So I was reading on some Dan Fogelberg tribute sites that PBS was going to re-air some of his Soundstage gig. I went trolling and found it, hit the DVR and finally got to see it...amazing stuff. His concert was from 2004ish and it was immediately prior to getting his diagnosis.
Opened with Part of the Plan, did some new stuff, lots of greatest hits and the band was really amazing...and I heard Power of Gold with new ears...I got the idea of introducing it to the band...the message is so right on that it qualifies as "spiritual" in a lot of ways...either way, I really was impressed with his arrangement.
His right hand is practically a metronome! What a great sense of timing he has. One of other thing that struck me was his reverance to Leader of the Band which was of course written for his Dad. But he said that out of all of the songs he has written, if he had only been permitted to write one, that would be it....
You are missed, Dan...RIP and I hope we get to jam someday on the other side.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I miss Dan Fogelberg
It has been a few weeks and I am still not used to the fact that Dan Fogelberg has passed away. I never met the man, but the void is real and significant in a lot of ways. He taught me how to play guitar. Showed me how to write a song. Made me think about music in different ways.
Maybe it sounds a bit dramatic, but Dan Fogelberg respected music on so many levels that were only rarely recognized by mainstream pop music. Sure, he sold a few million "hits" with Leader of the Band, Longer, Power of Gold, Language of Love, Run for the Roses and on and on the list goes. But he penned songs that were better than these that never saw airplay. And quietly took stages in front of adoring fans worldwide who understood what they were witnessing was a man that had a channel to another world that few of would have ever gotten to hear if it were not for him.
I read once that Longer visited him and decided that he would make a good home for it...amazing songwriter on so many levels...I guess I was a nerd...when I was 12 years old, my contemporaries were listening to the hits of 1980 like REO Speedwagon and Journey...fine bands but I just didn't feel any depth there. I could pick up my guitar and play along with it instantly...even keep up with most of the electric solos. Fun but not nourishing. Then I wandered into my older brother Jeff's room and he was listening to Dan Fogelberg's Phoenix album...
What's this I thought? I don't understand what I am hearing...mysterious but recognizable instruments. Thoughtful lyrics that I had to read along with to vist the author's mood. From the opening instrumental to the pounding open tunings of Phoenix I was hooked...I couldn't learn it fast enough and even when I thought I did, I discovered a capo, open tuning, finger style that stumped me all over again.
The dive that I took into his music in 1980 at 12/13 lasts to today...I am still feel a sense of accomplishment when I get a little glimpse into how one of his songs is constructed. He has inspired almost every song that I have written...and I guess that is a little piece of why I miss someone that I have never even met. Because in a strange way, we did meet. Time and time again. I think we'll meet again and again in his recordings, in my writing and hopefully we know the same maker so I can finally ask him about some of those awesome and tasty chords that I never have figured out. Farewell Dan. I miss you.
Maybe it sounds a bit dramatic, but Dan Fogelberg respected music on so many levels that were only rarely recognized by mainstream pop music. Sure, he sold a few million "hits" with Leader of the Band, Longer, Power of Gold, Language of Love, Run for the Roses and on and on the list goes. But he penned songs that were better than these that never saw airplay. And quietly took stages in front of adoring fans worldwide who understood what they were witnessing was a man that had a channel to another world that few of would have ever gotten to hear if it were not for him.
I read once that Longer visited him and decided that he would make a good home for it...amazing songwriter on so many levels...I guess I was a nerd...when I was 12 years old, my contemporaries were listening to the hits of 1980 like REO Speedwagon and Journey...fine bands but I just didn't feel any depth there. I could pick up my guitar and play along with it instantly...even keep up with most of the electric solos. Fun but not nourishing. Then I wandered into my older brother Jeff's room and he was listening to Dan Fogelberg's Phoenix album...
What's this I thought? I don't understand what I am hearing...mysterious but recognizable instruments. Thoughtful lyrics that I had to read along with to vist the author's mood. From the opening instrumental to the pounding open tunings of Phoenix I was hooked...I couldn't learn it fast enough and even when I thought I did, I discovered a capo, open tuning, finger style that stumped me all over again.
The dive that I took into his music in 1980 at 12/13 lasts to today...I am still feel a sense of accomplishment when I get a little glimpse into how one of his songs is constructed. He has inspired almost every song that I have written...and I guess that is a little piece of why I miss someone that I have never even met. Because in a strange way, we did meet. Time and time again. I think we'll meet again and again in his recordings, in my writing and hopefully we know the same maker so I can finally ask him about some of those awesome and tasty chords that I never have figured out. Farewell Dan. I miss you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
