music lover how can you not? But I think I got caught up in the whole he can't sing, he's a bit too precious, and he's difficult, and I just didn't GET him. Funnily enough, these are the things I love about him the most now! I also was overloaded on his popular folksy stuff way too much in music lessons when I was younger, no matter how good something is, if it is shoved in your face too much, too often, it becomes tiresome. 

 

And so it went.

 

When his book, Chronicles, Volume 1, came out, I read it purely out of curiosity, not knowing how much I would love it. Or how much it would make me smile, because of his history and knowledge, and because he was bloody funny.

 

But also...because he is a wordsmith, a poet, a man with a turn of phrase that delights me, and now has a profound effect on me.

 

And then one day out of the clear blue sky I heard Don't Think Twice It's Alright on the radio...I song I knew, knew well, but up until then had never really heard.

 

I remember it so well, it was about 7 years ago, I had my new car about a week, and was driving and thinking about a boy long gone, and this song came on, and I just like that I got Dylan.

 

I remember going home and digging out his greatest hits and playing it over and over again, sobbing and smiling.

 

And I was gone...in the best possible way.

 

And it wasn't really about the long gone boy, or every other long gone relationship, it was just the right words to express those feelings, the culmination of life's disappointments and the calmness I felt about them upon hearing that song. Which is why it is my go to song for comfort now. At least that's my interpretation of the feeling of it.

 

It is not his best song I guess, but for those reasons it will remain my favourite forever, and one song I will never tire of hearing.

 

I know it is about Suze Rotolo disappearing overseas and abandoning him, mostly as he'd been a bit of a dope and a bit too intense for her, but of course he was bereft and missing her. I read her book and can appreciate both sides of the situation, it's also a fine book.

 

To me Don't Think Twice It's All Right is also about self respect and love and yearning. All the things that make the world go round really.

 

And it's a very polite fuck off too, and I love the ambiguity of that.

 

"You just kinda wasted my precious time, don't think twice it's all right."

That could possibly be one of my favourite lyrics ever.

 

I think it's also about people not realising the impact they can have on others, for good or for bad, and how we can unwittingly treat others not as well as they deserve, or be treated similarly ourselves, sometimes without even realising until after it has happened.

 

Other lyrics that really sing to me from it are:

 

"It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe" - advice I need to pay more heed to!

 

"But I wish there was somethin' you would do or say. To try and make me change my mind and stay" - That moment where you're waiting for that last grand gesture.

 

"I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul" - that thing where you give the very best of you to someone and they kinda stamp on you and destroy or try to destroy your soul, purposefully or not.

 

"Goodbye's too good a word, babe. So I'll just say fare thee well" - the ultimate kiss off!

 

Bless you Bob, whenever I feel down or used or hurt I listen to it and somehow, melancholy as it is, it makes me feel better, it warms my heart, hugs me lyrically and assaults every sense in my body in such a way it can bring me to tears. Sometimes tears of joy, sometimes tears of genuine sadness. I don't mind either way, to me that is the testament of a perfect song.

 

Musically I love it's rhythm, and the fingering on the guitar is so sweet and intricate. Add in the mellow harmonica and his voice (forlorn and melancholy), to me, sounds pretty perfect and that is why I love it so.

Don't Think Twice It's All Right (the song)

 

I could go one forever about Bob, but many have done it before me and so much more eloquently.

 

So instead, here is a list of my favourite things:

 

The Blonde on Blonde album cover

 

Blonde on Blonde 

 

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

 

Blood on the Tracks

 

Time Out of Mind/Love and Theft/Modern Times trilogy

 

Christmas in the Heart

 

Like A Rolling Stone - his best song

 

Subterranean Homesick Blues - all those words, all that attitude, musically fluid, and THAT video!

 

If Not For You and the pretty xylophone riff

 

Don't Look Back AND No Direction Home

 

The vibe and sentiment of Knocking on Heaven's door and Forever Young

 

His sense of humour...probably moreso in later life

 

He wrote the Ab Fab theme song...many years earlier of course

 

Chronicles, Volume 1

 

His wild hair and those cool black sunglasses

 

He's daggy AND the epitome of cool simultaneously

 

His authenticity

 

His intelligence

 

His way with words

 

His politics and hippy peace

 

He does it his way

 

He is fucking important musically

 

The perfect poetry of Blowin' in the Wind

 

"You may call me Bobby, You may call me Zimmy" in You Gotta Serve Somebody

 

Manfred Mann's cover you You Angel You

 

The Band and The Last Waltz

 

Theme Time Radio Hour

 

The beauty and fragility of Just Like A Woman

 

And the way I'll be your Baby tonight makes me melt

 

It's all over now, Baby Blue - his voice is not great in this, but the intent in there and his phrasing and rhyming is fabulous

 

Every single lyric he has ever written

An aside, I've been working on this for over a week, and could do forever and still not be happy with it. No doubt, once I hit publish I will think of something to add or change, but I'll let it go for now...it seems the right thing to do...

