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Saturday 1 January 2022

Twelve


Bagging Area is twelve years old today, a blog that started out as being something I thought I'd try for a year is now only one year short of being a teenager. There aren't many songs with the number twelve or 12 in the title. There are obviously hundreds/ thousands of 12" mixes or versions but that seemed like cheating. The best is this one from Bob Dylan, the opening song on 1966's Blonde On Blonde...


I saw Bob Dylan once, part of his Never Ending Tour, at Manchester Arena (then called Nynex). I'd struggle to tell you exactly which year it was but the internet tells me it was 9th May 2002- the setlist from that gig looks familiar. More familiar than some of the songs on the night some of which were well under way before they became recognisable. I know that's all become part of the fun of a latter day Dylan gig but it does lead to some head scratching moments and then laughter as you suddenly realise 'oh, it's  Visions Of Johanna!'. On the night we saw him he finished his set with Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 and it was one of the songs which was identifiable fairly instantly. 

Some brief 'research' into the number twelve reveals that it is significant numerologically- it represents perfection or completion and cosmic order. It crops up in mythology, religion and the zodiac. There are twelve months and twelve lunar cycles. Twelve is also the number of years for a full cycle of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system and one of the brightest in our sky. The Jupiter 4 is a vintage Roland synthesizer and gave a name and a sound to this Sharon Van Etten song, a dark, moody, obsessive love song written on the distinctive synth. 


And with those two songs we're off into 2022. More stuff incoming no doubt. 

11 comments:

Khayem said...

Happy 12th anniversary, Adam! That's some achievement, considering that it's never been anything less than a compelling read and musical education. The Dylan song is unsurprisingly very familiar but enhanced by the tour anecdote. I've not heard the Sharon Van Etten song before and it's another reminder that I really should buy one of her albums. She frequently pops up on compilations and mixtapes and I always like what I hear, so if I only make one resolution this year, it's to plug that gap in my collection.

Best wishes for 2022.

Jake Sniper said...

Happy 12th Birthday, thank you for opening my ears to a hell of a lot amazing music over the last 12 years Adam.

Nick L said...

Deciding to "do a blog" is one thing. Keeping it interesting and somewhere that others will want to consistently check in at is another. Well done for getting so far.

Rol said...

Happy blogversary, SA. Wishing you and your family a healing New Year.

Martin said...

Exactly what Rol said...

keepingitpeel said...

Happy 12th! Hey maybe you'll finally post something from Andrew Weatherall.

JTFL said...

Hell of a milestone, Adam. Happy 12th and happy 2022!

Charity Chic said...

A dozen years Adam - quite an achievement.Keep on keeping on

C said...

Huge congrats on 12 years - I will never know how you and the other prolific bloggers manage it, but I'm very glad you do. Thanks for all the words, tunes and pics.

Rickyotter said...

Happy 12th anniversary Adam, and a happy new year to boot

Echorich said...

Happy Anniversary Bagging Area and to you wonderful gift of prose and commentary Adam! This blog has been an active part of my life for all 12 of those years!