Jeff Buckley

phoebeandarchanasp
Mar 19, 2016
2 min read

Jeff Buckley was an American singer who was well known for his singing, music, and song-writing talent in the 1990's. Buckley released only one album during his entire living career, titled Grace. While his second album was in progress and before it could be released, he drowned one evening during a swim in 1997.

Since Buckley's premature death, many of his works and recordings have been released as albums posthumously. In fact, a large number of these songs and covers have made it to the Top 100 List in the UK, Billboard, and elsewhere. This goes to show how even after his death almost two decades ago, Buckley and his work are still making an impact on many people. For example, several artists have created musical tributes to the singer (both songs of their own creation and covers of Buckley's work), and he has also been referenced in films a couple of times.

Buckley's death brings up the common aspect of not wanting to let someone go once he/she has passed. From his death stemmed several documentaries about the man, as well as conspiracy theories about his death (Seeing as he had swam in the same river many times before, did he possibly commit suicide?). While it's great to have the memory of our loved ones live on, some have also brought up points that make such an approach problematic.

For one thing, Buckley spent large amounts of time crafting his songs and album, and wanted his albums to be perfect. The new albums and VEVO songs on YouTube are literally recovered from his old home, studio, etc. As such, the current record labels don't know exactly what styles or flairs in the music Buckley would have preferred, and it's not like Buckley himself can respond. These are all being done without Buckley's control, but because he has passed, does it make it okay? For the sake of keeping his name and talent alive, does it make it okay? In order for us fans to have something tangible to hold on to, does it make it okay?

R.I.P Jeffrey Scott Buckley-

The heavens are now home to your heavenly music

Hallelujah