I Will Not Be Afraid of Women

[mokuyoubi]

I can't embed it, but I think this, one of my favourite songs, by one of my favourite artists, sort of describes what I can't put into words, and how I'm feeling right now, in the midst of various wanks. As Cool As I Am, by Dar Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4j5ms5f6hI

I want to put together a Dar zip, because she is amazing. If interested, let me know.

ETA: Also, this:

Because my computer knows my moods, and played this as the first song when I started up my player...

And another Dar song (my favourite) just because:

Which makes me want to write a slow, lazy bandom fic.

Comments

[roebling.livejournal.com]

That's so funny! I started listening to her at around the same age; she meant so much to me when I was a teenager -- just all the complicated and painful things I was feeling she sang about. My family and many of our friends have gone to a folk festival in upstate New York for years; she used to play there every year. I think she took some time off touring when she had a baby, but I'm pretty sure she still plays!

[moku-youbi.livejournal.com]

Man, I'll have to look into that.

Would you happen to have music of hers you could share? I used to have all her cds back in the 90s, but honestly once my music got onto my computer, I just lost all my cds into some secret black hole in my parent's home, and then my computer died D: All I have of hers is some of her live stuff -- Family, Iowa, As Cool As I Am, What Do You Hear in These Sounds, Alleluia, Babysitter's Here, February, Christians and Pagans, and Are You Out There. It's impossible to find downloads of her stuff, and just listening online sucks. I'd like to put them on my mp3 player.

[roebling.livejournal.com]

Ohh, she's going to be up my way in August. I'm going to have to put that one on my calendar.

And yes, absolutely! I am sure I have at least a couple of her CDs -- either the actual copies or the mp3s that I ripped years ago. Let me see what I've got tonight and I'll definitely upload some for you.

[moku-youbi.livejournal.com]

you're my hero!

I discovered Dar thanks to my older sis, who was always so much more aware of things than me (I sort of lived in a bubble, particularly in regards to music, and my early musical education is all thanks to her). It was her and Ani and Alanis for me, throughout my early teen years, these female voices that seemed to *get* things on such a deep, visceral level. But as much as I love them, Ani and Alanis had a lot of anger (though Alanis has become so delightfully open and interesting since). Dar had a gentler, more humourous take on things that made feel like...no matter how bad things might get, there was always going to be a brighter side to it, eventually, a place where you could look back and laugh, or at least smile indulgently and shake your head. If that makes sense--particularly with songs like CoEd. And then she has the songs like Iowa and February which are just so achingly beautiful and paint entire landscapes and whole lifetimes of stories in my head.

[roebling.livejournal.com]

That's always what's drawn me to Dar, too -- the grace and good humor with which she approached the world. For me, Dar and other folk singers like her (The Neilds, David Carter & Tracey Grammer, Eddie From Ohio) provided a unique and intelligent alternative to the mainstream music my friends were listening to -- music that I really could make much meaning out of. Something about Dar's music really resonated with me, and made me hopeful about my own future. When I was in high school, I adored her so much I applied to Wesleyan University, which is where she went. I didn't end up going to Wesleyan, but when I was that age I don't think there was any musician who I admired more.

[roebling.livejournal.com]

Whoo! I did have some of her stuff on my laptop!

hxxp://www.mediafire.com/?ikyzkyhndym - End of Summer

hxxp://www.mediafire.com/?jldgmemzuei - Mortal City

hxxp://www.mediafire.com/?jzlnambhwjm - The Green World

These were my three favorites of hers, but I think I probably have a couple others on an external hard drive. I'm gonna check it out this weekend. I'm glad I could share these with you :)

[moku-youbi.livejournal.com]

omg, you're my hero! Thank you so much!!!

[moku-youbi.livejournal.com]

dude, she *is* on tour, and in Ohio on July 2nd! Now if only I could get off work!

If you're interested: http://www.darwilliams.com/index.php?page=calendar