 

Neil Finn: falling at his feet...

 

 

 

I saw Neil Finn for the upteenth time on Thursday night.

 

I've seen him so many times now I have lost count, I've seen him play solo, with various backing bands, with his brother Tim, with Split Enz once, and of course many times with Crowded House.

 

I guess you could say I'm a fan. 

 

He's never ever delivered a bad performance, but this last performance, at the beautiful Civic Theatre - my Mecca for all things wonderful in Newcastle - was superb.

 

He played a mix of everything, songs from the new album, Dizzy Heights, solo tunes, obscure tracks rarely played live, Crowded House tracks, and a large selection of Split Enz.

 

He also channeled The Kinks and Michael Jackson, playing the guitar and drums almost at once, which was fabulously fun!

 

 

He also played a lot at the piano, songs he hadn't played on the piano before too, and they were superb!

 

And he was loving every single minute of it, having fun with us the audience, playing and joking about. This is not unusual for him, but it just made me appreciate what a consummate yet genuine performer he is. It's a rare thing, I have spoken about this before. I go to a lot of concerts, and it's really rare to go to a dog (I have good taste you know!) but sometimes whilst the performance is great you just don't feel the love, it feels somewhat perfunctory. You never ever get that with Neil.

 

His band was not Split Enz or Crowded House but they were pretty good. His wife is playing bass with this incarnation of the band, and I wondered how she felt, and indeed how he felt, hearing these stunning songs, so obviously written for her, performed with her own interaction. It must be the ultimate romantic notion...or at least to me.

 

But really, it's all about Neil. His stage presence, the way he glides about on stage, his spectacular voice, and those songs.

 

For me, as much as I love his musicality, it's the lyrics. They bring me to my knees, his way with words is second to none. They are poetry in motion, and filled with emotion and romance.

 

As he writes in one of my favourite tunes, "Where your words devour my heart. And put me to shame, put me to shame."

 

Neil, that's what we think about you.

 

My heart was caressed, melted, and devoured for the entire time you were on stage. 

 

 

I think at some point in the future I will have to post about my favourite Neil Finn lyrics...

 

 

Paul Simon and Rufus Wainwright

When I heard Paul Simon was touring - with Rufus Wainwright no less - I got very excited. A huge fan of both, I was ready for action, but the dates available made it impossible for me to go, and one was at the vineyards, a location I am not fond of for concerts. But when the vineyard concert changed to the Newcastle Entertainment Centre (again, not a great venue) it made my attendance easier! I couldn't believe, for once in my life, luck was on my side.

Rufus Wainwright, fabulous son from a talented family, is a prodigious talent. His sister, definitely has the better voice, but how can you not love this gorgeous man who did a whole concert paying homage to Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall! Our seats were good and we were thrilled when he arrived on stage looking Rufusy! Just him and a grand piano, he sounded good, though appeared nervous at times. He toggled between guitar and piano with no band whatsoever. That is brave and he pulled it off easily. His piano playing was superb and he was physically dramatic, swaying along with his playing. Such intensity, as you would expect!

I can't find a setlist anywhere online for this, so can only remember some songs from his 30min set. He sung The Maker Makes from Brokeback Mountain, which I love. Montauk and Out of the Game from his latest album, both excellent tunes. Memphis Skyline, his tribute to Jeff Buckley followed by Hallelujah. He spoke before starting to sing this double about Jeff Buckley. He had been asked to sing Hallelujah for the Shrek soundtrack and had never heard the Buckley version. I find this odd, but there you go, he heard it afterwards and said had he heard it prior he would never have recorded the song. I love Rufus's version, but Buckley's is definitive for sure (after Cohen of course). Both songs were stunning, and I was very moved by hearing his Hallelujah. 

He ended with Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk, which is a personal favourite and we were sad to have it end. Next time we shall see him as a main act.

Prior to attending I has been thinking about why Rufus was touring with Paul Simon and vice verse, pleased, but it seemed not quite right. Different styles, different eras and presumably different audiences. I thought Simon may have been friends with his parents, and this may be so, but it was something quite different. They live near each other in Montauk, and are friends...simple and sweet...and come to think of it, probably have a lot in common, given their pasts!

After a short break, out came Paul Simon, the crowd cheered. He had a large band with him, very tight, very funky and assisted him brilliantly in presenting all these classic songs. I have attached the setlist below, and you can see it was a fabulous mix of classics, new and some Simon and Garfunkel classics.

I grew up with Paul Simon, as my Dad was a fan, and came to know Simon and Garfunkel through music lessons. I adore both, I love the funky grooves of Simon, and Graceland is one of my all time favourite albums. Bridge Over Troubled Water is my second favourite song of all time (after Hey Jude), I am not good at picking a favourite and staying with it, but this will never change. I actually went into the concert hoping he would not attempt this, he did not...phew. It is beautifully written, with the most comforting and uplifting lyrics, perfected by Art Garfunkel's angelic voice...but I digress, I am pretty sure there is a whole post to be written on the beauty of this song!

