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Bon Iver, "Calgary"
Here is the new song from Bon Iver. Just kidding. That is an old song from Stevie Winwood. Here is the new song from Bon Iver, and also below. (But there's something sort of similar, right?) Also, I like both these songs, and I'm very excited about the forthcoming Bon Iver album, which is set to arrive next month.
What was New York's general reaction to "Empire State of Mind"? Indifference, with enthusiasm everywhere else BUT the city the song's referring to? That's what I'd guess.
Anyway, Calgary is going through the exact opposite right now.
That's also how they felt when "Cool Runnings" was released.
@Murgatroid Actually, I recall most living here fucking loved Empire State Of Mind… It was a "moment" song. Witness:California Love – Tupac. Miami? Will Smith? (no idea what Miami thinks.)
I would think this song falls on deaf ears because Bon Iver is probably not doing the same thing Tupac or Jay Z did, hype up the place in a poppy dance beat that you can't get out of your head (also memorable videos). He kind of mumbles words? Were there words?
@Murgatroid Speaking as an ex-Calgarian I can say with some confidence that this or any release by Mr 'Bon' Iver will be met with almost complete indifference; the 'almost' being the Roasterie in Kensington and a small zone of 17th St SW. Calgary is more of a Nickelback kind of town. In fact the two concepts are pretty much interchangeable.
The song, with its smattering of weird horn sounds, is rather reminiscent of Destroyer's latest. Maybe he should have titled it 'Vancouver'?
@Flashman As a current Calgarian, I can say that the circles that I run in are pretty enthused for this song but yes, you're right, Calgary as a whole is probably unaware that this song even exists.
And I'm not sure how long it's been since you last visited or lived here, but the Roasterie is more of a "skid punk" zone these days.
@Murgatroid Damn, yeah I haven't been back to Calgary since I left,in disgrace, in 2002. For the six or so years I lived in Sunnyside the Roasterie and the Red Onion just up the street were pretty much the centre of my existence. At that time the main guys behind the counter at the R were very serious about their music – they were housemates, were in some sort of band together, perhaps they were lovers. John was into noise and art rock and subscribed to The Wire, the other guy whose name I've forgotten was a bit more eclectic; he would blast things like Bolero or obscure hip hop.
I probably should never have left Calgary – wider politics aside, Sunnyside was a really chilled out, fun place to live.
Everyone's going for that 80s soft-rock sound at the mo aren't they?
It's pretty but sort of lacking what I would call a "tune" so rather forgettable in the end.
@LondonLee yeah it's ALMOST emotional but not quite, which makes it kind of seem ingenuine. No one just GOES for it anymore. It's just 'make it KIND of sad and soulsearching, but make sure you throw it off kilter so everyone thinks we're artists.'
@sweatersLA I immediately thought it was funny how eighties this was, and not the usual touchstones, but the more guazy, middle-aged dad rock, which as you've said, whose heights of unironic belting our half-measured generation will never achieve.
I'm already dreading the number of facebook updates I'll see related to this album.
Is this for transitional hipsters?
its true: this song will more likely be on the lips and tongues of the beano set. The Roast has always been more street-level, but I wouldn't ever have it change.
The live version of Valerie is freaking INCREDIBLE.