What is the reason Gord's music is better than everybody elses

[Dorothea]

Dear all,
Just what is it that seperates Gord from any other singer, or singer songwriter.

Why is he your favourite and why is he better?

Frank.

[Frank v]

Dear all,
Just what is it that seperates Gord from any other singer, or singer songwriter.

Why is he your favourite and why is he better?

Frank.

[Karen]

For me its not just about the music, its the connection to Gord as a person, his music is a reflection of his life, and alot of his songs I sure can relate to, Im sure we all can, thats why he draws the kind of people he does. Ive never met a true Gord fan I really didnt care for. His music to me pulls me closer to the person that I am, I never get tired of playing his music, never have and never will.

Rose

[Rose]

For me its not just about the music, its the connection to Gord as a person, his music is a reflection of his life, and alot of his songs I sure can relate to, Im sure we all can, thats why he draws the kind of people he does. Ive never met a true Gord fan I really didnt care for. His music to me pulls me closer to the person that I am, I never get tired of playing his music, never have and never will.

Rose

Dear Frank,

Why do I like Gordon Lightfoot? Is there enough space here for me to write a book?

I think at first I was drawn to his voice, the rich baritone of the 70's easy listening stations. He has the kind of voice that makes me want to listen to the lyrics. He has a voice of wisdom.

Compared to any other music of any other kind that I've listened to, Gord paints a picture of the world I would like to live in. It's not a perfect world: you're heart can still get broken, you can be standing in the early morning rain, with a dollar in your hand and pockets full of sand, so to speak. But then that would just make you a Rainy Day Person, and that's OK. In Gord's world, you can be a sad, wandering loner, even "s*** out of luck" (Seven Island Suite), but there is a certain beauty to it, a sense of hope.

I like Gordon Lightfoot's music because on some level we are the same person. He writes the music I wish I could. He is courageous in doing this, for truly authentic music is bound to be loved by some and hated by others.

Dear Frank,

Why do I like Gordon Lightfoot? Is there enough space here for me to write a book?

I think at first I was drawn to his voice, the rich baritone of the 70's easy listening stations. He has the kind of voice that makes me want to listen to the lyrics. He has a voice of wisdom.

Compared to any other music of any other kind that I've listened to, Gord paints a picture of the world I would like to live in. It's not a perfect world: you're heart can still get broken, you can be standing in the early morning rain, with a dollar in your hand and pockets full of sand, so to speak. But then that would just make you a Rainy Day Person, and that's OK. In Gord's world, you can be a sad, wandering loner, even "s*** out of luck" (Seven Island Suite), but there is a certain beauty to it, a sense of hope.

I like Gordon Lightfoot's music because on some level we are the same person. He writes the music I wish I could. He is courageous in doing this, for truly authentic music is bound to be loved by some and hated by others.

[Tom]

I think the main reason I like Gord's music so much is that if you read the lyrics, its like reading poetry. Not that I'm a real big fan of poetry, mind you, but there is a flow to his words that entices a person to keep reading/listening. He doesn't just throw a bunch of words together that rhyme and which sound good with the beat (has a good beat and you can dance to it- remember hearing the kids say that on Bandstand with Dick Clark?). And he can twist simple sentences into a work of art. For example: Early one autumn morning we went hiking up the side of a hill and into a forest where the leaves had already shed. Gord's version: We went walking on the high side of the bay on a chilly morn and we saw how leaves had fallen on the beds where trees were born. Pure poetry, I tell you!!!
Another reason I like Gord is because his voice has personality- it rises and falls, deep then high, soft and rough, smooth then warbling.
And lastly, the subjects he writes/sings about are so diverse. Spanish moss, a frog, a whale, ships, kiddie stories, a gypsy, an auctioneer, trees, dreaming, wine, cobwebs and dust. Can any of us see Mariah Carey or Ricky Martin singing to the likes of the Canadian Railroad Trilogy? I think not.

Mary Ann

[Mary Ann]

I think the main reason I like Gord's music so much is that if you read the lyrics, its like reading poetry. Not that I'm a real big fan of poetry, mind you, but there is a flow to his words that entices a person to keep reading/listening. He doesn't just throw a bunch of words together that rhyme and which sound good with the beat (has a good beat and you can dance to it- remember hearing the kids say that on Bandstand with Dick Clark?). And he can twist simple sentences into a work of art. For example: Early one autumn morning we went hiking up the side of a hill and into a forest where the leaves had already shed. Gord's version: We went walking on the high side of the bay on a chilly morn and we saw how leaves had fallen on the beds where trees were born. Pure poetry, I tell you!!!
Another reason I like Gord is because his voice has personality- it rises and falls, deep then high, soft and rough, smooth then warbling.
And lastly, the subjects he writes/sings about are so diverse. Spanish moss, a frog, a whale, ships, kiddie stories, a gypsy, an auctioneer, trees, dreaming, wine, cobwebs and dust. Can any of us see Mariah Carey or Ricky Martin singing to the likes of the Canadian Railroad Trilogy? I think not.

Mary Ann

[Dorothea]

Great replies...
What makes him different...?
I think his music is art.It takes you away...you can loose yourself within it.I think a lot of artists try for that effect but unfortunatly they don't have either his voice,lyrics or songwriting abilities.
The subjects of Love ,nature,land and sea are essential and timeless because they are life.If you marry those personal subjects with highly melodic music you have an intoxicating end product.
But the strange thing is...all this would mean nothing, if, it wasn't for that voice.
Now it hasn't got the greatest range.
Its rich,deep and masculine.(But so are a lot of other voices).
There is just something about it which is addictive...the tone...the sound...I'm not quite sure.
When he phrases a line it sounds as though its only for you.(The reason is that voice!)

