“Vaguery is the primary tool of songwriters” – Glenn Frey
Oh; there’s been too many losses in the entertainment industry in such a short time span. Talented British actor Alan Rickman passed away less than a week ago (days after I watched a new movie he’s in that’s not even released yet), and only four days after David Bowie. On that very same day, Celine Dion’s extremely smart manager husband René Angélil passed. Now Glenn Frey. This news came just days after I took a photo of “Hotel California” which I instagrammed with the captioned “some dance to remember, some dance to forget – with no alibis”. Strange, right? And like Bowie, so unexpected.
I get this feeling I may know you
As a lover (I wished) and a friend
But this voice keeps whispering in my other ear
Tells me I may never see you again‘Cause I get a peaceful easy feeling
And I know you won’t let me down
‘Cause I’m already standing on the ground.
What can I say about Glenn Frey that hasn’t been said before? Not too much. Except that my BFF and I met Glenn Frey and Don Henley at an after party following their Hotel California concert performance in Montreal at the height of their career that they personally invited us to. They were very pleasant and probably a bit tired after the exceptional show. Jimmy Buffett was the opening act at the Montreal Forum that night. I remember totally ignoring him. At the time Hotel California was my favourite album and I had a big crush on Glenn Frey. I must say once again, we were not groupies (only because we were very young, they were very famous and a lot of girls would have done anything to even be in the same room). Anyway, it must also be noted that it didn’t seem like they were all that interested either. We were not easy targets although like I said, I was crushing on Glenn because he was not only good looking and talented but there was also something naturally down home & unaffected about him which made him all that more attractive. And he spent a chunk of time talking to us like we were already friends (“but Glenn, can’t I be your girlfriend? – move out of my way Jimmy”). Sigh!
These guys were the first ones to get my mind Tiffany-twisted, and wanting a Mercedes Benz.
Oh; yeah there’s more….
The Eagles were one of the great forces of 1970’s rock. Frey co-wrote and sang most of the Eagles hits, including Life in the Fast Lane, Desperado, Take It Easy, Tequila Sunrise, Lyin’ Eyes, Heartache Tonight and of course the infamous Hotel California. He was the Lennon to Don Henley’s McCartney.
Hotel California is ostensibly about a luxury hotel visit that crosses over to the dark side – but it is really an allegory about the hedonistic lifestyle the musicians enjoyed in the 1970s. Some of the wilder interpretations of that song have been amazing. It was really about the excesses of American culture and certain girls they knew (not us, I think). But it was also about the uneasy balance between art and commerce. And a bunch of other stuff.
So Glenn… thanks for the memories, the music and giving us food for thought:
Don’t let the sound of your own wheels
drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
don’t even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
and take it easy.
Maybe order another tequila sunrise
And always make music
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 