An ironically upbeat book that asks some of today's most inimitable
musicians which song they would choose to be the last one they ever
hear
Variety Best Music Book of 2020
TIME Best Book of Fall 2020 Selection
If you could choose the last song you'd hear before you died, what would
it be and why? Your favorite song of all time? Perhaps the one you
danced to at your wedding? The song from that time you got super stoned
and just let the chords speak to you? It's a hard question that Mike
Ayers has thought about for years.
In One Last Song, Ayers invites 30 musicians to consider what song
they would each want to accompany them to those pearly white gates.
Weaving together their explanations with evocative illustrations and
poignant interludes--what your song to die to says about you, what songs
famous people have died to, and more. The book offers insight into the
minds of famous artists and provides an entry point for considering how
integral music is to our own personal narratives.
Artists Featured: Jim James of My Morning Jacket, André 3000, Killer
Mike, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Phoebe Bridgers, Richard Reed Parry of
Arcade Fire, Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, Colin Meloy of the Decemberists,
Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES, A.C.
Newman of The New Pornographers, Courtney Barrett, Bobb Bruno of Best
Coast, Angel Olsen, Regina Spektor, Kevin Morby, Will Oldham, Julia
Holter, Margo Price, Sonny Rollins, Ryley Walker, Merrill Garbus of
tUnE-yArDs, Yannis Phillippakis of Foals, Bettye Lavette, M.C. Taylor of
Hiss Golden Messenger, Wanda Jackson, Roseanne Cash, Lucinda Williams,
and Beth Orton.
