Musician could've been a novelist?

The Lonely One · Feb 24, 2009

(MODS: please move if this isn't the right place for this)

I often wonder if some of my favorite musicians could've or should've written prose (or poetry, though arguably songs are just poetry put to a tune).

What are those songs you hear and you just go, man those images are amazingly crisp, that metaphor makes me horny, that narrative voice is angelic in one breath and the devil's in another.

Some songs really are condensed stories.

I think Ingrid Michaelson could've written books in another life. Really fan-f*cking-tastic writing in her songs.

Slug from Atmosphere is a visually strong writer as well. Very much a storyteller.

Can anyone think of others that could fit into this group of "storytelling/pseudo-novelist" musician/songwriters?

Barb D · Feb 24, 2009

Joni Mitchell.

IceCreamEmpress · Feb 24, 2009

Jimmy Buffett has written some pretty good novels.

So has Kinky Friedman.

And Greg Kihn.

rugcat · Feb 24, 2009

I'm a musician and songwriter as well as a novelist. I see a lot of parallels between music and writing, but I think they are the parallels that exist in all creative forms -- I simply see them more clearly because music and writing are both things I know.

But I don't see much correlation between writing songs and writing novels -- two entirely different disciplines, imo. You can be good at both, but just because you're good at one doesn't mean you'll necessarily be any good at the other.

Cranky · Feb 25, 2009

Interesting to me that you brought this up. I just had to do this personality/intelligence inventory for one of my classes, and the two strongest intelligences for me (what a weird term, by the by) were verbal-linguistic and musical.

I can't sing a note (not since I started smoking as a teenager...it destroyed my voice, and it never recovered, even after cutting back as far as I have, which is at a "Why do I even bother?" stage), but I have always loved music and wish I could've pursued playing an instrument. Never considered songwriting for the reasons that Rugcat mentions (two different disciplines), but I don't think "regular" writers are the only good storytellers out there.

I can definitely see a correlation, or at least a pretty sizeable overlap between the two.

waylander · Feb 25, 2009

Bruce Dickenson of Iron Maiden has novels out

Dale Emery · Feb 25, 2009

Jimmy Buffet ;-)

KTC · Feb 25, 2009

I'm waiting to read Neil Young's debut novel. (-;

Maryn · Feb 25, 2009

I didn't read it, but Marilyn Manson's book is supposed to be pretty good, and written by his rather than ghosted. Of course, as Brian Warner he got a degree in journalism, so it shouldn't surprise me that he can write.

Maryn, whose kids devoured all things Manson for a time

Devil Ledbetter · Feb 25, 2009

KTC said:
I'm waiting to read Neil Young's debut novel. (-;

I've been learning to play After the Gold Rush on my guitar. Every time I sing it, I'm struck by both the imagery and emotion he evokes.

I also love the storytelling/characterization in Blitzen Trapper's Black River Killer.

maestrowork · Feb 25, 2009

As a songwriter, I see many parallels. Granted, fiction writing requires different skills (POV, anyone?) but storytelling is storytelling. And a songwriter sometimes gets to tell a big story with just a few words -- now that's a talent. I've actually written a piece on my blog about the parallels between music and novel writing. Check it out.

Devil Ledbetter · Feb 25, 2009

maestrowork said:
As a songwriter, I see many parallels. Granted, fiction writing requires different skills (POV, anyone?) but storytelling is storytelling. And a songwriter sometimes gets to tell a big story with just a few words -- now that's a talent. I've actually written a piece on my blog about the parallels between music and novel writing. Check it out.

Songwriting also requires POV.

Nakhlasmoke · Feb 25, 2009

Nick Cave wrote and the ass saw the angel.

Leonard Cohen has written at least one novel (it's on my bookshelf. Somewhere. Now if only I could find it...)

The Lonely One · Feb 25, 2009

Devil Ledbetter said:
Songwriting also requires POV.

True. I've heard songs in 1st, 2nd and 3rd person. I think most of us have if we think about it.

I am also a songwriter, and I have to say between music and fiction, one seems to compliment the other.

