Thought for the Day - May 25,00

Subject: Thought for the Day - May 25,00
From: Peter T.
Date: 25 May 00 - 08:59 AM

I am in a city bookstore last night, one of the last independents, not many people, a slow night, and I see an old friend, who is a music writer and scholar. We start talking about this and that, and then he suddenly puts his hand on my arm. "Stop", he says. And out of the background music, which neither of us have been paying attention, comes Billie Holliday. He knows what it is from the first bar -- I have the record too, it is "Sophisticated Lady" from the 1956 Verve sessions, maybe the best thing she ever did, including "Strange Fruit" -- and it takes me a few seconds, backthinking, to note that he wanted to capture the frailest part of the song, right at the beginning where she just hits the notes on: "They say into your early life romance came". I would usually keep listening as I move around, but he is just captured by the song, and I am too. We stand like two statues. And after a few seconds, a woman opposite stops, looks at us, smiles, and starts listening too.

"Smoking, drinking" (slight slur on drinking) "never thinking of tomorrow, nonchalant" (very nonchalant)
Diamonds shining (diamonds dusty, muted, not shining),
dancing, dining with some man in a restaurant" (God, how many restaurants)
Is that all you really want?
No, sophisticated lady,
I know, you miss the love you lost long ago
And when nobody is nigh you cry"
The song ends, and the music -- some tape of stuff -- goes into orchestral Ellington, beautiful, but the spell is broken. We smile, part company, and go our ways. A friend's intense attention opens a space in the evening, and we are graced for a moment by the dark and diamond world created by a singer, that voice, a record, a tune.

No great thought: just a moment.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 25,00
From: jeffp
Date: 25 May 00 - 09:21 AM

A moment beautifully captured in words. Thank you, Peter.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 25,00
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 25 May 00 - 11:14 AM

I hate to disagree, but I think you might be wrong. There is a great thought here nested in a beautiful moment.
That "A friends intense attention opens a space in the evening" is a gigantic thought; a monumental thought. Particularly when you consider how life in this day and age tries to crush all of the space - both physical and metaphysical - that we need to live and breathe and think and be. And as I sit here at my place of business, I am intensely grateful that you opened up a bit of space for me. You have a great talent for that.
Thank you
Bart

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 25,00
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 25 May 00 - 11:47 AM

Aye Bart, I second that.. Yours,Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 25,00
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 May 00 - 01:04 PM

....sigh.....

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 25,00
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 May 00 - 09:37 PM

"A friend's intense attention opens a space in the evening". I like that. Every now and then the threads throw up a phrase like tgat that you want to hang on to.

It's the strangest thing, the way that so many peoiple so much of the time just let the songs pass over them. You hear a sonmg, or a tune, and it pulls you in - and the person next to you chats on, completely oblivious to what is going on. You're on different planets.

One of the great things about being involved with folk music is that you spend time with people who know that listening to songs and music is important, and does things to your head.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - May 25,00
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 May 00 - 10:39 PM

Wow, like Peter just did in this thread!