i was introduced to Ani my senior year of high school (more than five years ago)...what can i say, i "fell in love" :)...the thing about ani is that she's tangible, she's real, and she seems to be right here with me at times when i'm not sure that i'm right here with myself...honesty isn't usually something i hear in other people, but it's what hear in ani's music...the best thing (for me) about Ms. Difranco's music is it's undefine-ability (i made up a new word)...she can do what everyone *should* be doing; and that's living without boundaries, without excuses, and without apologies..and, (this is a definate bonus) she is HUMAN, something A LOT of people forget throughout their lives...
i have seen her in action a mere eight times (which is nothing in comparison to most die-hards) and been amazed each time...the last time she came around i felt like i'd been "ani-concerted-out" and didn't get tickets (they were expensive anyway)...i didn't think it was possible to feel that way, but i had had too much of it, and the crowds were starting to change into something that i didn't like as well as the "old school" ani crowd...alas, it's now three years since i initially made an ani "page," and i still love her music, i'm just not as obsessed as i used to be...some may call that maturity...who the hell knows...she still inspires me, and i have a gigantic, tremendous amount of respect for her...the last time i saw her was at jazz fest in new orleans, and i feel like that was a wonderful "final" ani concert...of course, i'm not saying that i am definitely not ever going to an ani concert again, i'm just saying that, if i don't, seeing her in new orleans, in that setting, was wonderful...
ok, i'm back with more to add...i bought the new double cd "reckoning/reveiling" and i'm ani crazy again...i LOVE the new stuff...the lyrics are incredible, the instrumentals are beautiful, and the whole thing just rocks...i respect so much the way that she opens herself up as a musician to every influence she possibly can, and she does it so well...the blues-y feel of "reckoning" and the more jazzy "reveiling" are both mixed with a funky ani-ness that i've come to fall in love with...right now i'm listening to "reckoning" more (noteably the songs: "grey", "subdivision" and "so what"), but as my moods change, the album will too...i'm going back on my "i'll probably never see another ani show" statement...i decided to see her in st. louis next weekend...i'm really excited to see what she's going to sound like playing the new stuff live...
the st louis show might be the best one i've seen her play ever...i am so glad that i decided to go...she played almost all of LPC, which i love, as well as a lot of her new stuff...i'm addicted to a couple of different songs now - "school night", "marrow" and "sick of me"...i can't even describe it anymore...i don't think i stopped smiling during the whole concert, or the rest of the night for that matter...something about seeing her up there on stage, i don't know, it's contagious...the energy, the bounciness...agh! i'll leave you with this quote, it's been stuck in my head all day: "you are a miracle but that is not all you are also a stiff drink and i am on call...you are a party and i am a school night and i'm looking for my door key but you are my porch light..."
ps...way more to come
QUOTABLE ANI
THIS MOMENTS FAVORITE SONG(S):
grey
subdivision
school night
so what
marrow
fixing her hairPERSONAL ALL TIME FAVORITES:
she says
both hands (especially the version on more joy, less shame)
pick yer nose
sorry i am (the living in clip version makes me cry)
firedoor
cradle (the first Ani song I EVER heard-gotta love it)
my IQ ("they taught me different was wrong")
4th of july (cuz she talks about IOWA)
talk to me now
brief bus stop
superhero
dilate
fuel
light of some kind
angry anymore
tis of thee
everest
to the teeth
school night
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