It's a funny thing about music sometimes...

[siercia]

Sometimes, I really like the songs, but really don't like the people who wrote them singing them. I always knew this was true of Woddy Guthrie. God, that man can sing songs that bring tears to my eyes in an instant... if they're performed by someone else. I have a CD of covers of his songs, and it's easily in my top 20 for albums ever. Can't listen to an actual Woody Guthrie album for the life of me. (Granted, I may not have tried enough of them, but oooof.)

Bob Dylan is another one. He sets my teeth on edge, but I love covers of his music. I've always loved the Indigo Girl's version of "Tangled up in Blue", and other covers I've heard have certainly not made me lunge for the radio. Friday night as I was driving to meet Miss Shani and Miss Carrie, I was listening to WUMB and heard a band called Mary Lee's Corvette singing "Shelter from the Storm" and I was just transfixed. I actually sat in my car waiting for the song after it to end so that I coul hear the band name. Turns out they did a live full-album cover of Blood on the Tracks. They've got clips from the songs on their website, I'm listening to them right now. I think these albums must go on the wishlist; they're certainly at the top of the "must-buy" list I keep in my head.

I'm not sure if not liking the songwriters performing their songs makes me a philistine or not, but for now, I'll just be over here in the corner grooving.

Comments

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

No, no, we've been telling Bob for years he can't sing. I don't own a single Dylan original. Well, okay, that's not true - I have "Most of the Time", off the "High Fidelity" soundtrack, but that's almost listenable in a Lou Reed-ish kind of way.

[siercia]

Oh, I'm so glad to know it isn't just me. Well, I guess I knew that lots of people didn't like his stuff, but he's so revered by most people, I just had to wonder.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

I revere Bob Dylan in the same way I revere any incredibly talented creative artist. But that doesn't stop me from saying that he can't sing. But he does write the purtiest stuff you ever did hear.