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David Safran

@davidsafran.bsky.social
21 followers 36 following 24 posts

Songwriter, musician, and occasional contributor to various publications. Plain facts for old and young.

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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
My mom co-wrote the stage adaptation of "Free To Be...You And Me," a cultural behemoth that Gloria Steinem helped shape. Growing up in the Free To Be community was indispensable. It's hard to imagine Gloria Steinem resting as the US lurches backwards. It's on all of us now to make sure she doesn't.
Photograph of two women, one is Gloria Steinem (L) and the other is educator-writer Regina Safran (R). Both are joyfully smiling and wearing black clothes with accessories. (Concha belt on Gloria; necklace on Regina.)
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
"What is old is new again." My deepest thanks to James VanOsdol and @93xrtchicago.bsky.social for the surprising "Woman, Astride" spin and incredibly kind words on last night's show.
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
When I was eight-years-old, I pitched @cnn.com a TV show. Somehow an unsolicited idea from a third-grader—with no connection to the network whatsoever—found its way to Ted Turner who shared it with CNN VP, Ed Turner. This tender reply is probably the kindest rejection I've ever received.
Photo of typed one-page letter written by executive vice president of CNN Ed Turner on official CNN letterhead.
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Apparently Bluesky is sharing concert pics taken by fans. Here's my contribution: a happy Lou Reed at the Supper Club in NYC. June 26, 1997.
Photo of Lou Reed in black shirt sitting with an acoustic guitar and smiling. Second musician Mike Rathke is next to Lou Reed. Foreground features the back of heads of three concertgoers.
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
My first album in a very long time, "A Few Lines Later," will be released Friday May 8th through Birdwatcher Records/Redeye Distribution on all digital and streaming services. Pre-save (whatever that means) here: lnk.to/AFewLinesLater
White man with short dark hair, black suit, and weighted gloves stands behind a white and green wall with both hands up in a slightly defiant pose. Name of artist (David Safran) appears in upper right corner and an album title (A Few Lines Later) appears in the lower middle of image underlined with two white lines and one yellow line.
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
A couple months ago, @curtainlecture.bsky.social noticed and befriended a baby female peregrine falcon at the Newberry Library. Since a falcon apparently isn't a good pet friend in our apartment, today on Emma's birthday, she came to us in pillow form.
Woman with dark hair sits behind on a bouquet of flowers holding a pillow featuring an image of a young peregrine falcon.
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
I want to live in a world where Tanner '88 was real, he won the election, and his cabinet picks were confirmed.
Image of two stills from political mockumentary Tanner '88 featuring 1) Gloria Steinem, "Tanner Sec'y Health & Human Service," in a bright orange sweater against a cozy backdrop and 2) Studs Terkel, "Tanner Secretary of Labor," in a dark sport coat and red shirt in front of a bookshelf. Both stills include conspicuously late 80s TV sets.
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Going through my mom's "Free To Be" archives, I found this @chicago.suntimes.com review from almost exactly 35 years ago when her play first launched in Chicago. If ever we were in a moment to return to—and update—this cultural behemoth fighting against gender stereotypes, it's right now.
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
The greatest show I've attended was David Johansen and the Harry Smiths at the Old Town School of Folk Music in 2001. You haven't experienced the height of American music until you've watched David Johansen drop St. John's wort under his tongue and launch into an acoustic version of "Pills."
B&W portrait of David Johansen with an impish smile on his album cover.
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David Safran @davidsafran.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
A quote from Michael Gold's 1924 biography of John Brown in the 1850s seems like a good first Bluesky post.
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