By Mark W. Danielson
Timeless. A word as endless and enduring as the word
itself. This word is reserved for items
with appropriate merit. Few of mankind’s
creations are worthy of such recognition.
Recently, my wife and I stumbled onto a couple of CD’s that pay
homage to musicians who made songs timeless.
The first was an Everly Brothers tribute performed by Billie Joe
Armstrong and Norah Jones, appropriately titled Billie Joe and Norah, Foreverly. Ask any musician that sings
harmony and they will no doubt say the Everly Brothers influenced them. But Norah and Billie Joe went beyond
this. They felt they needed to do this album, just as an
author’s burning desire to pen a story.
Over a period of nine New York City days, these two musicians fashioned
one of the greatest tribute albums I’ve had the pleasure of hearing, their
voices blending as easily as the Brothers Everly.
The second surprise was Bruce Springsteen’s tribute to Pete
Seeger, titled Bruce Springsteen, We
Shall Overcome – The Seeger Sessions.
As with our previous experience, it was a fluke hearing about this
album. Most likely it came as a mention
after Pete Seeger’s passing. This album
is a totally fun mix of Seeger’s tunes performed in Dixieland and New Orleans
styles. The band Springsteen assembled
for this album included some of the best musicians in the United States. Remarkably, everything was cut in three LIVE
sessions from 1997, 2005, and 2006. The fact there were NO REHEARSALS makes this
album even more amazing. The clarity and
energy of their work permeates in every song.
Don’t be mistaken. As
much as I love both albums, my intent is not to do CD reviews, but rather use
them as examples that authors should strive to create abiding pieces that will
inspire readers in the way Pete Seeger and The Everly Brothers inspired
musicians. Timeless works can read over
and again without anyone tiring of them.
It matters not that one may be so familiar with the piece that they can
recite its content without reading them.
If history is any indicator, few authors will ever be recognized for
timeless work while they are alive.
Nevertheless, that should never stop someone from putting their best
work forward through carefully chosen words.
Mark, apropos of what you say about creating things that will abide time and can be read over and over again: I think great works, even great genre works, can be read over again, because each time you get some new little tidbit of info or insight from them. That's the mark of an enduring work.
ReplyDeletePaul, if words were crafted like fine wine, we would never thirst for good literature. :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, Mark. With so much tripe on the market now, the fine works of gifted artists and writers seem to get lost in the marketplace.
ReplyDeleteJean, James Patterson was on the CBS morning show saying he is giving money to book stores to keep them going. The problem, as he said, is young people are not reading, therefore, not buying hardcopy or e-books. It's interesting that while Hitler failed to destroy much of the world's timeless works, our own apathy may eventually succeed in fulfilling his wish.
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