Listening to" Autograph"
Ks4040
was wondering what everyone thought of this album? I love the picture of John
on the cover! My favorite songs on this are, Dancing with the
mountains,Wrangell Mountain song,In my heart, and You say that the battle is
over. Funny thing about this song, I always thought that John wrote this. I
was wrong! I like this song on this album, but I do like it better in his more
mature voice. I like the song" Autograph ", But I wonder about this song. I
enjoy the music . But, the words get me confused. Is it to Annie, is she" who"
he is singing to? Is he saying, Hey, Everyone leave us alone??? I think it
goes along great, He's singing to her, Then is he saying to everyone else.,
Don't ask for a autograph. (I know he really didn't like to do them) Be happy
with the songs, ect... I guess the part that throws me is.." You are the love
and the light that we all need to see Always willing to shine and then Peace
on this earth is the way that it always can be". huh? Is Annie the light we
need to see? Are we the light? Who is willing to shine? Why is the peace
part thrown in there? ( I want peace, also. I just don't get it in this song)
(sorry) Everyone looks like they were having a good time in the "Johnny and
the sharks picture. Can anyone name everyone in this picture?
Goodnight everyone, Sleep tight! C.
Taptotap
>I
>was wondering what everyone thought of this album? I love the picture of
>John
>on the cover!
I love the Autograph album. Next to the Wildlife Concert it's my favorite one.
> I like the song" Autograph ", But I wonder about this song. I
>enjoy the music . But, the words get me confused.
I read in an interview once that he did that song as his autograph to his fans.
He was saying just listen to my music, that is my autograph. For the rest of
the lyrics, I don't really know. I would venture to guess it was all directed
toward his fans and people in general. Just my guess!
Robin
Patty
This is what John had to say in the original "Anthology" songbook.
"AUTOGRAPH--I hate signing autographs. It is nothing more than a proof to
somebody that they saw me in person. I can't think of anything less meaningful.
What is meaningful is the music and how you feel about it--whether or not you get
from my music the love that I feel from you. This is my autograph, this is what I
want people to remember. Not my signature on a piece of paper, but this music,
these songs and these feelings. This is the best I have to give."
Sigh...we do remember, John, and we get it!
Peace,
Patty/Columbine
Ks4040 wrote:
> Hi, I've been listening to my" Autograph" album,for the past two nights. I
> was wondering what everyone thought of this album? I love the picture of John
LiteofVega
>Hi, I've been listening to my" Autograph" album,for the past two nights.
>I
>was wondering what everyone thought of this album? I love the picture of
>John
>on the cover!
This is one of my favorite albums. I too love the photo of John on the cover
and when a very dear JD girlfriend was hospitalized with a stroke in June 1998,
I had a local copy shop copy the cover and laminate it. We hung it as a poster
(as well as another JD photo I laminated) near her hospital bed. She said it
gave her a lot of joy and comfort to see John's handsome face. Good medicine
indeed!
Peace,
Mary in Oklahoma
"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." (Victor Hugo)
ASLTsmile
For some reason, this is one I don't listen to all that often, though I just
listened to it not to long ago. I think it's because it's not on CD. Hint,
hint to RCA. LOL
The song "Autograph" is deffinately to his fans (us). A long time ago when he
first appeared on the Merv Griffin show, I don't think he really wanted to talk
on the show because, as he said, the songs contain what he has to say. It was
true back then, and continued to be true for the rest of his life. All anyone
has to do to really get to know John is to listen to his music.....all of his
music, not just the hits. I think this is the main reason we all feel so
connected to him.
Peace,
Tricia
Kennon Baird
> This is what John had to say in the original "Anthology" songbook.
>"AUTOGRAPH--I hate signing autographs. It is nothing more than a proof to
>somebody that they saw me in person. I can't think of anything less meaningful.
>What is meaningful is the music and how you feel about it--whether or not you get
>from my music the love that I feel from you. This is my autograph, this is what I
>want people to remember. Not my signature on a piece of paper, but this music,
>these songs and these feelings. This is the best I have to give."
That statement was another Denver faux pas.
An autograph means that the celebrity took a little time to
personally chat with a fan, and give them a memento of the occasion.
If Denver thought it was a cold and impersonal thing to do, then maybe
he had the wrong attitude about it.
It's a good thing, a nice thing, and a prudent thing to do.
For a performer to say they "hate" doing it for their fans is very
poor form. Without fans, Denver would have remained Deutschendorf,
and would have probably ended up as a sad alcoholic, singing for tips
in a Ramada Inn lounge .
As it was, his fans enabled him to be a sad alcoholic with a Porsche
in Aspen. He should have been more grateful.
KB
Taptotap
>
> An autograph means that the celebrity took a little time to
>personally chat with a fan, and give them a memento of the occasion.
>If Denver thought it was a cold and impersonal thing to do, then maybe
>he had the wrong attitude about it.
>
>It's a good thing, a nice thing, and a prudent thing to do.
