Anyone who knows me knows that I really like the song "In Your Eyes" and the movie "Say Anything" (partially, of course, because it takes place in Seattle)
It seems like for a lot of artists, one song they do haunts them. So infinitely popular, it resonates with the audience for so long that it can probably become somewhat annoying to be asked to sing it over and over and over again, or that it's expected in concerts years later when you're ready to give new stuff and all they want to hear is that old song over and over again that you're somewhat tired to death of.
For Michael W. Smith, it's that "Friends" song... he kinda whined a little bit about that fact before playing it at a concert we went to a few years ago.
But not Peter Gabriel. Lately more and more versions of the song has been cropping up on Launchcast. Instead of just wearily phoning it in for the millionth time, he's been having fun with it, inviting other performers to join him on stage and sing it, or I imagine -- in some cases -- to stand center stage and sing while he looks on approvingly from the sidelines. There've been other singers and other musicians performing on it, and he always takes time to mention them by name during the song and to really get the crowds into a frenzy. It's kind of a neat way to recognize the fans and give them something new and familiar at the same time without being
completely crushed that they won't move on as you have and are stuck with a little song from the '80s instead of understanding how much you've grown in depth as a performer.
Or at least that's my impression.
1 comment:
I know of at least five versions of "Hotel California" performed by various Eagles (either as a whole or as solo performers), and there are also three or four "tribute" versions out there in fairly wide circulation.
As far as Peter Gabriel goes, I am impressed at the range of his music, from his earlier work as the original front man for Genesis to his most recent solo album. He doesn't do the same things twice, and he doesn't follow the industry standards when it coms to releasing new stuff or pandering to fans of his old stuff.
By the way... off topic, but have you tried the new "Blogger Beta"? At least for a Mac user such as myself, it offers more freedom with blog set up and customization.
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