31 Songs

Posted over 3 years ago

Artist:
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Bob Dylan
Album:
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MTV Unplugged
Track:
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Shooting Star

Nick Hornby once put together a list of 31 songs that had really, really touched his life, and a couple of years ago, he published them in a strange, rambling and wise little book. Having re-read this book recently, I started to get interested in certain songs, and how and why they touch people. My personal list of 31 songs will be unravelling itself over the next little while (if this does not interest you, I understand -- your watches), and I would dearly like for anyone else out there who is even vaguely interested to formulate their own list, and display it for all to see. And tell me about it.I am nosy. Forgive me.(PS... it doesn't have to be 31. I just needed a limit.)31 Songs -- A homage to Nick Hornby and Many Great Musicians.Song ONE: Shooting Star, by Bob Dylan.There are too many Bob Dylan snobs out there. Apparently, if you "only" own Bringing It All Back Home, Blonde on Blonde, The Basement Tapes and The Bootleg Series, Volume 1 - 3, that is not "enough" to call yourself a proper Dylan fan. It seems that you need to know not only the names of everyone Dylan ever collaborated with, but the names, addresses and sexual preferences of everyone he ever met. And of course, you have go to dinner parties and be able to discuss in-depth what effect, if any, his motorcycle accident had upon his musical career.Pfft to all of this, say I. I am a great Dylan appreciator, as my now above-listed collection surely shows. However, I don't think the guy was God, and I have to say, his ability to both write and sing has diminished fairly considerably in recent times. BUT, this particular song is one in which, I think, it is possible to recognise the quality of a truly exemplary musician and songwriter.The recording of this track which I own comes from a cheap knock-off recording of a concert Dylan recorded for MTV in about 1994. My best friend Laura gave me this CD when I was fourteen, and since then this song has resonated through all the major events in my life. This is the song that goes immediately through my speakers whenever anything bad happens - breakups, deaths, disappointments - Bob has seen it all. I even have it on an emergency bad-news tape in my car, just in case. Seen a shooting star tonight / slip away Tomorrow's gonna be / another day Guess it's too late to say the things to you / That you needed to hear me say / Seen a shooting star tonight / slip away...

Comments (4)

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Spencer Owen says I'm so glad to hear you say that his talent has diminished. I'm not sure that's the way I would put it, I just can't stand what he's been doing lately and I appear to be one of the only people. Rolling Stone has such an odd idea of relevance; it seems that they feel like if they don't give the new Dylan five stars (which they did), they've slipped... but all the same, if they do, they sure seem irrelevant to me. In fact, they've almost worked hard to make the five-star rating have a very specific irrelevant meaning. But don't get me started... (er, that is to say... don't... let me get started... anymore than I already have... by myself)

Permalink posted 08/31/2006
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TheObviousChild says I know... I can't stand Rolling Stone, and not only for their blind 'if it's Dylan, it has to be good' attitude. When Big Brother and the Holding Company (Janis Joplin's original band) appeared on the scene, Rolling Stone dismissed them in a few lines, and poked fun at the 'Cheap Thrills' album. It recently came in the Top 50 of their Greatest 500 Albums Of All Time feature. *sigh* (Also, Bob Dylan was recently quoted as saying "I could not bring myself to make music in this day and age. I would do something useful; like mathematics." So...hmmm. How do you explain your new album then? *rolls eyes* At least when Joni said she was giving up on 'this farce of a music industry', she actually did it!)

Permalink posted 09/01/2006
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aedjp says 31 is a good number. I often try to define what my Desert Island Discs would be, but eight just isn't enough... I'd love to know what else is on your emergency bad news tape. Or would that be a spoiler for this series?

Permalink posted 09/04/2006
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Jess Horrible says I have that book, and the CD to accompany it! It's great to read through. One thing I really appreciate about Nick Hornby is his wide-eyed devotion to the magical side of music. And yes, I agree on the Dylan thing... I have lots to learn about him, but no one person can always be The Best. I don't think any of my favorite artists are any less valid than he is.

Permalink posted 09/22/2006