>
>For a performer to say they "hate" doing it for their fans is very
>poor form. Without fans, Denver would have remained Deutschendorf,
>and would have probably ended up as a sad alcoholic, singing for tips
>in a Ramada Inn lounge .
>
>As it was, his fans enabled him to be a sad alcoholic with a Porsche
>in Aspen. He should have been more grateful.
>
>KB
Leave it you, Kennon, to take a nice friendly discussion about John and put a
negative spin on it. Oh well, and so it goes..........
Robin
ASLTsmile
Perhaps poorly stated or at least not fully stated, but I think he explained it
better in an interview.
He said that when he starts signing autographs, if he does it for one person,
he has to do it for everyone else who asks. When he was very popular, this
could be a problem because he'd have 50 to 100 people asking him for one and it
became an assembly line type of situation, Not at all what he wanted. What he
wanted WAS the personal contact...to shake a person's hand, to look them in the
eye, to have an actual conversation with them. He couldn't do that with people
shoving pieces of paper in his face. All he could do was sign his name, and
his eyes were constantly down on the pieces of paper. He said that there are
times (or I guess I should say were times) when giving an autograph was a
pleasure, but not when he was out with friends or family eating dinner.
I think signing autographs became more possible for him later on when he didn't
have the problem with the crowds. I remember shortly after he died hearing
someone say he stayed 45 minutes to an hour late at a golf tournament to sign
autographs and talk to a bunch of kids. He was told it was time to go, but he
said he wasn't going anywhere until he talked to each one of those kids. That
person said that is what she will remember most about him; the fact that he
stayed to talk to each of those kids personally.
> An autograph means that the celebrity took a little time to
>personally chat with a fan, and give them a memento of the occasion.
>If Denver thought it was a cold and impersonal thing to do, then maybe
>he had the wrong attitude about it.
>
I think he had the right attitude about it all right. I think you just
constantly try to read the negative into everything he ever said.
Peace,
Tricia
allth...@ftc-i.net
fans by not signing autographs (which he did do at times anyway), but he would
rather have the personal contact. Not a bad way to be.
Thanks for posting this. I had heard it before, but it is good to have it posted
in view of the context of this thread.
Best,
Dot
David Dunn
Autograph seems to be a favorite of most of he people here. One of the
most frequently asked questions here is whether Autograph is available
on CD (it isn't, RCA is withholding from us for unknown reasons). I
really like "Whalebones and Crosses" and "The Mountain Song". Last
fall I took a trip to Colorado, saw a lot of the state I'd never seen
before. Shortly after I returned home I listened to this album for the
first time in a long time. Mountain Song brought tears to my eyes, it is
such a typical JD mountain song even though he didn't write it.
I also found the photograph on the back of the album poignant, the
guitar by itself on the banks of a river.
David Dunn
Christine Moon
in only 10 days! Gives it a more "spirited" feel. I love "Whalebones and
Crosses" - well, the whole Alaska Trilogy. "In My Heart" is heartbreaking,
every time I see Concorde I think of the hotel balcony, and his heartache
that led to the song. Now there is irony in the line "why look to the ocean
to wash me away". Wonder if Annie actually told him to jump in the ocean?
Hope not!
As for the words in "Autograph", I think he is talking about the light and
the love in all of our hearts, how peace on earth can come if everyone had
such love in their heart.
As for people in the picture, their first names are by their feet! Full
names - Herb Pedersen, Danny Wheetman, Glen D Hardin, James Burton, Jim
Horn, Renee Armand, JD (now who could that be?), Emory Gordy, Hal Blaine
and Denny Brooks.
Love John's photo of his guitar at Lake Powell, on the back of the album
cover (at least it's on the back here - was there a gatefold sleeve in the
States?)
Peace, in John's memory,
Christine
moon...@netcomuk.co.uk
"Friends of John Denver"
http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~moonstar/fojd.html
Ks4040 wrote in message <20000123230320...@ng-cm1.aol.com>...
>Hi, I've been listening to my" Autograph" album,for the past two nights.
I
>was wondering what everyone thought of this album? I love the picture of
John
Ks4040
Theresa
news:14588-38...@storefull-283.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
> Hello,
> Autograph seems to be a favorite of most of he people here. One of the
> most frequently asked questions here is whether Autograph is available
> on CD (it isn't, RCA is withholding from us for unknown reasons). I
> really like "Whalebones and Crosses" and "The Mountain Song".
"Whalebones & Crosses" is one of my favorites on this album too...so
haunting. I remember the scenes depicted in the Alaska special during that
song very vividly (wish I had it...) and knew I just *had* to have the
music! I played it for my senior piano recital and in the end created a new
fan of John's music that day :) The woman had heard of all his "standard"
hits but hadn't heard this music. She flipped through my song book, reading
the music, and said that she *had* to get that album and hear it all!
Unfortunately now I can't play it as well....carpul tunnel surgery in my
right hand several years ago took care of a lot of my piano playing :( I
plug away at it anyway...great stress reliever :)
Peace,
Theresa
He who lives in harmony with himself
lives in harmony with the universe. Marcus Aurelius
http://www.netins.net/showcase/odomsmodem
BHoehn123
the Music in the Mountains TV special with with Lee Holdridge conducting the
music.
