Scrolling through my newsfeed early this morning, I fell across the news of the death of Michael Nesmith. Yes, he will be best remembered for how he got famous, being one of the Monkees, rather nastily labelled as the "Pre-fab Four" by critics at the time.
However, he was my favourite Monkee, slightly removed from frenetic madness, with his wry wit, and dry delivery.
Being connected with what was an Americanized attempt to capitalize on the looniness of the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night, it's easy to forget that he was a songwriter himself.
His most famous song was covered and forever claimed by Linda Ronstadt, when she was the lead singer for a group called The Stone Poneys. Her version is a pop classic, soaring and passionate.
Nesmith's version of his own ditty is far more country and down-to-earth, although he always gave credit to Ronstadt for her interpretation.
He's also credited with being a pioneer of the concept of the music video. I'm particularly charmed by this song, part of a summer replacement show entitled Television Parts in the mid-1980s.
With Christmas getting so close, I can't resist a little bit of Monkee magic, their rendition of "Riu riu chiu". Nesmith is the guy in the tie.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment