Peter Gabriel & She's Having a Baby

[Al Truest]

saloldgal said:

.......I still don't especially enjoy "Don't Give Up". To me, it does nothing to reveal the incredible talent and creativity of either artist.

''Don't Give Up'' is not amoung my favorites as well, but to describe it as insipid is entirely subjective. That seems to infer an insincere effort on their part. Gabriel's vocals are powerfully delivered. The desperate emotional intensity of his lyrical presentation is contrasted with the hope provided by Kate's serene interepretation of her character.

When so many diverse musicians try to "mesh", the result seldom represents the sum of the assembled talents, or even the average of them; typically, it can only represent the common denominator.

I agree that an artist has difficulty sharing a vision with others to the extent it doesn't become trite, unless strength of purpose is maintained. However, it is a rare talent that can write, produce and direct. Both Gabriel and Bush seem proficient in these areas. Also representing the common denominator would seem to be the goal of an artist.

I think it is possible (though very unusual) for two artists to combine their unique talents to produce something that actually represents MORE than the some of its parts, and I think KB and PG have the potential to do something like that together. I don't think that they did it with "Don't Give Up",

''I'' is the key word here. Both of these artists are largely supported by fans whom appreciate the complex and esoteric nature of their work. When they do ''hit'' it is with more accessible themes. Perhaps your expectations of them are higher than for most other artists. I can relate to that sentiment. I too hold the bar higher for them.

[saloldgal]

Hi Al,

Thanks for your response to my post about "Don't Give Up". I agree with you that my opinions about "Don't Give Up" (and anything else, for that matter) are entirely subjective. I hope that will be clear to anyone that reads them.

Your response served to remind me that shared admiration for an aritist doesn't necessarily imply shared reasons for that admiration. Both of these artists give their fans many different reasons to love them.

When I said that "Don't Give Up" seems insipid to me, I was referring more to the composition itself than to the intensity or sincerity of their performance of it. And, of course, it only seems insipid to me in comparison with their other work, and the things I value about that work.

By "common denominator" I mean those aspects of talent that are shared by all members of a group. When "solo" artists collaborate, often it seems to me like each artist is holding back unique aspects of their talent to avoid "stealing the show", so that ultimately, each artist's contribution represents only those aspects of their talent that can be matched by every other artist involved.

The wonderful but elusive alternative to that is when the unique aspects of each artist's talent are fully and freely expressed and woven together into something that is even more beautiful than what any individual artist could have produced on their own. It must be very hard to achieve, but this is what I can imagine Kate Bush and Peter Gabrial doing one day. Their gifts seem very compatible to start with and, as you pointed out, they are certainly well-qualified to do it. Perhaps some feel that they already have on "Don't Give Up".

[Al Truest]

Thanks Sal. Don't mind me. I tend to micro-manage words. Insipid by comparison I guess is fair.
And of course my comments were subjective as well.