Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music That Inspired It

by Bob Boilen

Overview

“NPR's music guru asks dozens of artists about songs that inspired them. The answers are surprising and illuminating.” —Billboard Magazine

From the beloved host and creator of NPR’s All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concerts comes an essential oral history of modern music, told in the voices of iconic and up-and-coming musicians.

Is there an unforgettable song that changed your life?

NPR’s renowned music authority Bob Boilen posed this question to some of today’s best-loved musical legends and rising stars. In Your Song Changed My Life, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), St. Vincent, Jónsi (Sigur Rós), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Cat Power, David Byrne (Talking Heads), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Jenny Lewis, Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney), Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), Trey Anastasio (Phish), Jackson Browne, Valerie June, Philip Glass, James Blake, and other artists reflect on pivotal moments that inspired their work. These are the momentous yet unmarked events that have shaped these and many other musical talents, and ultimately the sound of modern music.

A diverse collection of personal experiences, both ordinary and extraordinary, Your Song Changed My Life is a testament to the power of music in our lives, and an inspiration for future artists and music lovers.

“Boilen’s warm, engaging voice pervades this treat for music aficionados.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Bob Boilen's book gets at something real and rare about the power of music.” —New York Times Book Review

“Part memoir, part criticism, and part music history . . . [from] one of the most versatile-and most fascinating-music writers working today.” —Entertainment Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062344465
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/21/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	290
Sales rank:	701,241
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Bob Boilen is the creator and host of NPR Music’s All Songs Considered, and of their Tiny Desk Concert series, which hosts well-known and emerging artists for intimate performances filmed at his desk. He was also the director of NPR’s All Things Considered (1989-2007) and chose the music between the news stories. As a composer and musician himself, Boilen has always been passionate about music. Prior to joining NPR, he was a long-time record store clerk and performed with his band Tiny Desk Unit. Constantly on the lookout for new music, Boilen sees more than 500 live bands each year. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Jimmy Page 1

Carrie Brownstein 9

Smokey Robinson 17

David Byrne 23

St. Vincent 31

Jeff Tweedy 37

James Blake 43

Colin Meloy 51

Trey Anastasio 57

Jenny Lewis 65

Dave Grohl 71

Cat Stevens 79

Sturgill Simpson 87

Justin Vernon 95

Cat Power 103

Jackson Browne 109

Michael Stipe 117

Philip Glass 125

Jónsi 133

Ásgeir 141

Hozier 149

Regina Carter 157

Asaf Avidan 163

Valerie June 171

Conor Oberst 177

Courtney Barnett 187

Pokey Lafarge 195

Kate Tempest 201

Ian Mack Aye 209

Lucinda Williams 219

Josh Ritter 227

Chris Thile 235

Leon Bridges 241

Sharon Van Etten 247

Fantastic Negrito 253

Acknowledgments 261

Editorial Reviews

The book's list of subjects is impressive and diverse, representing the range and open-mindedness that characterizes Boilen's radio appeal…when a thoughtful voice discusses a surprising, pivotal work—like Conor Oberst's impassioned tribute to Don McLean's American Pie or the mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile's account of discovering Glenn Gould's recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations—Boilen's book gets at something real and rare about the power of music.

The New York Times Book Review - Alan Light

04/04/2016
Boilen, longtime host of NPR’s All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concerts, pits musical artists against one another, asking the readers—and himself—which is better: Oasis or Blur? White Strips or Black Keys? Taylor Swift or Kanye West? Along the way, Boilen interweaves themes from his own life with intriguing stories of musicians such Jimmy Page, Smokey Robinson, Jeff Tweedy, and the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, among others. For Page, one inspiration was Lonnie Donegan’s cover of “Rock Island Line”; for Philip Glass, it was Spike Jones and Yiddish comedy records; and for Jenny Lewis, Run-DMC “completely changed my life forever.” Boilen brings in a wide range of musicians from several countries, but hip-hop and heavy metal artists are noticeably absent. Boilen at times stumbles into platitude and cliché. Nevertheless, the book provides kaleidoscopic insights into the unlikely ways that music can seize and transform the young, including the remarkable story of Xavier Dphrepaulezz (aka Fantastic Negrito), who dropped out of the music business for 15 years after a car accident put him a coma and mangled his right arm. The strongest sections include the opening memoir and those places where Boilen has a personal connection to the music. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Bob Boilen’s book gets at something real and rare about the power of music.” — New York Times Book Review

“Part memoir, part criticism, and part music history . . . With Your Song Changed My Life [Bob Boilen confirms] that he’s one of the most versatile—and most fascinating—music writers working today. A” — Entertainment Weekly

“NPR’s music guru asks dozens of artists about songs that inspired them. The answers are surprising and illuminating, and the roster of contributors is great.” — Billboard, Spring Music Book Preview

“You might know Bob Boilen as the co-host of NPR’s “All Songs Considered”—probably the most popular and influential radio show and podcast about music. . . . [his] new book, Your Song Changed My Life is fascinating to music fans of all stripes.” — Omaha World-Herald

“NPR music host Bob Boilen . . . throws a touch of charming memoir atop interviews with 35 musicians who share how they got turned on to music.” — THE WEEK

“Boilen clearly loves his job and loves musicians, and this good-naturedness comes through in Your Song Changed My Life. It’s a short geek-out of a music book . . . [and] the best part is the surprise factor.” — LA Weekly

“Since 2000, Boilen, creator and host of NPR’s All Songs Considered, has featured new and established singers of all genres on his popular online music show and . . . [his] warm, engaging voice pervades this treat for music aficionados.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Bob Boilen’s Your Song Changed My Life . . . is [a] conversational oral history, and given the breadth of contributors, it’s one you’ll be able to pick up repeatedly to grab a slice of which songs influence some excellent artists.” — Irish Times

“Entertaining and moving, evoking emotions as diverse as the artists Boilen interviews. Each vignette is constructed with obvious love and dedication . . . gentle, intimate, funny and, at times, heartbreaking.” — Daily Californian

“Equal parts touching, surprising, and inspiring . . . Boilen’s book could be a delightfully quick read, [but] you are better off rewarding yourself with due diligence.” — The Nerdist

From the Publisher

Entertaining and moving, evoking emotions as diverse as the artists Boilen interviews. Each vignette is constructed with obvious love and dedication . . . gentle, intimate, funny and, at times, heartbreaking.

Daily Californian

NPR’s music guru asks dozens of artists about songs that inspired them. The answers are surprising and illuminating, and the roster of contributors is great.

Spring Music Book Preview Billboard

Equal parts touching, surprising, and inspiring . . . Boilen’s book could be a delightfully quick read, [but] you are better off rewarding yourself with due diligence.

The Nerdist

Bob Boilen’s book gets at something real and rare about the power of music.

New York Times Book Review

Boilen clearly loves his job and loves musicians, and this good-naturedness comes through in Your Song Changed My Life. It’s a short geek-out of a music book . . . [and] the best part is the surprise factor.

LA Weekly

NPR music host Bob Boilen . . . throws a touch of charming memoir atop interviews with 35 musicians who share how they got turned on to music.

THE WEEK

Bob Boilen’s Your Song Changed My Life . . . is [a] conversational oral history, and given the breadth of contributors, it’s one you’ll be able to pick up repeatedly to grab a slice of which songs influence some excellent artists.

Irish Times

You might know Bob Boilen as the co-host of NPR’s “All Songs Considered”—probably the most popular and influential radio show and podcast about music. . . . [his] new book, Your Song Changed My Life is fascinating to music fans of all stripes.

Omaha World-Herald

Part memoir, part criticism, and part music history . . . With Your Song Changed My Life [Bob Boilen confirms] that he’s one of the most versatile—and most fascinating—music writers working today. A

Entertainment Weekly

04/01/2016
National Public Radio "Tiny Desk Concert" and "All Songs Considered" correspondent Boilen ditches the microphone for the printed word here. His book consists of 35 interviews with musicians about the song that changed their life. Interviewees range from the legendary (Smokey Robinson, Jimmy Page, Michael Stipe) to the hip (St. Vincent, Leon Bridges, Justin Vernon, Courtney Barnett). While many of the transformative pieces are far from surprising, such as former Minor Threat and Fugazi front man Ian MacKaye's selection of the still-shocking Sex Pistols cut "Bodies," or ex-R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe's affection for Patti Smith's nine-minute epic "Birdland," many bear little resemblance to the artist's own music. Notable examples include Leon Bridges's affection for a late-Seventies Crosby, Stills & Nash song, St. Vincent's fondness for the deep-cut Pearl Jam single "Oceans," or Phish front man Trey Anastasio's love for the West Side Story number "Somewhere." Throughout, the author colors many of the chapters with his own sensibilities and experiences as a semiprofessional musician. VERDICT In this light, fun read, Boilen interviews a wide-enough range of musicians that there should be something in here for any music lover.—Brian Flota, James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg, VA

Library Journal

Boilen constructs an oral history of music through interviews with music legends and rising stars to discuss the one song that changed each of their lives. As an audiobook, it falls a bit short. Boilen narrates, and does an admirable job, communicating enthusiasm for the project and distinguishing his voice from the voices of the people he interviews. But for an audio production to omit music clips as points of reference, and to not even have interviews with the artists, is disappointing and seems like a missed opportunity. Regardless, the collection of creators from Smokey Robinson to Cat Stevens, Lucinda Williams, and Jenny Lewis—more than 30 artists in all—will have listeners scrambling to create a new, albeit eclectic, playlist. L.E. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2017 - AudioFile

★ 2016-03-02
Interviews with nearly three dozen musicians about the life-altering songs that inspired their musical careers. Since 2000, Boilen, creator and host of NPR's All Songs Considered, has featured new and established singers of all genres on his popular online music show and podcasts. In these winning profiles, he teases out the single moment when each artist heard a song he or she will never forget. (His own life "changed forever," he writes, when he first heard the Beatles' "A Day in the Life.") The song for these artists varies greatly: Motown star Smokey Robinson cites Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops," Irish-born Hozier recalls falling in love with Tom Waits' "Cold Cold Ground," and composer Philip Glass remembers his discovery at age 11 of Spike Jones' amusing version of Rossini's "William Tell Overture," played on pots and pans. In his fascinating explorations of these artists' lives and work, Boilen finds pivotal moments happen most often at early ages, especially the teens and 20s. But then Justin Vernon of indie folk band Bon Iver encountered The Staves' "No Me, No You, No More," and "felt like I was lifting off the ground," only recently, at age 33. Colin Meloy of the Decemberists remembers buying Hüsker Dü's "beautiful, aching, gorgeous acoustic song" "Hardly Gotten Over It" and playing it on a boom box. Trey Anastasio of Phish first heard "Something's Coming," from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, among his mother's Broadway original cast albums. Jazz violinist Regina Carter, on the other hand, rejected her own mother's advice to join a symphony orchestra and went on to become a solo performer after hearing "Lovin' is Really My Game" by Brainstorm, a funk band. Other contributors include Cat Stevens, Jackson Browne, Chris Thile, Jeff Tweedy, Carrie Brownstein, David Byrne, Jenny Lewis, and Jimmy Page. Boilen's warm, engaging voice pervades this treat for music aficionados.

Kirkus Reviews