The Friday 5
1. What was the first band you saw in concert?
Hmmm. The first artist I saw in concert was Neil Diamond, with my parents and my cousin, when I was probably around age 10 or so. The first bands I saw, most likely, were the Boston band Human Sexual Response and Hüsker Dü, both of which performed at Harvard my freshman year. (Addendum later Friday night: Turns out I also saw Peaches and Herb, and Rupert Holmes, at senior weekend at Busch Gardens my senior year of high school, but I really don’t count those.)
2. Who is your favorite artist/band now?
I really don’t have a favorite. I do have some favorite genres, including folk and Celtic, and what seems to be called “progressive” these days but that sounds what we used to call “alternative” in my younger days, and I have a lot of women’s voices in my CD collection: Tori Amos, Jonatha Brooke, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Clannad, Enya, Dixie Chicks, Nanci Griffith, k.d. lang, Patty Larkin, Annie Lennox, Loreena McKennit, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Bonnie Raitt, etc. I also like Barenaked Ladies, Travis, Josh Joplin Group, Ben Folds Five, among many others. And a real favorite was October Project which, sadly, no longer is together.
3. What’s your favorite song?
Another tough one. This depends so much on my mood at any given time.
So I’ll pick one recent favorite, with the caveat that it isn’t necessarily an “all-time” favorite: “Come What May,” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, and sung by Ewan McGregor (who knew that the hottie could sing, too?) and Nicole Kidman (she gave it a good try, at least). If I were ever to have a commitment ceremony (though the fact that another favorite from the past is “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” by Bonnie Raitt, gives a hint how likely that is), “Come What May” is something I’d love to have sung.
4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
Well, I do play a few instruments badly. But if I could snap my fingers and be proficient at any instrument, it would be one of two, depending on whether I’m in a more or less practical state of mind. The more practical choice is keyboards; the less is Celtic harp.
5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why?
Mozart, because he seemed like such a fascinating individual, especially for his time; J. S. Bach, to hear about the sheer mathematical genius of his work; or Sondheim, for the wonderful magic of his lyrics.