Have been thinking about tempo a great deal lately—years! How to slow the viewer/reader down—without them knowing about nor resisting the seduction? I remember, years ago, the immense bliss of sitting with friends, hour after hour, just listening to albums. Nobody really talking. Just a certain stillness. Being quiet together. Listening. Time. And then this footage went by my screen today.And besides enjoying a profound wave of nostalgia, I wondered whether there’s any really slow music left in the popular world (Is there?). I don’t pretend to know. Am afraid to know the answer. I mean like really slow, like Rufus’s “Slow Screw Against the Wall” slow. Which is to say, my whole entrance into pop culture was 7th grade and slow dancing. I miss the diversity of time within music. It’s a hard thing to sing slowly. To write slowly, too. So, here’s a gentleman. It’s his birthday apparently. He is one of the people, if you grew up at a certain time, to whom we listened, if not for any other reason than he slowed us all down. We knew there was more so-called “serious music,” which we also cherished, but this was its own specialness. Deep relaxation, contemplation. Music to kiss by—for hours—not rushing off. Talking. Listening. And what’s more beautiful than that? Franks also was a part of a new lyricism that has yet to be completely celebrated. Happy Birthday, Mister Franks. Thank you for teaching us the invaluable lesson of taking all the time in the world. Repost from @grownfolksmusic • The lady wants to know... ❤️ Happy birthday Michael Franks!! #sundayvibes #MichaelFranks #theladywantstoknow #grownfolksmusic