I told NovySan a few weeks ago that I just didn’t think I got Nick Cave. I said, “I keep trying to like him, and I just haven’t gotten there yet.” I wasn’t sure what it was – it wasn’t the voice. I’ve always liked Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Lou Reed, Shane MacGowan, and the previously-mentioned Tod A of Firewater. Tom Waits took me awhile, too, though, so I kept trying, thinking “Sooner or later, I’m going to hear the song that breaks through to me.”
I heard it today. (And many thanks to Radio Paradise for playing it for me.)
Now, I’m aware (because I read the WikiPedia article) that “Where the Wild Roses Grow” was Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ most popular single back in 1995, which means it’s going to be one of his more “accessible” songs, and I’m sure Kylie’s lovely vocals helped too. Maybe that’s what I needed. But I’ve been browsing YouTube clips, and I can confirm it – something’s shifted. I get it now.
Of course, having said Tom Waits took me awhile, too, I went searching for a duet. I haven’t found one yet, but I did find this:
