ZUM TOD DES KANADISCHEN SÄNGERS UND SONGWRITERS GORDON LIGHTFOOT

02.05.2023 Der am 17. November 1938 in Orillia (Ontario) geborene kanadische Folk- und Coutrysänger und Songwriter Gordon Lightfoot (Bild) ist am 1. Mai 2023 in Toronto gestorben. Lightfoot, der in den 1960er-Jahren bereits einige Soloschallplatten aufgenommen hatte, war zunächst als Songwriter (unter anderem für George Hamilton IV. oder Peter, Paul and Mary) erfolgreich. Auch Elvis Presley coverte immer wieder Songs von Lightfoot, beispielsweise "That’s What You Get for Lovin’ Me" oder "Early Mornin’ Rain". Letztgenannten Song nahmen auch Bob Dylan und Paul Weller auf. Lightfoots erster eigener internationaler Hit war 1970 der Titel "If You Could Read My Mind". 2006 erlangte der Song nochmals Aufmerksamkeit in der gefühlvollen Interpretation von Johnny Cash, der ihn kurz vor seinem Tod für sein letztes Album aufgenommen hatte. 1986 wurde Lightfoot in die Canadian Music Hall of Fame aufgenommen. Die Laudatio hielt Bob Dylan.(*)

Bild: Gordon Lightfoot, 2009 - Foto: Arnielee - Lizenz: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en - Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GordonLightfoot_Interlochen.jpg

We have lost one of our greatest singer-songwriters. Gordon Lightfoot captured our country’s spirit in his music – and in doing so, he helped shape Canada’s soundscape. May his music continue to inspire future generations, and may his legacy live on forever. To his family, friends, and many fans across the country and around the world: I’m keeping you in my thoughts at this difficult time.

Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister

https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1653224725877870593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1653224725877870593%7Ctwgr%5E9c1e9f66918f0faf923a7d341b9449ebc5e81daa%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fentertainment%2Fgordon-lightfoot-dead-1.6828991

Canadian folk music icon Gordon Lightfoot, whose evocative and poetic songs are etched into the musical landscape of Canada, has died at the age of 84, according to his longtime publicist Victoria Lord.

Lord says Lightfoot died at a Toronto hospital on Monday evening. The cause of death was not immediately available

Born in Orillia, Ont., Lightfoot was hailed as Canada's folk troubadour for his soulful music and stirring lyrics. In songs such as "The Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", he explored the country's history, geography and culture.

Susan Noakes

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/gordon-lightfoot-dead-1.6828991

Those stories and that voice. Why Gordon Lightfoot’s music hit home for me and so many Canadians

Lightfoot’s gifts created devoted, decades-long fans around the world, but for Kenyon Wallace, the emotional connection — forged early — was even closer.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2023/05/01/those-stories-and-that-voice-why-gordon-lightfoots-music-hit-home-for-me-and-so-many-canadians.html

Considered one of the most renowned voices to emerge from Toronto’s Yorkville folk club scene in the 1960s, Lightfoot went on to record no less than 20 studio albums and pen hundreds of songs, including “Early Morning Rain,” “Carefree Highway” and “Sundown.”

David Friend

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2023/05/01/cp-newsalert-legendary-folk-singer-songwriter-gordon-lightfoot-dies-at-84.html

'An eternal inspiration': Tributes pour in for legendary folk icon Gordon Lightfoot

Tributes were swift and passionate, coming from people from all walks of life that had been deeply touched by Lightfoot’s music.

Nick Krewen

https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2023/05/02/an-eternal-inspiration-tributes-pour-in-for-legendary-folk-icon-gordon-lightfoot.html

“This one is really hard to write,” Bryan Adams shared in a lengthy Twitter message. “Once in a blue moon you get to work and hang out with one of the people you admired when you were growing up. I was lucky enough to say Gordon was my friend and I’m gutted to know he’s gone. The world is a lesser place without him. I know I speak for all Canadians when I say: thank you for the songs Gordon Lightfoot. Bless your sweet songwriting heart, RIP dear friend.”

https://torontosun.com/entertainment/music/tributes-pour-in-for-gordon-lightfoot-thank-you-for-the-songs

Gordon Lightfoot, Canadian Folk-Rock Troubadour, Dead at 84

Brilliant songwriter penned classics like "If You Could Read My Mind," "Early Morning Rain," and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald“

Andy Greene

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/gordon-lightfoot-dead-obituary-1234716529/

Lightfoot topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with “Sundown” and also had top 5 songs with “If You Could Read My Mind” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” All three songs reached No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart, as did “Carefree Highway” and “Rainy Day People,” during his mid-’70s chart heyday.

Chris Morris

https://variety.com/2023/music/obituaries-people-news/gordon-lightfoot-dead-edmund-fitzgerald-folk-singer-1235600585/

Throughout his career, Lightfoot garnered four top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. His 1974 LP, "Sundown", hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Several of his albums have achieved gold and platinum status. His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Harry Belafonte and Neil Young, among many more.

https://americansongwriter.com/gordon-lightfoot-dies-at-84/

Gordon Lightfoot, Hitmaking Singer-Songwriter, Is Dead at 84

Mr. Dylan held Mr. Lightfoot in high regard. He once said, “I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like,” adding, “Every time I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever.” Mr. Dylan included a version of “Early Morning Rain” on his 1970 album “Self Portrait.” (Among the other singers to have covered that song is Elvis Presley.)

