Grapevine: When Life Imitates Art, it Can Be Heart-wrenching
In my column two weeks ago I measured the variations in the life cycle of one of my favorite wines, the 1989 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron, from the French Bordeaux region. I posited that fine wine has a life cycle similar to human development, starting out awkwardly, then beginning to mature and develop unique characteristics, ultimately reaching full maturity and peaking in sophistication and complexity.
This theme lingered in my thoughts, surfacing every now and then in many alternate shapes and forms, from the mutating state of all things Internet to the maturation of my grandchildren to the mercurial sagas of aging ‘60s rock groups.
It is this last observation that gave me pause for thought as I pondered the similarities between aging rock groups and aging fine wine. A fine wine, such as my Pichon Baron, starts out with significant potential, then transforms in varying degrees–for better or worse–before, decades later, expressing its time-tested personality.
So too one of the seminal rock groups who burst on the scene with great promise in 1965, changed direction, continued to flourish, but then mysteriously withdrew from the music scene, only to reappear with a flourish decades later. Last week my wife and I attended a Rascals concert.
Readers may think it a stretch to compare the similarities of a fine French Bordeaux wine and a raucous, unbridled ‘60s era band, but please indulge me, for this is a classic example of life imitating art.
A quick primer: The Rascals were formed in the ‘60s and quickly gained popularity as one of the best cover bands ever. Their rendition of “Good Lovin’” and “Mustang Sally” paved the way for their own songwriting and Billboard hits, including “Groovin’” and “People Got To Be Free.” Ironically, as the early Rascals’ cover album was released, I was the lead singer for a college cover band that covered The Rascals’ cover songs, hence my interest in seeing the band perform after all those years.
On to the comparison.
The Baron was raw and unsophisticated upon its release. So, too, The Rascals. Brash and precocious in their early days playing at local clubs, their potential was obvious, but not certain.
With a few years of aging and maturity, the Baron began to develop its own unique characteristics, portending well for longevity and success. So, too, The Rascals. Their popularity soared with the release of their first album. Their talent and ability emoted a blue-eyed soul sound that portended well for long-lived success.
Five years into the life of the Baron, it seemed that its potential was boundless. So, too, The Rascals. As they began writing their own music and lyrics, they matured into a more sophisticated band with esoteric-themed songs that lauded freedom (“People Got To Be Free”) and the beauty of life (“Love is a Beautiful Thing”). Their future seemed boundless.
The Baron took a nose dive 10 years into its maturation. It seemed to lose its vitality, its upward surge of finesses and balance. So, too, The Rascals. In their case it was extreme; the band broke up in 1972.
Over the next decade the Baron was erratic; some years showing signs of its earlier brilliance, others showing the strain of aging and the decline of its earlier magic. So, too, The Rascals. They made several “comeback” performances, but they had lost their edge, their magic, their kinetic connection.
Fast forward to 2013. The Baron has regained its magic. It is everything I hoped for and anticipated for over two decades. So, too, The Rascals. Last Friday night, they were a band resurgent after decades of widespread doubt of their ability to perform at their early levels of success. They were exuberant, their performance was the tightest, most expressive since their breakup. They were at their peak.
The analogy of fine wine and a ‘60s rock band: a bit of a stretch or life imitating art? Whatever one’s perspective, bringing joy to the beholder is always richly satisfying. Love is a beautiful thing.
Nick Antonaccio is a 35-year Pleasantville resident. For over 15 years he has conducted wine tastings and lectures. He also offers personalized wine tastings and wine travel services. Nick’s credo: continuous experimenting results in instinctive behavior. You can reach him at nantonaccio@theexaminernews.com or on Twitter @sharingwine.
