Friday, February 17, 2006
Missing the Boat on Emmylou
As Whisky Prajer and Cowtown Pattie have noted recently, Emmylou is someone to admire and listen to intently. She has been admired and listened to fervently going on 20-25 years. She took on the mantle of country/rock crossover worn by her friend/lover/soulmate, Gram Parsons, since his death in 1973 at the age of 26. She is talented, personable, beautiful, and well-liked. The Diva of Loss has countless fans and (let me just totally overkill this word, o.k.?) an admiring public.So, why can I not stand her singing? Is it a question of ears overtuned to the sarcastic? Is it a lack of empathy for one after another songs of sadness and woe? Finally, is it a total lack of emotive skills?
I don't think (well, at this point, hope) so. I still blubber each time I listen to Iris DeMent's "Our Town" or Steve Goodman's "My Old Man". Even Nina Simone's "Strange Fruit" will elicit eyewater (and anger).
I'm at a loss to explain it; perhaps a reader or two will do the propaganda thing with a comment and tell me what I'm not hearing. Even "Wrecking Ball" couldn't pull me out of a Emmylou funk.
I'm pleading for help here! I'd love to like or, at the least, put up with her singing. Show me the way! I must be deaf so I cannot hear.
