Paul Kelly Celebrates Seventy with New Album
Paul Kelly, the esteemed Australian singer-songwriter, marks his seventieth birthday with an album titled Seventy, featuring around a dozen new tracks. The project reflects on reaching this milestone age and its significance.
Interview Highlights with Marty Duda of The 13th Floor
Marty Duda talks with Paul Kelly about turning seventy and the emotions tied to this milestone.
Marty: "The album is Seventy, you are 70, and believe it or not, I’m 70 too. So I’m even more curious to hear about your thoughts… ’cause it seems to be a major thing, doesn’t it?"
Paul Kelly: "I’ve never been one to pay attention to how old I am, but suddenly it’s the way people treat you. I remember three big birthdays clearly. Forty felt like a big one — it felt like, okay, I’m an adult now. It was also the first time people I grew up with, worked with, or were friends with, started dying. That happens a bit in the music business, quite a few of us die young. Forty felt like a real turning point when some of us keep living and some don’t."
Reflections on Aging and the Music Life
- Turning seventy carries a unique significance to Paul Kelly, despite his usual indifference to age.
- His fortieth birthday stood out as an adult milestone shadowed by the loss of peers in the music industry.
- The album and interview explore these themes of aging, mortality, and continuing creative energy.
Summary
Paul Kelly marks his 70th birthday with a new album that thoughtfully explores aging and the passage of time through personal reflection and music.