Thomas Conner
  • thomasconner
    • Bio
    • Professional: Resumé
    • Academic: CV
    • Teaching
    • Blog

Grant's show stirs memories and emotions

7/6/1998

 
By Thomas Conner
© Tulsa World

To my sister, Lauren,

Couldn't help thinking of you throughout every moment of
Amy Grant's performance Friday night here at Tulsa's Mabee
Center. It's funny — it caught me by such surprise. I'd
forgotten this musical link you and I shared. Many
circumstances and miles have come between us, but as Amy
sang those old songs from our younger, more questioning
years, I remembered everything I've learned and loved about
you. So I thought I'd write and let you know, because I
think these are the kinds of bond-strengthening revelations
that Amy's music is all about.

I may throw today's Tulsa World readers for a loop by
showing my sentimental streak this way. I'm the rascally,
young rock critic down here, and Amy Grant isn't the kind
of show any regular readers might expect me to rave about.
It's not power pop, after all. But even rascally, young
rock critics have weaknesses they keep hidden behind their
biting commentary, and Amy Grant is one of mine. Thanks to
you.

She reminds me so much of you — a strong, active woman
who radiates an astonishingly calm assurance. This is true
on stage more than on record, though the songs from her
newest album, "Behind the Eyes," are clear signs of her
reconciliation with that forum. But even if she begins
relaxing in the studio, her live performances always will
best convey the spirit of her songs. They are songs that,
like you, often make their point so subversively you don't
always realize that her spiritual convictions inform every
lyric. Once you're aware of where she's coming from, the
firmness (not rigidity) of her spiritual confidence is
incredibly uplifting.

She played a lot of songs from the new record, which I
hope you've got, starting with the current hit, "Takes a
Little Time." ("It takes a little time sometimes / to get
your feet back on the ground" — you've given me that advice
before, haven't you?) The show got off to a slow start,
though. Her casualness — that astonishing calm — first seemed
like apathy. This was her last show on a 100-day tour; she
was probably exhausted. But singing is obviously more than
just a gift she recognized and seized upon. Perhaps it's a
real calling, because despite that exhaustion, she couldn't
help but get revved up as she worked through her set. She
had to ask the audience to stand up and sway for one song,
but when she played the groove-woven "Curious Thing," we
weren't following orders anymore. I saw you both in her
inevitable revitalization and in that song's golly-gee
wonder at life's unexpected quirks.

Seeing you in the new material was a joyful surprise. I
knew, though, that the old songs would remind me of you. I
remember just as much "El Shaddai" and "My Father's Eyes" as
"Whip It" and "Candy-O" playing in your car on the way to
school 15 years ago, and each had its own set of
inspirations. In fact, she took time out during her second
set Friday to perform a lot of those oldies — from "Thy Word"
to "The Wallet Song" — without the band. Wish you could have
seen this. Everyone else was singing along, and I could
have used your lyrical coaching.

Then she played another one, "Missing You," from her new
album. Oddly enough, she said she wrote this one for her
own sister who had moved away recently after a lifetime of
living nearby. Sound familiar? Can't say I was completely
dry-eyed when she sang, "Missing you is just a part of
living / Missing you feels like a way of life / I'm living
out the life that I've been given / but I still wish you
were mine." Rascally, young rock critics aren't supposed to
tear up in public. Missing you nearly ruined my
reputation.

But that's what music is supposed to do, right — break
down those emotional barriers? OK, so maybe everyone
doesn't have the opportunity to write about it to entire
cities, but I can't imagine there are many fans reading me
this morning who haven't had similar experiences with Amy's
— or anyone's — music. Songwriters write deeply personal
songs, and they hand them off to us knowing (or at least
hoping) that we'll share their feelings or apply our own.
It's an essential part of human communication, and I don't
think Amy would be embarrassed by my expression here half
as much as you will be when you read it. Next time I write,
I promise I won't print 170,000 copies of it. See you later
this month, I hope.

Love, T.C.
 


Comments are closed.

    Thomas Conner

    These online "clips" reproduce a self-selection of my journalism (music etc) during the last 20+ years. It's a lotta stuff, but it only scratches the surface. I do not currently possess the time or resources to digitize the whole body of work. These posts are simply a bunch of pretty great days at the office.

    (Caveat: I didn't write the headlines, and formatting varies wildly.)

    For more, see my home page, resumé, CV, blog, or just contact me.

    Archives

    September 2024
    October 2023
    September 2023
    May 2014
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    October 2009
    September 2009
    March 2009
    November 2008
    October 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    September 2007
    August 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    February 2007
    November 2006
    October 2006
    September 2006
    June 2006
    March 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    October 2005
    August 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    April 2005
    June 2004
    April 2004
    August 2003
    June 2003
    February 2003
    December 2002
    November 2002
    September 2002
    August 2002
    July 2002
    March 2002
    February 2002
    September 2001
    August 2001
    July 2001
    July 2000
    June 2000
    May 2000
    April 2000
    March 2000
    February 2000
    December 1999
    November 1999
    October 1999
    August 1999
    July 1999
    June 1999
    April 1999
    March 1999
    January 1999
    November 1998
    October 1998
    September 1998
    August 1998
    July 1998
    June 1998
    May 1998
    March 1998
    January 1998
    December 1997
    November 1997
    October 1997
    August 1997
    June 1997
    May 1997
    April 1997
    March 1997
    January 1997
    November 1996
    September 1996
    August 1996
    July 1996
    June 1996
    March 1996
    January 1996
    December 1995
    September 1995
    August 1995
    June 1995
    April 1995
    August 1993

    Categories

    All
    9/11
    Album Review
    Arizona Republic
    Art Review
    Blues
    Books
    Chicago Sun Times
    Chicago Sun-Times
    Classical
    Column
    Concert Review
    Country
    Dwight Twilley
    Fanboy
    Feature
    Film
    Folk
    Gospel
    Great Conversations
    Guthries
    Hanson
    Hip Hop
    Hip-hop
    History
    Interviews
    Jazz
    JFJO
    Leon Russell
    Lollapalooza
    Music & Society
    Obit Magazine
    Pitchfork
    Pop
    Punk
    R&B
    Reggae
    Rock
    SXSW
    Tea
    Travel
    Tulsa World
    TV
    Virtuality
    Wainwrights
    Washington Post
    Woodyfest

    RSS Feed

Home

Bio

Professional

Academic

Blog

mine, all mine © 2000-now
  • thomasconner
    • Bio
    • Professional: Resumé
    • Academic: CV
    • Teaching
    • Blog