Worthy of My Esteem
Way back in the 90’s many of my fellow Gen X’ers latched on to Beck. Some of us though had better taste and chose Canadian musician, Hayden. if you have never heard of Hayden, then you would know how right you were when you voted for Indie Idol. A major label who reportedly signed a big deal with Hayden also would like to forget.
I on the other hand moved on to the next musician and then some more after that one. Until I heard this song though, I had all but forgotten about Hayden and why I liked him. I also realize how much my musical tastes, if not my track record, have improved. I can listen to Hayden now and know that he will never be a star. That doesn’t mean he is unworthy of my esteem.
Worthy of My Esteem, the NPR Music Song of The Day for July 2, 2008, is definitely worth listening to. I doubt you will remember it after tomorrow’s song of the day or at the very least this time next week. You will however one day hear it on some television show and it will all come flooding back, much the way those months I was a Hayden fan during the 90’s did for me today.
To Quote David Browne:
“…the song, with its chugging melody and insinuating synthesizer line, retains the beguiling charm of his early work.”
I would have to agree with that. It certainly took me back to those early days. Like me the woman the song is about has aged into her thirties. Unlike me though, she still hasn’t realized it. I am unsure if the X-files references is intentional with the movie so close at hand or even if it is one, but it takes me back to a time when I became a fan of both Hayden and the X-Files.
David Browne continues:
“Hayden sounds more resigned than spiteful, more accepting than bitter. Such small gestures will probably continue to keep him off pop radio, but anyone who appreciates nuance in pop should find the song worthy in its own right.”
I can’t disagree with any of that. I will say though that as mumbly as some of Hayden’s songs sound on disk, this is music that is much better live. If you get the chance to see him, I highly recommend it. Check out his MySpace page for several full songs and a complete listing of shows you might be lucky enough to catch.
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Filed Under Folk |
Tagged With David Browne, Gen-X, Hayden, NPR Music, X-Files
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