Jane Siberry is also a ginger
Our blogging friend Dale keeps mentioning things that make me want to write a long, fascinating comment. But once my comments go over two paragraphs, I figure it's time to do my own post rather than troll up someone's comment section. This time Dale mentioned Jane Siberry, although he referred to her as "Jane Siberry Coolcat." I think we are talking about the same person, but I'm not sure.
Jane Siberry is Canadian, so I bet Dale knows her personally.
Anyway, there used to be a really cool holiday concert called the Downtown Messiah at the Bottom Line in the Village. The Bottom Line is now defunct, thanks to those money grubbing greedy NYU bastards who basically kicked them out. Big loss for art in the city.
The Downtown Messiah was a compilation of modern renderings of most of Handel's "Messiah." Very, very cool. The people who used to organize it don't do it anymore now that the Bottom Line is no more. I keep hoping someone will bring it back.
The first time I saw the DM, Jane Siberry performed "If God Be For Us." Her rendition moved me to tears, and I thought I should approach her after the performance to chat with her and tell her so.
The thing is, I didn't know that Jane was pretty famous. Probably about as famous as KD Lang.
So I'm sitting there thinking "what should I say when I go talk to Jane Siberry?" I was thinking up dumb small talk stuff to say like "so, do you sing as a profession, or do you have a day job?"
My friend Jim, who sang in the chorus of this production, offered to introduce me when I saw him after the performance, but for whatever reason we decided to leave instead. Only later did he tell me she was famous.
I'm really glad I didn't try to talk to her. Although it's possible that if I had, she never would have forgotten me. And that would be a good thing. I guess.
Do you think it's possible that Jane might Google herself and read this? If so, I'm sorry, Jane.
20 comments:
She might google herself but then get confused. After commenting about her, I searched her. She's changed her name as of June 3, 2006. So she's gone round the bend a little. Not like you're racking up CD sales there Jane. Help people find you, don't trick them. Silly goose.
I'll have to post (if I haven't already) about when I saw kd's last concert here and she sang a Jane song and Jane was in the audience and wasn't that lovely for us all. It was, but that sounded mean.
What's her name now?
You didn't know who Jane Siberry was? Good lord! She's the most fabulous Canadian woman ever. She sings about hockey for goodness sake!
Well, I'm gladder than ever that I didn't insult her then!
Oh Lordy Lord Dale, you are correct. Jane Siberry has decided to call herself "Issa." Not sure what is up with that.
Since I'm too lazy to do html coding right now, I will simply provide a link:
http://www.janesiberry.com/index2.html
Of course I wanted to make your lazy ass look it up, I waited. I worry a little about Jane although I think she's happy.
I love her. TenS and I saw her years ago at the Park West; the Hockey Song was, of course, my favorite part of the evening.
She's had an interesting progression from folkie to quirky pop darling to rootsy funstress to arty angel issa.
It's funny, many know her for The Hockey Song or the Everything Reminds Me Of My Dog song but some of her others will break your heart.
I may now have to post myself on the Jane.
I hope you will Dale, because I have no idea what any of you are talking about.
You almost started it and you're confused? Everything reminds me of coaster punchman. I think she wrote that too.
Dale, what is that song about the Blackbirds? It can actually make me cry.
I'm feeling guilty now that I see how Jane Siberry/Issa-illiterate I am. What is a good album of hers I should listen to? And what is the name of this "Hockey Song" you all speak of? Is it called "The Hockey Song" or are you just making that up?
The song is called Hockey
winter time and the frozen river
sunday afternoon
they're playing hockey on the river
rosy...
he'll have that scar on his chin forever someday his girlfriend will say hey
where...
he might look out the window...or not
you skate as fast as you can 'til you hit the snowbank(that's how you stop)
and you get your sweater from the catalogue
you use your rubber boots for goal posts
ah...walkin' home
don't let those sunday afternoons
get away get away get away get away
break away break away break away break away
this stick was signed by jean belliveau so don't f**king tell me where
to f**king go...
on sunday afternoon
someone's dog just took the puck-he buried it it's in the snowbank...your turn
they rioted in the streets of montreal when they benched rocket richard it's
true...
don't let those sunday afternoons
get away get away get away get away
break away break away break away break away
the sun is fading on the frozen river
the wind is dying down
someone else just got called for dinner
rosy
hmm...sunday afternoon
It's really beautiful and reminds me of living in Minnesota when I was a kid.
Tenacious S, I think you're thinking of THE VALLEY which was the other song kd lang covered on Hymns of the 49th Parallel.
I live in the hills
You live in the valleys
And all that you know are those blackbirds
You rise every morning
Wondering what in the world will the world bring today
Will it bring you joy or will it take it away
And every step you take is guided by
The love of the light on the land and the blackbird's cry
You will walk in good company
The valley is dark
The burgeoning holding
The stillness obscured by their judging
You walk through the shadows
Uncertain and surely hurting
Deserted by the blackbirds and the staccato of the staff
And though you trust the light towards which you wend your way
Sometimes you feel all that you wanted has been taken away
You will walk in good company
I love the best of you
You love the best of me
Though it is not always easy
Lovely? lovely?
We will walk in good company
The shepherd upright and flowing
You see...
Coaster, she has a compilation CD called Love is Everything that covers a lot of her career. It's a bit pricier and longer but there's also a decent compilation called A Collection 1984-1989.
Just what I needed - I'll check it out. Thanks!
Dale, thanks. I am old and my mind, it fails me. I remember her talking about this song before she sang it and it kind of stuck with me. The subject matter is life-appropriate for me.
Because you're a blackbird Tenacious? Wow! Cool! You will walk in good company.
Yup. Pretty cool, huh. It's amazing Jane thought to write about this underappreciated part of the population, people who are actually blackbirds. What are the odds of that? Just promise to love the best of me.
I think it's just because she's a lousy cook and couldn't be bothered with baking the pie for them Tenacious S.
Hi CP.
And now back to our regularly scheduled walk through the valley.
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