Let us pretend for the sake of this post that I wasn't too full to move let alone post this yesterday when it actually was Christmas day. It seems kind of fitting that the album we are currently listening to is Tommy by The Who. The song Christmas off that album is actually one of my favourite tracks.
I quite often make mixed cds (rembemember mix tapes? I used to make them once) for friends as gifts. This year I've decided to throw the latest up for you to download. It's called "Songs So Pretty They Might Just Break your Heart". Nawwww. A cd that opens with the track "The Big Ship" by Brian Eno can't be all that bad I reckon. There's quite a few Aussie artists on it too.
Tracklist:
The Big Ship - Brian Eno
Nicotine - Ani DiFranco
Time - Tom Waits
Good Woman - Cat Power
Every Time I Try - Spain
Doing the Wrong Thing - Kaki King
Oh My Sweet Carolina - Ryan Adams
Let Him Fly - Patti Griffin
Jolene - Ray LaMontagne
Blue - Joni Mitchell
I Could Die Looking At You (live) - Jordie Lane
Lord, I Have Made You a Place in my Heart - Greg Brown
Swing On - Holly Throsby
Song One - Gorgeous
Accordingly - Chris Whitley
No Good Answers (live) - Jeff Lang
Everything's Fucked - The Dirty Three
Intuition - Feist
Download it here: http://www.mediafire.com/?okndmqbntzj
It saddened me yesterday when I checked Twitter (how did we ever used to find out information so quickly?) to read that Vic Chesnutt had passed away. I first became aware of Vic's work on the Soundtrack to the movie The End of Violence (the movie is a bit shit but the soundtrack is awesome). In fact the song 'Everytime I Try' by Spain on the above comp is the reason I bought that soundtrack. I tracked down some of his work and quickly fell in love. I try not to get too political on this blog and stick to the music but Vic's story saddens me. He was left parapelegic from a car accident when he was 18. Despite this he still relearnt to play guitar and wrote beautiful, honest music. In America they don't have a public health system and I am consantly reminded how lucky I am to live in Australia where I know my needs will be met if I fall ill. Vic had health insurance but it still wasn't enough. His hospital was suing him for a large sum of money for expenses, money he didn't have. Vic commited suicide because the weight of the pain of his injuries and the weight of his financial trouble simply became too much for him. I can't help but think that the system let down a beautiful soul. And the sad part is that he is just one page of a very big story of people in the same situation.
If you would like to donate to a fund set up to help his family pay off his medical bills, for which they are now responsible, please visit the dedication page set up by musician Kristn Hersh.
http://kristinhersh.cashmusic.org/vic/
Now go tell everyone you love how much you love them.
Merry Christmas
Saturday, December 26, 2009
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3 comments:
Hi Ang,
Thank you for the Christmas greetings and play list. While I do appreciate them, I cannot refrain from commenting on your interpretation of Vic Chestnutt's suicide.
I especially want to note that you have a nice little hate-America fantasy going there. Health insurance in America generally pays for most health care, including hospital care. In cases where there is a co-pay, there is generally a ceiling on the patient's responsibililty. If someone has enough money to be sued by a hospital (which I have never heard of happening; they usually will make payment arrangements)they will have enough for the $2,500 or whatever the maximum pay is.
In an interview quoted in EW.com, Chestnutt says that he has flirted with death his whole life and has made 3 or 4 previous suicide attempts.
Note that Chestnutt was injured at age 18; he died at age 45. I doubt that hospital expenses from his injuries over 25 years ago had anything to do with his recent death. Note also that the Kristin Hersh campaign relates to expenses from his current hospitalization (ie: since his last and successful suicide attempt) and death (ie: funeral).
PS: We have the most most creative medicine and best health care in the world.
Hi there.
Thanks for your comment. As I said I try not to get too political on the blog and stick just to the music for reasons like this. In this case I saw a little cross over and felt affected enough to want to share my observations on it.
I think to say that I have hate-American fantasy going on based on the strength of one post is a little unfair. I can only form opinions based on what I know of the situation and unfortunately in Vic's case that appears to be somewhat lacking. I apologise if my interpretation offended you in any way.
One of the things that sparked the post was the fact that only the day before I had a half hour conversation with my Dad as to whether or not I should keep my private health insurance. I feel very blessed that it is totally an option for me as an Australian not to have it and know that if anything were to go wrong healthwise I'd be covered by the government's Medicare system.
It baffles me as to why America is the only developed nation to not have a universal health care system. When illness or medical bills contributed to 62.1% of all bankruptcies in USA in 2007 I think questions need to be asked as to why. If that means I have a hate-American fantasy going on then so be it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/american_journal_of_medicine_09.pdf
I think it's a tragic and incredibly selfish thing when anyone (young or old, rich or poor, etc.) takes their own life. More than anything my heart goes out to his family and friends who are left to pick up the pieces. I put up the link to the charity in the hopes that maybe one person would click on the link and throw a few dollars their way to help ease their burden at least financially.
Thanks again for your comment
Ang
Thanks for your thoughtful response, Ang. I don't really think you hate American (esp. given your music choices), but I hear what I consider a lot of unfair criticism, so I get piqued. However, no more politics. I do share your concern for Vic Chestnutt's family and friends and your sense of tragedy about his suicide. Happiest of New Year's to you.
I also want to tell you that I have been inspired by your blog to develop my own best of album playlist for the music blog I run for a suburban public library. I decided to limit myself to R&B & Soul, as a genre that i need to learn more about. Here is a link (whick I don't think will be love): http://sounds-musicatnilespl.blogspot.com/2009/11/r-soul-album-playlist.html
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