sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t
A full clip of Taylor Hicks and Jon Cook performing Abraham, Martin and John is running at Hicks’ official(paid membership) fan club site. Thinking that it’s a shame for the wider world to not see Hicks with his old gigging buddy, I got wondering about who wrote the song. Turns out it was Tom Holler, who also wrote the song in the top video of this post. That fact was a gap in my knowledge of music history. What is a serious musician? Is that the right question? Maybe it’s just a question of serious music. And otherwise.
categories: music
tags: Abraham, Jon Cook, taylor hicks, Tom Holler
posted by what at 01:00 am
I saw this in entirety at HQ earlier. I think it’s a great performance…but I have to compare it to the “one night in Nashville” version that’s ingrained in my brain. I have to say the the latter is definitely the more “serious” of the two versions. I think that his current state of happiness (my impression anyway) shows thru in this new performance…whereas the Nashville version rips at my heart.
Don’t get me wrong…I think the guy deserves every bit of happiness that comes his way. But my preference for this particular song is the one where I picture him grimacing in pain.
I’m not a member of the HQ pay site and have been resisting joining for many reasons. I wonder too about keeping videos secret on the pay site. Seems like it would be best to get his good stuff out to the world beyond. I have seen a longer version (not the YouTube version) of this performance on another fansite (where you have to download the file). Which begs the question, why aren’t the fansites using Vimeo (or some such) and sharing this stuff more openly? I feel like banging my head on the desk everytime I watch something great that I had to hunt down like a detective (and I know where to look!). The casual browser (potential fan) will not make the effort and miss the stuff that might inspire him/her to go to a show.
But that’s moot anyway, now that he’ll be taking a break this fall. In the end, he must produce a new album whose power is such that it must be heard, that it hauls you in the Hicks boat by the back of your pants.
guiness…I believe that powerful album is on it’s way. He’s gonna need a bigger boat…cuz I’m not giving up my spot for any newbie fan.
sorry….make that “guinness”.
These videos make me want to cry; the first because that particular LP was purchased a long time ago by my father for his children shortly before he died (long before we had any hope of really listening to it and understanding it, and is currently in a tug of war between my brother and me- he has it!) and the second song, because it is just so incredibly moving, even today. I would say that the answer is both: a serious musician and serious music that can evoke strong feelings for decades. Thanks for connecting the dots about Holler.
Even “serious” musicians have to eat and pay the bills. Nothing wrong with a timeless classic in the form of an advertising jingle….. I’ll bet more people are aware of SOMETIMES YOU FEEL LIKE A NUT , than ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN. There are many people who don’t even know who these guys are , strange as that may seem. A sad state of affairs , perhaps, but reality????
Incongruence is the word that comes to mind.
First in the subject matter of those two songs by the same songwriter. Probably just needed to pay the bills. And next in the bemused smile on Taylor’s face as he sings those deeply moving lyrics. Looks like a guy who’s overjoyed to be singing a song he loves while accompanied by an old friend — and who is no doubt struck by the incredible change in circumstance since they last performed together.
Just lovely. Can’t for the life of me understand why the full version hasn’t been posted for access by a wider audience.
Robin…you did a better job of putting my thoughts into words than I did. It seems that both friends are joyous in the moment.
maybe the ladies shouldn’t scream “we love you taylor” just before Taylor wonders where his old friend John went.
i miss this sound. so much that it almost feels foreign for me to hear him perform this during this portion of his career.
The “Red Baron” was written and recorded by The Royal Guardsmen in 1966. In going through my 45’s the other day, I found my cherished copy of this song. When I was about six (a LONG time ago), I played this record virally for about 3 months one summer. I love me some Snoopy.
Sorry I said written, I meant recorded. While I like A,M & J, I always found it to be so depressing. Taylor does a great job with Jon on it, though.
Alas, my political & historical views prohibit me from liking this song anymore…however, I love the way Taylor sings it…I have always loved the Red Baron song, especially coupled with Snoopy.
justwatchin, I’ll bite. Could you elaborate more on “political and historical views” about AMJ that make you dislike the song?
jw, what do the lyrics mean to you? I think of it basically as a song expressing sorrow and outgrage against assassination - a pretty horrible way to shut someone up.
I like this song when it is sung with the right emphasis. From what I’ve seen, I’m not sure the other night Taylor gave it the full emotional attention the lyrics deserve. The earlier version is better.
Agree about this performance not really hitting the full potential of the lyrics, but I like the exchange of smiles between Hicks and Cook on the lyric “has anybody here seen my old friend John”. Not close to the original meaning, but a nice reminder of the personal history and friendship on stage there.
Hi What..it was just a passing comment. The problem for me is not what the lyrics mean to me, it is rather that they don’t mean anything to me. I guess I have a problem with the two questions the song asks, “Didn’t you love the things that they stood for?” It’s too open ended. I guess it would depend on what you think they stood for. And no, for me, I did not like SOME of the things they stood for.
“Didn’t they try to make a better world, for you and me, so we’d be free?” I’m not sure…someone would have to tell me how they made the world a better place for you & me?
While the melody itself supports the the emotions of outrage & sorrow of assassination, and rather seem to be imploring me to buy into it…the lyrics pull the rug out from under the deal for me.
Still friends?
Sorry, I misquote the lyrics…”didn’t they try to find some good for you and me”…instead of ” make the world a better place”