Classical Composer Reaction/Analysis to DIRE STRAITS: ROMEO AND JULIET | The Daily Doug (Ep. 730)

[@danielpittman889]

MK: I can't do a love song, like the way it's meant to be. Me: Mr. Knopfler, I beg to differ.

[@luluadapa5222]

This song made me cry when I was 12. Reading Shakespeare, watching Zefarelli and listening to Dire Straits. It still does the same 43 years later 💜🙏

[@raycornford283]

"All I do is kiss you, through the bars of a rhyme" - brilliant!

[@Thrano]

Many years ago, I praised the writing in that bridge in another comment section and got told to "Take your meds, old man".

[@louisevaughn2281]

I read somewhere that when Bob Dylan heard that line he knew he wanted to enlist Marks help on his next album which became Infidels

[@ZendelWashington]

a prison & paradise

[@esselleanderic]

Yes, one of my favourite lines of all time!

[@johnrichards2640]

..and I bet and you exploded into my heart….is my favourite line. Genius

[@harlanginsberg7269]

This song is autobiographical. Mark Knopflerdated a girl in a punk band named Holly Vincent. They broke up and she said in an interview When asked about him said "I used to have a scene with him" the words he used in The song. Knopfler felt like she used him to become more well known and that's what the song was about at least partially

[@stevem-h3562]

"How can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?" you can feel the intensity of how much that relationship stung. F'ing brilliant.

[@lazarlazarov7857]

Almost all of his songs are

[@emjem99]

One night back in about 81 my soon to be wife and I were driving from Canberra to home in Sydney. This song was on a mix tape and I had to pull off the road because I was a blubbering mess so absolutely and completely in love with that girl. 43 years later and we're still married and this song still gives me goosebumps.

[@davidberesford7009]

What can I say but AH!

[@mcwulf25]

It really is that kind of song.

[@nickcalvert769]

Beautiful

[@stevenewcomer8837]

“Why Worry” by Dire Straits is one of the prettiest songs that you will ever hear.

[@markmiwurdz2248]

@stevenewcomer8837. You may have already seen this. Saw an interview with Mark Knopfler before his guitar collection auction recently. When asked about “Why Worry”, Mark said that he had written the song in too high a key for his voice - even back then and then dubbed his own tune “Why Bother”! I believe Mark wrote this song with The Everly Brothers (RIP) in mind. Don and Phil did actually sing the song on a show Mark did with Chet Atkins called “Certified Guitar Player” back in the last century. Stay safe and well.

[@julierobins7699]

I totally agree. One of my absolute favorite songs.

[@thunderroad5127]

One of the greatest attributes of MK and Dire Straits-every song is even better live. Every single one.

[@FranciscoHernandez-ni3kd]

@thunderroad5127 agree. They belonged to a race of rock musicians (nowadays almost extinct) that enjoyed playing around their songs in a live setting so they became something else. In the case of Knopfler & Co. they succeeded in improving them. For instance, there are some songs out of "Brothers In Arms" or "On Every Street" I never quite enjoyed in studio, and love their live counterparts in "On The Night", like "Your Latest Trick" or "Calling Elvis"

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@sillysausage4549 Thank you for your baseless opinion.

[@samlawrence4670]

@@sillysausage4549 it’s fine your opinion differs from the majority and that’s ok nothing wrong with being wrong. 😉 As a fan who saw them live I thought they were brilliant especially this song which was amazing, although the audience were boring miserable gits throughout. I also love the alchemy live versions of many songs and the Basel version of sultans is amazing. I do however believe that no live version I’ve ever heard is as good as the studio version of brothers in arms.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@sillysausage4549 The top comment states only that Dire Straits enhanced their live performances of their recorded work. You are the one expressing 'mememe'.

[@cobrasys]

@@sillysausage4549 I thought I was the only one who had that opinion. I agree 100%. I have _never_ heard a live version of a Dire Straits song that could hold a candle to the studio versions. People love to pick a specific live rendition of Sultans of Swing as "the best one ever" with "the best ending solo ever" when none of them even begin to compare to the original studio version.

[@mindeloman]

"When we made love, you used to cry." What an amazing line.

[@gracylillymaddy]

An absolute all timer. The Indigo Girls version is spectacular also.

[@bobcarr2649]

I still remember the girl I was with when this came out, something happened and she was in tears and I said we were forever...we weren't but for that moment we were. Can't hear this song without seeing her face. What more can you ask of art?

[@Kelters]

Agreed. For me these lyrics are some of the smartest you'll find in rock. Brilliant poetry.

