[geodeticman.5]

I respect all opinions on this one, but in an otherwise very on-the-money way of praising Lightfoot as a truly unique, yet somehow, familiar "how DOES he DO that?" effortless (seemingly) eminantly listenable, tight, perfecting artist review; to describe the song "Beautiful" as slightly "mawkish" chaps my hide.

Its not just because of personal issues I allready mentioned in the "songs that make you cry" thread, but "Beautiful" imho is one of Lightfoot's most eminantly listenable, attainment of apparently effortless, melodically outstanding, best illustrative examples of what the reviewer was in fact describing among Lightfoot's very best unique qualities his music posesses.

To me its one of his gold standards of music to listen to with a loved one that truly captures the feel of love as "comfortable as a pair of favourite jeans" - or as Gord puts in other work - "..like hand in glove" . Otherwise - I found the article to be for the most part very accurate in recognizing what is so hard to put your finger on about his music - the unique, genre-defining, state-of-the-art,everything that folk could and should be, polished, tight, deeply moving, with the "everyman" easy-but masculine register that other writers have commented on too, somewhat mysteriously good music where the artist can actually sing well, write well clever phraseology that adds to the identity of the singularly mesmerizing "Lightfoot sound".

Is it overstating to call it that "Lightfoot feeling ?" I don't think so. "you've got that feelin' in your soul" - as Gord wrote in "Is There Anyone Home". So - whats my point ? Da**ed if I now, other than this review is remarkable perceptive where others have failed or shortsheeted Lightfoot seemingly because he COULD sing VERY well and WRITE very well and PLAY very well, and nothing frustrates the insufficient pundits' mental processes more than not being able to categorize and in turn stereotype and intrinsically therefor be guilty of prejudice by definition - his music is so GOOD and so DIFFERENT it defies even the "pro's" (reviewers/pundits) atempts to describe it, and in their inability, fall to the level of failing to admit that the music DOES tug at your heartstrings, and The Man does it in an understated quietly TRUE masculine way, as this reviewer recognized in a rare moment of singularly lucid analyses, that Gord is not intimidated or afraid of gentle, soft, loving music and lyrics, and having it come out as without question, sounding like a MAN, reflecting genuine masculinity in his music.

That, versus false machismo e.g. The Fabulous Thunderbirds' "Tough Enough" - even though I like that song.... which is almost humorously a false "jock-hall" attempt at bravado and testosterone-brandishing version of "manliness". Gordon projects more genuine "manhood" in his commonly gentle songs of the type the best fathers teach by example - nothing to do (necessarily) with football, fishing, hunting, or any "pre-requisite affectations" to "qualify" for manhood, but rather not fearing being strong enough to be gentle, brave enough to smile and speak quietly, and tough enough to love, speak of love, teach to love, and avoid facades that stand in the way of a woman loving a man.

All of these seemingly random and non-sequiter thoughts are admittedly thinking outloud at the readers expense, but claiming the right to self-expression, I feel all these things are typified best in the one song the reviewer gave lowest points to - Beautiful. The song is... truly... Beautiful. And I am not embarrassed to say it. After loving the same woman for 28 years, raising a wonderful daughter, and claiming most of the same friends I had 30 -45 years ago, I am not so insecure of my own masculinity as to say that the song is a "maudlin' gooey paen to women" - paraphrasing some of the critiques I have heard of it.

The fact that -apparently- more woman like it than men ( I think) does not in any way worry me as a man that it is one of my favourite songs of all time, and certainly of Gord's - and captivated my wife and I in a way that helped DEFINE manhood for me.

Over-the-top commentary of mine - probably, but my heart is in it, and I hope the intrinsic values of what I am saying are considered moreso than my imperfect delivery thereof. All things considered, the review is one of the most accurate I've read that is illustrative of MY view of Lightfoot's music by coincidence, and of course why I like it by and large. Thanks for the walk down Rolling Stone memory lane, RM
~ geo steve