Luck plays a part in most things!
He just happen to be born with that VOICE...
and a lot more of course!

Frank.

Frank.

[Frank v]

Great replies...
What makes him different...?
I think his music is art.It takes you away...you can loose yourself within it.I think a lot of artists try for that effect but unfortunatly they don't have either his voice,lyrics or songwriting abilities.
The subjects of Love ,nature,land and sea are essential and timeless because they are life.If you marry those personal subjects with highly melodic music you have an intoxicating end product.
But the strange thing is...all this would mean nothing, if, it wasn't for that voice.
Now it hasn't got the greatest range.
Its rich,deep and masculine.(But so are a lot of other voices).
There is just something about it which is addictive...the tone...the sound...I'm not quite sure.
When he phrases a line it sounds as though its only for you.(The reason is that voice!)

Luck plays a part in most things!
He just happen to be born with that VOICE...
and a lot more of course!

Frank.

Frank.

[gathrb]

Frankv:
You come up with the most interesting questions. I agree with everything that has been written, Gordon's music is where the rubber meets the road! I do like other artists alot such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and right now I've been on a big Hank Williams Sr. kick(The Original Singles Collection Plus is a fantastic CD boxset). I think the only thing missing from Gordon's music is more spiritual type songs. Yes, he has written a few, but I would like to hear more like "Mister Rock of Ages" "The Soul Is The Rock" "Forgive Me Lord" "Heaven Help The Devil" "Rich Man's Spiritual" "Ring Them Bells" and the searching "Someone To Believe In".
----------------------------

"...I felt the breath of Satan on my back/Is there someone I can believe in?...Take me out of the straits I'm in?...Give me some wings I can glide upon/Come and show yourself to me/Is there someone sewing seams through all my hopes?/Through all my dreams?/You know living a life of ease don't make your meals taste better, if you please"



[This message has been edited by Tom (edited August 22, 2000).]

[Tom]

Frankv:
You come up with the most interesting questions. I agree with everything that has been written, Gordon's music is where the rubber meets the road! I do like other artists alot such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and right now I've been on a big Hank Williams Sr. kick(The Original Singles Collection Plus is a fantastic CD boxset). I think the only thing missing from Gordon's music is more spiritual type songs. Yes, he has written a few, but I would like to hear more like "Mister Rock of Ages" "The Soul Is The Rock" "Forgive Me Lord" "Heaven Help The Devil" "Rich Man's Spiritual" "Ring Them Bells" and the searching "Someone To Believe In".
----------------------------

"...I felt the breath of Satan on my back/Is there someone I can believe in?...Take me out of the straits I'm in?...Give me some wings I can glide upon/Come and show yourself to me/Is there someone sewing seams through all my hopes?/Through all my dreams?/You know living a life of ease don't make your meals taste better, if you please"



[This message has been edited by Tom (edited August 22, 2000).]

[Chris M]

Frank v,

I've been trying to come up with an answer for this one since it started and it's such
an overwhelming question.... It literally
makes me dizzy thinking about it. Complicated
one for me. Very.

But for now I'll simply say the sincerity &
vulnerabity are hard to come by these days -
anywhere. It takes courage to be that way.

"Heros often fail." Heros are also human and I have a couple of them who rarely fail.

midnightmisty

[midnightmisty]

Frank v,

I've been trying to come up with an answer for this one since it started and it's such
an overwhelming question.... It literally
makes me dizzy thinking about it. Complicated
one for me. Very.

But for now I'll simply say the sincerity &
vulnerabity are hard to come by these days -
anywhere. It takes courage to be that way.

"Heros often fail." Heros are also human and I have a couple of them who rarely fail.

midnightmisty

[rainydayperson]

Gords seen a lot of gain and pain in his time I'd have to say. Perhaps it's his ability to pen the experience.

Gordon requires the listener to be open face.
He touches our emotion, intellect and spirit with his artistry. No one writes a song like him.

Many times I've daydreamed I was him... singing to the masses. I wonder if anyone else has thought that way. Anyway, I really appreciate him and I'm glad that so many (this site proves it) feel the same.

To me Gordon seems like a guy who loves women, ships, pirates, fishing, ect. Another words he's like many of us and perhaps thats why we relate to him.

If you've ever heard him live you realize that he has that "something extra" that separates him from many singers.

------------------
let me slip away on you

[classicmixdj]

Gords seen a lot of gain and pain in his time I'd have to say. Perhaps it's his ability to pen the experience.

Gordon requires the listener to be open face.
He touches our emotion, intellect and spirit with his artistry. No one writes a song like him.

Many times I've daydreamed I was him... singing to the masses. I wonder if anyone else has thought that way. Anyway, I really appreciate him and I'm glad that so many (this site proves it) feel the same.

To me Gordon seems like a guy who loves women, ships, pirates, fishing, ect. Another words he's like many of us and perhaps thats why we relate to him.

If you've ever heard him live you realize that he has that "something extra" that separates him from many singers.

------------------
let me slip away on you

[Chris M]

To Frank v and classicmixdj,

My personal opinion is that Gord has romance
and adventure deep in his soul and that's why some relate to it so strongly.

To classicmixdj,

Pirates ARE women! Just take a good look around this place and you'll see a few.

midnightmisty with black lace eyepatch argh!

[midnightmisty]

To Frank v and classicmixdj,

My personal opinion is that Gord has romance
and adventure deep in his soul and that's why some relate to it so strongly.

To classicmixdj,

Pirates ARE women! Just take a good look around this place and you'll see a few.

midnightmisty with black lace eyepatch argh!