[@callummackintosh750]

Another super breakdown of a classic tune, Doug. Mark Knopfler is a wonderful songsmith. It would be great if you had a listen to "Private Investigations" on the Dire Straits album 'Love Over Gold' - it's a wonderful moody and dynamic piece which I'm sure you'll find very interesting🙂

[@ivansanchez143]

or to love over gold (the song). That album is a masterpiece, from start to end

[@lapelcelery42]

@@ivansanchez143The chords in Love Over Gold are crazy for a rock guitarist. Mark's one of a kind.

[@kyls73]

Used to work in a kitchen at an Australian footy club as a teenager. The publican on Friday nights played this album without fail.

[@Rob-eo5ql]

One of my all time favorites. Watched lots of reactions to this….You’re the first reactor that caught the West Side Story/There’s a Place for Us reference! Love that part!

[@gamera3000]

The West Side Story reference, both musically & lyrically always jumps out at me &lifts the song too.

[@alanglover9117]

Hi Doug, You should immediately follow this with Bruce Springsteen Jungleland. It starts with the same riff but on piano. Bruce's piano man Roy Bittan plays on both tracks. It's Bruces take on West Side Story which is Bernstein's take on Romeo and Juliet. Of course Mark closes the circuit by referring to Theres a place for us. Loved your analysis.

[@tsgeisel]

I never listened that closely to Jungleland to get the West Side Story reference, but I definitely agree that Doug should listen to it.

[@daveburns3886]

Didn’t think of that!!!

[@CCHouse-d5d]

I first heard this song in the movie Can't Hardly Wait back in 98, and I insta fell in love! My girlfriend and I watched it in Cinema in Cincinnati, OH when we were still in high school. There's no mobile phones back then, I had to write the lyrics in a tissue paper when we ate at McDonald's after the movie. I was onloy able to write "romeo-juliet song with guitar". I found which song it was only in 2002. Now, it's in my spotify and in there forever. Thank you Jennifer Love-Hewitt.

[@GuyDudeman]

where I first heard it too. Thank you to that movie for introducing me to this masterpiece.

[@michaelschey1084]

the pinnacle of their work. doesn't get better than this

[@daveandrew589]

The introductory guitar part is played on a 1930's era National Resonator Guitar. If you've ever had the privilege of holding one of these guitars, they are works of art. It's the same guitar as pictured on the Brothers in Arms album cover. Knopfler has since gone on record as regretting putting the guitar on the album cover, as it resulted in prices for original National Resonators climbing up into 6-figure territory. It's an incredibly distinctive guitar part. Played in Open-D tuning. An absolutely gorgeous song.

[@girs666]

Absolutely. Duolian resonator from National ( i owned one in 2014, not from 34’ of course)

[@pintsize8162]

Mark played this in Open G with a capo at the 3rd fret putting it into B flat.

[@NunoPlague]

The version of this song in their live performance "On the night" is the absolute best.,

[@mftubeyou]

Oh yes! Totally awesome.

[@prnajaf]

My fave is the version at the Mandela concert -- killer sax solo.

[@johnrichards2640]

That sax solo…

[@timwebber9277]

I've been in love with this song for some decades now. Great to know your thoughts on it.

[@Mister_Samsonite]

"You'll fall for chains of silver. You'll fall for chains of gold. You'll fall for pretty strangers, and the promises they hold". Mark Knopfler the poet!

[@CoolCoyote]

making movies is a real classic album. another underrated song from it is 'Skateaway' and 'Les boys

[@amcape8444]

This is one of the best drums ever recorded! Playwise and soundwise..

[@nigelclinning2448]

One of two songs that bring a tear to my eye. This for the loss of my first love and, Mike and the Mechanics’ The Living Years for the death of my father.

[@lesgrice4419]

Flip to 'Tunnel of Love', the guitar 'solo' by Knopfler at the end is just unparalled in its build break and beauty...

[@tonyg1951]

Agreed. Tunnel of love for me is one of their best tracks if not, THE best. The quiet section in the middle that gradually increases in loudness and tempo and then the fade out guitar that could go on for another 10 minutes for me and it would not be enough

[@erinfilbert9462]

Greatest A side in music history.

[@jeffbell7530]

This song gives me the chills.

[@kingstumble]

The Romeo and Juliet story has had so many different variations on it and this is right up there with the best. If he were alive today I think Bill would approve!

[@j.kevvideoproductions.6463]

This my favorite Dire Straights song. The feeling of pain, loss and resignation in it is palpable.

[@10CentHead]

Such a great song… lots of emotional layers, smart lyrics, and the playing is stellar as you’d expect with Dire Straits

[@revylokesh1783]

My favourite DS song. There's just something about it that plucks my heartstrings the right way ...

