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mdlbear By way of my college alumni eNews email, I found This Is
Me, a music video by the Carleton Phoenix Project. As it said
in the newsletter, The members of the Carleton Phoenix Project have an
unusual goal: to practice letting go of perfectionism. This spring they
posted an open invitation for singers to take part in a music video—no
experience necessary, only the courage to step up and participate.
So they put out a flyer, and got 15 random staff, faculty, and students brave enough to go into a professional recording studio and make a video. Every once in a while you have to step out of your comfort zone. They interviewed the singers afterwards. Inspiring.
That's where the "1969" in the title comes from: that was my graduating class. Which means we're having our 50th reunion about a year from now.
But YouTube videos are kind of like potato chips -- you can't take just one. So I followed a link to one I know I'd seen before, but apparently never linked to: Richard Thompson singing 1952 Vincent Black Lightning. And was blown away all over again.
I'm not all that familiar with Richard Thompson, but I probably should be. The only thing that might stop me is his guitar playing, which is somewhere between Travis picking and black magic and makes me want to hang my 1952 Martin on the wall and take up accordion. Even with the tab in front of me -- which it is, right now -- I wouldn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of coming anywhere close. Doesn't mean I'm not going to try to learn it, because it's a hell of a song even without Thompson's guitar behind it. Maybe I can get somebody to play fiddle for me.
Here's a cover by a band appropriately called Red Molly. If you don't know why that's appropriate, you haven't listened to the song. What are you waiting for? Here -- have another cover, this one by Miranda Russell. Russell reminds me somewhat of Leigh Ann Hussey, who would have loved that song.
As Thompson says in his introduction, It’s a simple boy-meets-girl
story, complicated somewhat by the presence of a motorcycle.
It
starts out
Said Red Molly to James that's a fine motorbike, A girl could feel special on any such like Said James to Red Molly, well my hat's off to you It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952.
... and off they ride. James turns out to be an outlaw --
Said James to Red Molly, here's a ring for your right hand But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man I've fought with the law since I was seventeen I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine...
... and promises to give her the Vincent if fate catches up with him, which of course it does. He's shot in the course of an armed robbery gone bad, and in proper Barbara Allen style Molly rushes to his bedside,
Said young James. in my opinion, there's nothing in this world Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl Now Nortons and Indians and Greeveses won't do They don't have a soul like a Vincent 52 He reached for her hand and he gave her the keys He said I don't have any further use for these I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome Swooping down from heaven to carry me home He gave her one last kiss and died And he gave her his Vincent to ride.
As a bit of a footnote, the "angels on Ariels" line inspired this bit of fan fiction among others. Also see "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" on Wikipedia.
And now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go take another look at that tab.
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Date: 2018-06-16 05:19 pm (UTC)Most Mondays she posts links to several music videos, usually on the folk spectrum, on a common theme, from contemporary UK bands. You can subscribe to her feed on the main list at dreamwidth [or just pillage my profile page]. She's been sick lately, but is getting better, & has extensive archives. Jane Yolen comments regularly and posts poems in the comments.
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Date: 2018-06-16 05:32 pm (UTC)ETA: ... Hmm. A lot of really good but long posts there; I may have to pass until my personal time management gets better. If it ever does.