I can't believe it's been 5 years already...

Five years ago today, the world lost one of it's most talented, diverse, and genius singer/songwriters. Mesothelioma took the life of the great Warren Zevon when he was just 56 years old. His song topics ran from war to love to gorillas stealing people's glasses, he could sing in more than 3 languages, his lyrics are sharply witty and so sarcastic, but he could also play the sweetest, most touching melodies. He could do rock, folk, country, a little celtic, he would add so many sounds to his music. No two of his songs ever sounded alike.

I wasn't a huge fan of Warren's until a little over a year ago, but "Werewolves Of London" has been one of my all-time favorite songs my whole life, and I remember watching VH1's documentary on him shortly before his death in 2003. I remember crying my eyes out when I heard that he had passed, even though he lasted almost a year longer than the three months his doctors gave him to live. In those last few months, he did the arguably most unselfish thing I've ever heard of: he resisted treatments so he could deliver a last album as a goodbye to all of his fans. I usually can't listen to that album, because the whole thing makes me bawl my eyes out, every single time, especially the last track: "Keep Me In Your Heart".

But I had to listen to it today, because I used my newly-acquired Windows Movie Maker to put together a tribute video in honor of the 5th anniversary of the passing of my idol, the one musician who can make me laugh and cry, think and learn, all with one song.


(this is my first video, so I would greatly appreciate some feedback, thanks!)

Warren was brilliant, a genius, there are really no other words for him. You cannot judge him on his one hit, which is pretty much one of his worst songs, comparing it lyrics- and music-wise to the rest of his song catalog. He has so many songs that could have been, should have been, successful. He is one of those people who truly deserved recognition. But he had one hell of a life. He is one person who couldn't say that he never enjoyed himself. He had fun while he was here, as his song goes "I'll sleep when I'm dead!"

Though he was, to steal another lyric, "too old to die young, and too young to die now", it's good that he's finally getting some well-deserved rest :D


Warren William Zevon
January 24, 1947 - September 7, 2003

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Now playing: Warren Zevon - Desperados Under the Eaves
via FoxyTunes

recent reads and other randomness

Hey :) Haven't updated in a while, because nothing has really gone on. The weather's been hot and nasty, though. Eww. I did some shopping yesterday, because Savers had a 50% off everything sale. I got a Billy Joel shirt (that brings my total of Billy shirts up to...25? hahaha), John Saul's most recent book, a Carl Hiaasen book, and a few other things I don't need.

Speaking of books, I've finished quite a few in the past week. The best/worst thing about working in a library is all of the books I find to read. I finished up the most recent in the Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison, they're quite funny.

I also finished Strip Tease and Basket Case, both by Carl Hiaasen. He's such an awesome author. His books are really funny but they totally suck you in! I discovered him through Warren Zevon, actually. They were close friends for years, and Hiaasen co-wrote some of Warren's songs, such as "Basket Case", which was used in the book as the biggest hit by the rock star character. I started out with Skinny Dip, the book dedicated to Warren after his death (he came up with the title). But I can't stop reading his books, they're addictive! I highly recommend anything by him.

Just today I finished Peter Abrahams's new novel Nerve Damage. Sooooo good. He was really nice when I met him earlier this month at the RILA conference, so I started reading his stuff and he's great. Stephen King (my second-favorite author) says Abrahams is his favorite American suspense novelist. So if King likes him, I had to check him out. And he really is an awesome writer. I'd recommend Nerve Damage to anyone like me who's a fan of King, Koontz, or Saul. Also check out Oblivion. I haven't finished it yet but I'm in the middle and it's pretty damn awesome!

Enough ranting about reading. I'm an immense nerd.

On the music side of things, I've been really into Everclear lately. I've always liked them but I got the urge to download more of their stuff and they're really awesome. Art Alexakis is gorgeous (I can't believe he's acting in a crappy Disney Channel show now). I think my favorite songs are still "AM Radio" and "Wonderful", but I'm really liking "Now That It's Over" and "Unemployed Boyfriend" too.

Off to update my GJ and LJ, so goodbye for now :)

<3 Eliza

Edit: I IMDB'd Art Alexakis and am relieved to find out that he was only in one episode of a crappy Disney Channel show, and it was a small part. But how weird is it that I happened to flip by the other day and he was on? Weirdness!

nothing matters much but love and money

Hey :) I'm listening to Warren Zevon, as usual. Right now it's the new collection of rare/unreleased recordings. So so good.

Also ripping Jackson Browne CDs to my computer. Much love <3 He really has a lot of better songs than "Running On Empty" and "The Pretender". Stuff like "For A Dancer", and "Looking East". He's so underrated, much like Warren was, but at least Jackson's had more commercial success than Warren ever did.

I'm so glad I invested in the 160gb hard drive a few months ago :) I have so much music on here, it's nuts. 16 hours of it is just Warren Zevon, and I have 160 hours of music total!

The weather sucked today :( I hate rain! I hope tomorrow is better!

Oh well, off to bed for now, I want to get some reading done.

<3 Eliza