[@jimmypenrose1401]

If you listen to the piano during the coda; he starts dropping the intro hook melody for "Love Over Gold" into that repeating 4 to 5 ostinato. They used to use that as a way to segue from one song to the other.

[@ross4970]

Are you sure?

[@Stogie2112]

"I can't do everything, but I'd do anything for you." -- One of the best lines ever written. The live version, from "Alchemy", is much better!

[@glennandadriansrocktalk]

This is such a beautiful song. So many songs of theirs are works of art.

[@russellbywater4648]

Dr. Helvering, greetings from the UK. I wish to commend you not only for the fine choice of material you select for reaction but also for your thoughtful, attentive and intelligent approach to them. Moreover, unlike most Americans (if that is indeed what you are) you are able to talk without saying the word 'like' constantly and unnecessarily. Others might have said, "That was, like, F sharp major which is just above, like, F major, and like totally great and stuff." It is refreshing and a pleasure. Fine work, Sir. I thought a helvering was a fish of some sort but I'm not quite myself today.

[@huskerdonut]

On Live Alchemy, the song stretches to about 8:30. Most everything on that record takes its time getting there, and for good reason.

[@iainmason264]

"Can't do everything, but I'd do anything for you" is my favorite lyric. He's just a genius both as a lyricists and a guitarist.

[@sanandaallsgood673]

I've never heard this song before either, and I've worked their concerts before as security. This is intriguing to me! Thanks for playing this.

[@childofatom95]

You’d LOVE Telegraph Road, it’s long and complex and just poetry

[@LyndaFishyMom]

This is my favorite song of all time. Still reminds me of my boyfriend form the 80s. We both ended up marrying other people after I left England but I still miss him. Later found out he passed away in 2008. Still second guess myself after all these years. I feel so fortunate to have seen DS (1988) and then MK play this live multiple times over the years

[@jimbrentar]

"A Place For Us" was a song in West Side Story

[@classicraceruk1337]

Which is based on Romeo and Juliet by The Bard.

[@Mi5terMarc]

I think this is my favorite Dire Straits song.....endlessly jockeying for position with Sultans of Swing.

[@pinkpolly88]

I have no idea why, but this song makes me cry hard every time I hear it. I'm not even a fan of Dire Straits. It's just gorgeous ❤

[@bilbobaggins706]

One of my Dire Straits faves. Thank you. May I suggest a track that (I humbly predict) you will love? Van Morrison singing Into The Mystic. It's very layered, with plenty to get your teeth into, including the beautiful piano that you really have to listen out for but which, once you've heard it, you feel is integral and the song would be hugely diminished without it.

[@JB-gx5nd]

Started listening to dire straits aged 7 and still listening aged 47!!. Great to hear your thoughts. Knopfler great on guitar but also a fabulous songwriter.

[@nottmsteve]

The finest love song of all time......Genius

[@adrianholmes9519]

Always loved this. The dobro guitar sound speaks of the aching heart, and Mark Knopfler's liquid lead phrases at the end are heroic and bluesy at the same time. You just can't escape the romance of this.

[@daveburns3886]

Roy Bitton on keys .. on hiatus from Bruce’s estreeters.. he also did stellar work on meatloaf’s ’bat out of hell’ Bruce calls him the professor.. mark knoffler could play guitar, but could compose a great tune.. great sense of timing

[@antoniagamble6076]

I love all their music, some more than others but this is my favourite for sure. Thanks Doug, really enjoy your program.

[@radredmusic5865]

Dire Straits is one of my all time favorite bands. Anything by them is worth checking out; can’t go wrong.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

I love his use of the resonator guitar on this. It's so lonely sounding and really fits the feeling of the lyrics.

[@TheAcgtrs]

One of my all-time favorite Dire Straits songs. I love, love, love, the live version, off of the Alchemy album.

[@davidshotton6072]

Mark is a poet who d3veloped a picking style on a guitar, that is supreme. He is left handed, and changed to playing right handed early when his sister said that doesnt look right. Everybody plays the other way.

[@hoolihanmick5897]

Really nice analysis Doug. MK's lyrical bent has always been so clever, mixing his personal history with contempary and historical themes. From the very first album his trademark humour and powers of observation shine through. There are so many of his songs that would deserve a close look, but it would be great if you found the time to do the title track from 'Love over Gold'. There is so much going on in that instrument wise that sometimes you overlook the sheer beauty of the song itself.

[@TyeDyeGuyRV]

The first time I heard this was a cover by Indigo Girls. While a bit overwrought, I felt the pain more in Amy Ray's voice than I do in Mark's, which has always struck me as a bit cold and monotone. Regardless, a great song!

