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Daniel Johnston is a self-destructive, mentally unstable, musical genius who came to fame in Austin, Texas. He was born and raised in West Virginia, went to college for a bit, but then moved down to Austin and started attracting attention by handing out tapes of his songs. He would actually hand all of his tapes out and forget that he had given away all his source material, so he would go back and re-record songs to make new tapes. He was also one of the first artists to perform live on MTV.
Sadly, his bipolar disorder got progressively worse as he aged and he just seems to have withered away and become a sick man who ,despite all the things holding back, is still able to write beautiful songs. Whenever I listen to the melodies of his songs I immediately think Brian Wilson (of Beach Boy fame) …the case is especially so in this song, “Living Life” except in the end of the song when he goes wild and you can’t help but think of The Beatles, “A Day in the Life.”
There is a great documentary about Daniel Johnston’s life called The Devil and Daniel Johnston which I cannot recommend enough if you have any passing interest in music.
“Living Life” is a wonderful and fantastic song that you need to listen to. Oh yeah, besides the music being incredible, he writes mind-boggling beautiful pop lyrics:
“Hold me like a mother would/Like I always knew somebody should/though tomorrow don’t look that good/Well, it just goes to show/ Though people say we’re an unlikely couple /I’m seeing double of you ”
Please put up with the soggy recording quality. If you do, I promise you’ll hear something you won’t regret dropping on your ears.
(also, he sings like Robert Johnson. Which is a peculiarity in itself)
-Leo Showbiz
This site is for friends, family and fellow sonic pioneers. Our mission is to show you music past and present that has interested and/or tickled us. We realize some of these songs have been out for awhile, but we don't care. Hopefully you hear something you like.
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