Thursday, January 27, 2011
A Piece of His Heart
The recent reappearance of the “Rob as Jeff Buckley” casting rumors started me thinking again about what I have always liked most about him, which is his love of music as it mirrors my own. When I was fifteen I got my first mixed tape. I only remember two songs now: Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Velvet Underground’s “She’s My Best Friend”. The tape was a gift from a sixteen-year-old boy, who looking back was far more curiously creative than our average suburban lives gave him cause to be. He became a memory long ago. But his effect on me is still present today, because when we first met I liked music about as much as any other teenage girl. That is to say a lot of Top 40. But he loved music to the point it almost appeared at times as if talking about music was more important to him than oxygen. So I did what any self respecting nerdy girl does when she has a crush: I faked it. I’d listen to him talk about bands I had never heard of only to go home and use my natural skills of reading and research to be better prepared for next time. I faked it, until it wasn’t faking it anymore. Until I was so engulfed in my musical discovery that I was making my own mixed tapes.
During my musical education I came to believe that there are only two kinds of music: good and bad. Don’t bother me with genre titles that are used to break apart something that is supposed to bring people together. Good music makes you feel, think, question. While I have always tried to keep an open mind about music, I have to admit the phrase actor-musician has many times sent shivers down my spine. Russell Crowe, Eddie Murphy, Kevin Costner, Lindsay Lohan, the Disney girls, give all music lovers reason to pause. Lets face it: just because someone can get a record contract doesn’t mean they should. But there have been some bright spots as of late in indie girls Jenny Lewis and Zooey Deschanel’s “She & Him”. From the fellas there has been Ryan Gosling’s “Dead Man’s Bones”, a great rendition of “Bad Romance” from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and the re-emergence of Robert Pattinson as a singer.
Like with Kristen, I fully became aware of Rob during Twilight. I had seen him in Harry Potter of course, but to be honest I was more interested in the Weasleys, because I have a thing for gingers. During Twilight promotions I knew I liked him; even though he has the face of a 1950s matinee idol, a three minute interview quickly revealed the soul of a fellow nerd. However while the face and the charm were nice, what made me an admirer was the music. To quote the great American poet, Pink, “I’ve always been a sucker, had a weakness for a boy with a guitar and a drink in his hand.” The first time I heard him sing, I knew he was good. Whenever I discover a new musician, it’s always the same thing that grabs me initially, the richness of their voice. The tone of a singer’s voice is important, it’s the flavor to the words they sing. A good voice is what sets a singer apart from the homogeneous pop stars of late. Rob’s is worn. It’s a pair of boots that have hitched a thousand miles, thick with phantom alcohol, and smoke filled memories from basement open mic nights. His voice has a hard knocks, blue eyed soul, laced with pain and regret. His voice makes me question. I want to know how an upper-middle-class kid from a happy family gets that kind of yearning in it. Is his sound influenced by his heroes? Or is it the stories bubbling beneath the surface that burst free as he strums his guitar? What is he thinking as he puts forth this small piece of himself?
A person’s creative ability is directly tied to their desire to learn and engage their curiosity. Ideally the creative process will occur organically. The desire to learn a new instrument, write a song, produce any work all coming from the place of growth and engagement. But in the entertainment business, art can often be secondary to money. A week rarely goes by where a young star isn’t realizing their life long desire to make perfume, clothes, nail polish, or the like. This isn’t to say that making money is bad, but there is something admirable about artists who pursue art for the sake of creating. Right now it would be very easy for Rob to get a record contract because he would come with a fan base. There no doubt have been pitches of quickly recorded albums and the money that would follow. To his credit Rob has resisted the push to overly commercialize his music, while at the same time continuing to feed his natural curiosity and desire to fully engage his creativity in his own way.
It is often said that to whom much is given, much is expected. The Twilight machine has provided tremendous opportunities for its main actors. However, as the fame monster continues to encroach on their non-entertainment lives, both Rob and Kristen have tried even harder to protect what they hold important. Building a sanctuary away from those who want and who would take until one day there may be nothing left to give. Music, which has clearly always been important to Rob, has become a vital part of this quiet place. Rarely is he seen in an airport on this planet without a guitar on his back. The little boy on Christmas morning elation he seems to have anytime he’s holding a brand new guitar is infectious. The protectiveness his friends exhibited during their road trip when Rob played a few songs in a bar is commendable.
