So Colin Meloy of the Decemberists threw down a gauntlet for reasons unknown to me. On his Twitter feed (is that what it is? a feed? a page? an account? or is it just his Twitter?), he asked fans to write a song about Linda Ronstadt and post them on YouTube. He'll select a winner and post it to his Twitter afountage. I'm a fan, so I figure I qualify.
It was fun to have a challenge to write a song like this, with no real expectations. I'm been up to my ears in writing and orchestrating some faux-Jacobean music for Stratford's production of Bartholmew Fair, so it was a nice treat to write something that comes a little more naturally like this. Being a Ronstadian scholar and all, you know.
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I like it, but I don't know much of anything about Linda Ronstadt so I might be disqualified from having an opinion. Perhaps if I were similary Ronstadtian-scholarly I would understand the tux and fortune cookies.
ReplyDeleteSteve, what do I have to do to convince you to send me one of your Guild's? I've eyeballed them ever since you busted them out in 2000...or was it 1999? Either way, I see a D-55 and I'm reminded of you. They rock. Their smaller necks rock. And you, sir...well, you rock as well.
ReplyDeleteSo Steven-esque. Love it. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI love it! When are you touring? Will you come to Seattle?? I'm an ex-Torontonian living in Seattle, hoping you will visit your fans out this way soon :)
ReplyDeleteMr Page, you truly are a lyrical genius. I would do anything for you to write a song for me! But anyway I love the way you are so unique and talented. Keep up the good work! Also I would definitely see you if you come to Spokane, WA.
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ReplyDeleteAwesome! Now people are going to be screaming for "That Linda Ronstadt Challenge Colin Meloy Twitter 1970s Song" at concerts.
ReplyDeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your song! I'd love an mp3 of it! :-)
ReplyDeletehahaha. on twitter tyler asked you if you were going to include rollerskates and shorts. and you did!
ReplyDeletevery cute song. i like the fortune cookies strewn about. very ... avant.
looking forward to your Bartholomew Fair stuff too.
Love it! Gorgeous voice as always.
ReplyDeleteSteve, I think you should do some musical collaboration with the Decemberists, or at least Meloy. I also think you and Leslie Feist would sound awesome in a duet together. Looking forward to whatever music you do post-BNL.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love it! I also freaking love the fortune cookies on the table! *sigh* It's so great to see you...even though it's on You Tube...
ReplyDeleteAwesome!! This is a great song!!
ReplyDeleteI like the lyrics. Looking forward to future releases
By the way... Nice fortune cookies. :D
Drinking green beer on St. Pats day, listening to you makes me really appreciate everything I love about music. Very pure, very clean, and can't wait to see you again live in a show. Thanks
ReplyDeleteWell congratulations on your win (co-win?)!
ReplyDeleteYour Voice is amazing! I think you can sing anything and people will love it!!!
ReplyDeleteI realize that I may officially now be the kind of fan that I never understood. I follow you on Twitter, I read your blog, and I listen to anything and everything you do, like interviews or youtube songs about Linda Ronstadt.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good song. The roller skates and shorts were not optional, in my opinion. You had to go for that.
I wish I had the enthusiasm of the other posters. I am seriously broken-hearted about the breakup. I can still remember nearly 6 years ago when we brought home our first born (Katie) from the hospital on April 14th. I was checking out the BNL blogs and found they had been in the studio that week recording "Maybe Katie". There was NO maybe for me, there was just Katie :) I couldn't wait to hear the song. I loved it (and so does she!). My favorite part of the concerts were all the ad-libs. Every concert was unique. I loved that you had been friends for so long and still enjoyed making music together...the chemistry was evident. We have seen NUMEROUS bands go through breakups, but I never imagined that would happen to BNL. I don't want to even begin to speculate why. It breaks my heart thinking of what had to have happened in order for such good friends to go their separate ways. I wish you good luck in your endeavors.
ReplyDeleteLove the song, and the threads are very sharp.
ReplyDeleteNice! I think you should rock "Blue Bayou" in tribute. :-) Very fun. Please keep blogging because I enjoy reading what you have to say, and hearing what you have to sing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome song Steve. Can't wait to buy some of your new material.
ReplyDeleteI was gutted when I heard about you leaving the band, but I'm happy that you're doing what you want. I hope you have loads of success man, you deserve it! :)
Docta
Steve, you're just so damn cute!
ReplyDeleteIn case you didn't know, and/or in case you'd like to be reminded:
ReplyDeleteYou're awesome.
Dear Steve,
ReplyDeleteToday I find myself feeling melencholy about you. How bizarre it must be for you to have random people you don't know being nostalgic for YOUR artwork. If I were you, I might even be creeped out by it. :)
Anyway, I was thinking about the BLAM tour, and the amazing time we had in Amherst with you guys. I considered myself a die hard fan, yet I had still not heard the second half of the album yet. So it was amazing to hear "Angry People" and "Fun & Games" for the first time Live like that. Not to mention, my wife and I managed to sneak our way up front and into an adlib by you and Ed, so it was the coolest thing ever.
You and the guys had grown so much together, and even after years of having a reputation for amazing live performances, to see you and Ed dance together, and the 5 of you come together in the "Angry People" routine the way you did... I feel blessed for having been there, because it was deffinetly a peak in your career as a band.
What's really making me feel sad is the notion of Ed singing "One Week" completely solo, and never hearing "Break Your Heart" live again. As I listened to the live performance at Universal this month, I cringed during Jim's version of "Maybe Katie", and I cried when Kevin sang "Sound of Your Voice". It wouldn't be a big deal if you hadn't set the bar so high with your range.
Most of all, I am ashamed for being somewhat glad that they did not attempt to sing "Life, in a Nutshell". I know that the four of them are all great musicians. And I am confident that the album they put out without you will sound great... but the big problem here is the suffering of the songs that you were there for. What has always made BNL special was the fusion of the five of you together.
Personally, I have more faith that your album will be closer to the original spirit of BNL than Ed's will be. Ed is great for a lot of the riffs that make BNL what it is... but it's your voice that has always been the center of the heart of your music.
Anyway, I wish you the best, and I know that no matter what, it will all be for the best. I just miss you. So little time has passed, and I already miss the band the way it was. And with the economy, and my own personal stuff, maybe it's easier to worry about someone else for a change.
~Mark G.
Hey Steve! Can't wait for your new album! Please stay that svelte, sexy you!
ReplyDeleteSteve! So sad you're not with the Ladies, but very excited to see you're blogging and striking out doing new cool creative. I shall stay tuned. ;) Cheers, Roz
ReplyDeleteYour damn voice is so amazing. On top of that, I am and have always been mesmerized by your hair.
ReplyDeleteDamn you, Steven Page. Damn you.
I absolutely can't wait to hear more of your new work. I have always been such a fan of your voice and am absolutely giddy to hear new work!
ReplyDelete