[rating=8.00]
For most of her life, Pegi Young’s role was that of Neil Young’s wife, partner and musical sidekick, a satisfying set-up to be sure, but one that found her relying on his fame and stature with little regard for her own interests. After 36 years, all those connections were shattered by a painful divorce, made all the worse by Neil’s various dalliances.
Clearly then, Raw became her way of working through the wreckage, a song cycle that details the seven stages of grief while sparing little emotion in an expression of her sadness and defeat. With her band, the aptly named Survivors, in tow, she sings songs that detail her outrage over Young’s deceit. She utilizes several well-chosen covers — the classic soul standard “Trying To Live My Life Without You,” the ruefully relevant “Just When I Needed You Most,” a languid and lethargic “These Boots Are Made For Walking” and a deft remake of Don Henley’s “The Heart of The Matter” — to express her thoughts about a life that’s come undone. With songwriting assistance from guitarist Kelvin Holly and Spooner Oldham, Young creates a stunning storyline, one that taps into feelings that are both bitter and unbridled.
Those latter sentiments are fully on display with the album’s opening track “Why,” a song that finds her asking her estranged mate “Why’d you have to ruin my life?” while encapsulating the shattered circumstance in no uncertain terms. The song titles themselves — those of the aforementioned remakes as well as originals like “Gave My Best To You,” “A Thousand Tears”Lonely” and “Up To Here” — leave no doubt as to the divide. Still, there is room for solace and the grace to forgive, and so while Raw comes from a painful perspective, it’s the segue towards survival that lingers and lasts.
8 Responses
I’ve been an ardent Neil Young fan since the days of the Buffalo Springfield but the way he’s treated the woman who stuck by him for close to 40 years was less than kind. A disappointment on a personal level.
Her divorce settlement must have stipulated that she not be able to talk about the break up because there has been nothing on line or in print about the gruesome details since it all went down. I just shake my head when I read all of Neil’s bogus statements about how much Pegi means to him and blah, blah, blah. I feel really bad for this woman getting dumped in the way she did. It’s similar to when Neil decided to leave the Stills-Young Band in the middle of a tour, leaving Stephen high and dry. “Dear Stephen, Eat aPeach, Neil”. I can imagine this telegram: Dear Pegi, pack up your stuff and be off the Broken Arrow Ranch by 5:00 tonight. What a jerk. I am done with him just as he is done with Pegi. Good luck to her and finding hew own voice.
Actually, she got the ranch – Neil lives in L.A. with Daryl now.
I just heard about this. I can’t believe he left her. Really. I do remember he had his Mommy Dearest kick Carrie Snodgrass off the ranch while he was partying in Malibu. He got tired of her, too. Then he had the nerve to demonize her calling out her craziness in his biography when he’s the unstable one. She loved him and he ruined her career.
Now Pegi. Pegi, Pegi, Pegi. She is attributed beautifully in some of his best songs. What I know is that this woman, like so many abandoned by jerkoff spouses, was relying on him in good times and bad, and he bolted on the bad.
And then he goes loco ranting about saving the world? Good luck with that Mr. Soul. I hope you and your girlfriend choke on your Pono.
Neil Young, CANADIAN. That explains it all.
marty that’s perfect he is Canadian
The point is, here, is the music not the gossip, the point is, here, is grace and forgiveness under pressure, and Pegi Young has grace to spare.
She has come a really long way as a back up vocalist to taking the lead. I saw her when she opened for Neil’s tour 8 years ago. I had no idea she was Neil’s wife until someone pointed it out. She’s adorable. It surprises me that for being so private all these year, the unknown wife, she survived the public spectacle of a celebrity divorce. Cheating heart, no less. I also heard Neil singing a song that sounded like he was saying goodbye to her. Then I read his book where he proclaims his love for her. What a roller coaster ride he must have been all those years, so I really like this song because it’s about surviving after your bestie throws you under the roller coaster. I love the polish and support from the band. Lots of luck, Pegi Young & Survivors. Keep your boots on & walk like you own it!