Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Happy Birthday Neil!!




























































































You are the Greatest! Love You! Kisses!

61 comments:

Haley said...

Hehehe. Poor B. You know, it's kind of appropriate that they named a spider species after him, because he kinda looks like a spider.

Sue said...

Yay! Happy Birthday Neil! He is just too adorable. That very top picture is classic. I found out the other day that he and Wilco are going to tour together. I love Wilco! I love Neil! I must go to that concert if they are playing anywhere in the inter-mountain west.

It's been a long time since I've seen Neil. Remember when we saw him at Park West Cat? Remember that guy we watched fall really slowly? That was funny.

Cat said...

Ha Ha. The slowly falling guy! That was weird and awesome. Neil and Wilco together? Cool. Except I'm kind of afraid of the lead singer. I hear he like vomits on a daily basis. I hate that I collect that kind of information on people and then that's all I can think about. That concert in Park West was amazing. That was the first time I had ever heard Pochahontas. I was just mystified. It was just Neil with about 30 guitars and banjos. His pump organ (that he didn't play). But I love that he brought it because he seriously doesn't know what he wants to play until he's there. That's why he spends a lot of time walking around the stage scratching his head. Aww, he is just the best.

Cat said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Cat said...

Sorry about the double post.

Sue said...

That was the concert supporting his Unplugged album. That was a great show, wasn't it me, you and Brent? The slow falling guy just added to the greatness of the show. We laughed so hard! Didn't he look up at us and go "whoa". It's making me laugh really hard right now, I'm glad I'm the only one in the office at the moment.

Where did you here that Jeff Tweedy throws up everyday? I heard his Fresh Air interview and I don't remember that. Did you see him on Colbert the other night? It was great. He seems like a really cool guy.

Cat said...

Actually the concert was supporting Harvest Moon. Unplugged came out just a few month's later. I read about Mr. Tweedy in the same Chuck Klosterman book I was telling Em about at lunch on Saturday.

Sue said...

Oh yeah, Harvest Moon! You're right. I remember the T-shirt from that concert. That is a great album. Is there an explanation on why he does that everyday?

Emily said...

Happy birthday Neil!!! Ah, he is so dang cute. I vaguely remember the slow falling guy story, but would like a refresher.
The only time I've seen Neil live was the CSN&Y concert where they got back together. They ended up doing a lot of Neil's solo stuff. It was really cool. I am pretty sure Sue and Cat went, we just didn't go together.
Love the pictures!!

Emily said...

FYI: I got 4 emails telling me that Haley posted a comment. I only got one for each of Cath and Sues comments.

Sue said...

Cat and I were there! I think that is the last time I saw Neil too. Unless the HORDE festival was after that. Cat would know.

Slow falling guy story: Cat and I were sitting on a blanket in the grassy general admission area of Park West. I don't think the concert had started yet or else our attention would have been on the stage, and I remember it was still light outside. So we were people watching. And we watched this guy, right in front of us, carrying a couple of beers I think, trip and fall. And it took him forever to hit the ground. It seriously looked like slow motion. I've never seen anything like it. It's like he was defying gravity so he wouldn't spill his beer. We looked at eachother and laughed hysterically. Any more details Cat? It was soooo long ago!

Haley said...

That's really weird that it really likes to email about me. I haven't even done that yet.

Haley said...

Is anyone going to comment on my spider comment or are you all ignoring it?

Sue said...

Ignoring it.

Emily said...

Haha! Well, you can't spill your beer Sue, that just wouldn't do.

Haley: I kinda thought it was a pretty astute observation. I thought -yep, he kind of does- and moved on. He's the best.

Sue said...

I just don't see the spider resemblance. I think if Neil resembles any kind of animal it's a cat. (And I'm NOT just saying that because I love cats and I love Neil and the best thing in the world would be a Neil Young cat.) The 7th picture down kind of shows cat-like features. I think it's mostly the shape of his face.

B said...

Cat, I'm a little sad you left out the worst Niel picture of all time (see my blog for said picture). That first picture is wierd though. This blog cannot affect me because right before I discovered this I was informed I won a $500 scholarship, which is why I couldn't make fun of it. I just thought "Oh, this will make everyone else happy!" However, Niel is still a creeper, and it is extremely fitting that they named a creepy crawly after him.

