Spoiler-Chris Isaak-Christmas!

[sparky]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

You were discussing the conveyance of the emotion of loneliness. I feel Stevie's expressions of loneliness are warmer and more relatable, which is an aspect of her writing that I had already stated I respond to. You posted a lyrical passage by Joni in comparison, that, as you said, was meant to be cool and aloof.

So, to me, it's not an accurate comparison.

This is hysterical. I am not talking about tone. I am talking about the use of language. "I'm lonely, I'm lonely, I'm lonely" is warm ? Is poetic ? I am thrilled that you respond to it. But to call a line like that poetry is like calling Stevie tall.

But assuming she's proud of every other thing she's written, aside from the Klonopin material, does she still need to apologize to herself? Or should she be embarrassed about these songs because we say she should?

I don't suspect she apologized, per se. She just admitted most of that work was not worthwhile and she didn't listen to it.

But I'm not talking about polishing something. I'm talking about writing lyrics and then obsessing over the way you expressed yourself, and then editing them countless times.

I can't see the difference here. Is it artistically inauthentic to rework a phrase to make it sound better ? Obsessing ? Countless times ? It is preosterous to suggest rewriting a lyric or a line in a book is tantamount to gutting it of all meaning. Art doesn't fall out of people like apples off a tree. That's where you and I really differ. That belief right there.

"Gosh, maybe I shouldn't have said 'dreams reoccur in my solitude'... maybe I should have compared myself to Morpheus instead. No, no, that won't work because then I'll just sound like a pompous git. Oh hell, where's that damn rhyming dictionary?"

That is actually not a bad line, of course she is using the word dream for the 400th time, but at least it's coupled with a new word.
I am not actually suggesting that Stevie use a rhyming dictionary for all her songs, but for God's sake how about expanding the vocabulary ? I suppose that would be somehow violating her muse and selling out. Education is the bastardization of all creative authenticy ? Following this logic she would be a more pure artist if she were banging on a rock. It is puzzling to me that you interpret rewriting and refining art as second guessing and not following one's artisitic impulses. Especially when we have all seen the evolution of Stevie's demos - the ones that did radically change lyric wise and music wise over the years. Are the evolved products phony and less meaningful ? I don't think so. Ultimately, we don't know how much each song was changed from inception to release. However, I would bet anything most of the lyrics lately aren't getting a whole lot of second looks. I think she used to concentrate more on them.