Slog - Comments on When Good Writers Go Bad http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad It's been a jarring week for me, in regard to favorite writers. First there was Graduation, on which my beloved Kanye West rhymes "Gnarls Barkley" with—wait for it—"Charles Barkley." Then The New Yorker published this poem by my even more beloved Joni Mitchell. What next, Gore Vidal writing the season opener of According to Jim? (Regarding the failures of Kanye and Joni: I shall now go listen to Late Registration and For the Roses to put these stumbles in perspective.)... Copyright 2008 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:41:43 -0800 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:26:12 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Mr. Poe Joni Mitchell makes my dick hard. Growl!

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803459 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803459 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:56:46 -0800 Comment by NELBOT UGH! That poem was worse than the melancholy garabage produced by broken hearted whining co-eds that ever crossed my desk as the editor of a college literary magazine. I can usually tolerate literature that is less than stellar but bad poetry aggravates me.

]]> NELBOT http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803468 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803468 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:59:44 -0800 Comment by Carollani Kanye is a clumsy lyricist, and has been since before he produced his way to the top. Don't get me wrong, I like his music, but I have to roll my eyes every time I pay attention to his vapid and self-loving/hating lyrics.

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803475 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803475 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:01:59 -0800 Comment by David Schmader I think Kanye's capable of singular moments of lyrical brilliance, which are all over the first two records.

]]> David Schmader http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803477 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803477 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:03:53 -0800 Comment by Carollani I agree, but it's not consistent enough to keep me all that interested.

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803481 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803481 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:06:13 -0800 Comment by caroline Dave, imagine Joni circa 1970 actually *singing* those lyrics...would it still make you wretch? Methinks you'd be more forgiving...

]]> caroline http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803496 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803496 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:14:45 -0800 Comment by maxsolomon kayne's opinion of himself is much higher than anyone else's.

]]> maxsolomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803500 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803500 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:15:58 -0800 Comment by Jude Fawley Yeah, @6, the poem reads terribly, but I can imagine her singing it and it maybe coming off ok. It should not have been put down in print though.

]]> Jude Fawley http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803503 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803503 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:17:29 -0800 Comment by Carollani #7: Yeah, I think his ego leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803508 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803508 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:20:14 -0800 Comment by David Schmader Re: 7 & 9: Totally, and it leaves fans like me very little room to be on his side, or root for him. He's doing it so effusively for himself by himself he doesn't need anyone else.

At least Muhammed Ali was a dazzlingly hilarious egotistical prick superman.

(Too bad, because I think Kanye's a world-historic talent...)

]]> David Schmader http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803512 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803512 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:23:24 -0800 Comment by christopher Seems every musician I consider brilliant has at least a few hideously bad lyrics. Sometimes entire songs. I think to make great art you need the confidence to not question yourself too closely, and that can result in some serious boners too.
Also, some crappy lyricists are so bad they're good. Trent Reznor's entire career is built on high school poetry. But it's such a universal (and childish) feeling he describes that it's hard not to relate and/or dig, from time to time.
Speaking of crappy lyrics, my crappy writing is killing me. I end this now. Laters all.
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]]> christopher http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803514 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803514 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:24:22 -0800 Comment by Impossible Prince Oh good..now I know which Joni album to buy next.

Joni's does seem more like lyrics than a poem. I am trying to imagine her singing it.

]]> Impossible Prince http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803519 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803519 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:27:20 -0800 Comment by of course I smell a collaberation, but who will feature who?

]]> of course http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803525 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803525 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:31:47 -0800 Comment by christopher Ah, thought of another so-bad-it's-good artist: ODB! Old Dirty had plenty of misses, but his stuff from Enter the Wu-tang can't be beat. It's also totally fucking retarded.
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]]> christopher http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803526 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803526 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:32:34 -0800 Comment by Carollani #11: Word.

BUT, it seems like Kanye thinks he can wipe his ass on a track and it'll go platinum. I mean, at least try to be good mayne!

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803529 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803529 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:34:00 -0800 Comment by brandon kanye west has some of the most embarassingly bad lyrics in contemporary hip-hop, which is saying quite a mouthful. his production acumen is his single saving grace.

]]> brandon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803536 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803536 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:39:42 -0800 Comment by inkweary In Vidal's recently published last installment of his memoirs he mentions that his long-time editor died in '06 and boy was it ever apparent. Reading that book was like watching the slow death of a lion.

]]> inkweary http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803552 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803552 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:53:07 -0800 Comment by David That Joni poem sounds cobbled together from several of the worst songs on her last two or three albums (plus her old number "Paprika Plains"). But I do kind of like the repeated line, "Bad Dreams are good/In the Great Plan."

]]> David http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803553 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803553 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:54:35 -0800 Comment by monkey Kanye West can suck my balls.

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803558 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803558 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:56:56 -0800 Comment by David Apparently the New Yorker poem is actually a song from Joni's new album coming out in a couple of weeks:
http://jonimitchell.com/musician/album.cfm?id=28

]]> David http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803578 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803578 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:18:30 -0800 Comment by Katelyn Only Jewel is allowed to publish lyrics as poetry.

]]> Katelyn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803584 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803584 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:24:18 -0800 Comment by Carollani Hahaha, I loved Jewel's awesomely bad poetry/lyrics when I was a starry eyed adolescent girl. I think I still have the book lying around somewhere.

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803603 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803603 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:49:55 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus I am a woman of heart and mind with time on my hands, no child to raise, but the blond in the bleachers, she flips her hair for you, above the loudspeakers you start to fall.

Oh well, it's the judgment of the moon and the stars - your solitary path.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803625 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803625 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:15:39 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus Joni's new CD is out Oct 2, I believe.

And has anyone heard Annie Lennox's new one, "Dark Road?" The vid is available on youtube.

Joni and Annie both seem to be espousing a dark future.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803627 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803627 Arts Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:21:44 -0800 Comment by Joseph You realize Kanye had ghostwriters working for him on his first two albums, right?

]]> Joseph http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803993 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/when_good_writers_go_bad#c803993 Arts Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:26:12 -0800