How can he have such a wussy voice, yet look like the scariest deranged hippie the world has ever known. I might just go watch a music video so that I can put the two together...

Haley said...

Hehe. Congratulations on the scholarship! I knew you would get it, that's awesome! Yes, I think the first 3 pictures on the blog post look kinda spider-ish. He mostly just looks like a homeless man though. Oh and by the way, I actually like his song, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart." I think I actually have it on my ipod.

Emily said...

Alright, here I go.

Neil Young is very uniquely Neil. He is the kind of a person that people should strive to be like. Neil is not about clothes or fads or images. I have never known a person that was less concerned about that kind of stuff. He is what he is and makes no apologies. He started the grunge era very unwittingly, he always wore flannels and comfy jeans and budding artists such as Eddie Vedder and Kurt Cobain thought that was pretty cool and so they copied him.
Neil can write a song like no one's business. He sings such cute little love songs with a voice that is altogether unpretentious and very sweet.
He had things to say, and wanted to sing them and he had to battle against many forces to be able to be heard because he didn't have a quote/unquote radio friendly voice.
I, and I am not alone here, love his voice and I love his ability to totally ignore if the hat he has on is trendy or not. I admire that. He is a very talented musician, he can play all sorts of guitars with expertise and flair (not to mention the piano and harmonica). He is cited as an influence by hundreds of artists all over the world.
He conquered polio as a youth and has a son with cerebral palsy, whom he is very cute with. He wrote a song about him called Transformer Man.
Neil collects electric trains too and has a conductor's hat.
Neil, keeping rocking those sideburns, and hair and rumpled clothes and whatever you want! You are beautiful, you are you, and never make any excuses, cause you don't need to.


That smack down was brought to you by a loving aunt and sister in law.

Emily said...

By the way B, congrats on your scholarship, that's awesome.

B said...

Hehehe, I have been put in my place. That's awesome about his son, and how he doesn't care what anyone thinks about him. I'm sure he's influential, and I'm glad you love him. The only thing I have against him is that my dad made me listen to him when I didn't want to, his voice is associated with bad memories, and now he has a spider named after him. Hehe. Like I said, I will listen to a song of your choice. I bet Transformer Man is cute. I admire you guys for knowing so much about artists. That's something I always wanted to do growing up, but didn't have the resources.

Love you guys!

Sue said...

B-That is great you got a scholarship, my most heart felt congratulations goes out to you. That is awesome, and I seriously mean it. Seriously.

That being said. Wussy voice? Deranged hippie? His voice is one of the most soothing things I've ever heard in my life. It is so beautiful and perfectly matched to the songs he writes. I cannot imagine a voice more perfect to the lyrics it sings. Haley's example "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is a perfect example! That is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded, and it has everything to do with his voice singing those lyrics!

And as for Neil looking like a deranged hippie. So what! That is him! He doesn't give in to the Hollywood glamour that most of them give in to. He has probably made more money then most other singers, and he still wears jeans and a flannel. He doesn't care about things like that, and that is one of the things I love most about him. He has more important things to think about than his looks, things like his son with Cerebal Palsy.

You guys can say what you want about Neil. "He looks like a homeless man", or he "has a wussy voice". Those kind of statements just make me feel sorry for you. You don't realize there is a beautiful person out there pouring his heart out and making his fans feel pretty good.

Go ahead and think your Josh Grobin's and High School Musical's are good. You'll never know the real truth. If you can't see past a look, or a different sounding voice, then apparently in your world, people have to be good looking or something to be talented. Very sad, very sad indeed.

Sue said...

Wow Em! We were writing our pro Neil stuff at the same time! I think we both said the same things! Long Live Neil!

Emily said...

I wondered why you didn't make any references to my post.
That's funny.

Sue said...

It took me about an hour to do my post because I kept having to erase mean things that I wanted to say. This post is for those of us who appreciate Neil.

B said...

You guys! Stop it.
I just watched a live performance of "Old Man" on YouTube. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. That's wonderful how much you like him.

