Your Song Changed My Life - by Bob Boilen (Paperback)

About the Book

Is there a song that changed your life? NPR's music authority Bob Boilen posed that question to some of today's best-loved musical legends and rising stars. In their answers the artists reflect on pivotal moments that inspired their work.

Book Synopsis

From the beloved host and creator of NPR's All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concerts comes an essential oral history of modern music, told in the voices of iconic and up-and-coming musicians, including Dave Grohl, Jimmy Page, Michael Stipe, Carrie Brownstein, Smokey Robinson, and Jeff Tweedy, among others--published in association with NPR Music.

Is there a unforgettable song that changed your life?

NPR's renowned music authority Bob Boilen posed this question to some of today's best-loved musical legends and rising stars. In Your Song Changed My Life, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), St. Vincent, Jónsi (Sigur Rós), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Cat Power, David Byrne (Talking Heads), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Jenny Lewis, Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney), Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), Trey Anastasio (Phish), Jackson Browne, Valerie June, Philip Glass, James Blake, and other artists reflect on pivotal moments that inspired their work.

For Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, it was discovering his sister's 45 of The Byrds' "Turn, Turn, Turn." A young St. Vincent's life changed the day a box of CDs literally fell off a delivery truck in front of her house. Cat Stevens was transformed when he heard John Lennon cover "Twist and Shout." These are the momentous yet unmarked events that have shaped these and many other musical talents, and ultimately the sound of modern music.

A diverse collection of personal experiences, both ordinary and extraordinary, Your Song Changed My Life illustrates the ways in which music is revived, restored, and revolutionized. It is also a testament to the power of music in our lives, and an inspiration for future artists and music lovers.

Amazing contributors include: Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney, Portlandia, Wild Flag), Smokey Robinson, David Byrne (Talking Heads), St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), James Blake, Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), Trey Anastasio (Phish), Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Sturgill Simpson, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Cat Power, Jackson Browne, Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), Philip Glass, Jónsi (Sigur Rós), Hozier, Regina Carter, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, and others), Courtney Barnett, Chris Thile (Nickel Creek, Punch Brothers), Leon Bridges, Sharon Van Etten, and many more.

From the Back Cover

Is there an unforgettable song that changed your life?

NPR's renowned music authority Bob Boilen posed this question to some of today's best-loved musical legends and rising stars. In Your Song Changed My Life, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), St. Vincent, Jónsi (Sigur Rós), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), Chan Marshall (Cat Power), David Byrne (Talking Heads), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Jenny Lewis, Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia, Sleater-Kinney), Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), Trey Anastasio (Phish), Jackson Browne, Valerie June, Philip Glass, James Blake, and many other artists reflect on pivotal moments that inspired their work.

For Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, it was discovering his sister's 45 of The Byrds' "Turn, Turn, Turn." A young St. Vincent's life changed the day a box of CDs literally fell off a truck in front of her house. Cat Stevens was transformed when he heard The Beatles cover "Twist and Shout." Such momentous yet unmarked events have shaped these and many other musical talents, and ultimately the sound of modern music.

Review Quotes

"Bob Boilen's book gets at something real and rare about the power of music." -- New York Times Book Review

"Part memoir, part criticism, and part music history . . . With Your Song Changed My Life [Bob Boilen confirms] that he's one of the most versatile--and most fascinating--music writers working today. A" -- Entertainment Weekly

"NPR's music guru asks dozens of artists about songs that inspired them. The answers are surprising and illuminating, and the roster of contributors is great." -- Billboard, Spring Music Book Preview

"You might know Bob Boilen as the co-host of NPR's "All Songs Considered"--probably the most popular and influential radio show and podcast about music. . . . [his] new book, Your Song Changed My Life is fascinating to music fans of all stripes." -- Omaha World-Herald

"NPR music host Bob Boilen . . . throws a touch of charming memoir atop interviews with 35 musicians who share how they got turned on to music." -- THE WEEK

"Boilen clearly loves his job and loves musicians, and this good-naturedness comes through in Your Song Changed My Life. It's a short geek-out of a music book . . . [and] the best part is the surprise factor." -- LA Weekly

"Since 2000, Boilen, creator and host of NPR's All Songs Considered, has featured new and established singers of all genres on his popular online music show and . . . [his] warm, engaging voice pervades this treat for music aficionados." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Bob Boilen's Your Song Changed My Life . . . is [a] conversational oral history, and given the breadth of contributors, it's one you'll be able to pick up repeatedly to grab a slice of which songs influence some excellent artists." -- Irish Times

"Entertaining and moving, evoking emotions as diverse as the artists Boilen interviews. Each vignette is constructed with obvious love and dedication . . . gentle, intimate, funny and, at times, heartbreaking." -- Daily Californian

"Equal parts touching, surprising, and inspiring . . . Boilen's book could be a delightfully quick read, [but] you are better off rewarding yourself with due diligence." -- The Nerdist