Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Haunting, tragic, forgotten song: "Ballad of Gale," by Savage Rose
Savage Rose was a Danish rock band of the late 1960s and 1970s. In my opinion, they were far superior to most American rockers of that period.
On "Ballad of Gale," their phenomenal lead singer, Annisette, carries us into into a realm of cruelty and despair. I found it deeply unsettling when I first heard it and still do today.
"The only one she needed was YOU!"
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A few years ago, I was in Copenhagen and astonished to see Anisette's picture *everywhere* on posters announcing a live show. It said she'd won something like 12 Grammys, which seemed odd, since I couldn't remember one. But I was hanging out with a veteran Danish music biz person of the punk persuasion, who told me that although she was too young to remember Savage Rose, Anisette was a ubiquitous figure on television, did loads of cabaret, had had a tabloid-covered battle with cancer and recovery, angst with her teenage daughter...oh, and that Danish Grammys weren't really Grammys. My friend was amazed that this square old dame had any cred with old hippie me, but I assured her that her old band was actually very good.
ReplyDeleteGive me Anisette over Janis Joplin any day, although I think Janis was great as well.
ReplyDeleteAnisette and Savage Rose have come up in conversations during my recent visits to Denmark.