Matthew Sweet

October 6th, 2012

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On this date in 1964, Sidney Matthew Sweet was born in Lincoln, Neb. He briefly attended the University of Georgia, beginning in 1983, before dropping out to focus on his music. Sweet is a singer, guitarist, bassist and keyboardist who has been writing and recording music since he was a teenager. He has since produced 15 power-pop albums, including Girlfriend (1991), Altered Beast (1993), 100% Fun (1995) and Sunshine Lies (2008). In 2010, playwright Todd Almond made Girlfriend into a rock musical. Sweet also makes and sells pottery and owns the Lolina Green Pottery Studio.

When asked by The Onion if he believed in a god, Sweet replied, “No. I don’t think there’s a God like the God everybody’s taught about” (Feb. 2, 2000). In 1991, Sweet recorded “Divine Intervention,” which the Sept. 3, 2004 issue of Slant Magazine called “the most melodic paean to agnosticism ever written.” The song mentions the hypocrisy of god, with the speaker stating, “Does he love us? Does he love us? / I look around and all I see is destruction.”

“I believe in nature instead of God.”

— Matthew Sweet, The Onion, Feb. 2, 2000.

Compiled by Sabrina Gaylor - www.ffrf.org