Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music That Inspired It
By Bob Boilen
3.5/5
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About this ebook
From the beloved host and creator of NPR’s All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concerts comes an essential oral history of modern music, told in the voices of iconic and up-and-coming musicians, including Dave Grohl, Jimmy Page, Michael Stipe, Carrie Brownstein, Smokey Robinson, and Jeff Tweedy, among others—published in association with NPR Music.
Is there a unforgettable song that changed your life?
NPR’s renowned music authority Bob Boilen posed this question to some of today’s best-loved musical legends and rising stars. In Your Song Changed My Life, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), St. Vincent, Jónsi (Sigur Rós), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Cat Power, David Byrne (Talking Heads), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Jenny Lewis, Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney), Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), Trey Anastasio (Phish), Jackson Browne, Valerie June, Philip Glass, James Blake, and other artists reflect on pivotal moments that inspired their work.
For Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, it was discovering his sister’s 45 of The Byrds’ “Turn, Turn, Turn.” A young St. Vincent’s life changed the day a box of CDs literally fell off a delivery truck in front of her house. Cat Stevens was transformed when he heard John Lennon cover “Twist and Shout.” These are the momentous yet unmarked events that have shaped these and many other musical talents, and ultimately the sound of modern music.
A diverse collection of personal experiences, both ordinary and extraordinary, Your Song Changed My Life illustrates the ways in which music is revived, restored, and revolutionized. It is also a testament to the power of music in our lives, and an inspiration for future artists and music lovers.
Amazing contributors include: Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney, Portlandia, Wild Flag), Smokey Robinson, David Byrne (Talking Heads), St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), James Blake, Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), Trey Anastasio (Phish), Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Sturgill Simpson, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Cat Power, Jackson Browne, Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), Philip Glass, Jónsi (Sigur Rós), Hozier, Regina Carter, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, and others), Courtney Barnett, Chris Thile (Nickel Creek, Punch Brothers), Leon Bridges, Sharon Van Etten, and many more.
Bob Boilen
Bob Boilen is the creator and host of NPR Music’s All Songs Considered, and of their Tiny Desk Concert series, which hosts well-known and emerging artists for intimate performances filmed at his desk. He was also the director of NPR’s All Things Considered (1989-2007) and chose the music between the news stories. As a composer and musician himself, Boilen has always been passionate about music. Prior to joining NPR, he was a long-time record store clerk and performed with his band Tiny Desk Unit. Constantly on the lookout for new music, Boilen sees more than 500 live bands each year. He lives in Washington, D.C.
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Reviews for Your Song Changed My Life
15 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Your song changed my life, from Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier_ thirty-five beloved artists on their journey and the music by Boilen_ BobEnjoyed this story of how different musical artists changed his life as he moved around the world as a child, teen, adult.Like hearing of the artists behind the scenes and little known information from the 60's to current days artists and how their music changed the world.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Bob Boilen of NPR's All Songs Considered interviews about three dozen musical artists, focusing on the music that influences those artists. The subjects are quiet varied in representing different areas of popular music from Jimmy Page to St. Vincent to Smokey Robinson to Iain Mackaye to Phillip Glass to Lucinda Williams. Some of the influences are what you'd expect, but then they're surprises like Trey Anastassio of Phish citing Leonard Bernstein or Jenny Lewis drawing on hip-hop. Some of the best interviews are with artists I otherwise knew nothing about such as Hozier and Fantastic Negrito. A significant part of this book is also abotu Boilen's own experience as a kid first hearing the Beatles, working in a record store, and starting a band. He frequently relates the artists' experience back to his own and indirectly to the reader's as we all have our own experiences of being exposed to music. This is a good book for music fans, and even if you don't read it cover to cover, it's worth checking out some of the interviews.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Anything that allows me to get a glimpse of what inspires Justin Vernon wins all the prizes for me. It helped that some of my most favorite people are interviewed here - not just Justin, but Sharon Van Etten, Carrie Brownstein, Jackson Browne and Cat Stevens. A great variety of some of the best musicians in my opinion. This is a great read for any audiophile.