Jan 18, 2022·edited Jan 19, 2022Liked by Mary L Trump
Mary, I'm so glad I subscribed to your substack. I expected the political and psychological insights, but the musical memories were a great surprise. So much of my favorite stuff! I, too, memorized all the lyrics to the songs on Big Science and wore out Tori Amos's Little Earthquakes. Makes me wonder if you're INFP, too--and then I try to imagine what it must have been like to grow up as a sensitive person with Donald Trump as an uncle. I can't even. Thanks for having the courage to lift your voice.
I'm INFP. My mother tried to get it changed it to ENFP! My entire childhood she talked about how I loved gatherings, dances, friends, etc. when I really spent as much time as I could in Marblehead Harbor or reading books in the top of a white pine.
Mary, it's so fitting that you were the one in your family to bring your uncle's pathology out into the light. INFPs don't take kindly to violation of our core principles! Maureen, my mother said "introvert" as if it were a dirty word. When I calmly explained I was introverted, she exclaimed indignantly, "You are not!" As if I'd insulted myself. 😂
When I was a child, my parents tried and believed that if I was "exposed" to socializing that I would "understand" socializing and be more extroverted, which did not happen. In college, I took a "Personal Selling" class that taught me better communication skills. I am still an Introvert, which has helped me during Covid.
Caroline, I think the hardest thing for us introverted people is that we have to work at skills that come so naturally to others. Back when I still used to go to parties, I would always find one person to have an in-depth conversation with, preferably by the food table. :) But yep, my "I"-ness has made it a lot easier to weather COVID. I already was working at home, so my day-to-day life didn't change much. This winter I do very much miss going out for lunches and coffee with friends. Thanks to the selfish people, the rest of us have to be that much more careful.
I wore out Little Earthquakes too. If memory serves me, she was from the DC area—I remember her playing at Blues Alley in Georgetown but I never found anyone to go with me, so I missed out! I wish I was brave then as I am now! I would’ve gone alone!
I hear Laurie Anderson in my head whenever I’m in a plane taking off…thanks for bringing much of this back to me and a reminder I need to dive into her music again.
I am an '80s and '90s kid who is learning about many different artists. I grew up on Madonna and hard rock music like Metallica and Bon Jovi. Thank you, Mary, for opening my ears and eyes to different musical artists.
I love Oh Superman, Walking and Falling, Born, Never Asked, and Example #22 but the criterion for Twofer Tuesday is that these are songs I’d listen to anytime under any circumstances.
you know (you) could write a book and this book would be thick enough to stun an ox.
So many of Laurie Anderson's lyrics live rent free in my head and have for decades. I'm glad now looking back that I saw the Strange Angels tour in 1990. Thanks for helping me figure out what to listen to today.
Hi Mary and greetings from Boston! I must tell you: I LIVED with the album Mister Heartbreak for quite a while, and still give it a listen periodically. In addition to its sleek yet adventurous production and its sly, witty lyrics (and Anderson’s half-spoken, half-sung delivery), it also holds a special place in my musical affections because Phoebe Snow contributes backing vocals on ‘Kokoku’…and I’m a Phoebe Snow super-fan. Thanks so much for shining light during these dark times… @cdmatthewmurphy
I love your musical selections. We used O Superman as our answering machine message back in the day. I felt so cool going to see her at the Roxy when I was a teenager ❤️
Nice! I only saw her live once when she was workshopping Songs and Stories from Moby Dick in 1999 (I think). Lou Reed was sitting a couple of seats down from me.
Great song list, Mary. I first learned about her from "O, Superman", and the repetitive chords and spareness recalled Philip Glass. Married to Lou Reed for a long time, too.
Smoke Rings was awesome! It reminded me a little of the Talking Heads and some of David Byrne’s inventive solo music, in the late 80s and early 90s. The lyrics were incredible on all of them! It even had some similarity to David Bowie’s music around that time. Seemingly a very experimental, avant-garde period of music. You’ve made me see Laurie Anderson’s music in a new light—I wasn’t much of a fan then, but I’m going to download the albums and listen to the music fresh after 35 years.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Laurie Anderson from going to all her concert especially the 2 night event of United States 1-v that took place in Washington DC on 1983 (I think) meeting her and asking her to come to a picnic only if she was available ( she wasn’t) but followed her career up until now. 🙏❤️
Mary, I'm so glad I subscribed to your substack. I expected the political and psychological insights, but the musical memories were a great surprise. So much of my favorite stuff! I, too, memorized all the lyrics to the songs on Big Science and wore out Tori Amos's Little Earthquakes. Makes me wonder if you're INFP, too--and then I try to imagine what it must have been like to grow up as a sensitive person with Donald Trump as an uncle. I can't even. Thanks for having the courage to lift your voice.
