Truebadour. Three words: True. Bad. Our.
Sometimes etymology gets it right. The troubador tradition started in the 11th century, a style for rhetorical musical poetic fiction that even today finds many a fan happy to hear something outside the house of pop culture. In the wash of bands and hip music today there’s a refreshing sincerity to artists who combine a modern day fable with a simple tune.
The Truebadour Killin It right now is Todd Snider. You get the sense when you watch him play that he’s doing his damndest to maintain some simple truth amidst all the irony and cynism of today. Take, for example, his song, Iron Mike’s Main Man’s Last Request, in which he sings the tale of Mike Tyson’s life from the point of view of his “main man,” the guy who “washes every car in his 10 car garage” and “carries his boom box with the entourage.” It’s a beautiful tune.
TRUE, because Mike Tyson himself is true. You can’t win fights the way Mike won fights if you’re not true, and you can’t lose fights the way Mike lost fights if you’re not true. Tyson has always been too honest for his own good.
BAD, because the story is tragic, like all American heroes around whom fables are born. A truebadour’s tale is always tragic if it’s going to move us, since life is full of bad, sad, and ugly stuff. Whether it’s the “main man”who cleans Tyson’s car or Tyson himself, everybody’s desperate. That’s what makes killin’ it so hard! Such a steep slope to climb!
OUR, because it’s everyone together. This is especially so with celebrities because everyone gets to share in their larger-than-life narratives. One of my good friends David Caruso once told me: “sometimes its better to have fans that know everything and friends that no nothing, because the fans will understand you.” That’s always struck with me as being a pretty killin’ it statement if you let yourself think about it long enough.
Here’s another great song from Todd Snider, from the POV of a certain fraternity brother.
Thanks for Killin It Todd!
"the nomadic urge is a natural urge"
What are you indicating, man? I know everyones got their own view, but really? Listen, your weblog is neat. I like the hard work you put into it, specially with the vids and the pics. But, come on. Theres gotta be a better way to say this, a way that doesnt make it seem like everybody here is stupid!
I want to do a live webcast, but I can’t figure out how to do it on the Blogger platform. Can anyone give me some direction?. . Thanks!.
Fantastic, It’s posts like this that keep me coming back and checking this blog regularly, thanks for the info!
This post is indeed quite interesting. Keep it up! I’ll try here to further the contributions Vervolg.
Mindfulness based stress reduction
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!