Mike Kowalski is a family friend. He played drums on "A Chimes of a City Clock" and others. I spoke with him about Nick (to his astonishment as he hadn't heard the name in a while) and oddly he suggested I speak with his wife, Dawn, as she was much closer to him. So I did. And she had this look of astonished pleasure when I mentioned his name. It was roughly 2003, and I was in my mid-20s at the time. She had this look of sadness...but really pleased that someone knew / remembered and appreciated Nick. She said he was very kindly...morose but not hateful...just an awkward sort with ambition and a yearning. And that he would be very pleased (had he lived) that people found great interest in his music. She had a very comforting and satisfied look...almost like it closed a hurtful chapter in her life. It was for her a remembrance in a way. It was one of the most touching experiences I've ever had, never having met Nick himself, to actually see the impact of Nick's personality...nevermind his music...on someone he knew. Obviously she still felt for Nick, and still carried a sadness for his untimely passing. I saw both both them again in 2013 and they instantly recognized me and our conversation about Nick. The smiles returned in remembrance. It was a wonderful opportunity and certainly a conversation I won't forget.
Thank you for sharing your touching story. I've listened to Nick Drake's music more than of any other artist in recent years. You miswrote the song title '"At the Chime of a City Clock." I am glad you had the nice conversations and cheered up Mike and Dawn, and saw them repeatedly. Nick's music helped me when I was very sick and at other times during these last several toughest years of my life. I've read of so many people praising Nick's music. But I've never read of another lover of Nick's music whose family so disliked Nick's music, or were so uncommunicative back about it, as mine have been. I gave each of Nick's albums to my sister for past birthdays and Christmases and she refuses to say how she liked them. You used the term "morose"...before my mother died, she said about Nick's music, "Oh, it's so moROSE!" Meaning she didn't like it. Anyway I hope you are doing well.
It’s wild to me that many, many people first heard of him bc Volkswagen used ‘Pink Moon’ in a commercial. Glad they did. I named my band after a Nick Drake song. The lack of emotion and pleasure, isolation, etc are all signs of what could have been Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression. Kind of the definition of anhedonia. - coupled with clinical anxiety and isolation. If he had schizophrenia, it’s doubtful he would have made it through writing coherently without it being enormously obvious. This was a great bio. I’m late to the party, but glad I found it. Really well done. Thanks, Nick Drake. Wish you hadn’t suffered so.
I can't just pick a song because a lot of them are the most beautiful and touching songs I ever heard. Maybe one of my favorites is "One of these things first" Is a MASTERPIECE
I just discovered this wonderful young man this week, by way of an accomplished guitarist, Rhett Shull, who has a youtube channel. He was talking about another youtube artist, Madison Cunningham, who covers for Nick Drake and how wonderful she is. I looked her up and was astonished at her rendition of Nick's 'River Man', (which is my favorite). I think Nick would be very happy to see her playing his beautiful song. There are also many other good covers of his music. I have been researching Nick and reading/watching everything I can find on him. I'm retired from the mental health field and as it was suggested in Nick's story, he sure fit the description of someone with schizophrenia...often brilliant and talented people. I just wish that he was still here or somehow knows just how much his music is loved and appreciated. His music really has, and always will, make a difference in so many people's lives. RIP sweet Nick.❤
That 1999 cabrio commercial bought me here. I really liked the song pink moon I had no idea his sister is actress Gabrielle Drake I thought she was a phenomenal actress in UFO. RIP Nick you were so underrated
Love all three of Nicks albums since I discovered him in my teens but I always come back to Pink Moon. One of my all time favorites. Tragic. Would success have changed things? I somehow think it would have magnified his issues, perhaps with a similar ending. Absolutely brilliant mysterious artist that was not appreciated in his time..
