Sunday, January 4, 2009

Big Star :: Haley Bonar



I love, love, love St. Paul folk singer Haley Bonar and was a little disappointed when Meggo beat me to the blogging with "Something Great" a few months ago. I've been wanting to pull something together about my other favorite song of hers, "Big Star," (also the name of her newest album) for a while, and I figured that our local music theme month was a good time.


Do you remember that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine dates a guy who's obsessed with the song "Desperado?" He actually "shushes" her so he can hear the whole thing. "Big Star" has been doing that to me lately. This song always makes me stop and just kind of put everything on hold for a while. I've actually pulled my car over when it came on the radio to listen it from beginning to end.


It's a heartbreaking song about the fickleness of fame and celebrity (I think). I especially love the little hints of the electric guitar just in the background of the chorus, just kind of bleeding through Bonar's singing. It makes my frigid Minnesotan heart ache.



You can dress yourself up
Put on a little bit of makeup
Go out and get a haircut
And stumble out into the morning


They'll all hate you tomorrow
When no one buys your single
When you fall they'll look the other way

They're going to buy you airplanes
Fly you all over the oceans
Give you all the loving that you need
Give you all the loving that you need

Gonna be a big star
Waiting
On a big wish
I'm making

They're gonna call you "baby"
Treat you like a symbol
Of something that they'll never understand

I'm gonna read your stories
Spend springtime in the gardens
Tell my children all about the days

But I can't make you happy
I can't make you money
I can only fold your laundry

Gonna be a big star
Waiting
On a big wish
I'm making

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