Celebration - "Evergreen"

Let me get a ginger ale first, then I can write this. Yes. Celebration set the pace for this triptych with the first lesson that all songs called "Evergreen" must be the artist's attempt at putting to music the essence of the title. That why there's chimes, that's why the vocals are soft like live warm fur (fir). The beat is like sustained movement, like one of those spinning ballerinas, arms outstretched, but head looking up, as if to snow or night clouds. I still don't associate this voice with a woman. It still sounds like an animal, or like if a cd player could physically come alive and sing, like that. This song is truly like tall swaying trees, like tall swaying tubes of glitter lipstick, writing out the stars with their soft tops rubbing the ceiling of the world. [Buy]

Fiery Furnaces - "Evergreen"

A drug-addicted tree drives drunk and cries. Having found nothing for her in the forest, she wanders the earth, making money here and there, selling honey, working odd jobs, basking in the seasons. Always slightly out of place but always keeping it together with the help of her drug, "helps me stay sharp, and keen, ever green." I always think of an emerald felt fuzziness when I hear this song, you can touch it just as much as you can see it, hear it. [Buy]

Barbara Streisand - "Evergreen"

If I awoke in a pancake commercial, if I were raised on soft focus and eye lights, if my clothes were painted on for easy's sake, and if gliding were the same as walking, I might begin to understand the power of this song. Because right now I do not understand it. It's emotional language feels ancient and outdated, a crumbling smile, but it's possibly highly advanced, I have no way of knowing. Instead I'll let it stand beside me, hold my hand, pet my hair, as I stare, wary and wide-eyed, out at you. [Buy]

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My friend Dan Popa has made a truly gorgeous little music video, and one that is purely made for the internet and is best experienced there, it wouldn't work anywhere else. Please go watch.