I WEAR BLACK BECAUSE FEAR IS A MAN'S BEST FRIEND: JOHNNY CASH (RIP 1932-2003) VS. JOHN CALE
On the surface, these gentlemen would appear to have little in common. What, after all, could a 61-year-old Welshman, famous for being in the Velvet Underground, and a 71-year-old American, famous for being in black, and one being devoutly religious and the other considerably less so, share? Ah, but the parallels are almost as spooky as those I exposed between Hanson and the Velvet Underground quite some years ago now...
1. Both were signed to CBS in the Sixties.
2. Both are Pisces.
3. Both were born in rural regions.
4. Johnny Cash recorded "I Walk The Line", which contained the lyrics "I Keep A Close Watch On This Heart Of Mine". John Cale recorded "Close Watch", which contained the lyrics "I Keep A Close Watch On This Heart Of Mine".
5. Both have been known to play acoustic guitar.
6. Both have appeared on stage with Lou Reed.
7. Both have used fiddles, pedal steels and female choruses.
8. Both have duetted with strong-willed female partners who had solo careers (Cash with June Carter (RIP 1929-2003); Cale with Nico).
9. Each has had a song covered by a big-voiced woman with queer identification or sympathies (Helen Terry, from Culture Club, did "Close Watch"; Diamanda Galas interpreted "25 Minutes To Go", which Cash sang).
10. Most tellingly...wait for it...
JOHNny CAsh vs. JOHN CAle
(can there be any further doubt of their interconnection?)
