On a cold, gray February Monday, a short documentary on creativity, featurng singer-songwriter John Prine.
Let me say this about Prine and his music. Despite the best efforts of friends and bandmates, it has taken me longer to appreciate Prine’s music than it should have. In part that’s because, to my casual ear, much of it sounds the same. His finger-picking style of guitar work doesn’t vary all that much from song-to-song, and his voice falls into a natural rhythm and intonation that likewise carries over from song to song, and album to album.
But … listen to the lyrics. That’s where Prine’s brilliance shines forth. This documentary, from former Today Show correspondent Mike Leonard, takes a look at creativity and the creative process, with Prine as the chief example. You can read more about this documentary here, and then more about Prine and his ties to Chicago and the Old Town School of Folk Music here.
And finally, take a break from your Monday morning and listen to Prine perform “Paradise,” one of my favorite songs.