Thank you, Justin! I knew you wouldn't be disappointed! "Charlie, I'm pregnant" in THAT voice, to me, is the funniest opening line ever. You're right. The song is both very funny and very sad. There are not many artists that can pull that off as well as Tom.
It's not one twist. It's a roller-coaster. Every verse is a different tone/emotion as she gears herself up for the uncomfortable ask - first boastful, then reminiscent, then tragic, then regretful/dreamy, finally truthful.
For me, this is the best lyric ever written. It has everything; love, regret, melancolly, hope, nostalgia. And to top it off, a plot twist! All of it in six verses! What more could you ask for in a lyric?
Exactly! I mean, if Bob Dylan can win a Nobel Prize for literature....I guess it's just a matter of time, right? The man is a wordsmith. A poet. A bloody genius!
Tom's a poet first and foremost and one of jazz music's greatest storytellers. OK, so he has a distinctive singing voice, but his voice and his music are a perfect match, because he always sings about the downtrodden, the disregarded, the drunken and under privileged. God bless him.
Thanks man, I am so glad you have finally dipped your toe in the old-style Tom Waits before Swordfishtrombone, and thanks for the shout out that was unexpected and cool. There are so many sides to Tom that it's hard to know where to start but Raindogs and Christmas Card are as good a place as any. Keep up the good work and finish Raindogs
There's a cover of "Somewhere" from West Side Story on this album that's heartbreaking and beautiful. Tom knows when to turn the gravel in his voice on and off, or at least he did at this time.
Blue Valentine is one of my favourite albums ever. Definitely worth a whole album listen. I loved that when I saw your shoulders start to shake I wasn't sure if you were laughing or crying. This song gets me like that as well, and Tom delivery just underscores the whole thing. Awesome reaction JP, and thank you for all your reactions through the year and for being so open to checking out so many different kinds of music.
Having not sat down and listened to this in probably almost a decade I was surprised to find myself getting a bit misty-eyed at the ending. It hits different having heard it a few dozen times as a young man and revisiting it on the other side of thirty. I generally prefer the later, more avant-garde Waits stuff from the 80’s onwards, so I don’t listen to these early albums much anymore, but man, this is such a brilliant vocal performance, and his pencil is as sharp as it ever was. So much charisma oozing from this track, and it reminds me of how incredible he is as a live performer. I wonder if he has the time and energy for another tour before the end. If he gets around to it, he is an absolute must-see.
You gotta do this whole album! It's a 10/10 for me. Full of great songs like this one, and probably my favorite Tom Waits song of all time "Whistlin' Past the Graveyard"
For me, the lyric was already getting comedic before the actual reveal from the absurd weight of piled-on tragedies and regret. Started chuckling at "Hey Charlie I think I'm happy for he first time since my accident." The soulfulness of the performance really puts it over. It's just great!
Note- his years with Asylum records are a different style than his years with Island records. Both eras are amazing - but totally different. (As his Anti-records era is different from the Island years and the Asylum years)
The live version he did where he folded in Silent Night is amazing. So much more expressive. All his live stuff is top notch. Link to that video: ruclips.net/video/EznGGYQ-Tv8/видео.html
1:43 his voice reminds me of Louis Armstrong and then Mika when he gets softer. (I’m only familiar with Rain Dogs which was almost all growl.) One of my musical heroes is Randy Newman. Is Tom the yang to Randy’s ying? Well JP, there’s only one way to find out, unless you’re all done with PixarDisney, Randy. Altogether now, it’s Christmas in Capetown.... This? Oh i really can’t be fussed with it I’m afraid as it lacks a certain ... subtlety? Thanks!
My first Tom Waits album that I loved. Just some of the coolest sh… ever. That until Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs dropped. I get it that some can’t stand this, I can’t listen to some their stuff, that’s the way of the world my brothers and sisters. Be well all.
I prefer this Waits to his more Beefheart-influenced albums. Kind of wish he moved seriously into jazz later in his career but I guess his muse didn’t lead that way.
@Third Coast - What makes you think he had Beefheart influenced albums? Tom's voice more gravelly as he got older, but his music was never like Beefheart.
Once you get older you'll find most of the hookers you used to know will talk to you like this. So yeah it's kinda funny when it's new to you but it becomes tragic the more you see it.