[@stars1above49]

i really enjoy watching your videos!! i love pink floyd so it made me happy to watch your pink floyd videos. so i have a few requests for you to react to!! 1- gorillaz - demon days or plastic beach 2- rush - signals i don’t know if you’ve heard these songs or have reacted to them in the past, but i would really like seeing you react to them!

[@gordonschenck1672]

This came out in 1980 when I was dating a girl that summer. But that fall she went away to college and my job took me away to another place. We met one last time before the final split. This is the theme song of our romance. It was just that the time wasnt right. And this song haunts me to this day.

[@nickcalvert769]

43 years ago and I can feel your emotion reading that 😢

[@stevem-h3562]

Yep. This is why we have the good fortune for music like this to be the placeholders of these big events in our lives. Its what makes these songs so precious.

[@llarryamrose3980]

"Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week, and needing a stiff drink, which is not strictly relevant since the record had not yet gotten to that bit, but there will be too much else going on when it does, and furthermore the chronicler does not intend to sit by with a track list and a stopwatch so it seems best to mention it now while things are still moving slowly." -- Douglas Adams ("So Long and Thanks For All the Fish") "...that bit" is either "Romeo and Juliet", or the guitar solo from "Tunnel of Love", also from the same album.

[@winstonsmith3690]

Great analysis and dissection!

[@seajaytea9340]

One of my favorite Dire Straits songs! I also enjoy the cover version done by the Indigo Girls.

[@forformgamer]

Dire Straits always reminds me of summer holidays... This album was on in the car when I was a kid and I once lost all other casette tapes except Brothers in Arms during a road trip with a friend. Later on when I went on my first trip with my girlfriend I wanted to at least have some Dire Straits in the car. These guys have been on many trips with me...

[@pauldowlan3285]

One of the best contemporary love songs ever written in my humble opinion

[@sriramkalaga9300]

The brilliance of the words and MK's compositions aside, what the song is famous for is MK's use of the 1937 National Resonator Steel Guitar (borrowed at that time from his good friend Steve Phillips). The opening guitar chords give the unique sound of that acoustic steel Resonator guitar... Then, there's that heavenly drumming by Pick Withers. Classic!!

[@jasonGamesMaster]

My favorite Dire Straits song, even though it came out 3 years before I was born, it just really spoke to me during my first big break up as a teenager (this and Black by Pearl Jam)

[@MattHarris85]

Glad you enjoyed the writing. Knopfler was a lecturer in English for a few years before his music career took off

[@joannecunliffe8067]

This is one of the first finger-picked guitar pieces I ever learned as a young teenager - I spent hours learning this note perfect! Yes it isn't a complicated piece but it's a beautiful song to listen to and to play. I recorded it on cassette tape and transcribed it note by note as tablature (I didn't have the actual music). More people should sit down and do that (these days) as it allows you to appreciate the subtleties of the composition of the piece. It actually sounded better on classical guitar (rather than 6 string metal stringed acoustic) as I didn't have a resonator guitar! Mark is such a wonderful guitarist and a kind and patient person. "Local Hero: Going Home" is a fabulous guitar instrumental to play as well.

[@Thescottishguyreacts]

Kissed you through the bars of a rhyme classic songwriting! The live version at on the night in 1993 or in Australia 1986 are amazing and have 2 sax solos

[@goshisanniichi]

I love this song. Don't forget those drums. I'd say this song has some of the percussion in popular music.

[@Nito1974Reis]

A great song from a great album. Doug did you saw them playing live ? It was one of my first concerts... all these songs were there... Romeo & Juliet, Tunnel of Love, Telegraph Road, Sultans of Swing...

[@Wolverines77]

His live performances of this, after Dire Straits dissolved, from his solo career are even better. You can tell the real-life emotions behind the song have started to either register in his own heart or he has realized exactly what the song means to his fans... My personal favorite version is from his 1992 live performance from the BBC televised concert "A Night in London."

[@margueritewood7036]

This and The Bug are my favorites from Dire Straits. Great band!!!!!

[@ScottCabernet]

Great pick! I first heard this song as a cover by The Killers and loved it immediately. Whenever you're feeling like gaming music again you should definitely check out Megalovania from Undertale (both the chiptune original and the orchestra version). Also, I would love it if you took a look at a great Canadian group, Walk off the Earth. I would recommend their original Farther We Go (acapella version), but what they're really known for is their amazing covers where they use a wide variety of instruments and every object to create an incredibly rich acoustic sound.