Sue, you must not have read my post before you posted. You don't have to feel sorry for me. I don't have to have stars be beautiful. I bet my Top 5 most attractive celebrities list would surprise you. Everyone has their place in the world. Neil is way more talented than I am, and is pleasing fans all over the place. All I have against him is what I said earlier. I apologize for the deranged hippy comment. Hehe, but it was true, you've got to admit that :-D. Now stop it.

Love B.

B said...

And that first picture is getting cuter and cuter... that's really weird...

Emily said...

I'm willing to cut the girls some slack. I figure, they just don't know, nor maybe do they care. I am willing to bet I could (and have) made snap judgments about artists or things that are important to them that I don't know enough about. We all do it. They just happen to have done it to a subject that we are strongly passionate about. And I hope they are willing to defend themselves against an onslaught of rabid Neil lovers. There is one amongst us, that has yet to have her say.


Let the rath of Cath begin.......

Emily said...

It's not weird B! He is one of those people that you just love because he is being him. You see a picture of him where his hair is sticking up and he hasn't shaved or trimmed his lamb chops in 15 years and he has a huge grin on his face, and now you do too because he's being Neil and all is right with the world.
It's hard to look past preconceived notions one gets, heaven knows I can't bring myself to watch that dang Russel Crowe movie even though it stares at me night after night on my bedside table. But anyway B, I hope that you one day can get past it and possibly see a little of what we see in him.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Cortez the Killer
Helpless
Like A Hurricane
The Needle and the Damage Done
Love is a Rose
Pocahontas
Winterlong (I sang that song to Scout EVERY SINGLE DAY whilst pregnant with her)
Hey Hey My My (lyrics from this song were included in Kurt Cobain's suicide note)
Harvest.

Cat said...

B, I did see that picture you refer to while I was collecting them. But I figured, eh, it's been done. So I didn't include it. I have like four or five concerts of Neil's on DVD/Video. So anytime, anywhere if you're serious about wanting to see him sing. I tend to get kind of emotional when I watch him perform, so like, some reverence would be appreciated and if you get weird, I'm turning it off!

Haley said...

Sheesh, I don't know why I am getting the hammer. I just said that I liked one of his songs, I haven't heard much else, but I never said I'm not willing to. And in my defense, since he doesn't care what he looks like, which I am totally fine with, he therefore looks a little like he is homeless. That's all I'm saying. Sheesh, you three are sensitive about your Neils!!! Did you guys know that Marcus has a little brother named Neil? Hehe. I think if Em has a boy she should name him that. Prove your loyalty!! Haha, I'm totally kidding. AND...I have never seen High School Musical, nor shall I ever see it. But that is perfectly fine if B does. I like Josh Groban, for his amazing vocal talent, you guys may not but that's fine. So, the point is, everyone can like what they like and no more dissing!!! Hehe. That is the Haley Hammer! All growing up, because I was a round you guys so much, I think both Sarah and I always liked the things that you guys listened to and watched because we looked up to you so much. I think it also had to do with not wanting to be teased for liking "little kid things." Sorry Matt, but that last thing is kinda directed at you! Haha. Some examples are Grease, Wizard of Oz, etc. I remember you guys listening to a Led Zeppelin song when I was younger, and I liked it. So when it came time to write in our yearly scrapbook journals, under favorite musicians for that year I had N*Sync, Hanson, and Led Zeppelin. Haha. My mom made me erase the last one. I don't know why I went off on that but there you go!

Sue said...

If I sounded harsh, well I'm kind of sorry. I just felt letting us know once again what you think of Neil was beating a dead horse. And I didn't want shallow comments about his looks to tarnish this nice posting that Cat put together.

Haley-your mom should have let you keep Led Zeppelin in that journal thing. That would be really cute to look at years later, like now.

Cat said...

