I imagine I’m not alone in finding that we’re living in a bit of a golden age for television drama – What with streaming and on-demand services, as well as the mainstream channels, the discerning viewer is rarely stuck for something great to watch. I am noticing however that cinema audiences are down (around here anyway), and both our local venues have recently slashed their prices. Good news for those of us who still like the excitement of watching our films on the big screen but probably not good for the art form long-term.
This last year alone we have watched Peaky Blinders, Carnival Row, The Boys, Catch-22, Keeping Faith, Summer of Rockets, Years and Years, Killing Eve, Black Mirror, Chernobyl, Gentleman Jack and Les Misérables to name but a few. Seems like all I do is watch telly, but no, our habit is to finish up whatever we’re doing by 9pm, after which we reconvene in the “living room” (the least-used room in the house nowadays, so no longer a very apt name) and settle down for our nightly fix of the goggle-box, as it used to be called.
This week we seemed to be all caught up with everything that had been recorded and nothing new to tickle our fancy on Netflix or elsewhere, so we decided to revisit a series we have already watched, Sons of Anarchy, which follows the lives of a close-knit, outlaw motorcycle club (SAMCRO), operating in a fictional town in Northern California. I’ve written about it around here before, as I became really fond of the theme song This Life performed by Curtis Stigers and the Forest Rangers. As I said last time, probably like most fans, I live in law-abiding “nice-world” where the worst crime I ever commit is to park illegally, or perhaps accidentally speed in a built-up area. Our modern day lives are so controlled and safe that it is sometimes necessary to experience something a bit more edgy from the other side of the tracks, albeit from the comfort of our sofas.
In the penultimate episode of Season 1, a particularly poignant scene was accompanied by a fine version of the song Forever Young written by Bob Dylan, and I was immediately smitten by it. The singer this time was American Audra Mae, who it seems is a great-niece of Judy Garland which might explain the fine pipes. Here is the non-acapella version of the song, but in the show the alternative version was used.
Forever Young by Audra Mae & The Forest Rangers:
Forever Young was originally recorded by Bob Dylan with The Band in November 1973 and first appeared on his album Planet Waves. Dylan had four children between 1966-1969, including his youngest Jakob, and the song was intended as an uplifting message from a parent to a child. The song has endured as one of Dylan’s classics.
As for the show Sons of Anarchy, it took me quite some time to realise that the lead character, played by Charlie Hunnam, was a graduate of British kids telly, first finding his feet on the BBC show Byker Grove along with fellow Geordies Ant & Dec! He next popped up on the award-winning Queer as Folk along with the now seemingly omnipresent Aiden Gillen. Perhaps to those across the pond his accent still has a tinge of Geordie, but he seems to have made the leap from Byker to biker very successfully. I am convinced, and as the anti-hero of the show I have become quite smitten with him, as well as the song featured above.
So, “What’s It All About?” – Having so much great telly around at the moment, means that whenever we want to side-step the real world for a time it’s right there at our fingertips, and with so many great soundtracks, always something for the discerning music-lover as well.
Until next time…
Forever Young Lyrics
(Song by Bob Dylan)
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
What's It All About? 
Hello across the Atlantic. You mention that Audra is related to Judy Garland. I recently saw the movie Judy. Thought it was excellent. Zellwegger does a fabulous job.
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Yes, she is actually the great-great-neice but that all sounded a bit wordy. I was going to mention the forthcoming movie Judy, as I’m looking forward to going to see it but thought it would be ironic in a post about how I think telly is taking over from film. Hopefully not but it does seem as if some of our biggest “stars” now are the lead actors in those epic tv dramas such as Game of Thrones etc.
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That Audra Mae version of Forever Young really works. I often prefer Dylan covers to originals – I think this is one of those occasions, so thanks.
I’ve never seen Sons of Anarchy – actually to my shame there’s a lot on your list I’ve missed out on. But we’ve started having our own home ‘film’ nights recently: Saturday evening, a big glass of wine, a big bag of Twiglets, turn off the lights and catch up with something we’ve recorded or have been given a copy of in the past and never got round to. Next weekend we’re intending to watch the Leonard Cohen film that was aired recently, ‘Marianne and Leonard, Words Of Love’. Did you see it?
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It does sound as if we watch an awful lot but no than most I suspect and there have been some great series this year. As for Sons of Anarchy, not for everyone I suspect but we loved The Sopranos and it was very similar in style, only that they were bikers from California and not sharp-suited mobsters from New Jersey. No, not seen the Leonard Cohen film but I like the sound of it so thanks for the heads-up. Like the sound of the Saturday night wine and twiglets!
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Hi, I found this song through watching SOA, love this version, it works for me. Charlie Hunnam a Brit, just goes to show, learn something every day. Love SOA, Peaky Blinders,GoT, talk about quality will out. Thanks for the info, take care.
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Hi and thanks for dropping by. Yes, you’ll know the scene I was referring to when they played this song and it really worked didn’t it. I had to immediately head off and find out more, which led to this post. We are living in a golden age for television drama and as you say, quality will out.
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