First introduction to Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits was "Walk of Life" on MTV when they actually played videos. I was around nine years old and they showed clips of sports plays and celebrations sliced in with live footage of Mark playing with a headband on and a bunch of day glow neon clothes rocking the stage. My next recollection was the classic "Money For Nothing" which screamed 80's with its computer graphics and Max Headroom like feel. After that I remember listening to "Sultans of Swing" in my friend's basement while skulling Shafers lipping Copenhagen as the lyrics poured out of the vinyl. Years later in the movie "Spy Game" I hear his enchanting guitar when Bishop is walking off of the train in West Germany, the song was "Brothers in Arms".
Presently I play golf with a friend every Monday morning outside of the city in Westchester, on the way home we make a game of throwing the Ipod on shuffle and trying to name the songs that come on before each other. Last week this song came on and within a few notes I screamed "Lions" Dire Straits. Something clicked inside of me and my mind came back to those nights listening to this album in my friend's basement in high school, live at the BBC.
Mark Knopfler is a classic musician that they just don't make anymore these days. He can play anything and has done so. Rock, Country, Soundtracks...it doesn't matter the man can do it. I can't describe how jealous I was when I saw him singing duets with my girl, my future wife, Emmylou Harris as he played his acoustic clawhammer style instead of the standard plectrum that most musicians use.
In the intro to this song he states that "it is another strange kinda song" and I have no idea what the hell he is talking about. I think it, like most songs, has something to do with the predatory nature of men and women waiting to be trounced upon at the bar. What she is thinking and what is going around her in the world as things are taking place around her.
But in this version there is nothing better than listening to him play that first Bm chord followed by the simple D that is hit with a one-two punch of a strum. Sometimes chords are just that powerful. The chord progression in this song: Bm-D-A-G7, followed by Bm-D-A-G7 once again is worthy of the statue of the E-A-B Bo Diddley beat and the power chords of Nirvana that revolutionized modern rock music.
Knopfler's smokey barroom straining voice lulls one into a smooth state of drunkenness sans hangover the next day. He is cruising through the lyrics like a 1970 Eldorado floating along the highways at 80 mph with the top down and sunshine streaking through his hair with his axe sitting shotgun. The man knows how to tell a story in a way that the words aren't even significant as you are brought to a trance like state by his timbre and melody.
He might be one of the most underrated musicians of our day, forget about the countless iterations of Dire Straits and (just as Parliament) the many members who have called themselves a part of the band. Knopfler is a legend and not only this song proves his validity but this entire album "Live at the BBC" where the rawness and sheer sexuality comes springing at you like a pair of breasts coming to life as the bra strap is undone, the life hitting you in the face as you walk out onto wet city streets sleek and ready to head out for the night. It slaps you in the face with its rhythm and intensity just like this songs namesake is sitting in the bush waiting to pounce and capture its prey. Thankfully one should be happy to be the hyena in this metaphor and be willing to give up his meat to the predator of rock and roll.
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