Incredible song writer with a really unique / sad story. Wondering if you’ve heard of him?

  • Bobby Turkalino
    13·
    21 days ago

    I found about him from the documentary “Searching for Sugar Man”. I now play his two albums quite often. His first one is nice & upbeat, while his second one is more melancholy, so I play whichever fits the mood

    My favorite song is probably Hate Street Dialogue

    • hoserhobbes@lemmy.caEnglish
      71·
      21 days ago

      I also found him from the documentary. People like to compare him to Bob Dylan, but hot take I think it should be the other way around.

      I’m not saying Bob didn’t put out a handful of good songs, but IMO every single Rodriguez song slaps.

      • Mr_Mr111@lemmy.worldOP
        1·
        20 days ago

        I have the same opinion about him being better for me at least. My favorite is “Like Janis” which is almost comparable to “Like a Rolling Stone “ in meaning. And I feel that his music ability was superior.

  • redsunrise@programming.devEnglish
    3·
    21 days ago

    yesss, Rodriguez is so good. his lyrics are not only meaningful, but casual and relatable. broached real topics with such grace, it’s a real shame he’s not more well known. hate street dialogue is my favorite of his

        • Mr_Mr111@lemmy.worldOP
          2·
          20 days ago

          Watch “Searching for Sugar man” But long story short, he made an album, “Cold Fact” in the US in the 70s which flopped, clearly due to poor management. But somehow it made its way to South Africa , New Zealand and Aus. Where he became a legend. He had little to no idea this had happened except for reasonable success in Aus. However in SA he had god status. Someone was cashing in on the sales but it was not him. He was considered a failed musician and worked in construction, with no internet and South Africa being sanctioned for Apartheid this type of thing was possible.

          So some fans from SA decided to find out what happened to him, because the guy that many considered a genius was nowhere to be found when the internet did show up. They found him, and basically brought him back from the dead. Got him tours in SA, and other countries and released the film which eventually brought him to the rest of the world.

          I was one of the people dumbfounded by why he was nowhere on the net, and people I asked from abroad had no clue. The movie answered a lot of questions. But I think he died broke, or close to it in 2023. Either really unlucky or self sabotage, but nonetheless one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Was honored to see him perform live, my most memorable show of all time. (This was before the movie so I thought I was watching one of the biggest artists in the world, and it felt like he was!)