cover of episode Best Of: Folk Musician Jerron Paxton / Lyricist Ira Gershwin's Legacy

Best Of: Folk Musician Jerron Paxton / Lyricist Ira Gershwin's Legacy

2024/12/6
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Fresh Air

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David Bianculli
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Jerron Paxton
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Michael Owen
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Sam Brigger
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Terry Gross
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Sam Briger介绍了Jerron Paxton的新专辑《Things Done Changed》,其中收录了Paxton自己创作的歌曲,这些歌曲深植于20年代和30年代的音乐风格,但同时反映了Paxton对当代社会议题的思考和感受,例如爱情、失去、城市改造和异乡漂泊。Paxton在访谈中谈到了他的音乐创作理念、对乐器的理解以及他独特的演奏技巧。他还分享了他成长的经历以及他与乡村布鲁斯音乐的渊源。Paxton的音乐创作灵感源于个人经历和观察,他追求在单人演奏中展现出完整的音乐效果,他使用的乐器包括吉他、班卓琴、口琴等,并展现了他精湛的演奏技巧。他认为原声乐器的音色和情感力量是无与伦比的。Paxton的视力问题也影响了他的职业选择,但他依然坚持他的音乐事业。 David Bianculli评论了Disney+的纪录片《Beatles '64》,这部纪录片聚焦于披头士乐队1964年首次访美期间的经历,通过当时的幕后镜头和粉丝视角展现了这段重要的音乐和文化历史。纪录片中使用了来自披头士乐队在华盛顿特区的演唱会的完整歌曲片段,并采访了保罗·麦卡特尼、林戈·斯塔尔、马丁·斯科塞斯等人士。评论指出,披头士乐队的幽默感和互动性是他们成功的重要因素,而纪录片成功地展现了这一点。 Terry Gross与Michael Owen讨论了作词家Ira Gershwin的生平和作品。Owen介绍了Ira Gershwin与他弟弟George Gershwin的合作,以及他与其他作曲家的合作。他们讨论了Ira Gershwin的创作风格、他与其他作词家的关系以及他为《绿野仙踪》中的歌曲《Over the Rainbow》所做的贡献。Owen还谈到了Ira Gershwin的个人生活以及他晚年的情况。Ira Gershwin的歌词创作风格独特,他喜欢在歌词中加入一些巧妙的文字游戏,并注重歌词的艺术性和表达力。他与George Gershwin的合作方式随着时间的推移而改变,早期通常由George Gershwin先创作旋律,Ira Gershwin再填词,后期则更趋向于合作创作。Ira Gershwin的创作受到了多种文学和音乐风格的影响,他的作品至今仍被人们所喜爱。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Jerron Paxton decide to release an album of his own compositions?

Paxton has been writing songs throughout his career but chose to release an album of his own compositions to reflect his contemporary feelings and observations, inspired by his cultural heritage and personal experiences.

How does Jerron Paxton approach playing the guitar?

Paxton aims to get the most out of his instruments, creating a full sound that doesn't require additional accompaniment, inspired by the country blues style where one musician can create a complete musical world.

What challenges did Jerron Paxton face due to his eyesight?

Paxton had trouble with his peripheral vision and central vision, which made walking and navigating unfamiliar environments hazardous, and later prevented him from driving. Technological advancements like the iPhone helped mitigate some of these issues.

How did the Beatles' first trip to America impact their career?

The Beatles' first trip to America in 1964 marked a significant turning point in their career, leading to massive popularity and cultural impact, as documented in the Disney+ documentary 'Beatles 64'.

What role did Ella Fitzgerald's Gershwin Songbook play in Ira Gershwin's legacy?

Ella Fitzgerald's Gershwin Songbook, recorded in the late 1950s, brought renewed attention and commercial success to Ira Gershwin's songs, helping to financially support him and introduce his work to new audiences.

How did Ira Gershwin contribute to the song 'Over the Rainbow'?

Ira Gershwin provided the line about bluebirds flying at the end of 'Over the Rainbow,' enhancing the song's emotional impact and thematic depth, though he did not receive official credit for this contribution.

What was Ira Gershwin's approach to writing lyrics?

Ira Gershwin approached lyric writing with a blend of literary influences, clever wordplay, and a desire to express his thoughts on love and art, often incorporating subtle references and tricky rhymes that added depth to his songs.

How did Ira Gershwin's collaboration with George Gershwin evolve over time?

Initially, George's melodic ideas often started the songwriting process, with Ira working alongside him to develop lyrics. Over time, their collaboration became more balanced, especially in later works where lyrics played a more prominent role in the storytelling.

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Shownotes Transcript

Musician Jerron Paxton is known for performing music from the 1920s and '30s. He just came out with an album of his own songs, called* Things Done Changed*. Paxton brought some of his instruments to his conversation with Sam Briger. Also, Terry Gross talks with author Michael Owen about Ira Gershwin, the lyricist behind many of the most enduring songs in The Great American Songbook. TV critic David Bianculli reviews the documentary Beatles '64.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)