How Jeff Buckley’s Legacy Was Immortalized with “Grace”

On this week’s episode hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield break down Jeff Buckley's "Grace" as well as his much-too-short career due to his tragic passing at age 30. The pair are joined by Rolling Stone senior writer David Browne, who penned the 2001 biography about Jeff and his father Tim Buckley titled Dream Brother: The Life and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley. Browne had been an early fan of the younger Buckley, having been one of the singer's first interviews.
In the early Aughts, Buckley’s heartbreaking cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" became a radio staple and minor hit for the singer. Upon the release of his debut album however, Grace performed poorly and received mixed reviews, with Buckley's emotional intensity being a turn-off to some critics and listeners. When Buckley died it felt like a young singer-songwriter's promising, burgeoning career was cut much too short. At the time of his death, Buckley's place in music was still unclear.
No one could have anticipated that three decades on, Buckley would more famous than ever. Thanks to the internet, millennial and now Gen Z fans have emerged as a massive audience for Buckley's music. His sweeping romanticism mixed with the lore surrounding his passing has made him a tragic hero of sorts, on par with Kurt Cobain, Elliott Smith and River Phoenix. Buckley not only showed incredible promise as a songwriter but also as an interpreter of great music, and there was so much more he was working to showcase on his sophomore album, which ended up being released posthumously.
00:00 Introduction to the 500 Greatest Songs Podcast
00:17 Diving Deep into Jeff Buckley's Musical Legacy
01:10 Jeff Buckley's Unique Path and Tragic End
02:12 The Cultural Impact and Continuing Legacy of Jeff Buckley
05:54 Exploring Jeff Buckley's Influence on Modern Music
08:39 Jeff Buckley's Timeless Appeal and Posthumous Fame
10:41 Special Guest: Insights from David Brown on Jeff and Tim Buckley
19:28 Jeff Buckley's Lasting Legacy and Influence on Music
28:34 Conclusion: Reflecting on Jeff Buckley's Impact
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