Composer Reacts to Regina Spektor - Obsolete (Live) (REACTION & ANALYSIS)

[@jesy2820]

I must say that Regina Spektor is a genius....I lack words to describe her music....so beautiful....and it takes someone whose ears are into music to appreciate her music.... genius...

[@rubybrown2721]

I saw her live when I was 13 and viscerally sobbed at this song and didn't stop for the rest of the set. I saw her again in 2023 and sobbed again. I love Soviet Kitsch just as much as any Regina fan but I have to say that this album is criminally underrated.

[@verylateandtired3504]

You gotta do classic Regina Spektor. Stuff from Soviet Kitsch and Begin to Hope. "Chemo Limo" and "Apres Moi" especially.

[@JordanZick]

What a great reaction and analysis of one of my absolute favorite (and SO OVERLOOKED) Regina songs from my absolute favorite Regina album. Cheers!!

[@soosiopossum]

Regina Spektor has been my favorite musician since I first head Fidelity in the 3rd grade on VH1. And to see you react to Obsolete was great. I love all of her music. She has fun with her sound but also is able to make you feel a variety of emotions. I saw another comment mentioning that you should react to some of her earlier work and I completely agree. They mentioned Chemo Limo which is a great one.

[@matancredi]

Love regina spektor ♡

[@band-aidbreath2890]

My god, one of my favorite artists. I came here for BTBAM however long ago, and I'm so glad that you've branched out in this direction as well.

[@CriticalReactions]

I'm always happy when I get an opportunity to branch out. I enjoy doing the rock/metal reactions and I'm grateful to the community but it's always nice to dive into some jazz or pop or whatever as well.

[@band-aidbreath2890]

@@CriticalReactions Without question: I'd van Gogh both of my ears if I were forced to listen to metal for the duration of my life. Though oddly enough, it's one of few genres I enjoy playing nowadays. I can't think of a damn one now, but I've definitely got some unorthodox suggestions for ya.

[@davidbarker77]

My daughter introduced me to Regina. Her voice is incredible as is her songwriting. So cool to see you reacting to her. Cheers.

[@progperljungman8218]

Finally! Congratulations Bryan! 😊

[@ohsolucky149]

love Regina

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

I loved Regina Spektor's early work when she was really quirky and unique, but then she tried to make a transition to pop and I think it was only halfway successful. After she ended up stuck in this weird limbo where she really wasn't entirely indie-folk/pop anymore, but she wasn't quite mainstream pop either... I think at most she had a single or two that were fairly successful. I do think she eventually grew into that "middle ground" limbo role with her last two albums being quite good. This track is from her last album, which has been my favorite of her post-pop "limbo" phase. I'm not sure if this is the first track I would've picked either to represent Spektor in general, or even as her most "vulnerable" song, but I do think it's a nice, solid track. You can hear the hints of her quirkiness in the vocal style, but the piano accompaniment is more of a traditional ballad, and I've always thought she was at her best when she was at her most atypical in every respect. EDIT: Phenomenal analysis btw. Gave me a whole new appreciation for the song, in fact. :)

[@CriticalReactions]

If this isn't her "at her best" then I'm in for a treat. I loved this and am looking forward to checking out more.

[@curtisw502]

@@CriticalReactions Her early work is for sure better

[@the.shoreland2703]

loved this analysis

[@StringHead92]

I've known of Regina Spektor for a while, but I haven't really checked her stuff. She's a big name in indie circles. This track is so so beautiful. I was expecting this kind of stuff too and it was mostly my take on the theme, but I can see why other people took it to mean another thing. There were plently of suggestions that aligned with this take though, but mostly ended up on the lower end of the poll 😅 Anyways, loved your take on the lyrics and the way the music aligns and reinforces the themes. Great insight as always!

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

If you want to check out an album I'd recommend either Songs or Soviet Kitsch first, but if you like this style then her last album (which this is from) is excellent too (called Remember Us To Life).

[@janeg6759]

Really nice and finally fits the theme. I've heard some of her works, but she's not in my playlist. I have liked everything I have heard from her and plan on adding to my growing list of artists to check out. Thanks

[@articircle]

Very cool interpretation of how the musical themes played into the lyrical ones. Loved getting to hear your thoughts on this one.

[@jaspin555]

Regina spektor...what a unique artist. I highly recommend you listen to her first 2 albums - 11:11 and Songs. Even just to understand where she started. Minimalist, experimental, off. She was part of the new york Anti-folk "genre" or movement i think. If you like this song, i suggest Open. Similar style of song from her, but i think it is much more powerful yet. listen to Pavlov's Daughter, Daniel Cowman, or nearly anything from Songs(reading time with pickle, Oedipus) for a descent into the madness of OG Spektor, although some of her best work is unpublished and very unknown. Im not sure how, but she struck a chord with me no other artist has in remotely the same way. Also, literally the only artist ive had to force myself to stop listening to.

[@ohsolucky149]

cant wait for may, 11:11 special edition vinyl and unreleased papas bootlegs vinyl

[@jeannettesimpson9778]

I really enjoyed listening to that. Did you check out Suzanne Vega's "Luka"?

[@CriticalReactions]

I did and enjoyed it, musically at least. I agree that it would fit well for this week's theme. It was also heartbreaking, the mix of the casual flippancy in her lyrical delivery and the lyrics themselves being about domestic abuse.

[@jeannettesimpson9778]

@@CriticalReactions I'm glad you gave it a listen. Suzanne had something to say about that as reported in Songfacts: There is a great deal of lyrical dissonance in this song, as the stark story of child abuse contrasts with the catchy melody. Vega explained: "Because I was aiming at such a complex subject, I was aiming for the simplest line to get there. Simple melodies, happy chords. I felt I had to make it accessible because it was such a dark subject. So I went all out. But I also tried to write in the language of a child. So that's probably why it worked, because it is so accessible."

[@CriticalReactions]

I could totally see that. I kinda figured it was along the lines of normalcy for most of those who deal with abuse, especially children. It's what they've known for most of their life so there is a bit of flippancy to the way people in abusive families/relationship speak about it. And that made it all the more heartbreaking for me but I like the authorial intention as well. It speaks to an understanding of mainstream culture and having the knowledge to best infiltrate that sphere with the message she wanted to get out.

[@philaphobic]

Regina uses a lot of repetition. I love her music. Thanks for the commentary.

[@Spasstiful]

Damn, brilliant, I totally forgot about that artist - listened to her for some time many years ago 🙏 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5Cxd2OHmK6hb6s (one of my favorites back then, very powerful)