William Grimes

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/arts/music/gordon-lightfoot-dead.html

"I simply write the songs about where I am and where I’m from," he said. "I take situations and write poems about them."

Often described as a poetic storyteller, Lightfoot remained keenly aware of his cultural influence. It was a role he took seriously.

"I just like to stay there and be a part of the totem pole and look after the responsibilities I’ve acquired over the years," he said in a 2001 interview.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/02/gordon-lightfoot-canadian-singer-songwriter-dies-aged-84

Le légendaire chanteur folk canadien Gordon Lightfoot est décédé

L’œuvre magistrale de Gordon Lightfoot lui a permis de multiplier les distinctions et récompenses, notamment en dominant les cérémonies des prix Juno dans les années 60 et 70 dans la catégorie folk. Il a aussi été nommé compagne de l’Ordre du Canada.

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/05/01/le-chanteur-folk-canadien-gordon-lightfoot-est-mort

L’esprit musical du Canada

Gordon Lightfoot, voix de la folk canadienne, est mort à l’âge de 84 ans

En 2019, le prolifique artiste aux 10 millions d’albums vendus avait également été à l’honneur d’un documentaire inédit “Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind”. Une “exploration dans la carrière, la musique et les influences du musicien iconique”, peut-on lire dans le pitch de ce film intime, où nombreux sont venus confier toute leur admiration pour Lightfoot (Sarah McLachlan, Alec Baldwin, Geddy Lee de Rush, ou bien encore Greg Graffin de Bad Religion…). Il est à (re)découvrir ici.

https://www.rocknfolk.com/condoleances/gordon-lightfoot-voix-de-la-folk-canadienne-est-mort-a-lage-de-84-ans/343885

Muere la leyenda de la música canadiense Gordon Lightfoot a los 84 años

Artistas como Elvis Presley y Bob Dylan interpretaron las canciones del que fue conocido como una de las leyendas del ‘folk’ en su país.

EFE

https://elpais.com/cultura/2023-05-02/muere-la-leyenda-de-la-musica-canadiense-gordon-lightfoot-a-los-84-anos.html

Morto il cantautore Gordon Lightfoot. Bob Dylan lo definì "talento raro"

Considerato una delle voci più famose emerse dalla scena dei folk club di Yorkville di Toronto negli anni '60, Lightfoot ha inciso 20 album in studio e centinaia di canzoni, tra cui "Carefree Highway" e "Sundown".

https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2023/05/02/news/morto_il_cantautore_gordon_lightfoot-398384783/

Der kanadische Melancholiker

Immer scheint er weggehen zu müssen, auch vor seinen Liebsten flüchtend: ein Folk-Motiv schlechthin, von Lightfoot kongenial in seiner Zeit zu Liedern verarbeitet.

https://taz.de/Nachruf-auf-Gordon-Lightfoot/!5931402/

Hymnen für die Rastlosen

Zum Tod des begnadeten Songwriters und Schmachtfetzen-Gottes Gordon Lightfoot.

Jakob Biazza

https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/gordon-lightfoot-tot-nachruf-if-you-could-read-my-mind-1.5834083?reduced=true

Er liebe jeden Song von Gordon Lightfoot, hat Bob Dylan einmal über seinen kanadischen Kollegen gesagt. Und wann immer er eins seiner Lieder höre, so Dylan weiter, wünschte er, es möge niemals enden.

Lightfoot und Bob Dylan waren einander bereits in den frühen 1960er-Jahren begegnet, sie gehörten beide demselben Stall an, wie sie einmal bemerkten. Ihr Stallmeister war Albert Grossman, ein einflussreicher Impresario und Manager, dessen Frau Sally in einem auffällig roten Kleid auf dem Cover von Dylans Album „Bringing It All Back Home“ (1965) posierte. Unter vielen anderen Stars der frühen Pop-Jahre hatte Grossman auch Janis Joplin und das Folk-Trio Peter, Paul and Mary unter Vertrag. Für Letztere hatte Lightfoot bereits einige Songs geschrieben, ehe er dem von Bob Dylan etablierten Prinzip folgte, die eigenen Songs gleich selbst zu singen und aufzunehmen. Einer seiner frühen Hits, „Early Morning Rain“, wurde jedoch durch Elvis Presley bekannt, später nahm Bob Dylan ihn für sein Album „Self Portrait“ auf.

Harry Nutt

https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/kultur-vergnuegen/musik/im-stall-mit-bob-dylan-zum-tode-des-grossen-songwriters-gordon-lightfoot-li.344011

Was ist es, das uns auseinanderbringt?

Sein Werk war geprägt von bebender Eifersucht, Resignation und vollendeten Kompositionen. Zum Tod des großen kanadischen Folksängers Gordon Lightfoot.

Tilman Spreckelsen

https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/gordon-lightfoot-ist-tot-vom-geheimtipp-zum-vielfach-gecoverten-star-18863536.html

Der kanadische Folk-Barde Gordon Lightfoot ist im Alter von 84 Jahren gestorben

Mit "If You Could Read My Mind" schrieb der kanadische Liedermacher einen Folk-Klassiker und eine der schönsten Balladen überhaupt.

Stefan Künzli

https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/thema/gordon-lightfoot