I never took Meyers-Briggs but I’m pretty sure I’m INFP. Certainly didn’t make things easier as a kid in that family. 😂
I'm INFP. My mother tried to get it changed it to ENFP! My entire childhood she talked about how I loved gatherings, dances, friends, etc. when I really spent as much time as I could in Marblehead Harbor or reading books in the top of a white pine.
Mary, it's so fitting that you were the one in your family to bring your uncle's pathology out into the light. INFPs don't take kindly to violation of our core principles! Maureen, my mother said "introvert" as if it were a dirty word. When I calmly explained I was introverted, she exclaimed indignantly, "You are not!" As if I'd insulted myself. 😂
When I was a child, my parents tried and believed that if I was "exposed" to socializing that I would "understand" socializing and be more extroverted, which did not happen. In college, I took a "Personal Selling" class that taught me better communication skills. I am still an Introvert, which has helped me during Covid.
Caroline, I think the hardest thing for us introverted people is that we have to work at skills that come so naturally to others. Back when I still used to go to parties, I would always find one person to have an in-depth conversation with, preferably by the food table. :) But yep, my "I"-ness has made it a lot easier to weather COVID. I already was working at home, so my day-to-day life didn't change much. This winter I do very much miss going out for lunches and coffee with friends. Thanks to the selfish people, the rest of us have to be that much more careful.
I am an INTJ.
I wore out Little Earthquakes too. If memory serves me, she was from the DC area—I remember her playing at Blues Alley in Georgetown but I never found anyone to go with me, so I missed out! I wish I was brave then as I am now! I would’ve gone alone!
I hear Laurie Anderson in my head whenever I’m in a plane taking off…thanks for bringing much of this back to me and a reminder I need to dive into her music again.
And thanks for being a sane voice-it matters.
She is quotable in almost any context.
I am an '80s and '90s kid who is learning about many different artists. I grew up on Madonna and hard rock music like Metallica and Bon Jovi. Thank you, Mary, for opening my ears and eyes to different musical artists.
You are welcome.
What is the meaning of, "All the girls in town were named Betty"?
I discovered it is a lyric in Laurie Anderson's song, "Smoke Rings". My favorite from your list is, "Ramon".
🎉💃
. . . . Huh! Well, I see emojis don't show up too brilliantly, but you and Laurie Anderson ARE brillinat.
No Oh Superman?
I love Oh Superman, Walking and Falling, Born, Never Asked, and Example #22 but the criterion for Twofer Tuesday is that these are songs I’d listen to anytime under any circumstances.
you know (you) could write a book and this book would be thick enough to stun an ox.
So many of Laurie Anderson's lyrics live rent free in my head and have for decades. I'm glad now looking back that I saw the Strange Angels tour in 1990. Thanks for helping me figure out what to listen to today.
They can live-rent free in my head forever.
Hi Mary and greetings from Boston! I must tell you: I LIVED with the album Mister Heartbreak for quite a while, and still give it a listen periodically. In addition to its sleek yet adventurous production and its sly, witty lyrics (and Anderson’s half-spoken, half-sung delivery), it also holds a special place in my musical affections because Phoebe Snow contributes backing vocals on ‘Kokoku’…and I’m a Phoebe Snow super-fan. Thanks so much for shining light during these dark times… @cdmatthewmurphy
I love Mister Heartbreak.
I love your musical selections. We used O Superman as our answering machine message back in the day. I felt so cool going to see her at the Roxy when I was a teenager ❤️
Nice! I only saw her live once when she was workshopping Songs and Stories from Moby Dick in 1999 (I think). Lou Reed was sitting a couple of seats down from me.
Great song list, Mary. I first learned about her from "O, Superman", and the repetitive chords and spareness recalled Philip Glass. Married to Lou Reed for a long time, too.
I agree so much with what Jody Frank
( below) expressed about your sharing your musical memories!
I too, memorized Laurie's lyrics, and was so blown away by all the little nuances she would have in her vocals and music.
Thank you again Mary!💜
Wonderful!
Ahh, such memories.
Smoke Rings was awesome! It reminded me a little of the Talking Heads and some of David Byrne’s inventive solo music, in the late 80s and early 90s. The lyrics were incredible on all of them! It even had some similarity to David Bowie’s music around that time. Seemingly a very experimental, avant-garde period of music. You’ve made me see Laurie Anderson’s music in a new light—I wasn’t much of a fan then, but I’m going to download the albums and listen to the music fresh after 35 years.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for this music!
I’ve been a longtime fan of Laurie Anderson from going to all her concert especially the 2 night event of United States 1-v that took place in Washington DC on 1983 (I think) meeting her and asking her to come to a picnic only if she was available ( she wasn’t) but followed her career up until now. 🙏❤️
Thanks so much Mary, went right to Amazon and ordered some MP3's