[@toddashton9696]

Thanks for this Doug. Great choice for today. Great reaction. Have to admit I miss the old Daily Doug intro. Making movies was a great album. I think you would also really enjoy "Skateaway" from this album. Hey for next Valentines, consider reacting to Leonard Cohen, "Dance me to the end of love"

[@steeleye2112]

Always loved the song and then it went and spawned one of the greatest covers ever recorded by The Indigo Girls.

[@jonathankirton5643]

I used to work with a guy who lived in the town where the lady on whom Juliet was based also lived. He told me she was none too happy about the song. You would love Private Investigations by them

[@charlesmarkley220]

This entire is really good. Very underrated.

[@rikfroschauer1743]

This is just like Billy Joel's Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, in the way the protagonist's end up. Brenda and Eddie end up just like this version of Romeo and Juliette!

[@revwillyg6450]

Song still gives me chills. Happy VD everyone ❤🤘🏻

[@palloslevente]

venereal disease?

[@revwillyg6450]

@@palloslevente lol. Hopefully not

[@markmm1066]

I always put Mark Knopfler and Colin Hay in a similar category. In hugely popular bands in the late 70s/early 80s. Long singer/songwriter career which was probably less profitable, but highlighted the immense talent of the lead artists.

[@allisonrich5061]

Ah, Making Movies is my favorite Dire Straits album. This song has always been difficult to hear since the person with whom I associate it is no longer there. But it's a wonderful album and a perfect song for today's Daily Doug.

[@StevenQ74]

Mark wrote this about his relationship with Holly Vincent, she broke up with him after she signed a record deal and Mark felt like she used him, she said in an interview "Mark Knopfler?, yeah, I used to have a scene with him"

[@Pugwash.]

I even remember the video they made for this release. Very stylish.

[@yaniche1190]

This is a short list of songs from VERY VERY skilled bands with different genre Unexpect - Desert Urbania Unexpect - Megalomaniac tree Animals as leaders - CAFO Animals as leaders - Ka$cade Planet X - Quantum factor Planet X - Desert girl Pomegranate Tiger - Cyclic Jason Richardson & Luke Holland - Tendinitis Pomegranate Tiger - Entities (album) Snarky puppy - Outlier Cloudkicker - Beacons (album) Planet X - Ataraxia (just put it at 5:47 lol, its 3 times 15/16 followed by some wizard stuff lol)

[@grahamnunn8998]

Love this album, I was there with the first three albums. I felt things were getting a bit laboured by Love Over Gold but they were still much more subtle hear. As a guitarist, that was always the focus of my attention but I don't think he gets enough credit as a wonderfully expressive singer.

[@KathWhittam-n3k]

Love the live version with Emmylou Harris brilliant

[@nantague]

My favorite version.

[@StephenHarvillCV]

Doug - This is one of my favorite songs. Check out this live version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKqsapmifa2HaLM

[@josbruls]

Songs about love affairs gone wrong are always the best!

[@georgesheffield1580]

Doug ,remember that Mark lectured on writing ( taught ) at a university in the UK before he started his music career.

[@mcwulf25]

One of my favourite DS singles.

[@NathanielHarari]

…the amount of times I had to play this song on the guitar at the request of a girl at a party (Dust in the Wind and others as well of course)… 🤣

[@Thrano]

Oddly enough, Romeo and Juliet is - as I understand it - mostly about getting over an old love and moving on. Happy Valentine's Day!

[@barbarajean7208]

The Indigo Girls cover of this song is amazing!

[@davelevey9074]

Great song and lyrics Indigo Girls also did a great cover of this track

[@Hexon66]

Love all of Knopfler's and Dire Straits' stuff. But this song has a special place, because even though Roy Bittan's piano gives Tunnel of Love and Hand in Hand a distinctly Springsteen vibe on this album, R&J is unabashedly Dylanesque in style and lyricism.

[@jamesgoudreau1940]

The video to this song is crazy.

[@nickcalvert769]

Love these videos - please do Skateaway

[@TheKelama]

You gotta listen to Once up on a time in the west-alchemy live version!

[@tommonk7651]

A truly bittersweet symphony.... I was a big fan of Pick Withers' drumming. And Roy Bittan was borrowed from Springsteen's E Street Band....

[@philshorten3221]

Brilliant! I only only only wish Mark had written that last line to be... Juliet steps out of the shade and says "you and me babe how about it? “❤

[@erinfilbert9462]

Love to see you cover Mark's greatest work, the Theme to Local Hero. I think the Night in London version is best, but regardless if you choose the mid-80's, early 90's, late 90's, mid 2000's or mid 2010's version - you get to see what an artist of this caliber sounds like after 30 years practice....

[@jamesharrigan4895]

Oh Doug. Their story is absolutely over.