So maybe songs share more in common with short stories--tight, strong images, finely chiseled ball of story. Still, wordz isn't jus' wordz when that little string on the end connects to yer' fuzzy spirit inside

KTC · Feb 25, 2009

Nakhlasmoke said:
Nick Cave wrote and the ass saw the angel.

Leonard Cohen has written at least one novel (it's on my bookshelf. Somewhere. Now if only I could find it...)

Leonard wrote Beautiful Losers and The Favourite Game. Both excellent excellent novels.

Hesperides · Feb 25, 2009

Maryn said:
I didn't read it, but Marilyn Manson's book is supposed to be pretty good, and written by his rather than ghosted. Of course, as Brian Warner he got a degree in journalism, so it shouldn't surprise me that he can write.

Maryn, whose kids devoured all things Manson for a time

Really? huh. I was into him when I was younger. I thought he was brilliant for exploring an unsaturated market.

I'm a songwriter - turned poet - turned nonwriter. Then I came up with a fantastic idea for a novel. Whew... Definately NOT the same!

rugcat · Feb 25, 2009

maestrowork said:
And a songwriter sometimes gets to tell a big story with just a few words -- now that's a talent.

True. I have one song that tells an entire story of a "relationship," start to finish in twelve lines. (Three verses of four lines each.)

It has a beginning, middle and end. But I don't see how my ability to pull that off (if i did) has much to do with the craft of novel writing. Poetry, maybe.

Here it is for anyone who wants to give it a listen.

ideagirl · Feb 25, 2009

The Lonely One said:
Can anyone think of others that could fit into this group of "storytelling/pseudo-novelist" musician/songwriters?

Leonard Cohen! Listen to "Famous Blue Raincoat" sometime (any version--Cohen wrote it, but lots of people have recorded it; I really like Lloyd Cole's version). You'll see why I picked him and why I felt so strongly that I even used the much-hated exclamation point.

Edited to add: Ah, I see I'm not alone in mentioning him.

Hesperides · Feb 25, 2009

Ahh, Famous Blue Raincoat. Brilliant. Tori Amos did a remake that I loved.

ideagirl · Feb 25, 2009

And another: Suzanna Vega. I've never heard a song of hers that wasn't also a story.

ideagirl · Feb 25, 2009

Hesperides said:
Ahh, Famous Blue Raincoat. Brilliant. Tori Amos did a remake that I loved.

I haven't heard her version. Yet.

If "Famous Blue Raincoat" were a novel, it would obviously be an epistolary novel (it even ends with the words, "Sincerely, L.C."). And as for Suzanne Vega, let's see... "The Queen and the Soldier" is a third-person omniscient fable; "Luka" is a first-person story, as is "Tom's Diner"; "Fancy Poultry" is third-person omniscient... Man, we could go on and on...

KTC · Feb 25, 2009

I saw Cohen in June in Toronto. It was heaven. Lifelong fan here.

TheRightEyedDeer · Feb 25, 2009

Dave Matthews.

Gordon Downie (The Tragically Hip).

ETA: Steven Page (ex-Barenaked Ladies)

KTC · Feb 25, 2009

TheRightEyedDeer said:
Dave Matthews.

Gordon Downie (The Tragically Hip).

ETA: Steven Page (ex-Barenaked Ladies)

I'd love to read Gordon's novel. Man...that man can write like nobody's business. I get choked up listening to his lyrics. His poetry rocks. I'd be first in line to buy his novel.

Steven...it's a sad day in Canada today. )-:

TheRightEyedDeer · Feb 25, 2009

KTC said:
I'd love to read Gordon's novel. Man...that man can write like nobody's business. I get choked up listening to his lyrics. His poetry rocks. I'd be first in line to buy his novel.

Even when I don't understand his lyrics, I wanna hear more more more.

Steven...it's a sad day in Canada today. )-:

I very nearly didn't go to work today after I read The Star online. Got all teary over my coffee. Damn. Steven ... come BAAAACCCKKK!

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