DJ Jim Q's Playlist: Muse
Everybody needs a little inspiration sometimes. And where better to get that inspiration than from your fellow humans. Artists have always been motivated by fascination, obsession, desire or admiration for other people. We call these creative provocateurs muses. The artist and muse, an alliance as old as art itself. As you might imagine, such relationships can be rife with problematic dynamics to say the least, but that’s a topic probably better handled elsewhere. Let’s keep it light and focus on the music.
Muse is the theme this month, so I’m searching the musical catalog for songs inspired by those elusive beings whose existence has provoked great artistic works. According to the Greeks, there are nine muses, goddesses of the arts, each with a unique personality and particular gifts. Not unlike The Avengers, this group of fiercely creative women used their special artistic skills like superpowers.Calliope (rhetoric, epic poetry), Clio (the historian), Erato (singing), Euterpe (lyrical poetry), Melpomene (singing and tragedy), Polyhymnia (hymns to the gods and heroes), Terpsichore (dancing), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy). I can appreciate the division of labor, generating inspiration can be a draining business. Contemporary artists may not look to the goddesses, instead they tend to gravitate more towards personal lovers, models, celebrities, other artists, political figures and social leaders, but muses continue to inspire creativity.
From SZA’s ode to Drew Barrymore, to Cat Power’s heart-felt sonic letter to Bob Dylan, this months playlist is all about Muses and the magnificent songs that they inspired. Stevie Wonder celebrates Duke Ellington, Sonic Youth sings about Karen Carpenter, and Lucinda Williams was compelled to memorialize the beauty and tragedy of Blaze Foley. Can you figure out the muse behind each of the songs?
Well that’s it from me this month. Thanks for listening and If you enjoy these playlists, please follow me on Spotify and give me a shout on Twitter, I would love to hear from you.