This song has always stopped me. Now that I am like 40 years to when I first listened it, it brings tears to my eyes, especially in the end. To me, the end is thus not something to laugh at, vice versa. I was somewhat disturbed, that your reaction was laughing, because the destiny in the story touched me deeply, but I know you did not laugh, because you are mean, gross or vulgar person, but you are warm hearted person, so your reaction was interesting and eventually really deep. A good pick.
This here is completely inappropriate (but not in any embarrassing kind of way - which I should not have said), but you might know someone who enjoys this kind of thing (maybe I'm lying about the embarrassing nature of the ineptitude - is that the right word - is that the right phrase or sentence construction - where does the question mark go, now - sorry, I lost it.) ruclips.net/video/2xLMhB_cTgc/видео.html (You might know some annoying kids. I think annoying kids might love this kind of thing - even though it's so inept.) The song is nice and blue, BTW.
Normally I like blues about sad stuff like how someone woke up this morning, and found their dog was dead. (Not complaining about how blue this one is, though. Nor about the sting in the tail of the tale.) A good example: *Woke Up This Morning* - by *Nazareth* ruclips.net/video/bEa6IGsdhp4/видео.html (Just on the matter of voice textures, Wiktionary says that there's _gravel_ in a gravelly voice. Speaking as if there's lots of coarse stone in one's larynx. No grave. That's only in gravely. )
Thank you, Justin! I knew you wouldn't be disappointed! "Charlie, I'm pregnant" in THAT voice, to me, is the funniest opening line ever. You're right. The song is both very funny and very sad. There are not many artists that can pull that off as well as Tom.
Haha, ty David :) I enjoyed that
It's not one twist. It's a roller-coaster. Every verse is a different tone/emotion as she gears herself up for the uncomfortable ask - first boastful, then reminiscent, then tragic, then regretful/dreamy, finally truthful.
Very astute analysis!
For me, this is the best lyric ever written. It has everything; love, regret, melancolly, hope, nostalgia. And to top it off, a plot twist! All of it in six verses! What more could you ask for in a lyric?
Exactly! I mean, if Bob Dylan can win a Nobel Prize for literature....I guess it's just a matter of time, right? The man is a wordsmith. A poet. A bloody genius!
Tom's a poet first and foremost and one of jazz music's greatest storytellers. OK, so he has a distinctive singing voice, but his voice and his music are a perfect match, because he always sings about the downtrodden, the disregarded, the drunken and under privileged. God bless him.
Thanks man, I am so glad you have finally dipped your toe in the old-style Tom Waits before Swordfishtrombone, and thanks for the shout out that was unexpected and cool. There are so many sides to Tom that it's hard to know where to start but Raindogs and Christmas Card are as good a place as any. Keep up the good work and finish Raindogs
There's a cover of "Somewhere" from West Side Story on this album that's heartbreaking and beautiful. Tom knows when to turn the gravel in his voice on and off, or at least he did at this time.
I've seen a couple of stage musical directors describe it as the greatest interpretation ever recorded.
Blue Valentine is one of my favourite albums ever. Definitely worth a whole album listen. I loved that when I saw your shoulders start to shake I wasn't sure if you were laughing or crying. This song gets me like that as well, and Tom delivery just underscores the whole thing. Awesome reaction JP, and thank you for all your reactions through the year and for being so open to checking out so many different kinds of music.
Remarkable interpretation and composition. Love it man! How much passion and feeling. One of a kind.
Having not sat down and listened to this in probably almost a decade I was surprised to find myself getting a bit misty-eyed at the ending. It hits different having heard it a few dozen times as a young man and revisiting it on the other side of thirty.
I generally prefer the later, more avant-garde Waits stuff from the 80’s onwards, so I don’t listen to these early albums much anymore, but man, this is such a brilliant vocal performance, and his pencil is as sharp as it ever was. So much charisma oozing from this track, and it reminds me of how incredible he is as a live performer. I wonder if he has the time and energy for another tour before the end. If he gets around to it, he is an absolute must-see.
You gotta do this whole album! It's a 10/10 for me. Full of great songs like this one, and probably my favorite Tom Waits song of all time "Whistlin' Past the Graveyard"
Wow, thank you so much for covering this song. Absolutely beautiful.
