Back in 1999, The Magnetic Fields released an ambitious album that was originally going to end up being 100 songs. But, according to interviews, the number was changed to 69 because (depending on the story told), either as a cheeky nod to the number of love or because it’s a number divisible by three.
The resulting release was an exploration of all aspects of love with each song its own concise world. Some songs like “Papa Was a Rodeo” were undeniably Country Western while others like “Love Is Like Jazz” or “The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side” come from opposite ends of the love spectrum.
I remember seeing Stephin Merritt (songwriter / singer) and The Magnetic Fields way back when they toured the first time around in 1999-2000 at Black Cat. So, having the chance to revisit these beloved songs as the ensemble brought their 69 Love Songs 25th Anniversary Tour back to DC brought back a flood of memories at the Lincoln Theatre on Oct. 17. Over the span of two nights, The Magnetic Fields performed the album in its entirety. And for DC’s Lincoln Theatre, the group actually performed it twice over four nights in total. All dates sold out quickly.
Taking the stage, The Magnetic Fields started with the opening track, “Absolutely Cuckoo” and after the first couple of songs jokingly told the crowd, “Welcome back tomorrow night for songs three through 69.”
The Magnetic Fields are Stephen Merritt (vocals) along with Claudia Gonson (vocals), John Woo (guitar/banjo), Sam Davol (strings), and Shirley Simms (ukulele), who all played on the album, along with current Magnetic Fields members Chris Ewen (keys) and Anthony Kaczynski (vocals/guitar).
Merritt has this great deadpan baritone that can sometimes feel theatrical and adds a punch to lines like “I could make a career of being blue / I could dress in black and read Camus / smoke clove cigarettes and drink Vermouth…” straddling an imaginary line between sincerity and tongue-in-cheek humor.
And that humor spills over into the performance. At one point, someone shouts out the title to a song, and Merritt explains “We have had occasions to explain during 69 Love Songs shows that people requesting any song that’s not the next song are thrown to the alligators, and people requesting a song that is the next song just results in skipping the next song.”
One of the fun things to witness is how each vocalist bring a unique feel to each song. In addition to Stephen Merritt, there’s Anthony’s taking on “Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side” or Shirley’s playful a cappella vocals on “How Fucking Romantic” or Claudia singing “If You Don’t Cry” that tells the audience that “if you don’t cry, it isn’t love.”
Another thing I love about 69 Love Songs is how varied it is. There are some songs that are long and some that are under a minute. Songs like “Punk Love” literally have three words, and on the same side of the record you’ll have songs like “The Book of Love” or “All My Little Words” which feel like a treatise on the subject.
Announcing a break in between set, Stephen Merritt told the crowd, ”So after this song there will be a 19 and a half intermission. Long enough to get to the bathroom. Not long enough to get back.”
Watch the official music video for “The Book of Love” from 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields on YouTube:
Back on-stage, The Magnetic Fields continued essentially the second side of the first record of 69 Love Songs starting with the Shirley Simms sung “Boa Constrictor.” The second part of the performance definitely had a freer, maybe looser feel. Where most songs were sung by one vocalist, “Free Lovin’ Man” had some rich harmonies as Merritt’s deep voice held the bass notes.
One of the more hilarious performances came during “Love Is Like Jazz” as Shirley Simms walked the stage, blowing smoke (literally) by each of the other band members. As the song progressed, Sam Davol and Claudia Gonson pulled out traffic cones and situated them around Merritt as the audience clearly got the joke.
Some of the best lyrics written are on 69 Love Songs and hearing songs like “No One Will Ever Love You” where there’s the line “no one will ever love you” but adds that stinger, “honestly” and then “no one will ever love you… for your honesty.” It’s clever but never takes itself too seriously.
“After this next song there will be a 22-hour intermission,” Merritt told the audience before the band performed their last tune of the night, “Promises of Eternity.” If you have the opportunity, the best way to experience this performance is over both nights. The depth, variety, and humor of something like 69 Love Songs is an experience best heard in total. It’s a performance that’s charming and fun.
The Magnetic Fields continue the 25th Anniversary 69 Love Songs Tour and it’s one to not miss.
The setlist included:
Absolutely Cuckoo
I Don’t Believe in the Sun
All My Little Words
A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off
Reno Dakota
I Don’t Want to Get Over You
Come Back From San Francisco
The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits
The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be
I Think I Need a New Heart
The Book of Love
Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long
How Fucking Romantic
The One You Really Love
Punk Love
Parades Go By
Boa Constrictor
A Pretty Girl Is Like…
My Sentimental Melody
Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing
Sweet-Lovin’ Man
The Things We Did and Didn’t Do
Roses
Love Is Like Jazz
When My Boy Walks Down the Street
Time Enough for Rocking When We’re Old
Very Funny
Grand Canyon
No One Will Ever Love You
If You Don’t Cry
You’re My Only Home
(Crazy for You But) Not That Crazy
My Only Friend
Promises of Eternity
Here are more photos of The Magnetic Fields performing the first half of 69 Love Songs at The Lincoln Theatre on Oct. 17, 2024. All photos copyright and courtesy of David LaMason.
