I LOVED this book. And appreciated the parts of the book that focused on his happier youth. The last part of the book was incredibly heartbreaking. I work in a State Hospital and feel like hating if he had the resources and proper medication and therapy, he would still be with us. His music lives on and I listen to him every day.💖💖
Great review and, for me, the right conclusion....the mystery is still there despite these books which attempt to explain Nick and his art. I don't want it explained and really, I feel less is more. However, the real key to understanding Nick's artistry is, in my opinion, the work of his mother, Molly. Molly is the real key to Nick's artistry: even the self-deprecating humour, 'Poor Mum', 'Poor Boy.' You can hear Nick's voice and sense the shared fragility and turbulence in Molly's songs such as 'Happiness' and 'How Wild The Wind Blows.' There is a shared reliance on poetic imagery drawn from the natural world too. I have read somewhere, I forget where, that Rodney provided Molly with much-needed security and that he was invariably supportive of both her and Nick. I think the difference is that Nick didn't have any support systems in place; this is what I find baffling: how a talented, good-looking and charismatic man was unable or unwilling to share his life with people who might have helped to provide him with some sort of resilience.
I think it was Muff Winwood, Stevie's brother, who was responsible for promoting Nick and getting him interviews and TV appearances. He basically said that he lost count how many times he'd missed TV and radio appearances simply because he wouldn't wake up on time or he'd go around to his flat in Haverstock Hill, look through the window and he'd see Nick just staring at the wall. When he was starting to get depressed and withdrawn, a few of Nick's aquaintances just thought it was the process of making another record and was normal for Nick for being a genius which came with the territory of being a singersongwriter. Wonder how he would fare today with the internet and bedroom technology if he was starting out?
100% agree. The moment I heard Molly's music for the first time I was struck dumb. Suddenly EVERYTHING was clear: Nick was was almost a modern-day version of his mother, resplendent in her gift of music but carrying a heavy, troubled soul.
Nick was a mirror reflecting the illness of the world. To say Nick failed in music is to ignore the failure of the world. Nick didn't fail; the world failed Nick.
An excellent review, I agree with your points. And your ending note about how his mystery and music will live on is certainly true. Cheers.
I LOVED this book.
And appreciated the parts of the book that focused on his happier youth.
The last part of the book was incredibly heartbreaking.
I work in a State Hospital and feel like hating if he had the resources and proper medication and therapy, he would still be with us.
His music lives on and I listen to him every day.💖💖
Great review and, for me, the right conclusion....the mystery is still there despite these books which attempt to explain Nick and his art. I don't want it explained and really, I feel less is more. However, the real key to understanding Nick's artistry is, in my opinion, the work of his mother, Molly. Molly is the real key to Nick's artistry: even the self-deprecating humour, 'Poor Mum', 'Poor Boy.' You can hear Nick's voice and sense the shared fragility and turbulence in Molly's songs such as 'Happiness' and 'How Wild The Wind Blows.' There is a shared reliance on poetic imagery drawn from the natural world too. I have read somewhere, I forget where, that Rodney provided Molly with much-needed security and that he was invariably supportive of both her and Nick. I think the difference is that Nick didn't have any support systems in place; this is what I find baffling: how a talented, good-looking and charismatic man was unable or unwilling to share his life with people who might have helped to provide him with some sort of resilience.
I think it was Muff Winwood, Stevie's brother, who was responsible for promoting Nick and getting him interviews and TV appearances. He basically said that he lost count how many times he'd missed TV and radio appearances simply because he wouldn't wake up on time or he'd go around to his flat in Haverstock Hill, look through the window and he'd see Nick just staring at the wall. When he was starting to get depressed and withdrawn, a few of Nick's aquaintances just thought it was the process of making another record and was normal for Nick for being a genius which came with the territory of being a singersongwriter. Wonder how he would fare today with the internet and bedroom technology if he was starting out?
100% agree. The moment I heard Molly's music for the first time I was struck dumb. Suddenly EVERYTHING was clear: Nick was was almost a modern-day version of his mother, resplendent in her gift of music but carrying a heavy, troubled soul.
I discovered Nick about 12 years ago. A time goes by his songs become ever more profound . He was a true poet.
Nick was a mirror reflecting the illness of the world. To say Nick failed in music is to ignore the failure of the world. Nick didn't fail; the world failed Nick.
Genius and the world go together like oil and water.
If you want to know about an artist go to the work because that'll tell you far more than an any biography.
Boring