Uni Assignment
Hi Everyone,
I am a uni (college) student here in Australia and had to an assignment to describe a musician or band that was going to 'be for a magazine'. Please don't flame me for the obvious mistakes, I am sure you get the picture I adlibbed a bit for the sake of my uni professor but my best mate (who finally went with me to the Brisbane concert November 2006) said I should post it because she loved the way it sounded. So here goes....
Edward Louis Severson III is not the name that conjures up images of screaming fans, swooning women and hard edged vocals of one of the world’s best selling bands. However, millions of people around the world do not know him by this name and he admits to wishing he could use it sometimes to give himself a break from the hounding success that has followed him since the early 1990’s. In contrast the name Eddie Vedder brings forth images of rock concerts, political and social activism, untamed onstage antics and a sex appeal to millions that is hard to define.
His nature shines through as he sits restlessly playing with a zippo lighter waiting for the interview to start. He smiles at me as I sit opposite him and he tentatively extends his hand to shake mine. It is not until you get close to him that you see the twinkle in his eyes and get a feel for the power that exudes from him. A quiet power that comes from years of perfecting a craft that others have found joy in.
His beard is neatly groomed and in contrast to his hair, as it hangs just past his shoulders in an unruly attempt at ringlets. He seems uncomfortable in the spotlight as the first few precursory questions get under way, and I see him gazing longingly at the waves that crash just outside the open window he is facing. It occurs to me in a different universe he would be the person walking along the beach with surfboard under his arm content to be at one with the ocean.
Eddie is reluctant to speak about his inspirations or meaning to his lyrics and explains that he prefers the audience to have an open view from their own perspective as to what the songs mean to them. He admits that his early work from Pearl Jam’s first album ‘Ten’ 1991 was based on his life experiences to that time, saying that he had a rough childhood/adolescence and writing the often angst riddled lyrics became a release for him.
Eddie pulls the guitar onto his lap, his whole persona changes to one of tranquility and complete composure. He breaks into an adlib version of a single from the latest album. The whole room goes eerily quiet as his ‘golden baritone’ weaves a web of magic around our minds, the plucking of strings and drumming of his fingers on the guitar adding to the spell. When he is finished the silence continues as we let the last resounding notes reverberate in our mind. He asks if I have anything I would like to hear, and after years of being a fan and having the entire Pearl Jam CD collection as a friend, I know there is only one song out of the many that I could possibly choose; Black. He smiles, shuts his eyes and starts the song. And I will take this to my grave, the smell of the salt air, watching him expertly encouraging the guitar to follow him and the lyrics;
"I know someday you’ll have a beautiful life,
I know you’ll be a star
In somebody else’s sky, But why
Why, why can’t it be, why can’t it be mine."
Anyway, I thought I would post this on here just for all PJ fans to enjoy and I hope you do!!!!
Secombee
I am a uni (college) student here in Australia and had to an assignment to describe a musician or band that was going to 'be for a magazine'. Please don't flame me for the obvious mistakes, I am sure you get the picture I adlibbed a bit for the sake of my uni professor but my best mate (who finally went with me to the Brisbane concert November 2006) said I should post it because she loved the way it sounded. So here goes....
Edward Louis Severson III is not the name that conjures up images of screaming fans, swooning women and hard edged vocals of one of the world’s best selling bands. However, millions of people around the world do not know him by this name and he admits to wishing he could use it sometimes to give himself a break from the hounding success that has followed him since the early 1990’s. In contrast the name Eddie Vedder brings forth images of rock concerts, political and social activism, untamed onstage antics and a sex appeal to millions that is hard to define.
His nature shines through as he sits restlessly playing with a zippo lighter waiting for the interview to start. He smiles at me as I sit opposite him and he tentatively extends his hand to shake mine. It is not until you get close to him that you see the twinkle in his eyes and get a feel for the power that exudes from him. A quiet power that comes from years of perfecting a craft that others have found joy in.
His beard is neatly groomed and in contrast to his hair, as it hangs just past his shoulders in an unruly attempt at ringlets. He seems uncomfortable in the spotlight as the first few precursory questions get under way, and I see him gazing longingly at the waves that crash just outside the open window he is facing. It occurs to me in a different universe he would be the person walking along the beach with surfboard under his arm content to be at one with the ocean.
Eddie is reluctant to speak about his inspirations or meaning to his lyrics and explains that he prefers the audience to have an open view from their own perspective as to what the songs mean to them. He admits that his early work from Pearl Jam’s first album ‘Ten’ 1991 was based on his life experiences to that time, saying that he had a rough childhood/adolescence and writing the often angst riddled lyrics became a release for him.
Eddie pulls the guitar onto his lap, his whole persona changes to one of tranquility and complete composure. He breaks into an adlib version of a single from the latest album. The whole room goes eerily quiet as his ‘golden baritone’ weaves a web of magic around our minds, the plucking of strings and drumming of his fingers on the guitar adding to the spell. When he is finished the silence continues as we let the last resounding notes reverberate in our mind. He asks if I have anything I would like to hear, and after years of being a fan and having the entire Pearl Jam CD collection as a friend, I know there is only one song out of the many that I could possibly choose; Black. He smiles, shuts his eyes and starts the song. And I will take this to my grave, the smell of the salt air, watching him expertly encouraging the guitar to follow him and the lyrics;
"I know someday you’ll have a beautiful life,
I know you’ll be a star
In somebody else’s sky, But why
Why, why can’t it be, why can’t it be mine."
Anyway, I thought I would post this on here just for all PJ fans to enjoy and I hope you do!!!!
Secombee
Chaos in my mind,
So damn painful,
Walking on reflections,
Shattering silence.
So damn painful,
Walking on reflections,
Shattering silence.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
That was a nice read.......Good luck with your college!
Dream the dreams of others then,... You will be no ones rival,...
Thanks guys. Got a 'B' for it but I appreciate your comments more then his.
Secombee
So damn painful,
Walking on reflections,
Shattering silence.