Comments on: Mercy and Grand: The Tom Waits Project

By: Johnny Morris

Johnny Morris — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:21:15 +0000

I came across this because I saw Mercy and Grand at The Lowry in manchester over a month ago and I have been so haunted by the MAGNIFICANCE of it that I was tryting to find out if it was available on CD. I can sing and play guitar in a very pop/rock/folk genre zone and I listen to music right across the spectrum from Wagner to The Waterboys, although I steer clear of HEAVY metal. Tom Waits is in my opinion truly great as was Kurt Weil who this ENSEMBLE also draw on. I thoiught the whole performance was a very effective DIFFERENT TAKE on THe Tom Waits catalogue. Just goes to show how PERSONAL musical taste is.

And re: music and animals. My dog is the only PERSON I know who truly appreciates my own musical abilities.

By: louisa

louisa — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:14:52 +0000

I’m convinced they like it too – Sili even duets with me when I get out the shower (she’s obsessed about being in the bathroom when we have a bath or shower)

Me: I have a lovely cat, she says ‘meow’
Her: meow
Me: I said I have a lovely cat, she says meow
Her: meow
Me: meow
Her: meow…

Sometimes she needs prompting for her lines but most of the time a glance in her direction is enough.

The only time they don’t like it is if the song is a narration of their activities – particularly if they’re being stealthy and the song both mocks and gives away their plans (“Boron’s hiding, hiding behind the sofa, he’ll jump on another cat, and then he’ll run away. Run Away! Run Away! He’ll jump on another cat and then he’ll run aaaaaaaaway!”).

By: Josie

Josie — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:21:48 +0000

Noted. Won’t go to that one then. Not that I was even thinking about it!

You sing to your cats too? I’m convinced they like it. Especially when you twist the words of a song to be about them. I think it makes them think they are being worshipped, as they expect to be.