Your so right when you say it has that haunting quality....
Barbara
Hiway
with these people, which wasn't an easy thing to do. He was only too
conscious of the fact that he did not have the means to alleviate all
the suffering that he was witnessing first hand... and that hurt. I
have one hell of a lot more respect for John, than I do for the
'critics,' who were NOT there at his side.
Best,
Hiway
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Jen4503
>someone say he stayed 45 minutes to an hour late at a golf tournament to sign
>autographs and talk to a bunch of kids. He was told it was time to go, but
>he
>said he wasn't going anywhere until he talked to each one of those kids.
>That
>person said that is what she will remember most about him; the fact that he
>stayed to talk to each of those kids personally.
>
>> An autograph means that the celebrity took a little time to
>>personally chat with a fan, and give them a memento of the occasion.
>>If Denver thought it was a cold and impersonal thing to do, then maybe
>>he had the wrong attitude about it.
>>
>
>I think he had the right attitude about it all right. I think you just
>constantly try to read the negative into everything he ever said.
>
>Peace,
>Tricia
>
>
>
Tricia,
Thanks for bringing this up!!! This was mentioned on the television coverage of
his Memorial service by one of the newspeople. Not sure who she was, but I just
rewatched the set last week and smiled as she told this story> What a man he
was!!
peace my friend...jen
EmmaLdy
When JD said he was sorry for the way things were in China, he meant it,
deeply.
He was comparing his depth of sorrow and sadness for some things in life, such
as China's difficulties, to be similar to the depth of his sorrow for things
between he and Annie.
Deep.
The things that were perhaps preventable.
He was very sincere in his depth of compassion for so many things in the world,
and relatively so in his own life. It sounded trite at times, but he was for
real.
Sometimes I wonder that he may have needed some of his music to express some
of those big feelings, so he wouldn't pop!
His integrity behind the lyrics is what made his music so powerful and
beautiful.
It became believable because it was true.
"Only the heart can speak to the heart, and only the heart knows the truth."
emma
>LOL! I was recently wondering something similar about "I'm Sorry" -
>like, why the heck was he "sorry for the way things are in China"?
>Maybe Annie was mad at him for something or another, and he felt like
>he was being made to apologize for everything, even those things he
>had no control over, including "the way things are in China." Or did
>I miss the real meaning altogether?
>
>--
>MG
>
C Reck
The first time I sent this post, I mistakenly hit the wrong reply button, so
I am reposting to the group, which is what I originally intended to do.
I got John's autograph at his book signing. He didn't have time to look up
or at each person as the books kept being shoved at him. He mumbled a thank
you to each person, but it was not at all the personal experience that you
think each fan should have had. Try doing that for a two hour stand. He also
obliged the people who wanted autographs but did not buy a copy of his book
for that purpose. Even at concerts, if he had a crowd of 50-100 people
crowding around, he would not have been able to give personal attention.
Now when I was able to meet him after a concert, he took the time to hear my
name and repeat it as he looked me in the eye and warmly shook my hand. He
posed for pictures with me and anyone else who wanted them, and he was most
gracious with everyone in the room (I know because I watched and listened,
as I was the last to meet him).
How many times did you meet him to have such firsthand knowledge of his
demeanor with fans?
creck
"Kennon Baird" <k...@dnai.com> wrote in message
news:388e64bf...@news3.dnai.com...
> That statement was another Denver faux pas.
>
> An autograph means that the celebrity took a little time to
> personally chat with a fan, and give them a memento of the occasion.
> If Denver thought it was a cold and impersonal thing to do, then maybe
> he had the wrong attitude about it.
>
Ks4040
but I always thought that line didin't belong in the song. In the Anthology
book that i have,John say's about "I'm Sorry" ... (I hope I don't make a lot
of mistakes in my typing) " I'm Sorry" lookks at women and an
aspect of their lives that was becoming more and more prevalant at the time the
song was written. I remember seeing the cover story in both Time and Newsweek
addressing the number of women who were leaving seemingly solid,committed
relationships,even marriages,to create new lives for themselves. They were
finding that they weren't happy, and that the things that were sapposed to be
the"be all and end all" of there lives were somehow not that-that,in fact,they
felt incomplete and unfullfilled. Suddenly,within the women's liberation
movement they begain to find the courage to say,"Well, maybe I don't have to be
stuck here, and I'm going to take a step for myself and take a different look,
and perhaps create a different life for myself." It was scary and dangerous
thinking for many of us,and I thought about what it must be like to be the man
in that situation,with or without children,when the womenreally wants to take a
break and get away to make her own life.Suddenly, he is forced to look at some
things that he didn't take seriously before. Now, in his pain,all of the things
that built up to this particular moment have a deeper meaning. Now, what else
can you say? This is what John had to say about this
song. C.
LiteofVega
>Now when I was able to meet him after a concert, he took the time to hear my
>name and repeat it as he looked me in the eye and warmly shook my hand.
