Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Gray's My Favorite Color

You can thank Phylly for this post.  I was going to write something totally different today but then I read her post which is about the use of Coldplay in fanvids.  I'm not a Coldplay fan, I will say.  I don't dislike them but they've just never really gotten me.  She began with the opening lyrics from Coldplay's "Violet Hill" which spun me off in a different direction.  The opening line from that song is "Was a long and dark December" but the voice I heard in my mind wasn't Chris Martin's.  It was Adam Duritz's.  What I heard was this song.


Yes, that's Courtney Cox there making her third appearance in a music video (she was also in The Rembrandt's "I'll Be There For You" vid and was the fan Bruce Springsteen pulled out of the audience in "Dancing In The Dark").  I think she's tied with Alicia Silverstone for appearances in videos, but I'd have to look that up and I'm too lazy to do it right now. 

Anyway, Duritz and the Counting Crows were huge in the 90s.  They were a mostly positive alternative to blowing up the outside world, heart shaped boxes and the heaven beside you.  Don't get me wrong, I heart grunge, but Duritz's lyrics were more winsome and sweet.  He just wanted to be Bob Dylan, after all, is that too much to ask?


 When he does write about heavy topics he transforms his personal experience into something truly beautiful.  Duritz suffers from Dissociative Disorder but he hasn't let it stop him.   It informs his work in an incredibly touching and honest way.  He wrote an article about his stuggle for Men's Health in 2008 that you can find here.  Or you can listen to this song.



Gorgeous, no?  Have a great Tuesday.   

3 comments:

  1. I love Counting Crows - all these songs are terrific! I am always glad to inspire anyone! ;)

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  2. Thanks! Did I ever tell you about my adoration of your Bill Cosby "dentist bit" post? Hilarious!

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  3. I was addicted to "August and Everything After."

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