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Jane Siberry
I was just cleaning up some files when I came across the following story that I wrote for 43people before they unceremoniously deleted my account. It's a pretty good chuckle, so I thought I'd post it here so that you could enjoy my embarrassment.
So, without further ado, let me present "My Adventures with Jane Siberry" (Noted Canadian recording artist, now known as "Issa"):
I live on Manitoulin Island, where Jane visits from time-to-time in the summer; I had actually met Jane several times while working at a local natural food store, but never bothered to address her directly, always feeling that most celebrity type people would prefer to have their privacy respected.
Anyhow, a couple of years back I was at one of the local farmers’ markets when Jane came by my table. I greeted her, as I would any person visiting my table and spoke with her about some of the pieces that I make. She took a shine to a particular kind of sterling silver pendant that I make and asked me if I had two, going on to explain that she was looking for something to share with a specific special person in particular.
Apparently they had shared rings, but his had been lost in the ocean and hers down an outdoor privy hole.
I told her that I could easily make a second pendant if she gave me a few minutes, she agreed, and then asked me if there was a discount for two. I smiled and said “sure”, just because I knew who she was.
She wandered on, while I started to put together a second identical pendant, explaining to Audrey (my table partner) who she was and that she did a specific song (Calling All Angels) that was really special to me. Audrey didn’t recognize her name until I mentioned that she did (It Can’t Rain All the Time) from soundtrack of “The Crow”, which Audrey instantly recognized as one of her favorite songs of all time.
Jane returned after wandering the full vender circle, I showed her the pendants and she seemed pleased. Then she said “You know, it’s really not fair of me to ask you for a discount, I’m an artist as well and know what it’s like”, to which I responded “Yes, I am familiar with your work and enjoy it quite a bit.” She seemed please, paid for her pendants then apologized for not having any sort of CD or thing to give me, as she had recently switched to a press-on-demand service for all her music.
I told her that it was alright and that I thought that it was cool to move to that kind of system for music distribution and that was that, she left, seemingly happy. I gave Audrey a little high five, as I’m usually not adept enough to handle such situations with any kind of grace.
Well, about 10 minutes later Jane came back, she handed me a CD in a sleeve and explained that it was a demo that she was mailing out and that she wanted me to have a copy. I looked at the label, it had something like 6 songs and I thanked her profusely. Then Audrey completely messed me up by saying “is your favorite song on there?” It was and then all of a sudden I found myself babbling about why it was so special to me and the important time in my life when I first heard it. Basically a ton of irrelevant data that nobody, especially Jane Siberry, would ever care about.
As I babbling she started to get this really disturbed look on her face, like she had just met some sort of really demented fan and had better flee before I locked her in a secret bedroom, broke her kneecaps and forced her to write a sequel to my favorite song. And flee she did!
Audrey looked at me and said “Well, you really blew that, didn’t you?” I said “Yup!”
I saw Jane again this summer and she didn’t stay too long at my market table, but, on the other hand, she didn’t flee in terror either!
Posted by Dylon on February 19, 2007 9:31 PM |
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Comments
I love this story! I really like Jane Sibbery's work too.
Like you, I tend to feel that celebrity-type people enjoy their peace and privacy since the media's around them so much. There's a neat little place I used to eat at in Toronto where Margaret Atwood used to frequent. I also met the late Mordecai Richler in Stratford (he was with a very beautiful, young lady...we have no idea who she was! She certainly didn't look like his daughter)!
Hi Dylan,
Great story.
Ask Jane what she thinks about industrial wind turbines developmments on Manioulin Island when you see her next time. 43 wind turbines on McLean's Mountain near Little Current.
I had a show with Jack a few years back. I have a few of your dad's pieces, and have seen you at the Market.
Thr thing is, Dylan, if we are going to stop these multi-national companies from building 500 megawatts of wind turbines on the Island, when the Island needs 30 MW at peak, we need a star to stand up for the Island and say this is a bad idea.
I don't know who is the best "star". Maybe Jack is. Maybe Jane is. I have also heard that Tom Cruise has a place on the Island. But we need a person who can attract media attention or write a song to say;
We want green energy and we want a sustainable Manitoulin, and we want our green energy projects to come from the community and be controlled by the community.
This controversy is a huge opportuntiy for different interests and sectors on the Island to come together... to bridge differences, to create larger, cross-cultural communiies...
Hey, I'm an artist and a mediator, so that's how I see it.
Are you on board, Dylan? Can you help out?
Just bye the bye: Did you know Noah Greenspoon? Ithink maybe you guys were in school together? If you knew Noah, can put you in touch with him.
I know this is a lot to ask. I just see you as a person who can make a difference, who is there on the Island, commited to the Island. I see you as a person who can call on others to keep the Manitoulin.
In Toronto, I volunteer to work with kids who are in trouble with the law: who have been charged with an offence: who accept responsibility and want to make amends. We work with them in th Circle Process, which is based on respect, honesty ...
Joyce
June 2010