To me, that means just as much, if not more, than an autograph would.
I've also heard that after playing guitar for a couple of hours, a person's
hands would be quite sore. That wouldn't make signing autographs a very wise
idea.
ASLTsmile
I think most of us here know this to be true even without having met him. It
always drove me nuts to read a critic belittle John for these feelings because
they thought it was insincere. They didn't have these deep feelings for things
outside their realm of knowledge, so it was apparently impossible for John to
have them. African Sunrise is a song that comes to mind here. I read one
critic who totally dismissed this song because he felt John couldn't possibly
know what it was like for these people. I guess he never heard of the word
empathy. I think John had a whole lot of empathy.
At least this is what I feel their outlook was. Quite a few people in the
music business (and show business in general) are very self-centered. I think
it was difficult for them to believe this guy cared this much about what he was
writing about. I think he may have proven them wrong in the end. Especially
since he practically threw his career away because he was too busy trying to
help others.
Just one of the reasons I respect and admire him so very much.
Peace,
Tricia
C Reck
"ASLTsmile" <aslt...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000124231031...@ng-fl1.aol.com...
. African Sunrise is a song that comes to mind here. I read one
> critic who totally dismissed this song because he felt John couldn't
possibly
> know what it was like for these people. I guess he never heard of the
word
> empathy. I think John had a whole lot of empathy.
When I read the story behind this song in his autobiography, it gave new
meaning to the words. He certainly did know what it was like for these
people since he stayed in the village with them and saw the death and
despair. I'd bet JD knew alot more about what it was like for those people
than that critic did.
Colleen
C Reck
"LiteofVega" <liteo...@aol.comSPAMFREE> wrote in message
news:20000124224752...@ng-fw1.aol.com...
>
> I've also heard that after playing guitar for a couple of hours, a
person's
> hands would be quite sore. That wouldn't make signing autographs a very
wise
> idea.
>
>
> Peace,
>
> Mary in Oklahoma
>
My hands ache just thinking of it.
Colleen
Kennon Baird
>How many times did you meet him to have such firsthand knowledge of his
>demeanor with fans?
I never implied that I had any first-hand knowledge of how he was with
fans. I was responding to Denver's own words: "I hate signing
autographs".
But I do have first-hand knowledge of a few other booksigning events,
and the organizers always put a limit on the number of people (they
cut the line off at a certain point).
One such event was with Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood, and the
line of people snaked through the bookstore and out onto the sidewalk.
Still, Ron was remarkably gracious, conversing with every person, and
often adding a quick little sketch or an appropriate line or two along
with his signature. He even heartily shook my hand. It didn't seem
to be a burden for him in the least.
Perhaps most importantly, when it was time to cut it off and leave,
that's what happened. Ron was outta there.
Maybe Denver just didn't know when to stop (a problem for him in other
areas also).
KB
C Reck
tour from hell), and he had to dash from one city to another. He probably
had little say in what the promoters wanted. The line was way out on the
sidewalk almost to the parking lot when I arrived. I don't know if he
stopped when the time was up, but I would consider that rude if there were
other people waiting in line for two hours to get a glimpse of the man and
get his signature. Unless the signer had a plane to catch for the next
stop, which can't be helped.
I would venture to say that few people actually *like* signing autographs
for large crowds, particularly for two hours at a time.
creck
"Kennon Baird" <k...@dnai.com> wrote in message
news:388da76...@news3.dnai.com...
C Reck
AIDS orphans in Africa? Eleven million orphans! When you think what that
continent has endured through the centuries, it's astounding. And yet what
can we do when the society there insists on having huge families without the
resources to properly care for them, in a land that is often inhospitable to
human life? I imagine JD felt a sense of futility watching all the death
around him.
Colleen
"Hiway" <hiway3...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:0c2b02cf...@usw-ex0102-015.remarq.com...
Kennon Baird
>I would venture to say that few people actually *like* signing autographs
>for large crowds, particularly for two hours at a time.
Tell you what: Put $100 million in my bank account, drive me to the
booksigning in a limo, sit me in a comfy chair, and I'll be goddamned
pleasant to those people.
KB
Christine Moon
"Johnny and the Sharks" pic, right? Everyone standing by a white wall with
a big dome to the left and a palm tree to the right, at sunset?
Maybe they thought we in the UK wouldn't know who everyone was!
Peace, in John's memory,
Christine
moon...@netcomuk.co.uk
"Friends of John Denver"
http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~moonstar/fojd.html
Ks4040 wrote in message <20000124160321...@ng-ba1.aol.com>...
C Reck
personal like a meeting with him. He had to shove a whole lot of autographs
into those two hours. $100 million??? You can't possibly think that JD made
that much on his little ole autobiography. If you make that much on yours,
good for you.news:388e0b0c...@news3.dnai.com...
Laura
argument.
I have a simple question..... this is a newsgroup about John Denver. WHY
would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
For the sole purpose of belittling a man who never harmed him? To
be known as someone who attacks people who can't defend himself?
