Über die drei perfekten Songs kann man trefflich streiten. Oder eine Umfrage machen. 
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/09/paul-weller-the-jam-style-council
Paul Weller: ‚I’m not a nostalgic person. I like now. I like today‘
As the Modfather returns to the US, he’s determined to look forward rather
than backwards, and don’t ask him about the Jam or Style Council reforming
Melissa Locker
Tuesday 9 June 2015 13.00 BST
Last modified on Tuesday 9 June 2015 14.26 BST
Paul Weller thinks he has written three perfect songs over the course of his
career. The lamentful Wings of Speed off his celebrated 1995 album Stanley
Road; the ode to London, Strange Town, which he wrote with the Jam in 1979,
and Going My Way, on his new album, Saturn’s Patterns. Tomorrow Weller will
begin his tour of the US in support of that album, bringing his „perfect“
song on the road to remind the eastern half of the country that he is still
here, and still very, very relevant.
Weller has described the LP, his 12th studio album, as „defiantly 21st
century“, and it lives up to that description. Saturn’s Patterns finds the
so-called Modfather jettisoning himself into continued relevancy with a
healthy dose of bluesy guitar, space-age synthesizers and slick production.
Weller, who honed his craft in the Jam and Style Council before breaking out
on his own in the 90s, admits that the album is pushing his own boundaries,
as well as those of his listeners. „I don’t think that there’s anything else
out that that sounds like this, for me personally,“ said Weller. „I am just
trying to push myself forward and see where else I can go with music after
all these years.“
For Weller that means branching out into the unlikely world of pop music.
„What I do essentially is pop music, I’m trying to work within that
framework and make it as interesting as possible, but still be true to
myself,“ said Weller.
When most modern listeners hear the phrase „pop music“, they think of One
Direction or Taylor Swift. Not Weller, though. „When I think of pop music, I
think of people like the Kinks. People making very popular music, but are
still pushing the boundaries,“ he explained. „I don’t know how to describe
it, really. Their tunes are very popular, but have an experimental side to
them as well.“
Weller spent a great deal of time on this album, scrapping songs he had
written over the last three years, starting from scratch and then massaging
the arrangements to his liking. „There are a few bonkers bits on it,“
laughed Weller, but all that matters for him is that: „At the end of the day
there are good tunes on it. There are good songs.“
While some people consider Weller to be anchored to the past by his
well-loved work from the 80s and 90s, as Weller continues to push
boundaries, try new technology, and create new, fresh sounds, he makes it
clear that, at 57 years old, he has no desire to slow down. „I’m sure time
and age will do that for me,“ laughed Weller. But until then he has his
sights aimed squarely on the future.
„I’m not a nostalgic person,“ said Weller, dismissing any idea of the Jam or
Style Council getting the band back together and hitting the road like their
cohorts the Who. „Not enough money in the world to do that,“ said Weller. „I
like now. I like today. I don’t want to spend my time trying to recapture
something that can’t be recaptured.“
Instead of dwelling on the past, Weller is much more interested in the
future and the music that he is making now and will make soon. „I love this
new record and I loved the last one and I’m looking forward to making the
next one,“ said Weller.
But before he can head back into his studio, he is touring the US. While
Weller is wildly popular in the UK, the US market has always proved elusive
for him. At this point in his career, he’s accepted that, though, and has no
designs on cracking the charts on this tour. „I’m too old to do that,“ he
laughed. „If it was going to happen, it would have happened a long time
ago.“ Weller admits that he was never inclined to devote the time and energy
to making it in America. „You’ve got to spend months or years on a road trip
and I was never willing to do that,“ said Weller. „Even when I was 18, 19
and first came to America, I loved the people, but I was not interested in
spending six months on the road in a bus going around America. It’s just not
really me. I like my home. But if you’re going to make it that’s what you
need to do.“
Still, he wouldn’t mind having his record top the Billboard charts in the
US.
„Obviously, if my record went to No 1 in America, that would be great, but
it’s not going to happen,“ said Weller. „It’s nice to have your music
appreciated everywhere, innit?“
While chart-topping success in the US has yet to happen for Weller, that’s
not to say his music is unappreciated in the States – far from it. It’s a
fact that seems to surprise him. „Last year we played in a place called
Cincinnati, which is a place I’ve never been and I wasn’t expecting anything
really, and there were over 800 people in this club, which was fucking
amazing,“ said Weller.
For Weller, touring, with all its ups and downs and relentless hours in the
bus, is just part of a life spent in pursuit of a passion. „I like making
records, but I like playing live as well,“ said Weller, pausing a moment
before adding almost wistfully: „I just love playing music. It’s my life
I’ve been doing it since I was 14.“
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