As a songwriter-performer you need to step out of the crowd and take them into your world, either by making things bigger/smaller, or warmer/colder, or sharper/more mellow ... always creating an element of recognition and surprise. It's also important to stay in character, unless you're making a transformation. Jonathan Richman has made such a transformation, from angry punkrocker, into the awkward-silly entertainer he is today. He stays very well in character. The interviewer and we never really know whether he's serious or taking the p***. But when confronted with his angry punkrock legacy, he dismisses it firmly - almost falling out of character. He doesn't want to be reminded of who he used to be and doesn't want us to remember him that way.
I love JR and everything he has to say but I vehemently disagree with what he has to say about his song RoadRunner. I love this exchange he has with the interviewer. Interviewer: "People call these songs like Pablo Picasso and Road Runner classics. Can you understand that? Jonathan (immediately)..."No. Louie Louie is a classic. Gloria is a classic." Interviewer: "Road Runner is also a classic." Jonathan (again, immediately) "For you, not for me." Interviewer: "Why not?" Jonathan: "'Cause it isn't." Interviewer: "What's the difference?" Jonathan: "BIG difference. Louie Louie you can sing forever......Gloria............don't.....no...there's no comparison. No comparison." I'd love to tell Jonathan how singable his song Road Runner is. It is simply chock full of memorable and singable lines. Line after line. Just the short snippet that we hear of it in this video is so memorable and singable: "1,2,3,4,5,6....Road runner Road runner/Goin' faster miles an hour/'Gonna drive by the Stop & Shop/with the radio on." Ask Joan Jett if she thinks it's a classic. Sex Pistols knocked it off. The song is loaded with one memorable/singable line, one after another. It just reminds me of the John Lennon/Playboy interview where he turns his nose up at one Beatles gem after another. I guess it's a self-preservation device to help keep the artist from getting too big a head by admitting that their creations are stone cold classic pieces of treasure. 'Cos, yeah, now that I think of it, it would sound pretty hokey if Jonathan said........."you know........yeah, yer right. Road runner is a fucking classic!"
Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome: * lack of social awareness * lack of interest in socializing/making friends * inability to infer the thoughts, feelings, or emotions of others * lack of use or comprehension of gestures I can't imagine a list of behavioral characteristics that do a worse job of describing Jonathan Richman.
jonathan richman is the best antidepressant 💕
Lucien Edwards true story
Unless you're listening to That Summer Feeling
The day he dies...
Brilliant. I love this man so much.
Jonathan is a national treasure. It’s sad to think someone like him would be part time in todays world.
What do you mean?
@@LunchsackTheWise probably as a musician he means
the pureist indeed. love jojo.
he sings just like he talks
As a songwriter-performer you need to step out of the crowd and take them into your world, either by making things bigger/smaller, or warmer/colder, or sharper/more mellow ... always creating an element of recognition and surprise. It's also important to stay in character, unless you're making a transformation.
Jonathan Richman has made such a transformation, from angry punkrocker, into the awkward-silly entertainer he is today. He stays very well in character. The interviewer and we never really know whether he's serious or taking the p***. But when confronted with his angry punkrock legacy, he dismisses it firmly - almost falling out of character. He doesn't want to be reminded of who he used to be and doesn't want us to remember him that way.
Can we all appreciate how daft and funny 2:30 to 2:57 is.
Dank u Bram, voor commentaar en voor al je mooie radio- en tv-programma's
I mean, he's just the best human being
I'm trying to find this full version of "When I Dance"...it amazing!
He doesn't even perform it live! It's crazy how modest he is.
I love JR and everything he has to say but I vehemently disagree with what he has to say about his song RoadRunner. I love this exchange he has with the interviewer. Interviewer: "People call these songs like Pablo Picasso and Road Runner classics. Can you understand that? Jonathan (immediately)..."No. Louie Louie is a classic. Gloria is a classic." Interviewer: "Road Runner is also a classic." Jonathan (again, immediately) "For you, not for me." Interviewer: "Why not?" Jonathan: "'Cause it isn't." Interviewer: "What's the difference?" Jonathan: "BIG difference. Louie Louie you can sing forever......Gloria............don't.....no...there's no comparison. No comparison." I'd love to tell Jonathan how singable his song Road Runner is. It is simply chock full of memorable and singable lines. Line after line. Just the short snippet that we hear of it in this video is so memorable and singable: "1,2,3,4,5,6....Road runner Road runner/Goin' faster miles an hour/'Gonna drive by the Stop & Shop/with the radio on." Ask Joan Jett if she thinks it's a classic. Sex Pistols knocked it off. The song is loaded with one memorable/singable line, one after another. It just reminds me of the John Lennon/Playboy interview where he turns his nose up at one Beatles gem after another. I guess it's a self-preservation device to help keep the artist from getting too big a head by admitting that their creations are stone cold classic pieces of treasure. 'Cos, yeah, now that I think of it, it would sound pretty hokey if Jonathan said........."you know........yeah, yer right. Road runner is a fucking classic!"
he's just being humble. Also, keep in mind it's his own work, so he's not going to see it the same way as you
The more I see of Jonathan, the more I see how Mac demarco ripped off his mannerisms and attitude 😂 Mac admitted to it tho but still it’s funny
Roadrunner is a classic!
"well, isn't it?"
For the record: I'm not the interviewer here. Interviewer's name is David Kleywegt
Okay!
Nice
'...and it wouldn't worrggkkghh" lol
2:47
@spacegirlblues That's just what I meant to say.... :)
He is far too modest, come on, roadrunner. That's not a classic? i don't think he realizes how many people love his songs
one gets the impression he has aspbergers,by 1 I mean me. No clue if he is of course.
Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome:
* lack of social awareness
* lack of interest in socializing/making friends
* inability to infer the thoughts, feelings, or emotions of others
* lack of use or comprehension of gestures
I can't imagine a list of behavioral characteristics that do a worse job of describing Jonathan Richman.
zenobardot I don’t know man, he seems like an aspie.
@@rubtub1464 COPE
Nah, he’s just unique.
Dutch Courage
is Jonathan a synesthete? haha
Cindy B haha apparently. He’s doubtlessly a genius.
He talks like Jerry Seinfeld