Remember when Labi Siffre, who wrote It Must Be Love was on in Hull not long after its release. A couple were talking loudly at one table. Siffre stopped singing and after a couple of minutes these clowns realised something was up and shut up and looked at the stage. He said " I would like to apologise for my singing interrupting your conversation". Result, applause and quiet from them for the rest of the performance.
I'm no psychologist but I'll have a go at answering your question: When Johnny sings it he renders the Word as flesh, years of despair, regret, sorrow, anger and pain leech out of him vocally, causing a totality way beyond the lyrics to emerge screaming into an unsuspecting, uncaring Universe which is ruled by chance and indifference. His recording is a gestalt which transports the listener to a place far beyond that which mere words could take him. A vocal manifestation of Edvard Munch's The Scream if you will. Whilst Bono's just a ****. Hope that helps.
I don't have your way with words or way of expression Ernest. But that is exactly what I feel when I hear Cash's version. And yes Bono is a ****
Talking of Bono, loved a remark by Richard Hall in a programme about country music (interesting even if you aren't a big fan of country music like me). Is on BBC I PLAYER, BBC 4. He was on about Willie Nelson and said something along the lines of "And Willie Nelson turns up in areas where farmers are suffering, or there are problems with water supplies and gives a three hour concert to wild applause and lets them keep the takings. Meanwhile Bono squirms on the cross of self-righteousness he has nailed himself to."
Too true. Another song I hated it at the time but realized a few tears later what a great song it is with brilliant lyrics. I've quoted the lines to myself to mates and to my kids too many times to count Never wait or hesitate, Get in kid before it's too late you may never get another chance Cos youths a mask but It don't last So live it long And live it fast
So true. As George Bernard Shaw once allegedly said, "Youth is wasted on the young" ! The Who may have got it right, but I'm glad it wasn't true
Crazy Horses by The Osmonds. Hated it cos' it was by them goofy Mormons my sister had a fixation on, but sometime recently I heard it and well, it's has a kind tongue in cheek likebility about it. And it rocks.
Can't beat a bit of Rodney, Chazz. I dint like him at the time 'cos he was my elder sisters fav but now... This always gets me thinking of what I was like dicking around in the years either side of leaving school. Ever since I was a kid at school I messed around with all the rules Apologised then realised I'm not different after all Me and the boys thought we had it sussed Valentinos all of us My dad said we looked ridiculous But boy we broke some hearts In and out of jobs, running free Waging war with society Dumb blank faces stare back at me But nothing ever changed Promises made in the heat of the night Creeping home before it got too light I wasted all that precious time and blamed it on the wine. Spiders in my punk incarnation. Juliette's as a new romantic wannabe. Whoosh. What was that? That was your life mate.
I agree with that one! Lyric couplet: 'I love you more than I want you/And I want you for all time'. Either utterly romantic or slightly worrying for the recipient.
Like Rich Hall's programmes. Perhaps because he is a sceptic. Liked his line about once music imitated life now life imitates music as well. He was referring to the manufactured, clichéd stuff a lot of country is now but it applies to other music as well. And the one about Tim Hiddlestone, an English man portraying Hank Williams being the least convincing example of someone grasping the psyche of someone since Dick Van Dyke's attempt at being a Cockney in Mary Poppins. Good job I read that as predictive text had altered it to Tom Huddleston.
i reckon the nine inch nails version of hurt is the best song ever written about drug addiction.mr cash does a good cover of it too!
I hadn't heard the Cash version until it was on the trailer for Logan, I was immediately addicted to it. Top choice!
Only just reading this now, played it Saturday night, went down a storm. Played The Day We Caught the Train, and it flopped, first time ever, couldn't believe it.