Paul Simon knows his place in music history, not in a cocky way, just an assured and confidant stance, as one should be when they are a musical icon in their 70s. He commanded the audience and enjoyed their interaction. He is also a very still performer, he does not move much when playing and performing. He certainly got down and funky in instrumental sections when not singing, but mostly it was perfect delivery and stillness. A complete contrast to seeing Bruce Springsteen a few weeks earlier, yet equally as impressive.

He started with Gumboots, the jaunty African tune from Graceland and you felt that immediate joy of a well known song touching your heart. Graceland is just one of those albums, still relatively 'new' compared to his older tracks...yet over 25 years old, yikes! And after a song from his new album, which I really like, he went straight into the cannon with 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, a great song and we were entranced. By the time he got to an incredibly cool cover of the classic Junior Parker blues number, Mystery Train, we knew we were in for an interesting ride that was covering every track and turn of his musical career.

And so it continued until the diversity of the last three songs. All you need to know about Paul Simon, post Simon and Garfunkel was there! The great title track from So Beautiful or So What (the new album), followed by the exquisiteness of Graceland's Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes (a personal favourite), to the rockin' groove of Late in the Evening. Of course, by this stage almost everyone were on their feet!

After a short break he came back, just Paul and a guitar, and simply sung Sound of Silence, you could hear a pin drop. It was beautiful, stunning and emotional. Then the band joined him for Kodachrome, then he soloed on a lovely version of Here Comes the Sun, such a surprise and a gift really. Only to be topped by a rousing rendition of You Can Call Me Al. This is one of those catchy pop songs, but on a closer listen, it is so much more. Great lyrics and great beats, hence the easy transition to pop, but a very funky bass line, soaring horns and a flute bit. 

And that's the thing about Simon's music, it is authentic, yet borrows from everywhere. I read he writes the music first and then the lyrics. This explains the intricate words, they need to fit the rhythm. I love his rhythms, but his words have always fascinated me. Some of his lyrics are better than poetry. The twist and wind and fit into the music so intrinsically, you would think they appeared simultaneously by divine intervention. Not many do it well, but he is one of the best. 

So, was all that enough...of course not, another encore, this time Graceland, and then a Bo Diddley cover. He says Graceland is the song he is most proud of and I believe it is a masterpiece. Of course, I bastardised his opening line over a decade ago when I saw the Mississippi for the first time. He begins, "The Mississippi Delta is shining like a national guitar", I was like yeah, nuh, more like a slimy, muddy bathtub! It was not a clean river! But seriously, the lyrics in this are stunning. I love "I see losing love is like a window in your heart. And everybody sees you're blown apart" He gets it, for sure!

Then he walks back off the stage, but that can't be it. Some people start to walk out, obviously not seasoned concert goers. Everyone knows you wait until the houselights come on! And of course, he comes back out for the final encore, dragging a reluctant Rufus with him and they attempt The Boxer. I do love The Boxer and whilst I really enjoyed hearing it, it was obvious Rufus has not really rehearsed it and was very nervous. He didn't wreck it, but he shouldn't have attempted it. Nonetheless, it is a powerful song and we all joined in the chorus of lie la lie...

I walked back to the car, the night sky lit by a full moon, still air and songs going round in the head. Lucky and blessed I am to have been able to bear witness to history. And a huge thanks to A and D for letting me tag along, especially to D, who had to put up with A and I getting a little cranky with some rude people behind us! 

SET LIST 

1. Gumboots (Graceland)

2. Dazzling Blue (So Beautiful or So What)

3. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (Still Crazy After All These Years)

4. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (Paul Simon)

5. That Was Your mother (Graceland)

6. Hearts and Bones (Hearts and Bones)

7. Mystery Train/Wheels (Junior Park/Chet Atkins cover)

8. Slip Slidin' Away (Greatest Hits, etc)

9. My Little Town (Simon and Garfunkel non-album track, Still Crazy After All These Years)

10. The Obvious Child (Rhythm of the Saints)

11. The Only Living Boy in New York (Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water)

12. Crazy Love, Vol II (Graceland)

13. So Beautiful or So What (So Beautiful or So What)

14. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (Graceland)

15. Late in the Evening (One Trick Pony)

Encore

16. The Sound of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel, Sounds of Silence)

17. Kodachrome/Gone at Last (There Goes Rhymin' Simon/Still Crazy After All These Years)

18. Here Come the Sun (Beatles/Harrison cover)

19. You Can Call Me Al (Graceland)

Encore

20. Graceland (Graceland)

21. Pretty Thing (Bo Diddley cover)

22. The Boxer (with Rufus) (Bridge Over Troubled Water)

Here is a link to the breathtaking version of The Boxer that Paul Simon sang on Saturday Night Live on their first show back after 9/11...

http://en.channel.pandora.tv/channel/video.ptv?ref=em_nom&ch_userid=ssofficer&prgid=34579920&categid=all&page=1