To ridicule fans? To take comments out of context and use them to
make an invalid point? To make sure no one tries to Forgive & Forget?
C'mon.. John made mistakes. He fessed up to them. He tried his best,
and is a better person than the majority of humans. He did things to better
this world. He started Windstar, Plant-It 200, The Hunger Project.. he
wrote music that spoke to more people around the world than you can imagine.
He got drunk on the night of and the anniversary of his divorce. He did a
couple types of drugs in the 70's at the height of his career during a crazy
time
(oh no! NO ONE did drugs in the 70's!! particularly NOT music stars! Heaven
forbid!)
Does the bad outweigh the good?
Do you, Kennon, want to be judged in a system that is that judgemental?
Your life might not be able to stand such scrutiny either, maybe it can.
I don't know you. Not many of us could pass a test in which the bad
mistakes you made heavily outweigh the good.
But if it were found that you made stupid mistakes in your lifetime..and
the media wanted to make mincemeat out of you, would you have the courage,
moxie, schutzpah.. whatever you wanna call it.. to admit it on television?
I heard John apologize.. I heard him say he wished it hadn't happened,
that he didn't want to be associated with this and that he didn't want to
be REMEMBERED like that.
He also really sounded down in his book. He mentioned a bunch of
mistakes, and hardly mentioned the wonderful things he did accomplish.
And.... he was pleasant to those people he signed autographs for..
he simply wished he had more time to spend with each person,to make it
more personal than simply a piece of paper with his name on it.
Ain't that a rotten thing to want! How dare he!
He actually *stayed* past his time to sign more.. oh the jerk.. can you
imagine?
I just can't comprehend WHY someone comes here who doesn't like John..
is there nothing better to do with yourself? Something constructive?
Positive?
Tell me the name of a celebrity you admire.. I bet we can all go over to
that ng and really trash someone. But, no, we wouldn't, what a waste of
time,
effort, thought and energy. And so negative!
If you are trying to learn about him.. then learn. Don't take things out of
context and rip him apart for your misunderstanding.
Such negativity in what should be a place of peace.. and for what purpose..
the answer eludes me.
Thanks guys, for everyone that posts those positive thoughts, and
a big thanks to Otter and others, who posts things that we can do to keep
Johns work going.
I think more than anything, this is why I keep leaving here. I've been on
this ng since 96. When discussions revolved around funky shirts and bad
hair days
(anyone remember that?). I post so infrequently now that everyone thinks
I'm brand new
each time I post!!
I keep leaving because some come here to trash John, and after awhile, the
negativity hits a level that is too stressful. I leave rather than blow up
at someone.
Unfortunatlely, I find it hard to walk away from wanting to defend good
people, so
the stress comes from holding myself back, most of the time.
I keep coming back because most of us love him and I always hope we have
somehow managed to ban negativism. heh heh.. not likely, eh?
Kennon, this is not a personal attack.. you for the most part are benign..
you're there.. not dangerous. Sometimes you even crack me up.
Wish you would come around tho..... you seem like you'd be alright on the
right side.
And realize music is only part of John. It's the whole package ... and
unless you learn about the whole package, and truly try to comprehend
everything he stood for, you just won't ever "get it".
Hoping for Peace
Laura
(whose kids were not only BORN to JD Music.. all three were conceived to it
too! We're talking FANS here.) ;-)
BTW.. I love the line in Autograph that talks about "almost willing to lie
again, I swear that it just isn't so,
it just isn't me" I think he meant he wanted to lie sometimes.. 'nah,I'm
not John Denver'
and thats where the "We are never alone" line comes in.. it meant fans who
walked up to him and Annie
during private time. "Then I go and open my eyes again, love in your
eyes.." maybe meaning that
he realized he would never do that because he loves to see how much we all
love him. NO not to feed
an ego, but because he loved us back. He proved that by wanting to meet us
and say our names and touch us. An autograph just didn't cut it.. he wanted
it to be more personal than that.
I heard him say once that he had to laugh when someone asked him to
autograph a copy of "Autograph"
I think he felt that the person just didn't "get it"!
Ok.. I'm outta here this time!
EmmaLdy
Hi Tricia!
You found the words for what I was trying to say! And you said it better.
Thanks!
emma
>HI Emma,
>
>I think most of us here know this to be true even without having met him. It
>always drove me nuts to read a critic belittle John for these feelings
>because
>they thought it was insincere. They didn't have these deep feelings for
>things
>outside their realm of knowledge, so it was apparently impossible for John to
>have them. African Sunrise is a song that comes to mind here. I read one
>critic who totally dismissed this song because he felt John couldn't possibly
>know what it was like for these people. I guess he never heard of the word
>empathy. I think John had a whole lot of empathy.
>
Lil Hoov
>over. Funny thing about this song, I always thought that John wrote this.
>I
>was wrong!
>Autograph ", But I wonder about this song. I
>enjoy the music . But, the words get me confused.
