SXSW interview : Yoko Ono
m.austin360.com | Mar 7th 2011 2:40 PM
Yoko Ono's remixed "Move on Fast" refashions her already ebullient 1972 song
with infinite motion. The 78-year-old widow of former Beatle John Lennon has a
new single that recently topped Billboard's dance chart and debuts at South by
Southwest this week.
"I always wanted to go, but I didn't have the chance," Ono says. "Now I not
only (will) do my discussion with (KUT 90.5 disc jockey) Jody (Denberg), but
also I have a chance to do my show." We talked to Ono a few weeks before she
headed to Austin.
American-Statesman: How did the original "Move on Fast" take shape?
Yoko Ono: Well, "Move on Fast" was just a regular rock song, you know.
Why remix that song in particular?
Because it's a good song (laughs). You want something a bit better than "a good
song," is it? Look, it's a song with a lot of energy in it, and it's a little
message, too.
Explain the message.
(Sings) "Move on fast." (She laughs.)
This makes six straight No. 1 songs on the dance chart for you.
I know! I'm very thankful. It's not my doing, in a way. I was lucky to get
these brilliant, brilliant musicians interested in doing these things. They
could be very snobbish and say, "We're not doing Mrs. Lennon's songs" or
something. They understood the songs, and I think they liked it. I'm very happy
about that.
How has your approach to songwriting evolved over the years?
It didn't change much. I think there was one critic who said, "Ah well, you
know, she didn't change much." (She laughs.)
Are you looking forward to your South by Southwest interview?
I'm very happy that I'll be doing it with Jody. I've known Jody for the longest
time now. Actually, he's a very intelligent guy, and we can talk about things
from a pretty intelligent point of view. So, it's not a waste of time. It's
great.
How long have you known Jody?
To be exact, probably from 1980 on. He might say that we knew each other before
then, but that's when I recognized him. After John's passing, he was very kind
and gentle when he interviewed me. That's how I remember him.
What will be the focus of your conversation?
It will be about music and how it's going to survive and how important music is
for the human race and the survival of the planet.
The music business has changed so much since the '60s.
Maybe this is very naïve of me, but to me music is not business. Music is life.
People are interested in business, money, all that kind of thing but I'd like
to get into what music really is for us.
How do you feel when you're performing?
I usually — and this is from way back, really — feel very nervous before I go
on stage. When I'm on stage, the nervousness just goes away.
(Son) Sean (Lennon) performs before you on Saturday. What's most compelling
about him as a songwriter?
Well, Sean happens to have been a music director for all of my new concerts so
far, (since) the album "(Between) My Head and the Sky." He's a good songwriter.
It's a miracle he is a good musician and songwriter when his dad's shadow is so
big.
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