"Will you take me across the channel,
London Bridge is falling down
Strange a woman tries to save
What a man will try to drown
And he’s the rain that they predicted,
It’s the forecast every time
The rose has died because you picked it
I believe that brandy’s mine
And all over the world
Strangers
Talk only about the weather
All over the world
It’s the same"
- Lyrics to Strange Weather, written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, 1987.
***
"I know I'm not young and I'm damaged," she wrote defiantly. "But I'm still pretty kind of funny."
- Marianne Faithfull, ironic till the very end. In youth, irony is an art... In old age it's a necessity. This quote was sourced from the BBC's comprehensive tribute.
I'm sad to report that Marianne Faithfull slipped away from us on January 31 of this year. Weirdly, I didn't find the news till yesterday, although I can't understand how I managed to miss it. (Trump Derangement Syndrome cannot be ruled out.)
It seems like I had just blogged about her recently. So, the news hit hard. Marianne was a special woman; sort of a triple goddess figure: a charming, gracious lady, a bawdy broad, and, lastly, an enchanted little match girl. But, for those of us who more or less grew up with her, she was an invincible survivor. Throughout all of her trials and tribulations she remained strong, maintaining her dignity and a sense of humor. Oh, and she remained an unapologetic smoker, an outstanding feat of resilience these days.
As a performer she was unique; she had at least 3 incarnations. Marianne #1 had the clear-bell voice of an angel. Marianne #2 sang like a wildcat on the prowl. Marianne #3 was the world-weary chanteuse. She could've glammed it up with feathers and furs, but, she never needed to. She was the real deal.
And, we'll miss her.
(The lovely photo - inset right above - was taken by Bruce Weber in 1996 and can be found on her website, along with many other great shots.)
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