"The Bullfighter" from Noeline Hofmann
Announcing Noeline Hofmann's latest single from La Honda Records, "The Bullfighter".
You can tell Noeline Hofmann has been singing Luke Bell’s "The Bullfighter" for years.
Hofmann’s variation on the melody is effortless. "The Bullfighter" fits perfectly into Hofmann’s repertoire and the world she’s illuminated through her storytelling. This is a beautiful song about leaning into your emotions and daring to start a fight. Hofmann’s voice resonates beyond the notes through the tragedy of a lost mind and a lost artist.
Hofmann’s variation on the melody is effortless. "The Bullfighter" fits perfectly into Hofmann’s repertoire and the world she’s illuminated through her storytelling. This is a beautiful song about leaning into your emotions and daring to start a fight. Hofmann’s voice resonates beyond the notes through the tragedy of a lost mind and a lost artist.
In 2016, Luke Bell was a rising voice in country music – then his dad died. Grief is a common trigger for the first episode of many mood conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder. Bell’s mind slowly sank into disorder, eventually going missing from the music scene, family, and friends. Bell died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022, sparking renewed interest in his music and life.
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Noeline on her cover of this Luke Bell classic, "To be scared half to death, or all alone, or run ragged, or knocked down into the dirt but you get up and do it anyway, face it head on, allow your determination to outweigh your fear, never let up, follow your truth, make art of a battle – that’s bravery. Perseverance. Grit. Cowboy. That’s 'The Bullfighter.'
“'The Bullfighter' has become a friend of mine – a shot of courage when I’ve needed it the most. I never had the pleasure of meeting Luke Bell before he passed, but from guitar pulls to stages across North America, performing this cover has led me to making dear friendships and hearing stories from those who knew and loved him worth their weight in gold.
"Fans of Luke’s coming up to me after a show and telling me just how important his music is to them. It has been a gift to learn about Luke and the wild, inspired character he was, as well as witness his impact in these ways. Luke wrote songs that will last forever. Though my journey is just beginning in many ways, this song has guided me through the sticks so far on my mission to do the same. Recording this cover is my way of honoring Luke’s legacy and his importance to the alternative country genre as well as, hopefully, sharing the strength his music has brought me with others.”
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"That song's about a drunk, sad ego," Luke Bell said in his 2016 interview with Dan MacIntosh from Songfacts. "There's this character who's telling this story about how brave he is, but he's challenging his friends and the world, and not happy. He's lonely.”