Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music That Inspired It

Bob Boilen

Apr 2016 · HarperCollins

About this ebook

“NPR's music guru asks dozens of artists about songs that inspired them. The answers are surprising and illuminating.” —Billboard Magazine

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.

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), 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. 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 is a testament to the power of music in our lives, and an inspiration for future artists and music lovers.

“Boilen’s warm, engaging voice pervades this treat for music aficionados.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“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 . . . [from] one of the most versatile-and most fascinating-music writers working today.” —Entertainment Weekly

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About the author

Bob Boilen is the creator and host of NPR Music’s All Songs Considered, and of their Tiny Desk Concert series, which hosts well-known and emerging artists for intimate performances filmed at his desk. He was also the director of NPR’s All Things Considered (1989-2007) and chose the music between the news stories. As a composer and musician himself, Boilen has always been passionate about music. Prior to joining NPR, he was a long-time record store clerk and performed with his band Tiny Desk Unit. Constantly on the lookout for new music, Boilen sees more than 500 live bands each year. He lives in Washington, D.C.