Afraid

Is there anything more endearing than a self-deprecating diety? I think there’s no argument that David Bowie left the realm of the merely human a long long time ago. The really sweet thing is that he doesn’t seem to realize it sometimes. (Is there anything more off-putting than a diety who wants to be acknowledged?) As he’s gotten older, his songs have become more plainly heartfelt. Not that he never had any heartfelt or directly autobiographical songs in his early days. But back then it seems he wanted to keep personal things at arm’s length, so that even songs that clearly referred to very personal things were presented in a literary, almost ironic way. For example Golden Years, a song he wrote for his fixing-to-bolt then wife Angie is an unemotional, eccentric dance number, while on the same album Wild Is the Wind, a cover,  is invested with real feeling. Since then he’s gotten over his need to distance himself from his own feelings and his most recent albums include songs that are almost confessional (although never to the degree that someone like John Lennon would be confessional). This one, from Heathen (2002), is a very touching song about being insecure and, well, afraid.

I wish I was smarter
I got so lost on the shore
I wish I was taller
Things really matter to me

But I put my face in tomorrow
I believe we’re not alone
I believe in Beatles
I believe my little soul has grown
And I’m still so afraid

Yes, I’m still so afraid
Yea, I’m still so afraid on my own
On my own
What made my life so wonderful?
What made me feel so bad?
I used to wake up the ocean
I used to walk on clouds
If I put faith in medication
If I can smile a crooked smile
If I can talk on television
If I can walk an empty mile
Then I won’t feel afraid
No, I won’t feel afraid
I won’t be Be afraid
Anymore
Anymore
Anymore

Bring It On Home

The Animals on Ed Sullivan, 1965. Sullivan didn’t have a huge amount of respect for rock music, but his show became the launching pad for just about every pop group looking to make it in America. Small indignities like the zoo themed decorations seen here were a small price to pay for the enormous boost in publicity. I believe bands on the Sullivan show did play live, good news for The Animals. One of the things that held them back from total world domination was that Eric Burdon (besides being drunk and ugly) continually struggled to master the fine art of lip synching. Another was that of all the young British bands mining American r’n'b traditions, The Animals stayed the closest to the original sound.

Sam Cooke originally took this song up the charts in 1962. Since then it’s been covered by everyone from Van Morrison to The Von Bondies, with Sonny & Cher, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Bon Jovi and Joey Ramone amongst others in between.