[Music] John Grant - Dark Santa Claus

Folk music wasn’t my thing as it keeps me in sleepwalking mode all the time until the song showed up at the ending of film Weekend. This song called “ I wanna go to Marz “ by John Grant. Many self-issues, lack of self-confident, being self-doubt, have alcohol and drug addiction, and losing self in love make him such a fucking doozy musician.

Using humor as defense
One of my favorite song’s lyric from the first solo album released 2010, Queen Of Denmark, “I wanted to change the world, but I could not even change my underwear.” U have to admit it is hilarious but it is God damn right! Lyric is a language belongs to music, and unpretentious black humor lyric is John Grant’s specific one. “Using humor as defense", said John in the interview of FaceCulture. In lyrics, u can tell that how hard is he use sense of humor as defense to contend with his age, his ex lover, his past and his gay life surrounded by homophobia people. Let's name a few, Sensitive New Age Guy, You Don't Have To, and Glacier. There are other interesting songs from second solo album” Pale Green Ghosts” as well, for instance, GMF(greatest motherfucker), Black Belt (FYI, it was used as track on HBO series “Looking” ).


John Grant, an American singer-songwriter lives in Iceland, beard, chubby, with eyes can see u through easily, with voice can warm u up in the chilly field. His voice, oh his voice, glamour but tarnishable, bluer but sweet, impressed people who has experienced terrible things. Making things little brighter for somebody even just for a moment is his aspiration during his musical journey, as well, is the most significant idea that John want to give to his audience. Sinéad O'Connor said John’s music made safe for a many man could go to emotional place where still feel safe not worry about masculinity. To wit, we can hide ourselves or be whatever u want to be in his musical forest.

To me, he is a more of a philosopher .

Life is a drama, but his is too dramatic to believe.
The reason why I call him “Dark Santa Claus” is not only his santa-claus-beard looking but also his life as well, his dark and unbelievable life. U can’t believe that a man went trough such insane drama which can win the Oscar’s best feature film still sing lovely songs to us instead of going to bughouse. According to theguardian.com, at 20, he suffered such severe panic attacks which developed into agoraphobia during his day studied in German. After getting rid of panic attacks, John had a deeply crush on alcohol ,sex and drug at his 30.(I just dunno know why so many genius artist , actor, actress, musician ...etc are all in common on these three issues.)

We all know that age’s clock doesn’t stop till u sleep in the coffin. 40’s Tick Tock made John sober up from ridiculous days and start to chase his music dream. Liberating from the past struggles and pessimistic attitude of life, John turns himself  into a brand new, positive John Grant. However, God loves to make horrible jokes on talented people, or maybe God loves him so much that want to help him push to the positive side. But God, I think u push him too harder, u gave him “HIV-positive” instead of giving him positive life. How could u did that to a santa-claus-beard looking man! Not fair. 
 
There is a strong connection between the song and composer . The song reflects the song-writer’s personality, story and deeply inside. Now u can truly realize where his unpretentious sense of black humor comes from.

To me, he is more of a life warrior.

If I think about it, I am successful, as it were.

I get to sing for lovely people all over this lovely world.

                                                                                                                   It Doesn't Matter To Him

Trust me, John, U are already did it.(Although I knew that u don’t give a shit about what other people think of you, u have to know u made it.)

In the interview , u can see how candid John is to the interviewer and himself. Honest is a courage , and I wish I could be brave as you are, dear John. 

Photo from:

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/nov/29/john-grant-reykjavik-iceland

#johngrant #music