The best of the bunch

Carly,
As you look back over the people in your life that you have most respected and looked up to, or been closest to, what personality traits and characteristics have you admired most in those people? Thanks,
John - Greenville, S.C.

I used to admire wit and personality most. I was attracted by those things without paying attention to the more enduring and (to me then, boring) qualities that I now so respect and demand in fact: loyalty, honesty and integrity. Personality, I can buy in books. There seems to me to be too great an emphasis on 'show'. I want character. And on top of that, good conversation can't hurt. Love Carly - 7/18/02

Carly on Broadway

Dear Carly,
My boyfriend and I completely adore (nearly worship) you! We have been purchasing your cd's as we come across them. As such, we don't get much of a selection in Oklahoma. But, of the cd's we do own, we imagine this great big Carly Broadway musical incorporating your music (your songs seem to create this unique picturesque world of love, loss, and playful snubbing).

We were wondering if you had any plans of creating this "musical" with your vast wealth of recordings? If not, that's okay; we will continue to do our part in imagining this elaborate "Spectacular World of Carly!" the Musical. Aaron - Norman, OK

Thanks Aaron, I have thought of a musical at different times in my life. Someone even wrote a treatment for one. Recently I have been thinking about it again. Funny you should mention it.

The songs on "The Bedroom Tapes" are quite scenic and almost all about NY. That would be a nice theme (until I heard Billy Joel is doing that). Oh well, there's more than one New York on Broadway. Love Carly - 7/15/02

Legends In The Bathroom

Hello Carly!!!

I'm curious! Did you ever meet Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, or Jimi Hendrix? If so, what were your impressions of these legends? (And by the way, I have this wish to hear you one day sing 'Riders on the Storm' in your own gorgeous style. Now THAT would be sheer MAGIC!!!) Thanks, Carly!!! John Howton - Atlanta, GA

Yes, I met them all. All at Electric Lady Land in the bathroom. Waiting patiently for a stall I could call my own. I can't say that by the time they emerged (on different days) they were in the mood to remember me, but I do remember them and the fine and exultant way musicians dressed in those days. This was in 1970, so things were looser and more flamboyant and more dangerous.

"Riders on the Storm". What an interesting idea. I think the original was so atmospheric that I couldn't have 'another' storm. They sound so alike, that thunder thing.

I had dinner with Jac Holzman, president of Elektra, the night that Morrison died. He was so broken by it. We ate at a Japanese restaurant on 48th street. He cried. Love Carly - 7/13/02

At the end of Attitude Dancing

Dear Carly,

Another Playing Possum question. I’ve been wondering, what WAS Carole King singing at the end of “Attitude Dancing?”

The background vocals at the very end sound like she slipped into a foreign language or something. How did she end up singing for you? I sing in the car with you, well, maybe one can call it singing! Thank you for so much beautiful music! Love, S. Jordan - Austin, Texas

Believe it or not, I can't quite remember the translation of what Carole and Abigail sang. I think I'll have to look at the lyrics and see if I can make them out. To my recollection, I think it was things like "strike a pose" in Spanish. Any old thing that can be done with an attitude, but I don't remember now which verbs we chose. Imagine that. forgetting. Love Carly - 7/11/02
PS Carole has always been a friend. Thank God.

Can Music Be Political?

Dear Carly,

I am a great fan of your voice and your music (especially the wonderful "Let The River Run", which often made me go on, when I thought I couldn't go on anymore!)...

My question: I am currently working on a thesis paper (and later a dissertation) about the combination of pacifism and art - would you say that music can be political? Have you ever done a protest song? What do you think about this combination? Thank you and best greetings from the mountains in Austria, Markus

I could say that all my songs are political, but they are primarily the politics of emotion. World politics, city politics, community politics are not my forte. I also think they're better left to the kind of voice that conveys that sentiment better. You do what you're best at.

It's not that I am at all opposed to those songs and certainly Dylan has done it just about as well as it can be done. Political (the social kind) songs can also be spiritually uplifting or enlightening songs, are more my cup of tea. Let the River Run is kind of a political song but you can see where it merges into the Spiritual. Best to you. Love Carly - 7/6/02

Hotcakes

Dear Carly - Your song "Hotcakes" is known fondly as the "Pancake Song" by all the little people (the toddler set) in my life. Were you cooking up a batch while writing this delightful song?!!! ..... now flip it!!!!! Hope this finds you well. Meg M. Manion - Newburyport, MA

Dear Meg,
Actually it was James who wrote the lyrics to that song. It was written to satisfy a need to justify the title "Hotcakes" which James also thought up. Sometimes the title of an album comes first, followed by the 'justification song'. Best, love, Carly 7/3/02