Jandek plays a very strange and frequently atonal form of folk and blues music, often using an open and unconventional chord structure. Jandek's music is unique, but his lyrics closely mirror the country blues and folk traditions of Eastern Texas.
Barely a handful of people claim to have contacted Jandek, whose steadfastness in anonymity is legendary. Without any conventional attempts at promotion, he releases albums through his own record label Corwood Industries, which is addressed at a Houston post office box. Fans can write to Corwood for a typewritten catalogue and order Jandek’s albums, usually at inexpensive prices. Jandek’s work has been available on vinyl and on compact discs. Many of his albums feature pictures of the same young man (seen above) at various ages; in light of Jandek's live performances it is almost entirely certain that the person featured on the album covers is Jandek himself.
Jandek’s first album, Ready for the House (1978), was first accredited to a band called “The Units” but it was obviously a solo work. Jandek presumably plays acoustic guitar and has recorded much of his work apparently unaccompanied (assuming that the person singing is also the person playing guitar). However many other songs feature female vocals and/or different male vocalists. Others feature bass guitar, electric guitar and/or drums, presumably played by collaborators. No proper credits list has ever appeared on an album, but song titles have included "Nancy Sings" and "John Plays Drums".
Some of Jandek’s allure stems from his small but devoted fan base which has included Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore, Kurt Cobain, Indian Jewelry, and K Records founder Calvin Johnson.
The mystery of Jandek's identity was partially resolved in October 2004 when Jandek performed live in Scotland, at the Instal 04 music festival in Glasgow. This was Jandek's first known live appearance and performed with Richard Youngs (bass) and Alex Neilson (drums). The man on stage was obviously the same man who appears on the album covers. Corwood stipulated that the performance was not publicized in advance. Since then, "The Representative of Corwood Industries" (as Jandek sometimes insists on being called) has played a lot of concerts and recorded all of them for future releases. The last years have seen an even higher release frequency, even for Jandek.
For more information, you may go here:
www.tisue.net/jandek
www.jandekoncorwood.com
Birthday
Jandek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shaking the rain in a quiet place
Shining clean a fresh new day
Wakes up the world in a fragrant bouquet
Listen to the sound of a constant fall
Skies give water for life of all
If you reach into the air
Rain will come to kiss your hair
The lyrics in Jandek's song "Birthday" are about the power and beauty of nature. The first stanza describes a moment of rain falling, which is very gentle and peaceful. The singer of the song is observing this moment with awe and contentment. He or she marvels at the way the fresh rain cleans and purifies everything in its path. The second stanza draws attention to the importance of rain for all living things. It suggests that the world wakes up and becomes more vibrant and alive after a rainfall. Finally, the last line is a romantic one, implying that the rain is something to be cherished and appreciated as it touches the hair in a soft and delicate way.
Overall, the song speaks about the renewal and rejuvenation that rainfall brings. It is also a reminder to appreciate the beauty in the world around us, even in the most simple and mundane moments.
Line by Line Meaning
A dozen drops fall from your face
Tears roll down your cheeks
Shaking the rain in a quiet place
You stand still in the rain
Shining clean a fresh new day
The new day looks bright and promising
Wakes up the world in a fragrant bouquet
The world comes alive with delightful scents
Listen to the sound of a constant fall
The sound of rain is comforting and soothing
Skies give water for life of all
The rain is essential for life on earth
If you reach into the air
If you stretch your arms
Rain will come to kiss your hair
Raindrops will fall on your head
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES MAURINIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gitgo567
Beautiful Song