I wound up checking out Nick Drake’s albums because I watched this video. I didn’t know much about him prior at all, so I appreciate the post! I have enjoyed your content on the channel, but I thought I would like to give feedback about it too. I think it’s wonderful that “the music narrative” posts about artists or bands and fits it into a narrative about the band’s legacy as an artist and ties that into personal anecdotes. The main thing I’d like to see in future posts is highlighting important tracks or lyrics and talking about how that relates to the artist’s life/story or your life and story and what it means to you. I think you have a tendency to be over-complementary of artists and focus on praise rather than analysis or story-telling at times. It’s wonderful that you are passionate about the artists, and it shows, but I would channel the praise towards positive analysis and forming a narrative rather than saying the music sounds good. I’m assuming many people watch your videos because they already like the artist, or are interested, and want to learn more about their history or hear about highlights they may have missed (like I appreciated you pointing out Duster’s “Stars Will Fall” as I already liked the band but hadn’t heard that song and it’s a gem). I think saying “best albums” and “best tracks” are never a great strategy, but if you can explain why you’re highlighting things you don’t need to argue they’re the best; just that they’re worth talking about. Keep up the good work! I just wanted to give input because I enjoy your content
Thanks for the comment! I greatly appreciate the constructive criticism and I see where you’re coming from. There are definitely a few things I should change to improve the videos overall and you have some points for sure. But I’m glad you get something out of the vids!
Hey! Hopefully this helps. I’m only referring to this specific video I haven’t seen other videos on this channel. I have been listening to Nick Drake for years and basically have seen every documentary there is of him out there and unfortunately Nick Drake was and will always be a big mystery. From the videos that I have seen of close friends of his talking about his music nobody truly knows the meaning behind any of his songs and how they relate to his life the most famous of his songs is Pink Moon and the only reason for that is because it was in a Volkswagen if I’m not mistaken commercial and that is how people started truly listening to his music (for the most part) Other than that there wasn’t a song that was a big hit because he never became famous in his time. I’d like to think that he was extremely Underappreciated in his time. His lyrics and voice far exceed anything that is out here today in my personal opinion of course. He was a true musician and artist but he was very shy and kept to himself. I believe he only did one interview in his lifetime. So not much information is out there about him other than what his sister has spoken in documentaries that I have seen. Hopefully this helps. I think Nick is amazing and I wish that there was more about his life out there there’s barely any pictures online of him. But I guess it’s kind of a cool it makes him unique and will always just be a mystery. Also his music can connect to people in so many different ways and they can each interpret their own meaning to his songs. Hopefully this helps I’m on
Nick Drake is the the musical equivalent of the Indian mathematician Ramanujan who was briefly referenced in the movie Good WIll Hunting. Nick Drake and Ramanujan were both very talented and more people should know of them, WAY MORE people! However they are sadly overlooked by much of the world.
To diagnose schizophrenia, you would need more symptoms, I kindly ask you to consider looking into DSM5, I really appreciate the video since Nick Drake is monumental for me as a musician
Your pronunciation of Warwickshire, Wilshire, Berkshire and Camebridge were well worth the listen.......only joking but you mirdeted the pronunciation tho but understood you not being from England. I loved the content from you, you did gloss over Nick's inability to promote his records and play in front of a live audience tho which was his reason for failure according to Joe Boyd. He constantly re-tuned his guitar after every song taking 10mins and never spoke making the audience impatient and Nick more nervous. Eventually Nick started to play with his back to the audience something a few other artists have had to adopt like Sixto Rodriguez.
Fly (Thanks to Wes Anderson, I found Nick Drake). Funny I thought it too, he fall on the same class as Jim Morrison or Kurt Cobain.. their music is something so easy it sounds but so unique that later it feels like it's creates it's own class
Trivia: one of youtube’s earliest videos has nick drake’s “hazey jane 2” playing in the background. Edit: here’s the link to that video ua-cam.com/video/PvTmxDBxtLs/v-deo.html
I think nicks biggest weakness was his soft voice. I think he’s a great player and song writer but something about that voice is off putting to me. I suspect many people feel the same way.
Love Nick Drake. His music has recently been helping me through my own struggles. Rest In Peace Nick. Genius.
My Dad told me to listen to Nick Drake, wow what beautiful music he makes.
Loved his music. One of these things is my favorite ❤
Mike Kowalski is a family friend. He played drums on "A Chimes of a City Clock" and others. I spoke with him about Nick (to his astonishment as he hadn't heard the name in a while) and oddly he suggested I speak with his wife, Dawn, as she was much closer to him. So I did. And she had this look of astonished pleasure when I mentioned his name. It was roughly 2003, and I was in my mid-20s at the time. She had this look of sadness...but really pleased that someone knew / remembered and appreciated Nick. She said he was very kindly...morose but not hateful...just an awkward sort with ambition and a yearning. And that he would be very pleased (had he lived) that people found great interest in his music. She had a very comforting and satisfied look...almost like it closed a hurtful chapter in her life. It was for her a remembrance in a way. It was one of the most touching experiences I've ever had, never having met Nick himself, to actually see the impact of Nick's personality...nevermind his music...on someone he knew. Obviously she still felt for Nick, and still carried a sadness for his untimely passing. I saw both both them again in 2013 and they instantly recognized me and our conversation about Nick. The smiles returned in remembrance. It was a wonderful opportunity and certainly a conversation I won't forget.
