Comments on: What exactly makes Paul great?

By: jay

jay — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 05:49:56 +0000

No, though i’ve got the shoes.

By: Color Me Impressed

Color Me Impressed — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:10:37 +0000

jay said it all in one sentence. Are you sure you’re not Paul Westerberg himself?

By: FreeRider

FreeRider — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:11:28 +0000

I think, to just build on what RJ and and Jay have said, it’s interesting to see Paul write about songs that are relevant to YOUR life. But not only that, he rocks and he has a sense for melody that blends perfectly together with his sense of rock rhythm. I think the best artists are the ones who can tap into those universal feelings we all have, that collective consciousness. And Paul has that gift.

Art is supposed to be a reflection of society. If you accept that definition, then what Paul does attains the level of art. Not everyone achieves that. And that’s why, like Jay said, he says the things I can’t. That’s what a good artist will do—he/she will articulate all the things you feel, the things you think about but just can’t quite express. There is the shock of self recognition in the songs. And that’s what makes him great.

Now having said that, I once stood in a steady rainfall for 45 minutes after Paul’s show here in DC (Folker Tour) to meet him and to get his autograph. I wouldn’t do this for anyone else but Paul. So, I’d like to turn the question around a bit:

What is it about Paul that evokes such loyalty? Or affection for the guy? What is it that makes us drawn to him? Obviously, it’s the music (duh!) but there has to be something more there, some other quality that draws us in.

By: Davein DK

Davein DK — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:23:44 +0000

Real live bleeding fingers and broken guitar strings.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:15:37 +0000

Plus its great music to get drunk and fall down too!!

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:14:18 +0000

To quote the man himself, his musics great ’cause it “straddles the line between comedy and tragedy”. Those ragged melodies, that hoarse, honest voice, all the timeless songs, from “fuck school” to “answering machine” to
“let the bad times roll”. Theres also always been a complete lack of pretension and bullshit about the man…I can’t express in words how much his songs mean to me!! Legend!!

By: pzp

pzp — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:31:36 +0000

He says what I want to say but can’t find words for.

Well said.

The fact that after they played ‘Achin to Be’ on at their last show he cracks “That was our power ballad.”

By: jay

jay — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:40:21 +0000

He says what I want to say but can’t find words for.

By: Joey Ramone

Joey Ramone — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:50:44 +0000

One song will make you cry, the next make you laugh, the next will make you think about the decisions you’ve made with your life. Most his releases run the gamut.

And he makes messy hair cool.

By: Color Me Impressed

Color Me Impressed — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:39:21 +0000

I’ve always liked Paul and his music because they’re both very real and relatable. I think just about anyone could find a lyric of Paul’s that they can relate to or at least appreciate. As RJ said above me, Paul’s music appeals to all ages. How often do you find a songwritter who’s music hits home to both teenagers and grown adults? He also doesn’t have a huge rock star ego, which just makes him more real.