The song:"YOU SAY THAT THE BATTLE IS OVER", WAS WRITTEN BY, DAVID B. MALLETT,
and this song received a GENESIS award in 1998, at the ceremony for John was
John's brother Ron, with Lyle Lovett, and David Mallett. I was so glad this
song got recognition for both the writer and the singer. In regards to the song
AUTOGRAPH. This is what John says about that in my old music book anthology;
AUTOGRAPH, I hate signing autographs. It is nothing more than a proof to
somebody that they saw me in person. I can't think of anything less meaningful.
What is meaningful is the music and how you feel about it- whether or not you
get from my music the love that I feel from you.This is my autograph, this is
what I want people to remember. Not my signature on a piece of paper, but this
music, these songs and these feelings. This is the best that I have to
give....JD. ( This album was from 1980,and this book from 1982. I tell you
this because in later years of John's career, John kind of changed his mind
about autographs to a point. He still mostly wanted the music to be his
autograph,(and it still is), but I heard him say when asked about someone
bothering him for an autograph one day in a restaurant, (quote)," I CONSIDER IT
AN ABSOLUTE HONOR THAT SOMEONE WOULD WANT MY AUTOGRAPH". If one of his fans
really wanted his signature, he would try to give it to them,John really loved
his fans,he just wanted everyone to try to understand the meanings behind the
songs, and that this is really his signature in the WORLD... Peace, Randy B.
Kennon Baird
>Do you, Kennon, want to be judged in a system that is that judgemental?
Huh?
>Your life might not be able to stand such scrutiny either, maybe it can.
>I don't know you. Not many of us could pass a test in which the bad
>mistakes you made heavily outweigh the good.
I have always served as a good example of a bad example. The
difference between Denver and me is that I've never tried to
perpetuate a phony PR image.
>But if it were found that you made stupid mistakes in your lifetime..and
>the media wanted to make mincemeat out of you, would you have the courage,
>moxie, schutzpah.. whatever you wanna call it.. to admit it on television?
Yeah. That's much better than the heavy denial that Denver exhibited
during his last DUI case.
>And.... he [Denver] was pleasant to those people he signed autographs for..
>he simply wished he had more time to spend with each person,to make it
>more personal than simply a piece of paper with his name on it.
But yet he publicly said, "I hate signing autographs". I know, I
know...Denver wasn't a hypocrite, he was just a "complex person".
KB
stanworth
question. I've made it into a nice simple multiple choice for you:
I have a simple question..... this is a newsgroup about John Denver. WHY
would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
A For the sole purpose of belittling a man who never harmed him?
B To be known as someone who attacks people who can't defend himself?
C To ridicule fans?
D To take comments out of context and use them to make an invalid point?
E To make sure no one tries to Forgive & Forget?
F Some other reason (explain)
Kennon Baird <k...@dnai.com> wrote in message
news:388ef0e1...@news3.dnai.com...
> "Laura" <Lo...@bewellnet.com> wrote:
>
> >Do you, Kennon, want to be judged in a system that is that judgemental?
>
> Huh?
>
> >Your life might not be able to stand such scrutiny either, maybe it can.
> >I don't know you. Not many of us could pass a test in which the bad
> >mistakes you made heavily outweigh the good.
>
> I have always served as a good example of a bad example. The
> difference between Denver and me is that I've never tried to
> perpetuate a phony PR image.
>
> >But if it were found that you made stupid mistakes in your lifetime..and
> >the media wanted to make mincemeat out of you, would you have the
courage,
> >moxie, schutzpah.. whatever you wanna call it.. to admit it on
television?
>
> Yeah. That's much better than the heavy denial that Denver exhibited
> during his last DUI case.
>
> >And.... he [Denver] was pleasant to those people he signed autographs
for..
> >he simply wished he had more time to spend with each person,to make it
> >more personal than simply a piece of paper with his name on it.
>
Taptotap
>question. I've made it into a nice simple multiple choice for you:
>
>I have a simple question..... this is a newsgroup about John Denver. WHY
>would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
>
>A For the sole purpose of belittling a man who never harmed him?
>B To be known as someone who attacks people who can't defend himself?
>C To ridicule fans?
>D To take comments out of context and use them to make an invalid point?
>E To make sure no one tries to Forgive & Forget?
>F Some other reason (explain)
G! All of the above! However, Kennon has been here for ages and he is an
aquired taste. Very good comic relief sometimes too. You won't get a straight
answer from KB as to why he's here.......he just can be like the rest of us.
Robin
Kennon Baird
>I have a simple question..... this is a newsgroup about John Denver. WHY
>would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
Look at it this way: It's more healthy for Denveroids to focus on
disliking me than it is for them to spend so much time weeping and
imagining mystical signs in the heavens. I help them to be more
outwardly-directed : )
KB
Bill
Well, I certainly don't dislike you, KB. I find you witty, ascerbic and
perspicacious. I even agree with much of what you post. Hell, I may even
*like* you. :-)
But, I remain curious as to why you've come to bless alt.fan.john-denver, in
particular, with your refreshing brand of insight and wisdom.
Bill
Kennon Baird <k...@dnai.com> wrote in message
news:388f1728...@news3.dnai.com...
