Lexical Lunatics
All these years I've listened to the Steely Dan, I always discover something new to like about them and never fail to be amazed by their genius flair for unpredictability and contra tiempo stance in rhythm and words. They are, for me, elegantly quirky at the least, classy and profoundly intelligent at the best. Any self-proclaimed Dan fan would declare that much devotion.
I love singing to their cryptic lyricism, and by now am perfectly attuned to the major riffs, all the way down to the slightest skip-of-a-beat flourishes in my favorite songs of them. Over the years, I've made my very own interpretation of their lyrics that immensely fascinated but I never fully understood.
They are no different in song in that they sing of quest for life's meaning and the temptresses along the way: sex, drugs, love and rock and roll -- I mean, what self-respecting genius rockers are without these? In their songs the stories unravel, rife with arcane references to real (and make-believe) people, places and events, making one feel slightly jealous for not having been fully on to the action, yet feeling to be part of the brotherhood, "...for you and me we understood"
The wistful sadness (accompanied by a haunting sax solo by Tom Scott) of Deacon Blues still moves me to this day. Babylon Sisters, what are they, really? A menage a trois, a hint of racism, or being torn between San Franciso and LA?. Time Out Of Mind, for me was an anthem and a trip, and my husband thinks Kid Charlegmane is even more. It doesn't get groovier, nor preachier than The Fez, with a timely tip from the holy man, that being from The Royal Scam which I think to be their best album by far.
The joy about these songs is that we all, for those of us devoted, become these thinkers pitching into the action, second guessing the sentiments of Don and Walt, and never quite pinning them down, even after 25 years of the singing. It's like everytime you hear their songs, a new thing comes to light. For Steely Dan, the grooving never ceases, like the party never stopped, and I can only say cheers to that.
Filed Under: Mania
I love singing to their cryptic lyricism, and by now am perfectly attuned to the major riffs, all the way down to the slightest skip-of-a-beat flourishes in my favorite songs of them. Over the years, I've made my very own interpretation of their lyrics that immensely fascinated but I never fully understood.
They are no different in song in that they sing of quest for life's meaning and the temptresses along the way: sex, drugs, love and rock and roll -- I mean, what self-respecting genius rockers are without these? In their songs the stories unravel, rife with arcane references to real (and make-believe) people, places and events, making one feel slightly jealous for not having been fully on to the action, yet feeling to be part of the brotherhood, "...for you and me we understood"
The wistful sadness (accompanied by a haunting sax solo by Tom Scott) of Deacon Blues still moves me to this day. Babylon Sisters, what are they, really? A menage a trois, a hint of racism, or being torn between San Franciso and LA?. Time Out Of Mind, for me was an anthem and a trip, and my husband thinks Kid Charlegmane is even more. It doesn't get groovier, nor preachier than The Fez, with a timely tip from the holy man, that being from The Royal Scam which I think to be their best album by far.
The joy about these songs is that we all, for those of us devoted, become these thinkers pitching into the action, second guessing the sentiments of Don and Walt, and never quite pinning them down, even after 25 years of the singing. It's like everytime you hear their songs, a new thing comes to light. For Steely Dan, the grooving never ceases, like the party never stopped, and I can only say cheers to that.
Filed Under: Mania
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