Bon Iver, Bon Iver

[Mithrandir]

Justin's second album (self-titled) as Bon Iver has become one of my all-time favorites. I just never tire of listening to it. I'm also convinced that he's either INTP or INFP (leaning towards the latter). Anyway, my love for the album was reinforced when I came across these two music videos (Holocene and Towers), which have become a couple of my all-time favorites videos. Without further ado:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWcyIpul8OE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t60roHM1t7o

 

[Armature_Sally]

I'd lean towards INFP. Either way he is one beautiful creature. That his music can be so achingly sad yet so uplifting astounds me.

In case you hadn't come across them, here are two of my favourite tracks of his that aren't from his albums:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3VjaCy5gck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2CbQpo-8CE

 

[Mithrandir]

I'd lean towards INFP. Either way he is one beautiful creature. That his music can be so achingly sad yet so uplifting astounds me.

In case you hadn't come across them, here are two of my favourite tracks of his that aren't from his albums:

Wow, these are great thanks, hadn't heard them before. In "I Can't Make You Love Me", he really demonstrates one of my favorite things about him. He waits and feels. A lot of songwriters and performers seem like they're only waiting for the next lyric in their pauses, as if the lyric is self-sufficient to convey the message of the song. And the pauses end up being short and few when that is the case. You can tell Justin is always waiting in his pauses until it feels right to proceed, as if he'd be disrespecting the lyric or phrase by moving on from it too quickly. You can hear this in his piano phrasing too. I think that's one of the most significant things that moves me in his music. Of course there's his sense of note combinations in his chords and melodies too.

Oddly, the song reminds me for some reason of a song by Silverchair (a band you'd probably be familiar with in Australia). It too was a B-side that was a simple arrangement with mostly Daniel and a piano that ended up being one of my favorites from the Diorama period, called Asylum. Maybe it's the situation or how I feel when I listen to them, who knows.

Weird side note, I just discovered Justin was born 11 days before me.

 

[Cherry Cola]

The music seems too simple to be the work of an INTP. I don't mean that in a negative way.

 

[Mithrandir]

The music seems too simple to be the work of an INTP. I don't mean that in a negative way.

Hmm, I've always thought of this album as subtly complex. These two songs might not be the best examples of that though.

Could you elaborate? For example, are you referring to song form? arrangement? lyrics? sounds?

 

[Cherry Cola]

Arrangement, chords, melodies, not the form of the lyrics but their content. All of it is quite by the book, though manages to put his own touch on it. He doesn't seem like an idea person at all, just someone trying to express himself who accidentally stumbled upon a way of singing that works and is really distinguishing. NTP musicians tend to be a little more eclectic and their penchant for inventing and experimenting tends to shine through in their music, while they show less concern for its raw emotional output. Generalizing of course. Still I'm quite certain he's not a T, his relationship with music seems too simple :P

What makes you think he is an INXP and not an ISFP?

 

[Mithrandir]

What makes you think he is an INXP and not an ISFP?

http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/gds7n9/justin-vernon

That interview was the first time I had seen him and he came off very much as INP in his mannerisms and his short, concise, and sometimes unclear language. He really reminds me of my sister who's INFP, or even how I might be in a similar situation. In college he studied philosophy, comparative religion, and women's studies before studying music, which really seems Ne driven to me.

My mom is an ISFP, and so is a good friend of mine (a singer). Neither of them would ever have considered similar types of study, much too abstract and beyond what's required for every day life. The ISFP singer I knew was very talented, but disliked music theory quite a bit, and preferred to learn in a more hands on, by ear approach. She was a natural performer and her lyrics were much more direct, with little to no hidden meaning or obscurity, though very image based.

My career is music (performance and recording), and I can very much relate to how he approaches his lyrics and song structuring, as well as his focus on emotion. It's much easier for me to express emotion through music or an instrument than in a conversation. It just requires using a bit of focus to allow Ti to relax, which can be learned. In fact, playing an instrument is one of the only times I get to take a break from Ti and mostly just feel. Its rather freeing and meditative, similar to how it seems for Justin. If I had to put money on it, I'd probably go with INFP though.

EDIT:
But he does come off as very INTP in this interview from Austin City Limits: Bon Iver Austin City Limits Interview on Vimeo
The way he talks about his songwriting, his concept of music, the brain, voice, and performance, is very similar to my own way of approaching music. That and his low-energy, somewhat monotone way of speaking.

Actually, after re-watching this, I'm leaning toward INTP.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Heh, he does seem like an N-type with the way he analyses his music, his fans and everything. He seems to have a very conscious approach to his work that's pretty Ji, doesn't plan but has some internal principles that regulate his output. Dunno about T or F but otherwise yeah. That was unexpected.

Also that deep voice This guy could sing bass.

 

[Mithrandir]

Here's the full album

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t87CH5rrEkY

You can hear him sing bass as early as the second song. If you have 40min, it's worth a full listen.