> "stanworth" <stan...@email.msn.com> wrote:
>
> >I have a simple question..... this is a newsgroup about John Denver. WHY
> >would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
>
David Ladewig
tapt...@aol.com (Taptotap) wrote:
>
You won't get a straight
>answer from KB as to why he's here......
>
>Robin
>
He's David's Brother Kennon Baird Koresh. He wants to start a church. Now you
know.
David Ladewig
David Ladewig
k...@dnai.com (Kennon Baird) wrote:
. I help them
>KB
Our saviour
David Ladewig
Hiway
I was never a 'fan' of John's (didn't know him in that context), but I
*am* a 'fan' of KB's! He has a dry, sardonic sense of humor that (most
of the time) I truly enjoy, and appreciate.
Aside from the ironic humor, there are times when KB is more than a
little accurate in his assessments. Personally, I feel that to truly
appreciate JD as a man (rather than just the public 'entertainer'
persona), you need to see all facets of his personality. He had a
rather rough life, and it left some scars.
I don't much care as to why KB is here --- I'm just glad that he is!
Best,
Hiway (:
ASLTsmile
>>would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
>
>Look at it this way: It's more healthy for Denveroids to focus on
>disliking me than it is for them to spend so much time weeping and
>imagining mystical signs in the heavens. I help them to be more
>outwardly-directed : )
>
>KB
>
stopped weeping, (but will never forget) and never did look for mystical signs
still appreciate the comic relief. Plus, you are good for practicing my
debating skills. :)
Peace,
Tricia
Cat
recognize you from here and there. Most of us, I think, need a hiatus
now and then...but we end of coming back for whatever reasons we have.
I would like to very gently suggest to you the following: you should
know by now KB is a part of this family, although KB may not be
embraced by everyone on the ng; and it is an undisputed fact that KB
isn't going anywhere. KB enjoys being here.
For your own peace, you should not allow his writings to upset you so.
Pass over them if they make you uncomfortable. But, you know what? If
you do, you just might miss those few gems of his that will absolutely
make your day.
Sometimes I want to stand KB in the corner and take away all the
lollipops. I do not condone all that KB has to say, but I have learned
to accept the fact that KB is going to express those opinions
regardless of you, or me, or anyone else.
Cat
Laura
I really didn't mean that Kennon, personally, upset me.. I believe I even
said he amused me.
I just wondered why ANYONE would bother to be here if they don't like JD.
Hiway, you say you are not really a fan.. but you know what? You have
earned my respect by
being respectful.
I certainly didn't mean to imply that Kennon himself has me so stressed that
I walk out all the time.
I meant the overall tone of the whole thing... fighting about religion.. I
mean come on, good is good..
I don't care what you call yourself, if your souls good, it shows.
Again, I apologize to Kennon for singling him out.. that was an unfortunate
choice on my part.
He just got me thinking is all.
Years ago I learned to not skip KB's posts, because once in a while the boy
does throw out
a good one.
Sigh... should have hit delete instead of send. Sorry Kennon... no hard
feelings.
It was an honest question of curiousity with tinges of annoyance at the
whole thing.
May I suggest we start implementing a wooden spoon around here? You suggest
sending
him to the corner and I prefer the more physical aspect ;-)
Anytime someone ticks us off, instead of wasting time and energy arguing
against a belief you
probably won't change, or holding yourself back and stressing over it..
simply send a message
that states:
THWACK SMACK SPLAT
That way they know what you think of it, yet no way to argue against your
words.. (works in another ng I know of)
Sigh.. I've been up for 24 hours with sick kiddies.... getting silly..
Laura
Cat <Bitterblu...@my-deja.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:101a63d2...@usw-ex0107-050.remarq.com...
Christine Moon
was adamant that he would never sign another autograph. He said that he
felt he was prostituting himself (his word) by doing so. But I know he
signed autographs after that - in fact an Austrian acquaintance told me he
practically insisted on signing a tourbook for her just two months later!
Peace, in John's memory,
Christine
moon...@netcomuk.co.uk
"Friends of John Denver"
http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~moonstar/fojd.html
Lil Hoov wrote in message <20000125223911...@ng-cs1.aol.com>...
ASLTsmile
the heavens, or just what side of the bed he got out of on any particular day.
Humans!!! We are a confusing lot, aren't we. :)
Peace,
Tricia
Barbara Stevens
>
> >I have a simple question..... this is a newsgroup about John Denver. WHY
> >would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
Kennon serves a very important purpose here! He helps me make sure my
delete button works! LOL When he didn't post for awhile, my delete button
could have fallen off the computer and I might not have noticed it. Now,
with his daily postings, I am worried the button might WEAR OUT!!!!!! Barb
Barbara Stevens
man--a human like the rest of us, with our good days and our bad ones. He
just had a very special talent that reached out to those who were willing
and able to hear his message. Wish he was still with us!! Barbnews:20000126170311...@ng-cd1.aol.com...