As much as the fan in me enjoys his voice, if it was announced tomorrow he was going to release music I would be pre-ordering it, I’m glad he isn’t. Right now, whether fans like it or not, Twilight is in the first line when journalists describe Rob. The franchise has over the last few years become the favorite punching bag of online writers. While it would be better in my opinion to just accept Twilight for what it is and focus their attention on the truly appalling bad cinema made every year, I get it. The writers have fun taking the cool kid down a peg or two. But this built-in desire to break down what they themselves helped to create often crosses over to the actors who are trying to do their jobs and get better at their craft. A first-step away from a franchise is picked-apart in the press from its content to its gross. A wardrobe test has yet to be done and bloggers chime-in about miscasting. Quick to judge. Quick to fault. Quick to stop the creative process in its tracks. On the other side we have some fans who can be defensive towards any criticism. In the middle is Rob. I’ve never read an interview where he’s proclaimed himself the actor of his generation or his desire for a wall full of awards before his 30th birthday. I have heard him express a wish to grow and learn in his creative process. Music, I am afraid, would fall victim to this same scenario. The difference, though, between his acting and music is that one Rob has freely given and allowed it to be critiqued, while the other he has relied on for a sense of normalcy during the Twilight experience. Music, but for a few rare occasions, he has kept his, safe, and away from the critics and fans.
While I still hope for a musician biography movie or his chosen release of a song here or there, I understand the desire to keep something special during a time where few areas seem off limits. His voice still makes me question and want to know. But like any good musician, Rob seems to understand that certain things have to remain private in order to create, and for those who care to know, all the answers are in his work. So, I will remain content with the few available works as we both continue our musical discoveries.
Below is my personal favorite, Rob’s cover of “I’ll Be Your Lover Too” which is about as good of a cover of Van Morrision as I have heard.
WOW! Awesome post Shopgrrl! I too am a fan of Rob’s music, and I am so glad he has kept it his. His entire life is under so much scrutinization, it’s nice to see he has a few things that he can go to that are his and his alone. It always makes me smile to see him with his guitar on his back, and that pic of him playing from the road trip is one of my favorite candids of him. Maybe someday we will get the pleasure of one of his songs being released…but in the meantime, I’m quite happy listening to I’ll Be Your Lover Too and his other songs that currently grace the web
Love the post! <3
Great post – very thoughtful insights into Rob’s love of music. Not much to add since you said everything I feel about Rob and his career.
He gets a lot of (unfair IMO) criticism – whether for a movie role, his relationships, his music or for how he lives his life. Its therefore totally understandable that he tries to keep the things that mean the most to him private (including his relationship with Kristen).
….If one day he decides the time is right to put out an album or take on a musical role in a movie, I will be very happy fan!
Absolutely loved this post! Great job Shopgrrl.
thank you for reminding me why he’s such apiece of my heart. for his genuine, real and unusual personality i fell in love and it keeps building every time i find other people interested in him for something other than his looks.
I also am glad that he is not releasing anything… like you said, as much as I would love to be buying some of this music on iTunes, I love the fact that he gets more of a thrill playing in a random bar or what have you. I also LOVE his modesty about his music. Any time during the Twilight promos, when his music was mentioned he’d blush and wreak of modesty… and that hade him even more sexy!
Breat post Shopgrrl
Fantastic post – agree with you 100% and love your description of his voice. Spot on. (“I’ll Be Your Lover, Too” is my fave Rob song, as well. It makes me ache.) xo ~DD
Excellent post! I’m also happy Rob isn’t releasing any music right now. You can tell just how special it is to him and I wouldn’t want it to be open to those gunning for Rob. I Was Broken is actually my fav Rob song. Such power and vocal strength though I’ll Be Your Lover Too is a very close 2nd.
Such amazing talent he has both acting and music, yet he remains so humble and down to earth. No wonder I have bolted myself to his train and looking forward to the ride.
Everything you said here was so spot-on!
I was just beginning to take notice of Rob a couple years ago, when I read this post at LTR about his personal music playlist. I was blown away by his taste and knowledge, from James Brown to Samuel Barber. Where did he learn about all these artists? I have to say this is what clinched the deal for me in my one-sided love affair! Read this: http://letterstorob.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/robert-pattinsons-playlist-the-way-to-my-heart/
EW, Letters to Rob? No thx.
Your writing is exquisite. I read this piece over and over for the flow of the language and the beauty of the content. I look forward to your future postings.
What a wonderfully thoughtful, insightful post, not only about Rob, but about music in general. You echoed so many of my own beliefs. I always find myself smiling when I read something about Rob from someone who is as big a fan of his as I am, which you obviously are. There are many things to love about him, starting with, of course, his undeniably amazing looks, but as much as I love looking at him (and boy, do I), I also find plenty of other things that make me adore him even more, and at the top of the list is his musicality. I thought he was adorable in Harry Potter, but didn’t really know who he was until Twilight, and, of course, fell for him at first on the basis of his portrayal of Edward. But what really put me over the top was the first time I found out the man can sing! I’ve always been a sucker for a guy with a guitar (or piano, and he does both!), and I’ll never forget hearing his voice for the first time. I was mesmerized. As you said so beautifully, there’s something in his voice, something beyond his years, and I, too, found myself wondering how someone so young could sing so soulfully. I understand and commend his need to keep it private, but I can’t help but hope that someday he’ll feel comfortable enough to share his talent with us. Until then, I’ll be content with listening to the few recordings we have available, and continue to wonder, as you do, what he’s thinking as he sings so hauntingly. His voice bares his soul, and I think that’s what makes it so amazing. Thanks for such a great piece.