Canadian singer songwriter Amy Millan tells us exclusively about the songs that form the soundtrack of her life: ‘1. Dark As A Dungeon sung by my dad (although it was written by Merle Travis). This was the goodnight, to bed my dear song. It is what I hold to be the nord star of my love of all things story old and sad driven. 2. Willabee Wallabee Wou by Raffee. I was obsessed with this children’s song when I was three and have tapes of me singing it over and over again. It was a song that included the names of all kids singing on the record. It turns out those kids became the guitars, back-ups and best friends in the band on my record twenty years later. 3. When You Were Mine by Cyndi Lauper. The first video I ever saw was a siren redhead in crinoline. I really believed all she wanted to do was have fun. I followed. But it was sheer pleasure to learn it was Prince who wrote the song when he later became a tight pant obsession. 4. Fearless by Pink Floyd. All things Pink, really, if we are going to go in order from years to ears. IT’S ALL IN YOUR MIND. 5. Gloomy Sunday sung by Billie Holiday. I am always drawn to songs you think are about one thing but when listened to closely have a different finish. I was deep inside my headphones feeling my chest grow heavy with the lyrics of this song, until the end. She is only dreaming. The way the lyrics and melody move this song is like a movie. You start in one place and end in another. Perfect’. [see also Little Barrie on The Stone Roses; Broken Social Scene on Slayer; and Dappled Cities Fly on the Bee Gees]
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Also by ZOLTON
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YOU'RE SAYING (2)
Zolton said | 21 November, 2006
Hey Dan, good suggestion. I’ve just posted some more from this interview with Amy Millan along with a link to one of her film clips. We’ll look include links to MP3s or videos wherever possible. z
HAVE YOUR SAY
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dan said | 21 November, 2006
amy millan is great. clearly a compelling personality, and a talented musician too…
a small suggestion – would it be possible for some of these musician interviews to include a stream or an mp3 of one of their songs? May help to put these influences in context?
cheers guys, and thanks for the consistently great newsletter
dan