From: owner-lucy-list-digest@smoe.org (lucy-list-digest) To: lucy-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: lucy-list-digest V6 #60 Reply-To: lucy-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-lucy-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-lucy-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk lucy-list-digest Friday, March 19 2004 Volume 06 : Number 060 In this issue: [lucy-list] The perfect Lucy song (long post) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2004 20:40:47 -0800 From: "Robert Phelps" Subject: [lucy-list] The perfect Lucy song (long post) I don't post much, but I've been here pretty much from the beginning. It's been quiet here recently, so I thought I'd try to make the case that "Love Song/New York" is the "perfect" Lucy song. Now I realize, of course, that this is inherently an utterly subjective exercise. Maybe there's really no such thing as a "perfect" Lucy song. But I'm not so sure. I have my preferences and biases. Some of my conclusion is no doubt colored by the fact that the song's storyline strikes very close to home for me. But, in any event, here goes: For me, a great song has (in no particular order) a memorable (hummable?) melody, intelligent lyrics that amuse or somehow touch me, and strong musical performances set in an interesting arrangement with good production. "Love Song/New York" features all of this, in spades. I like how the song starts quietly, with basically light drums, acoustic guitar and keyboard (maybe somebody can clue me in on what a "guitorgan" is). Lucy's vocal is characteristically clear, but understated. She sets the stage, reminiscing about a love lost. Bill Morrissey's lyrics (gender-swapped from the original) describe vividly a charismatic character who seems to cast a spell on the narrator. The simultaneous "relationship feelings" of euphoria ("I was the prettiest girl in New York when I walked down the street with him"); doubt that the other person knows how you feel ("He could never see my heart, it was a blur back then"); and doubts that the relationship will last ("There were so many women in his eyes, I knew he never could be mine") stop me in my tracks. The subtle addition of the rhythm guitar on the third verse perfectly underscores the motion described in the lyrics ("We were walking, sort of dancing, up on the roof top real slow"). I can see these people. After setting up the relationship in the first three verses--describing the people, the places, the feelings, hopes and doubts, the final verse describes the inevitable: It didn't last, and it left the narrator feeling melancholy ("He took back his hand and said goodbye, to this day I pretend I never heard"). The song fades out much like it started--quietly, with the light drums, keyboards and acoustic guitars predominating. Throughout all this Jonatha Brooke's background vocals are exquisite. Subtle, not overpowering, and blending perfectly with Lucy's voice. (Side note: I basically knew nothing about Ms. Brooke until I heard her most recent album--"Back In The Circus"--highly recommended.) Something about her phrasing on the line "Let the years roll away, let the seasons disappear" really grabs me every time I hear it. And maybe some of the music theorists in the group can describe for me the last chord Lucy and Jonatha hit on the background vocals, just before the fade out. Many of my comments simply reflect the strength of Bill Morrissey's composition. But if you have any doubt about the life a good arrangement and good production can bring to a song, compare Lucy's version with the original. Other than basically the same lyrics, it doesn't even sound like the same song. To me, Morrissey's original sounds dry and monotone in contrast. It has a Spartan arrangement that conveys none of the imagery or emotional power in Lucy's cover version. I don't ordinarily dissect songs like this. But "Love Song/New York" really touched me. I love the lyrics and Lucy's interpretation of them. Ben Wittman and the band did a spectacular job with the arrangement and production. It sounds great in my car when I turn it up really loud. I suppose it might be "better" in some sense if Lucy wrote it herself, but I appreciate the talent behind picking a good cover. So whadda ya all think? ------------------------------ End of lucy-list-digest V6 #60 ****************************** This has been a posting from the Lucy Kaplansky mail list digest To unsubscribe send mail to Majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe lucy-list-digest" in the body of the message