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Neil Young

Thought I would share a few thoughts here.

Neil Young is again on tour, so I am again giving this artist some thought.

I remember reading an interview with Bryan Ferry where he said that Neil Young was one of his favorite artists. I thought this odd given the glam rock of Roxy Music. But he described Neil Young as a musical chameleon, always changing up his music and bands, which is why he liked him so much.

That quote stuck with me.  Buffalo Springfield, Laurel Canyon, Solo Acoustic, CSNY, The Shocking Pinks, The International Harvesters, Rockin’ In The Free World, and so on.  Always a new twist for Neil.  He really doesn’t stay stagnant.

Then, reading about his current tour it seems at every stop he is breaking out some long forgotten and unplayed live tune to keep his set lists interesting.  

I’ve never seen him live, and frankly don’t think I have that much interest in seeing him live.  Yet I own a metric ton of his recorded material.  I remember reading someone else who described Neil as a one string soloist when it comes to rock guitar playing.  That kinda stuck with me.

I do appreciate his approach to analog releases from his vast catalog.

Anyway, he is indeed a hall of famer.

pgaulke60
laminarman
6 posts
 

@stuartk  True...to an extent.  Unless of course they're singing and writing about evil capitalism and commercial exploitation....which, of course, every artist takes part in.  Unless they're writing about saving the environment while flying on their private jet and hauling roadies and gear cross country in emission heavy vehicles. Which they do. Unless they're writing about love and fidelity while screwing around on the road, which we know happens from time to time.  Unless they're writing about their art and fairness and access to free speech while saying Trump can't play "Rocking in the Free World" or he withholds music from Spotify.  He and all artists can be hypocrites and to think someone should be able to just interject politics on stage but do things that are against those positions is somewhat naive. That's why I listen to the music and ignore the politics.  I love many artists who I couldn't see eye to eye with but I'd sit for a beer with them and would still be respectful of their opinion while not necessarily wanting to hear it after spending $300 for a ticket.  

scalar9's avatar
scalar9
8 posts
 

@laminarman 

“Unless they're writing about their art and fairness and access to free speech while saying Trump can't play "Rocking in the Free World" or he withholds music from Spotify.“

There’s a word for misappropriating others’ work without compensation. It’s called theft. And, one doesn’t surrender their own rights simply because they believe other people should have them too. You’re really calling him out simply because he has held onto his principles, and that is beyond lame.

sns
4,218 posts
 

And so Neil can't speak freely until he gives all his money to charity, has to be the right charity of course. No more traveling to concerts or wherever, has to give up all earthly desires, give up ownership of his music.

 

So  now we have hypocrisy as the arbiter of censorship, well about 9/10ths of what i hear should be censored. 

sns
4,218 posts
 

And for those so fortunate to have a private life, perhaps we need a background check for instances of hypocrisy.

bolong
963 posts
 

Young would find it very chastening to do a tour in China along about now.

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