Thank you for sharing your touching story. I've listened to Nick Drake's music more than of any other artist in recent years. You miswrote the song title '"At the Chime of a City Clock." I am glad you had the nice conversations and cheered up Mike and Dawn, and saw them repeatedly. Nick's music helped me when I was very sick and at other times during these last several toughest years of my life. I've read of so many people praising Nick's music. But I've never read of another lover of Nick's music whose family so disliked Nick's music, or were so uncommunicative back about it, as mine have been. I gave each of Nick's albums to my sister for past birthdays and Christmases and she refuses to say how she liked them. You used the term "morose"...before my mother died, she said about Nick's music, "Oh, it's so moROSE!" Meaning she didn't like it. Anyway I hope you are doing well.
Pink Moon is spectacular, what a great album
It’s wild to me that many, many people first heard of him bc Volkswagen used ‘Pink Moon’ in a commercial.
Glad they did.
I named my band after a Nick Drake song.
The lack of emotion and pleasure, isolation, etc are all signs of what could have been Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression. Kind of the definition of anhedonia. - coupled with clinical anxiety and isolation.
If he had schizophrenia, it’s doubtful he would have made it through writing coherently without it being enormously obvious.
This was a great bio. I’m late to the party, but glad I found it. Really well done.
Thanks, Nick Drake. Wish you hadn’t suffered so.
Just digging into this guy on my acoustic journey. Pink Moon is such a beautiful record. Cant wait to listen to more.
I truly wish we knew more of him. 😔😔😔😔 for years I have been listening to his music and I still am amazed at his lyrics and his voice ❤️
And his very unique guitar playing. He’s the master. The beautiful sadness of lost loves remembered.
He’s sensitive.
everything we have to know is in his music... and there there is more that we can still understand, imho
I can't just pick a song because a lot of them are the most beautiful and touching songs I ever heard. Maybe one of my favorites is "One of these things first" Is a MASTERPIECE
Such a beautiful songwriter, as a guitarist and songwriter I have so much respect for his talents. RIP Nick
This is what you call a biography, no interviews, people giving their takes, straight to the point.
I just discovered this wonderful young man this week, by way of an accomplished guitarist, Rhett Shull, who has a youtube channel. He was talking about another youtube artist, Madison Cunningham, who covers for Nick Drake and how wonderful she is. I looked her up and was astonished at her rendition of Nick's 'River Man', (which is my favorite).
I think Nick would be very happy to see her playing his beautiful song. There are also many other good covers of his music. I have been researching Nick and reading/watching everything I can find on him. I'm retired from the mental health field and as it was suggested in Nick's story, he sure fit the description of someone with schizophrenia...often brilliant and talented people. I just wish that he was still here or somehow knows just how much his music is loved and appreciated. His music really has, and always will, make a difference in so many people's lives. RIP sweet Nick.❤
That 1999 cabrio commercial bought me here.
I really liked the song pink moon I had no idea his sister is actress Gabrielle Drake I thought she was a phenomenal actress in UFO.
RIP Nick you were so underrated
I love all three records from Nick Drake. Its all a beautiful sadness.
Love all three of Nicks albums since I discovered him in my teens but I always come back to Pink Moon. One of my all time favorites. Tragic. Would success have changed things? I somehow think it would have magnified his issues, perhaps with a similar ending. Absolutely brilliant mysterious artist that was not appreciated in his time..
I wound up checking out Nick Drake’s albums because I watched this video. I didn’t know much about him prior at all, so I appreciate the post!
