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Thursday, April 16, 2020

Comment of the Moment: PREMIERE TODAY: "Sun Green" from "Greendale" | Neil Young Archives #BeTheRain


"There's Corruption on THE HIGHEST FLOOR"
(Yet More Inconvenient Truth of Greendale)

The Comment of the Moment is from yesterday's post on PREMIERE TODAY: "Sun Green" from "Greendale" | Neil Young Archives #BeTheRain by Scotsman:
Most of the time, when I write something about Neil's music I'll do so right here on Thrasher's blog.

But occasionally, when my medication wears off, I will dazedly step out into the wider world. I am HUNGRY, frantically searching for someone who doesn't appreciate Greendale so I lecture them in my usual exasperating and pontificating tone, a crazed look in my eye, my fangs as sharp as icicles (etc).

And then the medication kicks back in, and I revert to my "normal" human state.

Anyway, here is something that I wrote on the weirdest corner of the 'net, that I thought some of you may relate to:

Greendale isn't just the quirky, crazy, oddball, light-relief album you all think it is.

It is an album about life (and death). Neil's own life, but also what he sees in the world. And from our perspective, it's about our lives.

The characters in this story aren't just a bunch of oddities, they are expressions of our lives, our emotions, our relationships, our desires.

When Officer Carmichael is shot down by Jed, it's obvious to me that the grief of his widow is something that Neil and Crazy Horse are feeling.

Not necessarily because they particular care about fictional Carmichael's family. But because they too have people to grieve, people who have been snatched from them and left them "talking to the wall". They can relate.

And when Grandpa has died on the porch and Sun Green takes him over his dinner, unaware he's dead and about to be told she won't be seeing him again. We've all had experiences like that, haven't we?

*"When I picked up the telephone and heard that he died..."*

Greendale is a very creative album of very real, very multi-layered emotion. That's why Neil puts this one up there with Tonight's The Night; not just because it's a nice picture-book to watch until On The Beach or Hitchhiker comes back on again.

You have to remember what it was like to be Sun Green. Or Carmichael's widow. Or Grandpa. It's no good being on the outside looking in.

You have to start to relate to these characters and their lives, as you would the characters in a movie or a novel.

That's the key that unlocks to the door to this very remarkable album.

Thrasher: thank you for maintaining your blog. I'm sure a lot of people appreciate your effort.

The discussion here over the last few years has always been thoughtful and often lively, with many differing worldviews, outlooks and opinions: for me that's part of the fun.

Scotsman.
Thanks so much Scotsman! As always, thanks for your insightful contributions -- once again demonstrating that Neil fans/rusties are some of the most knowledgeable and articulate music fans out there. Your words inspire us to carry on here.

btw, curious as to "weirdest corner of the 'net"? thought TW had that market pegged.?!

17 years since Greendale. So much has changed and yet so little to show. There's Corruption on not only on THE HIGHEST FLOOR, but nearly every single floor as well, sadly. Our job is now even bigger than saving just Alaska. Undaunted we go out into the fields for another day ...

More on PREMIERE TODAY: "Sun Green" from "Greendale" | Neil Young Archives #BeTheRain.


Sun Green in Neil Young's Greendale Concert Tour - 2003

GREENDALE = "FUTURE PROVES PAST"

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


8 Comments:

At 4/16/2020 10:30:00 AM, Blogger thrasher said...

As DREman pointed out "I find it really hard to believe that this song is 17 years old."

Yep, we do to. 17 years since Neil conceived Greendale and the characters like Sun Green.

At the same time in 2003, Greta was born and now she is 17 years old.

The Sun Green character was in High School and about 17. Sarah White who played Sun Green on stage was about ~17 when cast in late 2002.

’Julia Butterfly’ was also about about ~17 when she became activated.

call it synchronicity. call it coinqidental. call it whatev' you want.
just #BeTheRain"
ok?

 
At 4/16/2020 11:08:00 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 4/16/2020 11:14:00 AM, Blogger rightwing said...

The death of John Prine has recently made me contemplate his subtlety in presenting his opinion. His ability to paint both sides of an issue or situation with humor, while still being clear about how he felt, and without preaching, being condescending, angry, or ham-fisted were a great part of his genius. Greendale reminds me of Prine's music. The political, environmental message was presented, not force fed. And how could one not empathize with both sides in the Carmichael tragedy, or laugh at verses like "When I was young, we wore what we had on" and the self deprecating "That guy just keeps singing. Can't somebody shut him up."
I believe Greendale was Neil's last great masterpiece. I hope he can rediscover some of that lost subtlety and humor. It is an essential part of his genius, too.

 
At 4/16/2020 12:07:00 PM, Blogger thrasher said...

@ Unknown - thanks on Homegrown tracklist.

Uncut is a bit behind the curve here on getting this news out. TC & TW have had this info avail for months now. Always nice to know tho.

@ rightwing - great sadness on JP. Good points about his humor genius of combining comedy and tragedy into single lines. The power of the duality as we often have said here b4.

And we always appreciate folks recognizing Greendale as a great masterpiece. Much as Scotsman above spreads the word about into the weird corners of the internet, so do rusties around the world try and spread that Greendale living.

"Shows with love and affection
like mama used to say
a little Mayberry [Greendale] livin'
can go a long way"

most folks of a certain age and/or non-USA have no idea what "Mayberry livin'" refers to, but we'll save the planet for another day...

peace

 
At 4/16/2020 03:18:00 PM, Blogger Abner Snopes said...

I was lying in bed last night listening to songs. I put on "Sun Green" and suddenly realized it is a great song. So many years since I listened! I love the megaphone. John Prine was a magnificent human being. I bought "Bruised Orange" the day it came out, when I was in graduate school, and listened endlessly until the songs were a part of my vocabulary and worldview. Fish and Whistle is, for me, religion. I hope everyone is well out there. More Greendale tonight, if I can stay awake, I'm almost Grandpa.

 
At 4/17/2020 07:36:00 AM, Blogger Mister Henry said...

@Scotsman Thanks for a wonderful piece of writing; you're the man!

We do regular visits to Mayberry, where I've been vacationing since boyhood. MeTV has two episodes from 8 to 9 pm ET. Especially love the early episodes with Andy and Opie. Ron Howard was the best child actor ever IMHO. Season One and his scenes in The Music Man provide the evidence.

And the things you can't remember
Tell the things you can't forget
That history puts a saint in every dream
--Tom Waits

 
At 4/17/2020 09:53:00 AM, Blogger thrasher said...

@ Mr H - thanks for the Mayberry updates.

Maybe that will inspire some folks to check out Mayberry living?! Who knows? Maybe some will find the Mayberry lifestyle appealing?

 
At 4/20/2020 04:46:00 AM, Blogger Flyingscotzman said...

....Thanks Mr H!

Scotsman.

 

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