Shawn Colvin: "Diamond in the Rough"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-06-07/shawn-colvin-diamond-rough
Shawn Colvin began life on the South Dakota prairie where the great sky was a canvas on which to paint her dreams. Her father gave her a guitar at age 10 and she has been pursuing a music career ever since. In 1989, her debut recording won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Nine years later, she won two Grammys for the hit song "Sunny Came Home." But she battled alcoholism, depression and bad choices in love along the road to success. In a new memoir, she describes how she found her voice as a songwriter--and why she thinks she's a lousy girlfriend and an even worse wife.
Guests
Shawn Colvin
Grammy Award- winning singer-songwriter and musician.
Related Video
Music video by Shawn Colvin performing Diamond In The Rough. (C) 1990 Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Music video by Shawn Colvin performing Sunny Came Home. (C) 1997 Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Read An Excerpt
Excerpt from "Diamond in the Rough" by Shawn Colvin. Copyright 2012 by Shawn Colvin. Reprinted here by permission of William Morrow. All rights reserved.
Comments
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"Round of Blues" is the greatest song ever written - from your number one fan, one bag lady to another. We are the same, but different. Don't be nervous. You are doing fine. Can't wait to see you in Kent OH on August 2.
Shawn Colvin is charming, witty, and talented, and her shows are a joy to attend. When you're at a show, you feel like she's your best friend, performing for you. Her musical sensibility is A-one. She could cover any great song and make it sound even better. I feel like her talent should be more recognized than it is, and I'm so glad to hear her on your show, Diane.
I'm really enjoying the interview with Shawn Colvin. I'm glad I'm not the only girl who burned down a field at 10 or 11. My only problem was that we lived in the city......took some wiggling after the fire trucks came. But thankfully no damage to property of loss of life.
Thanks for the wonderful music and candor. Best wishes for your future endeavors.
Silvia
I love the song Diamond in the Rough. I was in my awkward, early 20's when it came out. It reminds me of being a little girl in Missouri playing in our creek-for some reason it makes me cry with the fond memories it still brings me. Thank you!
How lovely to hear "Diamond in the Rough" as I write. It's one of my favorites, along with "Shotgun Down the Avalanche." I love your own songs, but was originally hooked years ago by "Cover Girl". Your interpretations of those songs are so beautifu and stirring. That album has accompanied me on every road trip I've taken since I first heard it. Thank you for enduring through your struggles. You're an inspiration and a gift to the world.
Love so many of her songs! They are permanent fixtures in my music collection - with me always! Thanks for sharing with world!
Shawn sounds as good as she ever has. Beautiful as ever... I'm always moved by the sound of her voice. Much love to you, Shawn.
My name is Angi Parks, and I'm in Indianapolis. Please tell Shawn that the lyric "but I've got a good book, and anti-depressants" from the song "Object of My Affection" is something I sing to myself every day, because it's usually true. So, Shawn is a part of my daily life, and I'd like to thank her.
I won a summer camp talent show singing one of Shawn Colvin's songs and at that time, I didn't know I could sing or play guitar. After that summer I knew that I would be a performing musician for the rest of my life. She is definitely one of the top 5 most influential musicians to me. I still cherish several of her albums that I have on cassette tape! I am now a professional musician and love playing Shawn Colvin songs. My favorite is "Fat City". In my band, Four Leaves Left, I warm up with a tune or two of hers or U2. I know...opposite ends of the spectrum, but I am who I am. Diane, it was wonderful of you to have Shawn Colvin on your show today. I enjoyed every minute of it! Brought me back and propelled my inspiration forward at the same time! Thank you!
Kindly,
Kimbo of Four Leaves Left
Thank you diane for giving us access to time with sc on your fine show. it is just one of those things to realize how powerfully sc 's music bleeds through the paper and into my / our lives. All of us fans travel literal and emotional miles and get deeply involved before we realize she's, a person a human like me /us who has inadvertantly struck a flame in many a soul..we feel thoses words songs and music and it helps us live inspired...
I first heard "Sonny Came Home" as a six-year-old growing up in rural Illinois and it immediately became one of my favorite songs. It is still a great song today in my 22-year. I will admit that I believe I liked it so much because it spoke to a sadness in me. I could relate to Sonny's longing to escape, and to the images of the world burning down. Perhaps many girls do feel this way from the time they are young. What is the inspiration of the song?
I, too, love Shotgun Down the Avalanche and discovered Shawn via this song flying from Nashville TN to Palm Springs CA many years ago. Thanks for the interview and the gift of your music and talent.
It was SUCH a treat to hear Shawn Colvin on your show this morning, Diane! She is my favorite singer/songwriter, and I have been following her career for literally decades. Her brother (Geoff) sat to the left of me in my French class in Carbondale, IL--where they both attended high school--and I had a huge crush on him! Shawn is 1-2 yrs. older than my younger sister, Viv (and our last name was Wotiz back then). I cover four of her songs when I play at open mics. Her music and lyrics are insightful and leave me renewed somehow, every time! Sometimes I think she is way too hard on herself, and listening to her on your show reinforces my gut feeling that she does not understand the profound and widespread effect of her talent on people like me. If she did, perhaps she wouldn't be quite so vulnerable to depression, but--if she did--perhaps her music would lack that reflection that we have come to know so well!