I have enjoyed your content on the channel, but I thought I would like to give feedback about it too. I think it’s wonderful that “the music narrative” posts about artists or bands and fits it into a narrative about the band’s legacy as an artist and ties that into personal anecdotes. The main thing I’d like to see in future posts is highlighting important tracks or lyrics and talking about how that relates to the artist’s life/story or your life and story and what it means to you. I think you have a tendency to be over-complementary of artists and focus on praise rather than analysis or story-telling at times. It’s wonderful that you are passionate about the artists, and it shows, but I would channel the praise towards positive analysis and forming a narrative rather than saying the music sounds good. I’m assuming many people watch your videos because they already like the artist, or are interested, and want to learn more about their history or hear about highlights they may have missed (like I appreciated you pointing out Duster’s “Stars Will Fall” as I already liked the band but hadn’t heard that song and it’s a gem). I think saying “best albums” and “best tracks” are never a great strategy, but if you can explain why you’re highlighting things you don’t need to argue they’re the best; just that they’re worth talking about.
Keep up the good work! I just wanted to give input because I enjoy your content
Thanks for the comment! I greatly appreciate the constructive criticism and I see where you’re coming from. There are definitely a few things I should change to improve the videos overall and you have some points for sure. But I’m glad you get something out of the vids!
Hey! Hopefully this helps. I’m only referring to this specific video I haven’t seen other videos on this channel. I have been listening to Nick Drake for years and basically have seen every documentary there is of him out there and unfortunately Nick Drake was and will always be a big mystery. From the videos that I have seen of close friends of his talking about his music nobody truly knows the meaning behind any of his songs and how they relate to his life the most famous of his songs is Pink Moon and the only reason for that is because it was in a Volkswagen if I’m not mistaken commercial and that is how people started truly listening to his music (for the most part) Other than that there wasn’t a song that was a big hit because he never became famous in his time. I’d like to think that he was extremely Underappreciated in his time. His lyrics and voice far exceed anything that is out here today in my personal opinion of course. He was a true musician and artist but he was very shy and kept to himself. I believe he only did one interview in his lifetime. So not much information is out there about him other than what his sister has spoken in documentaries that I have seen. Hopefully this helps. I think Nick is amazing and I wish that there was more about his life out there there’s barely any pictures online of him. But I guess it’s kind of a cool it makes him unique and will always just be a mystery. Also his music can connect to people in so many different ways and they can each interpret their own meaning to his songs. Hopefully this helps I’m on
So many unheard until they die. I am afraid I am that person. I’m just not sure what part of my leftovers will be treasured.
Very talented man wonderfull voice his music stands the test of time River Man is a superb track and takes you along with the lyrics ..
Nick Drake is the the musical equivalent of the Indian mathematician Ramanujan who was briefly referenced in the movie Good WIll Hunting. Nick Drake and Ramanujan were both very talented and more people should know of them, WAY MORE people! However they are sadly overlooked by much of the world.
Thanks for this video, we love nick drake, s/o from france
Nick Drake made beautiful music
To diagnose schizophrenia, you would need more symptoms, I kindly ask you to consider looking into DSM5, I really appreciate the video since Nick Drake is monumental for me as a musician
Your pronunciation of Warwickshire, Wilshire, Berkshire and Camebridge were well worth the listen.......only joking but you mirdeted the pronunciation tho but understood you not being from England.
I loved the content from you, you did gloss over Nick's inability to promote his records and play in front of a live audience tho which was his reason for failure according to Joe Boyd.
He constantly re-tuned his guitar after every song taking 10mins and never spoke making the audience impatient and Nick more nervous. Eventually Nick started to play with his back to the audience something a few other artists have had to adopt like Sixto Rodriguez.
great vid
Fly (Thanks to Wes Anderson, I found Nick Drake). Funny I thought it too, he fall on the same class as Jim Morrison or Kurt Cobain.. their music is something so easy it sounds but so unique that later it feels like it's creates it's own class
Trivia: one of youtube’s earliest videos has nick drake’s “hazey jane 2” playing in the background.
Edit: here’s the link to that video ua-cam.com/video/PvTmxDBxtLs/v-deo.html
I think nicks biggest weakness was his soft voice. I think he’s a great player and song writer but something about that voice is off putting to me. I suspect many people feel the same way.
His fans don't.
there is no mystery to his death... he commited suicide.
weehd lol bro chill, flowers are natural from the creator, not the devils lettuce here broh
Nick deserves better than this.
You’re right. I plan on remaking this video sooner than later. It definitely could’ve been better.
War-WICK-shyre.