20 June, 2010

 

Sweeping generalization of the day

I hereby claim my human right to make questionable assertions and sweeping generalizations. I've just been listening to After the Goldrush.

A question springs to mind. Why are Canadian singers such miserable gits?
I'll bet she's not like me
She's out and fancy-free
Flirting with the boys with all her charms
...
Oh, oh, lonesome me!
You deserve to be, mate, you miserable sod. As well as Neil Young, I call Leonard Cohen and Alanis Morrissette as witnesses for the prosecution.

Comments:
By most reckonings,the darkest stuff produced by NY was 'Tonight's the Night'- which he wrote when he was living in a Malibu beach house with Carrie Snodgrass. That really took some doing !

I think Canadian miserabilism is the new world equivalent of Scandinavian miserabilism- both seem to have their roots in the long dark Northern winter. The Canadian version has led to the creation of haunting, melancholy popular music and, in the Lit Crit stakes, 'The Shipping News', whereas the Scandinavian version has given the world Strindberg, Ibsen, Knut Hamsun & 'The Scream'- and too many 'null point' at Eurovision.

BTW NY and St Leonard are actually personal favourites of mine. But even I'd admit they aren't exactly good listening on warm, mellow midsummer evenings.

 
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