Has an interview with a musician ever changed the way you hear that musician’s music, for better or worse? I recently caught the tail end of a little piece on Janis Joplin on NPR that reminded me of this. Joplin’s appearances on Dick Cavett, excerpts of which, when I first saw them as part of some documentary on her that already began to turn my head on an artist I once despised, sealed the deal in helping me like her and even her music! As rock experts, we usually pride ourselves in not falling prey to the Sincerity Fallacy and issues of Look and the like and, instead, focus directly on the music, man. But sometimes the human side of an artist, as seen in an interview, is too powerful to overlook – and so powerful that it informs the artist’s work.
The quote that NPR used, which reminded me of all this, begins at the 25-second mark, but any clip I’ve seen of her few Cavett appearances since that documentary contains a raw, open, feisty, sexy spirit that, for me, is one of the payoffs in dealing with people, let alone the arts. Most folks really need some scratching to show this side of themselves, but Janis is overflowing with what makes her tick. I know, that’s a trait that can wear thin in a hurry, and to this day you won’t find me listening to more than three Janis Joplin songs in a row, but these interviews helped me see this overweight, ance-scarred freak as beautiful – and that’s not meant as a knock on overweight, acne-scarred freaks. I hope we all have moments when our inner beauty shines through.
The 5:35 mark of the following clip is also pretty cool in building empathy for this artist, not to mention her guitarist’s sloppy fuzztone in the partial clip that closes this segment.
Nothing against her, really–I think I get why people like her: she’s got energy, spirit, all that. But it doesn’t work for me, even if it did work for Leonard Cohen.
Sure, like I said, I still don’t listen to more than three of her songs in a row – and those are usually the same three songs. She’s just my example of an artist whose personality, as expressed in interviews, made it possible to begin appreciating the music.
On the other hand, I could imagine someone getting pissed off by an artist thanks to an interview, and finding it difficult to like the music they way they used to. People like KISS and Ted Nugent come to mind, but I know know how much stake anyone put in the “soul” of their music ot begin with. What about someone with more conservative views getting turned off by the political views of Springsteen or Chrissie Hynde to the point that it makes it harder to like their music?
More often, I would think, we can respect and admire the interview of an artist we don’t care for without it affecting our lack of enjoyment of said artist’s music.
An interview with the Police on the Elvis Costello show within the last couple of years–and in particular the off-the-charts obnoxiousness of Copeland–seriously eroded my longstanding affection for the band–a band I had retained affection for despite decades of Sting’s solo records. Perhaps it will wear off, eventually.
Yeah I think most people thought the Police broke up because of that insufferable Sting. That interview on Spectacle sure did seem to point elsewhere.
John Mayer’s recent Rolling Stone interview only confirmed that he’s an idiot.
“What about someone with more conservative views getting turned off by the political views of Springsteen or Chrissie Hynde to the point that it makes it harder to like their music?”
Conservatives are singularly incapable of understanding lyrics, as far as I can tell. Witness the use of “Born in the U.S.A.” by Republican candidates who think it is a pro-patriotism song. I’d also refer folks to a list of the greatest conservative rock songs some idiot at the National Review compiled: http://article.nationalreview.com/281322/encore/john-j-miller
I never saw that list before but it’s really funny. Most of the songs he claims are a total stretch or are about virtues to which people on both side of the aisle aspire.
I too saw that Spectacle with the Police and found it quite enjoyable. I agree about the obnoxiousness of Copeland. I’ve always caught hints of it in interview clips but thought it was possible that he was cool and funny. Now I see that a little of him goes a VERY long way. The show also confirmed for me what I’ve always suspected: Andy Summers is/was by far the coolest member of the Police!