Well, alrighty then. That was fun. I did the post totally tongue in cheek, knowing it would raise some hackles. Em, Sue...you said some great things about Neil. Very right-on. Let me just some more things I love about him: summer of 2007, he put out a protest album. I totally swelled with pride in him and just marvelled at his guts. He actually has 2 sons with cerebral palsey with 2 different mothers. How weird a coincidence is that? But only Ben lives with him and Peggy. The other son (Zeke) lives with his mother, Carrie Snodgrass (actress mentioned in A Man Needs A Maid) Bob Dylan's favorite Neil Young Song. K, so this is getting long. One more really cool thing. His love of trains and having with a child with really severe c.p., he has invented and put on the market electric trains that they can operate with their chins and stuff. Oh yeah, and his wife is awesome too. She owns a school for disabled kids. He has lived in his ranch in Northern California (mentioned in Old Man) since he bought it in like 1971. I think that's awesome. He has a dog named Carl.

Cat said...

Oh, B...if you want to listen to Transformer Man, listen to the one from his Unplugged album. The original sucks.

Emily said...

I was fairly tongue in cheek myself while wrighting my smack down post. I didn't mean to bring the hammer down on Haley, I don't think she deserved it, I don't think B did either. Basically I had just read a lot of posts about his looks and I thought, you know, since Neil is so not about his looks, I thought you guys should know a little about the real Neil. I wanted to defend him by displaying some of his other sides that you may not know about.

Haley, that story about the Led Zeppelin song is so funny. I can totally see your mom making you erase that! I can only imagine that the fact that you guys looked up to us so much caused your mom a few gray hairs.

Cath, I didn't know about Zeke, only Benny. That is crazy! I knew about the actress that he wrote A Man Needs A Maid for and like that story.

Sue said...

I forgot he has a second son with CP. That is strange! Do you have that protest album? I heard him talking about that on the Daily Show. You saw that didn't you? I remember laughing about it with you because he and Jon talked about his song about his dog King and he apologized to his dog Carl. That was funny!

Amy probably did get a few grays from that. That's really cute. One of the funniest things I remember about Haley is one of the times I went down to California to visit and Haley had her pet silk worms. She was probably like 5, and she loved these disgusting worms! She carried them around and kissed them and said "I love my little silk worms!". Haley, I don't think your love of silk worms came from any of us.

Emily said...

I can guarantee you it didn't come from me.

Sue said...

Em you haven't updated the most recent SWS winners. It still shows the Pet Sematary results.

Matt Wright said...

I love this family. I am realizing more and more all the time how similar I am to my sisters. We never let people get away with something really inacurate, shallow, stupid, or offensive. Yet, we can argue without contension or hard feelings toward that person. I know how hard that must be for B sometimes, coming from her background with her family. B: don't take offense to any of this stuff on here. You know me well enough to know that sometimes I just dissagree and I make sure you know it! I don't see anything wrong with that. We are family, and we will always be close. People should be able to share their point, discuss differences in opinion, and even prove someone wrong, and then be able to laugh about all of it seconds after. Thats the Wright way to do it I think!

With that said, I think Haley should have been able to keep Led Zepplin as a favorite band. I'm not saying Led Zepplin SHOULD have been her favorite band, or even that she should have liked them. But she thought she did, because she loved her aunts and that's cute. Oh, and again, I am REALLY sorry for the way I treated you as a child Haley. Remember, I am only 4 years older than you and I was SOOOO jelous of the attention you were getting after being the youngest for so long.
This is crazy, but I have always wanted a dog named Carl! Can you believe that?? I had no idea!
Neil is the MAN, I am and have always been a fan

Emily said...

Well said Matt. Well, we need to work out a time to go to Body Worlds on Saturday. Cat and Sue, what are your restrictions? Matt and B have a full schedule that day and we need to plan and buy tickets. Sue how did you get the 3 dollar coupons?

Matt Wright said...

Our day goes like this, Early morning temple, shopping, body worlds, Elizabethan Report show.

Shopping and body worlds can be flip flopped.
B doesn't want to go to body worlds, so she can babysit the Bean. CAN'T WAIT!!! NEED A TRIP!!

Sue said...

I have no restrictions on Saturday. I was just planning on doing some yard work. I got the coupons from those Hometown Value coupon things that come in the mail every once in a while. But I have bad news. Cam burned them, he didn't know I was saving them. He thought they were part of the "it's okay to burn this stuff" pile. Sorry!

Cat said...