Hiway
KB seems to be thick-skinned when it comes to remarks tossed his way -
also, he seems to be having way too much fun to hold a grudge - so I
wouldn't worry! (:
I should mention, that while I say that I wasn't a 'fan' of JD's, I did
(do) enjoy some of his music. "Eagles & Horses", in particular. I
always cared for him as a person, and had a tremendous amount of
respect for his unselfish devotion to environmental causes, etc.
By the way, I just might 'borrow' your 'THWAK etc.' method, should it
prove necessary!
Best,
Hiway
RichardH
from beating my head against the wall! LOL Thanks Laura, I know what you
mean.
~Richard
Laura wrote in message <388f5...@news.bewellnet.com>...
Basil72
>argument.
>I have a simple question..... this is a newsgroup about John Denver. WHY
>would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
(Snipped for brevity)
Laura, Mr. Denver was very much loved for his music. That's very evident here,
but this NG isn't only about Mr. Denver. I loved the man and his music (gawd,
how I miss him!), and there isn't a day when I don't lament his passing ...
Still, there's something so much deeper here. I don't know about you, but the
Christian message here has been so strong and so loving that, for the first
time in years, I keep a Bible by my bed ... and read a couple of chapters
before I drift off to sleep. It's a very comforting way to end a day, a
wonderful way to get back in touch with God .... and something Mr. Denver would
totally approve of.
Hugs,
Basil
GLHJD31
Greatest Hits and Finest Preformances." That was one of the reasons I bought
this
CD collection....
chamokar
Below I posted a question as to whether "Autograph" was on CD. I hadn't gotten a
chance to catch up on all the posts when I wrote it. I too love "Autograph". I
would say it is my favorite album.
Karen
ASLTsmile wrote:
> I, too, love the "Autograph" album. The Alaska trilogy is really wonderful.
> For some reason, this is one I don't listen to all that often, though I just
> listened to it not to long ago. I think it's because it's not on CD. Hint,
> hint to RCA. LOL
>
>
Kennon Baird
> I keep a Bible by my bed ... and read a couple of chapters
>before I drift off to sleep. It's a very comforting way to end a day...
I know what you mean. I turn on a local Jesus-talk radio station when
I'm ready to go to sleep. That way, I drift off to dreamland with a
delicious feeling of superiority, knowing that I'm not bound by the
silly superstitions that I hear being preached.
KB
KJ
do enjoy hearing what he has to say. Unlike some of the recent rantings by
others that like to stir up trouble ... ahem, you know who you are!
KJ
Kennon Baird <k...@dnai.com> wrote in message
news:388f1728...@news3.dnai.com...
> "stanworth" <stan...@email.msn.com> wrote:
>
> >I have a simple question..... this is a newsgroup about John Denver. WHY
> >would people who don't care for him, such as Kennon, come here?
>
Hiway
thought that he was also apologizing for things much closer to home -
meaning, in his personal life.
Flyushome
are in China." I just assumed he was trying to say everything's a mess and he
wishes he could do something about it, but he can't, whether it's here at home,
or on the other side of the earth. It would be interesting to hear other
people's inter-
pretation of these, and other, lyrics. Best to get away from some of the
recent topics.
Pat
Marion E Moore
mean than something or someone was in a very bad way. And that is how I
have always taken those words to mean in " I'm sorry. " He could have been
talking about the world in general AND what was happening in his private
life.
That's what I love about Johns lyrics. They can have so much more meaning
than it may first appear. Never tire of listening to him.
Marion
Christine Moon
Peace, in John's memory,
Christine
moon...@netcomuk.co.uk
"Friends of John Denver"
http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~moonstar/fojd.html
Hiway wrote in message <0437ffa8...@usw-ex0107-043.remarq.com>...
Flyushome
How often have you had to write your name? It's difficult, and almost
impossible if you need to have dexterity in your fingers to perform your trade.
Try not to be so stupid.
Pat
Slattery120
>Unlike some of the recent rantings by
>others that like to stir up trouble ... ahem, you know who you are!
>
Great, stir up more nonsense. Why can't you just ignore them. They will go
away without the attention.
Flyushome
signing autographs, his fingers would be too stiff to play the guitar that
evening.
Pat
Flyushome
posts like this one. Thanks.
Pat
Flyushome
wouldn't open it.
I feel it's a waste of time.
Pat
Flyushome
Memorial?
The headwaiter, or some such, asked for an autograph. JD was asked if it
wasn't an imposition to be pursued for autographs.
his response--"I consider it a privilege." There was something about it being
such a wonderful day, as well.
Pat
Flyushome
get how exhausting performing can be and when the performer is trying to relax
and eat dinner and people are pestering him/her for autographs, it can be
frustrat-
ing. It seems when he had the time and energy, JD was willing to sign
autographs.
Pat
Flyushome
Day of Prayer in the WAshington Cathedral? At the end, he brushes tears from
his eyes, is clearly deeply moved. If we felt only the things we experience
personally, no one would be able to express anything because ofttimes those who
experience horrors are unable to express them. That's why there are John
Denvers in the world.
Pat