It's not a completed X-mas wish. Without Tom and a little twist! Peace and music, the best holiday gift.🤭✌
Tom Waits is another genius an astonishing body of work
JP, how can you chuckle with such a Waits Story
For me, the lyric was already getting comedic before the actual reveal from the absurd weight of piled-on tragedies and regret. Started chuckling at "Hey Charlie I think I'm happy for he first time since my accident." The soulfulness of the performance really puts it over. It's just great!
Note- his years with Asylum records are a different style than his years with Island records. Both eras are amazing - but totally different. (As his Anti-records era is different from the Island years and the Asylum years)
TW is his own world. That being said, Blue Valentine is quite a different beast than Rain Dogs
Such an amazing storyteller. And, as said before, two types of Waits : before Swordfishtrombones, and after.
I remember hearing this on a live video he did, and I loved it. Great song!
I never "got" Tom until I watched a video of him in concert!
"Everyone I used to know is either dead or in prison"...
The live version he did where he folded in Silent Night is amazing. So much more expressive. All his live stuff is top notch.
Link to that video: ruclips.net/video/EznGGYQ-Tv8/видео.html
Love this track, love this album. Listen to Romeo is bleeding
Absolutely. Every song on this record is a marvel!
1:43 his voice reminds me of Louis Armstrong and then Mika when he gets softer. (I’m only familiar with Rain Dogs which was almost all growl.) One of my musical heroes is Randy Newman. Is Tom the yang to Randy’s ying? Well JP, there’s only one way to find out, unless you’re all done with PixarDisney, Randy. Altogether now, it’s Christmas in Capetown....
This? Oh i really can’t be fussed with it I’m afraid as it lacks a certain ... subtlety? Thanks!
Hahaha that twist was so good...
pure genius, beautiful maladies for the downtrodden.
My first Tom Waits album that I loved. Just some of the coolest sh… ever.
That until Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs dropped. I get it that some can’t stand this, I can’t listen to some their stuff, that’s the way of the world my brothers and sisters.
Be well all.
Same here, my first Waits album back in the days.
It's just not X-mas without Waits.
Try the live version with Silent Night, it’s simply heartbreaking.
I prefer this Waits to his more Beefheart-influenced albums. Kind of wish he moved seriously into jazz later in his career but I guess his muse didn’t lead that way.
@Third Coast - What makes you think he had Beefheart influenced albums? Tom's voice more gravelly as he got older, but his music was never like Beefheart.
Yup… yup… all of this… yup
Once you get older you'll find most of the hookers you used to know will talk to you like this. So yeah it's kinda funny when it's new to you but it becomes tragic the more you see it.
This song has always stopped me. Now that I am like 40 years to when I first listened it, it brings tears to my eyes, especially in the end. To me, the end is thus not something to laugh at, vice versa. I was somewhat disturbed, that your reaction was laughing, because the destiny in the story touched me deeply, but I know you did not laugh, because you are mean, gross or vulgar person, but you are warm hearted person, so your reaction was interesting and eventually really deep. A good pick.
The first part is about the dream world she would like to be living in.
This here is completely inappropriate (but not in any embarrassing kind of way - which I should not have said), but you might know someone who enjoys this kind of thing (maybe I'm lying about the embarrassing nature of the ineptitude - is that the right word - is that the right phrase or sentence construction - where does the question mark go, now - sorry, I lost it.)
ruclips.net/video/2xLMhB_cTgc/видео.html
(You might know some annoying kids. I think annoying kids might love this kind of thing - even though it's so inept.)
The song is nice and blue, BTW.
Normally I like blues about sad stuff like how someone woke up this morning, and found their dog was dead. (Not complaining about how blue this one is, though. Nor about the sting in the tail of the tale.)
A good example: *Woke Up This Morning* - by *Nazareth* ruclips.net/video/bEa6IGsdhp4/видео.html
(Just on the matter of voice textures, Wiktionary says that there's _gravel_ in a gravelly voice. Speaking as if there's lots of coarse stone in one's larynx.
No grave. That's only in gravely. )
It's not funny
😐😶
C'mon, you love this stuff! 😟
@@Katehowe3010 no, I hate it with the burning intensity of a thousand blue giants.
@Pentagrammaton So do i mate. Its bloody awful! 😬
🤮
@@lifespanofafry1534 excellent, we are not alone!