I have virtually no restrictions on Saturday. Travis will be stuck by himself all day at the Salt Palace. I may have to like spell him off a couple times throughout the day for food and potty breaks, but that is flexible.

Sue said...

What is going on at the Salt Palace? An art thing I assume? Is Boo going to Bodyworlds? I'm so glad Matt and B are coming down this weekend!

Sue said...

The absolute funniest thing on this whole posting is when Cat says "Love you. Kisses". That makes me laugh hard every time I read it.

Cat said...

Just had to throw those out! I laughed all my way to work the morning I posted. I was so excited. The Rocky Mountain Art Show is at the Salt Palace all weekend. Booker is coming with me. I'm excited too!

Sue said...

Saturday will be fun! Should we do a little lunch too?

Emily said...

Totally lunch.
Rob has to meet with some guy at some point on Saturday, but if it works out, would love to come with us. I just checked the ticket availability and it showed no restrictions at all yet on Sat, so we are good.
I think B should watch Scout just around town that day. There must be somewhere entertaining for the two of them around the block of the museum.
I love the kisses too. Very cute and very Cath.
Yay! I am so excited for you guys to come out too! It's been a while.

Sue said...

The fairly new downtown library is just a block away. The Leonardo is the old library. There is a ton of things at the new library.

That would be great if Rob makes it. Cam has to work of course.

Emily said...

I found a site that says if you enter code M1TO, when prompted while purchasing on line tickets, you get $2 off. I'll keep looking.

Emily said...

Great idea Sue! I think Scout and B's collective heads will explode upon visiting that library. It's awesome!

Matt Wright said...

I think breaking fifty comments on one posting is a new record for thekidswereallwright.blogspot.com! Congratulations everyone!!

Pops said...

crap! I just lost all that I have been writing for the last 14 minutes. do over: I have been in a writing snooze for awhile, but I have to get on this record breaking comment posting, even if it is about a guy I don't know anything about him or his music. I do love the passion you all have for him and artists and music and even movies and TV stuff. I am proud of B and Haley for taking a few soft hits and coming back strong with good comments and defending their statements with good humor and intellengence. Waytogo, B & H Mom and I had a turtle named Neil in the early years. He was about a foot across and ran (walked) around the yard for a long time before he disapeared. He was cold blooded (like Edward) but cute and cool. You will only stay for about an hour at the body works show because you will get tired of looking at the creepy things. B and Scout should stay close in the area. Have fun!

Emily said...

I would also like to applaud B and H about the way they handled their smacks.

Haley said...

Hehe thanks! Have a fun weekend everyone!!

B said...

ARGH! Pops, I had to start over too. Just lost everything.

Cat: I just watched Transformer Man, Unplugged '93. I must say, that has got to be one of the sweetest songs ever written. Is it about the trains that he built for his sons? I love the part where it says "You run the show, remote control" and "Every morning when I look in your eyes I feel electrified by you." My dad has always worked with handicapped people, and growing up we went to a lot of company picnics, lunches, and just to visit my dad at work. I know that it takes a really special family to raise kids with disabilities, and I can just imagine his sons being so excited at their new trains.

Don't think that this is a complete 180, because his voice still bugged the snot out of me.

Yay for this weekend and watching Scout!!!

Cat said...

That's totally cool with me, B. I really don't feel the need to change anyone's mind on anything. I forgot to congratulate you on your scholarship yesterday. That's awesome.

Cat said...

My supervisor at work just told me a great Neil Young story, have to share. Background: her husband loves Neil, she hates him. But after hearing this story she thinks he's a great guy. Here it is: Just recently Neil had a concert scheduled at a venue in California. But the venue was having issues with it's A/V union and contracted outside workers. Neil refused to perform at this venue because it didn't support the local union. Long live Neil! He's the greatest! It's this sort of thing that I had to include, among the pictures, that little sign that says "What would Neil Young do?" I just love that.

Haley said...

Haha. Yeah, B should take Scout to the SLC Library. That place is awesome! Holy cow, it is an amazing building. I'm sure Scout has a ball there. I wish I could take her there sometime!

Sue said...

SIXTY!!!!!!

Pops said...

SIXTY ONE!!!!