For the first half of September, I’ll be selecting my Top 15 favorite songs from The National. A band that has rarely let me down — both in the recording studio and in concert. #FaveArtistTop15
There are songs that wow us for a time, but then whither with age. And then there are songs that stay exceptional, ones that truly stand the test of time. That’s the case with “About Today”. One of The National’s earliest songs, it never even made it onto a full LP. But because of its tremendous staying power, it lives on today on many of their set lists. While Matt Berninger might crowd surf during “Mr. November”, he, the band and the audience take a far different approach to “About Today”. One characterized by a near stillness and quietness.
The song’s beauty is felt in every note. When I listen to it, I want to devour every note, I want to feel all of it. Bryan Devendorf’s tom hits are like heartbeats inside a lover’s chest. The acoustic guitar and string arrangements are like souls entwined yet strangely distant from one another. And Berninger’s lyrics are sung to his lover only and no one else. “About Today” is not just my favorite National song, it’s one of my favorite songs of all time.
“You just close your eyes and I just watch you slip away. How close am I to losing you?”