John Kyle

Music Artist - Psych Folk / Alternative Rock

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dan wilson – a song can be about anything

April 3, 2014

Dan Wilson

I love Dan Wilson’s songs.

“Who’s that?” Why, he’s one of my generation’s greatest songwriters. “Really, never heard of him.” Well, I don’t blame you. Neither had I until recently. However, when I listened to his music and lyrics and became aware of his contribution to popular music, I realized Dan Wilson deserves to be well-known and acclaimed not only by music industry insiders.

Dan was in a band called Trip Shakespeare in the 1980s and then the power trio Semisonic in the 1990s. “Who’s that?” Well, I still don’t blame you. Both bands were doomed by shifting commercial music trends. Trip Shakespeare was making the scene in the late 1980s. Very poetic, poppy and, well, trippy – as per the neo-psychedelic alternative rock of that time (e.g. Rain Parade, The Church). When Nirvana’s punk/grunge rage exploded onto the music scene in 1991, Trip Shakespeare and other arty, cheerful bands were vaporized.

You probably don’t know who Semisonic is either, but I know with 99% certainty you are familiar with their music. Ever hear a little ditty called “Closing Time“? Well, if you haven’t, everyone else who was around in 1998 has, over and over. It was a massive chart-topping hit. Unfortunately for Semisonic, their record label didn’t know what to do with them as the music industry and MTV were enticing consumers with the harder, angrier rap-rock sound of bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit. Semisonic had more great songs, but without support from the record label they didn’t get much airplay, and the band was eventually dropped.

But that’s not the end of the story.

Dan Wilson is an utterly brilliant songwriter. Besides the aforementioned number one smash hit (for which he was nominated for a Grammy in 1999), Dan has co-written number one hits for Adele and Dierks Bentley. He’s won Grammy Awards, in 2012 for Adele’s “Someone Like You” (which he not only co-wrote, but also produced and played the piano part), and in 2007 for  the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready to Make Nice”.  He’s co-written numerous songs for artists including  Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Carole King, Jason Mraz,  Pink, and Weezer, to name a few.

Even so, I’ll wager you’ve never heard of Dan Wilson, and that’s why I wrote this. Now you have.

I discovered Dan (and rediscovered Semisonic) thanks to the book So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star: How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful Of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer’s Life by Semisonic drummer Jacob Slichter. An incredibly entertaining book, it tells the story of the rise and fall of Semisonic from the sensitive drummer’s journals. The book is a primer on the music industry and is a must-read for aspiring music artists.

It also exposes what an exceptional human being Dan Wilson is.  He comes off as kind, thoughtful, and generous, with no evidence of ego. Not what you’d expect from a rock star.  I was surprised to learn that “Closing Time“, which was written off by many (including me) as a dumb drinking and hook-up anthem with a dash of dime-store philosophy, was actually written by Dan about childbirth and becoming a father. He’s one of those songwriters who has the ability to smuggle deep, personal meaning inside an apparently meaningless (but very catchy) tune.  He can also write devastatingly honest songs.

Like his songwriting collaborations, Dan Wilson’s’s solo works are fantastic. His latest album, Love Without Fear, comes out April 2014, and I can’t stop playing the single “A Song Can Be About Anything”. It’s one of those songs that works magically, like love. At first you think she’s interesting and pretty, and then you can’t get her out of your head. 

No, it’s not edgy, hard and laced with EDM.  It’s raw, intelligent, sensitive, sad, and beautiful. 

It’s just another perfectly crafted pop-rock song by Dan Wilson.

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Your music needs to be shared! You truly are a great artist John Kyle....WOW! Hope to catch a gig when I am traveling through the US...

@BunnzCee

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2019-10-02T21:08:09-07:00

@BunnzCee

Your music needs to be shared! You truly are a great artist John Kyle....WOW! Hope to catch a gig when I am traveling through the US...
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Your song Soon gave me goosebumps!

Sibour

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2018-10-15T23:48:00-07:00

Sibour

Your song Soon gave me goosebumps!
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What a beautiful, haunting song.

Jimmy M.

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2019-11-14T19:27:23-08:00

Jimmy M.

What a beautiful, haunting song.
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I love this song so much. Could be used in a Twilight Saga movie. And this voice!!!

ForestG

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2019-11-09T22:51:02-08:00

ForestG

I love this song so much. Could be used in a Twilight Saga movie. And this voice!!!
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John, you are an amazing performer. I wish you well as a troubadour 😎 I hope you'll be back here again sometime.

George H.

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2019-02-18T22:25:05-08:00

George H.

John, you are an amazing performer. I wish you well as a troubadour 😎 I hope you'll be back here again sometime.
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Anyone who missed John Kyle at Flask Lounge this past Wednesday missed an artist performing with cosmic passion.

Scott Flanders

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2018-09-30T22:19:20-07:00

Scott Flanders

Anyone who missed John Kyle at Flask Lounge this past Wednesday missed an artist performing with cosmic passion.
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I just listened to Soon and I love it! I’m thinking #1 soon!!!

Kathie Morris

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2019-10-02T21:22:36-07:00

Kathie Morris

I just listened to Soon and I love it! I’m thinking #1 soon!!!
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John Kyle rocks! Dude - you put us into the 5th dimension and we want more! Oh, yeah... you have a 100-watt smile. Are you really hanging out in New England until October?

Scott Flanders

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2018-09-07T02:18:28-07:00

Scott Flanders

John Kyle rocks! Dude - you put us into the 5th dimension and we want more! Oh, yeah... you have a 100-watt smile. Are you really hanging out in New England until October?
https://www.johnkyle.com/testimonials/john-kyle-rocks
I just read your lyrics to your songs and I started crying while reading Rain. Those are really good. How do you come up with lyrics like that?

@ummelt

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2018-09-07T02:51:53-07:00

@ummelt

I just read your lyrics to your songs and I started crying while reading Rain. Those are really good. How do you come up with lyrics like that?
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JESUS! What a cover! It touched my heart and made me cry...

Martin Reynals

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2019-08-02T01:55:53-07:00

Martin Reynals

JESUS! What a cover! It touched my heart and made me cry...
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Haunting, dark, poetic lyrics. The music is fantastic. Very well done. (Summer Came)

Lora B.

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2018-09-07T03:20:09-07:00

Lora B.

Haunting, dark, poetic lyrics. The music is fantastic. Very well done. (Summer Came)
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Babar Hassan
One of the most beautiful songs ever.

Babar Hassan

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2019-11-21T17:40:23-08:00

Babar Hassan

Babar Hassan
One of the most beautiful songs ever.
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Wonderful. Your voice reminds me of the lead singer of R.E.M.

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2018-09-07T02:45:22-07:00

@followthepassion82

Wonderful. Your voice reminds me of the lead singer of R.E.M.
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Your song Summer Came was in my head driving home and this morning. Love that song. Very well written.

Gary Jamieson

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2018-09-07T02:36:31-07:00

Gary Jamieson

Your song Summer Came was in my head driving home and this morning. Love that song. Very well written.
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John Kyle

johnkylemusic

John Kyle ★ 𝖒𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙
Wolves, voices in my head, and @publicenemy. Rea Wolves, voices in my head, and @publicenemy. 
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Lyric video for original song "Diesirae" by JOHN KYLE - Gothic Folk Rock, Alternative Rock  Slowcore, Sadcore. 
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