70: REASONABLY sure
December 25th
Today is the deathiversary of two very different artists, both of whom I love: Happy Christmas to angry poet Vic Chesnutt and sad butt-shaker George Michael. Besides being great songwriters and soulful singers, they’re pretty different. (For one, you’ve guaranteed heard of one of them.) But today’s their day. I assume that’s why nobody is at work.
They only overlap a little: Chesnutt’s career was starting as Michael’s was mostly wrapping up, right at the end of the eighties. They never crossed paths, and their individual musics were pretty much opposite: danceable and commercial versus oppositional indie poet. Vic died on purpose via overdose; George died of heart failure. Both men carried the weight of incredible sadness through their lives. Both spun that shit into gold.
Both wanted to be better known: Chesnutt spoke openly about wishing to be “rich and famous” famous, instead of the kind of fame he had (brief and not ongoing). George Michael was world-famous but not in charge of that, reeling forever from the compromises he’d made as a very young man. He knew that being known and wealthy was only a little better than broke and unknown.
I’m grateful for the music these two cats created and shared. I’m glad we shared a planet for a minute.
Speaking of which, thank you as well. Your planetary company is appreciated, as is your readership. Hope you’re having a good time.
xo
jep
[Addendum, REVISED Dec 26th:] the original post had the song by Vic below, You Are Never Alone. But it is not the one I meant to share. It’s good, but Everything I Say is the one I wanted to share. I added it at bottom. Also who cares.]
