Three good discoveries for me on the music front – two recommendations from authors I’m currently reading and the third from a therapy client.
John Green, author of The Fault in our Stars (see my Goodreads review), recommends Mountain Goats. Here they sing “This Year”. This is the sort of song that grows on me – and it recreates the life of a 17-year old really well.
Haruki Marukami, author of the running memoir What I talk about when I talk about running, recommends The Lovin Spoonful. Here they sing “You didn’t have to be so nice”. Marukami often listens to them on his long-distance runs.
And then the last band, something of a welcome surprise from a client struggling with depression, is My Chemical Romance. He actually listed one of their songs “The End” as the song he would choose for his funeral! I prefer “The Black Parade”.
Any band recommendations from authors that you enjoy?
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I, too, love The Lovin’ Spoonfuls and the early Beatles music. Best rock band ever was Led Zeppelin (Stairway to Heaven is my favorite of their songs). When I got a new car I left my Mothership CD in the player. When I realized what I had done and went back the next day I was told it was never in the CD player. Yeah, right. Oh well, so much for honesty. So disappointing. I don’t listen to much music. It’s mostly talk radio for me. But my daughter recently sent me an iPod upon which she saved lots of The Lumineers music, which I really enjoy.
Hi Grad. Thanks for the recommendation re The Lumineers. They are actually coming to Cape Town in December and the concerts are already sold out! I’ve listened to a couple of their songs and I really like their sound. Also love Led Zeppelin and agree that Stairway to Heaven is their best.
I didn’t know any of them 3, thanks for making me discover them! Over here I listen to Alex Beaupain, favorites are Les grands soirs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMy1c4Y_i40) and Après moi le déluge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z91BLIUMgxQ), both about breakups, but one sweet and the other sour. (Google translate might be helpful for the lyrics, the second has lots of puns) What do you think?
Hi Smithereens. Great recommendation – I’ve downloaded 3 of his songs so far (also Au Depart) and I love them. I did have a look at Google Translate but will need to look again. A good way to improve my French 🙂
Interesting choices! I tend to favour female singer-songwriters, like Melody Gardot, Sara Bareilles and Feist. But that is very much a pmt-inspired line-up and I wouldn’t suggest it to every man! 🙂
Hi Litlove. Interesting qualifier there! I really like Sara Bareilles (Love Song is incredibly catchy). Melody Gardot and Feist I will have to check out again. Any of their songs you would recommend in particular?