Antony

Can't help it.

When we were home this summer one of the things my folks most wanted to show us was a tribute to Leonard Cohen on DVD. Many artists think he "stands above." That he is something special and amazing. The tribute was many artists playing his songs and talking about how great and amazing he was. Including Bono who clearly had a massive man crush on Leonard Cohen. I think this is wonderful to give honor to someone before they die. To let them know how much you appreciate their work before they pass on and can no longer (in conventional terms) hear your words of praise.

When first introduced to him, I found his lyrics shallow and annoying. On my second exposure, I found him captivating. He's not a singer but a songwriter but people pressure him to sing, so, sometimes he does.

I found many of the singers in the tribute to be amazing, but one really shocked me. Impressed me. Startled me. Touched me?

"Show me on the doll where Antony touched you."

And so, I must share. Trust me. Do not flash through this entry and song as fast as possible. Save some time for this. When you have ten minutes and some privacy (i.e. a closed door so you can crank it) then see if you can feel what I felt. Add it to the list of things I consider a "thing of beauty."

First, watch the lyrics sung by Leonard Cohen and understand he's not that great a singer. Not necessary to crank it.

Then watch the tribute lyrics sung by "The Lovely Antony" and I hope you enjoy them like I did. Yes, he looks like a spastic autistic mongoloid but seriously, I find that part of his charm. Crank it.

Comments

  1. I'm sorry to say that while your writing style has improved, the content lately has been pretty bloody bad. You used to write with amazing passion that came out in your style - people could identify and sympathize with what you were sharing. Your wrtings over the past year, while vaguely interesting regarding travel, haven't had the same human edge to them that your MTG writing had, or your lives in MMOGs, or your fiction. I keep checking, hoping you will get back to what made you so compelling - the ability to share your passion and make the reader feel what you were feeling.

    But it really hasn't happened for me lately.

    I'm sure you can take your travel notes and spin them into a nice travel book. And I suspect sme people will buy it, if you manage to find a publisher. But it won't be your previous readership. The name Wakefield evoked feeling for your readers before - I hope you go back there some day.

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  2. Hey James...I'm sorry that person feels that way. I find your writing just as passionate as ever--just more mature. There's nothing wrong with that! Mature passion sells a lot better than young fluff, and it shows you're LIVING. Now a note about gaining 2 pounds...MUSCLE WEIGHS MORE THAN FAT, dearie. You run or work out, sometimes you technically weigh more at first. Rejoice! xoxoxo Tanya

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  3. "Suzanne takes you down to
    her place near the river
    You can hear the boats go by
    You can spend the night beside her
    And you know that she's half crazy
    But that's why you want to be there"

    J send me a PM on our boards and we can make fun of the guy with post #1 on this entry. I heard he preordered the next Wheel of Time book.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sadly, Joshie apparently still thinks trash talking is acceptable. Feel free to make fun of the comment I guess, but it was meant as constructive criticism.

    I've been reading your writings for a long time, and I would like to see you do well. My point was that, while your writing is clear, concise, well formed...I don't feel what you're feeling anymore. You've become quite good at recounting the facts, but I still don't feel your passion anymore.

    When you wrote about Marilyn's passing, it was one of the best thing I've read, ever - because the readers were living through the experience with you. We all felt what you felt, experienced the unimaginable through you. And as the impending conclusion to the chapter approached, all of your readers felt your helplessness mixed with the desire to remain optimistic, despite what was nevitable. At a lesser level certainly, but we all felt it.

    I'm sure some folks feel your writings now, but I don't. It is certainly factual and descriptive, but it doesn't 'feel.'

    In any case, feel free to reject the feedback, but it's intended to be constructive. Best of luck.

    Oh, and F-off Josh. Grow up.

    ReplyDelete

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