Seeking an outlet for whatever lies within, each of us has a driving mechanism that produces SOMETHING. That “something” isn’t always tangible, audible, or even noticeable. You may play sports, or play an instrument or go for a run. You may do Yoga, or call a friend or eat a pint of ice cream. You may take the kids out or just seek some you time.
Me?
I love to listen. Not just to any sound. But music. Deeply bass-driven, heart-wrenching music. Bluesy jazz riffs and acoustic guitar music. I love music. I just saw the two most important and rarely paired words put together: Musical Sound. It got me thinking. What do I really love about MUSIC?
I love not just the lyrics to all of my favorite songs – if sung to a different tune, they would likely not be my favorites. I love to SOUND. The beat, the guitar or piano or violin or cello or bass. I love the trumpet and the drum supporting. I love making a non-percussive instrument have its own heartbeat – its own emotion (listen to the song “Stop This Train by John Mayer or anything by Andy McKee, and you will see what I mean).
Music, in my opinion, should evoke a cathartic experience. Therefore, you will rarely hear me say there is such a thing as BAD music. It’s all about personal preference. I don’t particularly care for Heidi Montag’s music (or her acting, or her husband…), but who am I to say that she doesn’t deserve the right to put her music out there for others to enjoy? I’m not.
I like Coldplay. They are probably the most Top 40 group I like – therefore, they appear cliché. However, they put out music I enjoy as a complete concept. The piano, the lyrics, but most of all – the full rhythm. I have constantly said that I don’t think the lead guitarist or bassist have the greatest amount of talent – but the whole group works together to make a MUSICAL SOUND that I can close my eyes and float away with. It’s a cathartic experience like few others.
I took a break… 3 day break… while writing this. I put on some music while on the plane, and got stirred. STIRRED… MOTIVATED… MOVED… THAT is what music should do – no matter what your chosen method.
I am amazed at the variety of musical talent. Ben Folds: Wonderful musician… lyrically sound, rhythmically masterful, instrumentally keen – but he is not a great singer. Does that make him bad at his craft? No – I would actually hint it’s his singing that makes him a BETTER musician. He does not over state any part of his musical act for another part. How many artists out there have that command of his art? For that matter, how many artists have the knowledge of where their talent begins and ends?
John Mayer – one of my favorite guitarists of all times – believes he is the best at his craft. Many people would disagree, but I would have to ask them to listen to his blues guitar riffs and then convince me otherwise. However, he also recognizes his roots and what made him famous: bubble-gum pop. It’s a meal ticket, right?! Lately, I have heard more women say they don’t approve of his lifestyle – it’s like Jon Gosselin… he was a favorite, but once the world begins prying into their personal lives, there might be something the world wasn’t meant to see. If you listen – eyes closed and mind opened – to John Mayer’s “I’m Gonna Find Another You” and allow yourself to be convinced he doesn’t have musical talent, then you may have a totally different idea of musical talent.
Drifting away in the world of music, sound, lyrics, beat, rhythm, and emotion, Kings of Leon comes on my iPod. A few guys from Tennessee who were bigger in the UK than the US for years. NOW – they have a #1 hit under their belt, so every 18 year old senior in High School will be buying all of their records… I guess I just bought their newest record (my first of theirs), so I’m no better. I do, however, think this speaks volumes about the tendencies of Americans. We get so caught up in our monotony, that we reject the idea of change. This, obviously, becomes worse as we age.
Growing up, we were all (most likely) forced to listen to the local Oldies Station – for me, it was Magic 96.1 FM. I grew up listening to the Four Seasons, Beatles, Supremes, Temptations, and the occasional Peter, Paul, and Mary. As I grew into my early teens, I was exposed to Queen, Led Zepplin, and Pink Floyd (what my dad listened to in his 20s and 30s). My sister was a Beatles fan, so I fell in line. To this day, I think “I Feel Fine” is one of the best songs written (and Lady Madonna was way before it’s time… I’m setting up for another blog, I can already feel it). My other sister was a fan of Def Leppard and Guns N’ Roses. I remember hearing “Pour Some Sugar On Me” sitting in the driver’s seat of her car (it was in the driveway – no worries) when I was about 8. I remember liking it – but not really much else.
My brother was a musical anomaly to me. Not a dedicated fan of anything, the room next to me growing up had everything from Mr. Big to NKOTB… Vanessa Williams to GNR (Use Your Illusion 1 and 2)… Vanilla Ice to Smashing Pumpkins. It was a hard life growing up with such a confusing influence! Maybe that’s why I recall being musically LOST. I spent a lot of time traveling with my mother as I grew up. She had summer conferences all over the southeast and family in Ohio, so we would travel together – likely, my siblings were all too old for the trips. I used to rank my cassette tapes in a top 10 fashion. Regularly, Lion King, Alladin, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carrey (pre-whore days), and other similar albums were featured. My mom introduced me not only to some of the great oldies, and some 70’s greats (she used to love Chicago), but she fostered my love of… well… Adult Contemporary music! Honestly, for a while, my favorite cassette was a recording of music boxes from the Biltmore Estate – That’s not a joke. Music boxes playing The Entertainer and songs like that. It’s a miracle I made it through this much of my life without 17 cats.
Then… it happened. I think I might be able to pin-point the day my musical life changed… I turned 14. Sept 21st, 1994. I got my first CD player. And, of course, with CD Players, you need CDs! My oldest sister took me to Media Play – if you didn’t have one near you, I’m sorry. This was the best place to buy music. Better prices that Best Buy. Better assortment than Circuit City. People educated like the neighborhood shop. Anyway – I digress…
My first 2 CDs: Hootie and the Blowfish – Cracked Rearview and Harry Connick Jr. – I Don’t Even Know Your Name. Shortly there after: Blues Traveler – Four. The following summer, I found Dave Matthews Band. Musically, I was off and running. No more Michael Bolton albums. I borrowed my brothers STP CD (which 10 years later, I bought for myself!)… I started generating an identity that I was so desperate for. My dad let me pick some CDs out of his Columbia House membership: Counting Crows – August and Everything After and the “Friends” Soundtrack.
As my own musical tastes matured, I can still trace them all back to that fall day in 1994. It’s weird to do… to think back like that. I have since purchased no less than 8 Beatles CDs (Anthologies and studio), 3 Queen CDs, 2 Pink Floyd CDs, 3 or 4 Nat King Cole CDs, 1 Bing Crosby CD, 2 Elvis CDs – and every Counting Crows, Hootie, and Dave Matthews album that has come out in my lifetime. It’s all a part of me. So is Journey, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Lionel Richie.
No one should ever be put into a bucket: classified based on their musical preferences, clothes they wear, or how they choose to spend their time. As a child, if you had played a band like Kings of Leon for me, I would have turned up my nose… and turned up Love Takes Time by Mariah Carrey. Now, I can respect the beauty in both – though I would definitely prefer KOL!
If you read this – and aren’t my mom or dad – and happen to think you might enjoy some of the same music I do… Check out Will Hoge. As I am coming to a close with writing this blog, my iPod just played a double shot of Will Hoge, and his music is great. Talent and a raspy voice that draws you in – heart and soul. The CD Carousel is fantastic. Oh – and it was one of my first dates with my now wife.
We have very similar musical tastes (substitute Queen and Zepplin for Willie Nelson in her case). Again – I suppose it’s a whole different blog posting to discuss the importance of similar musical tastes in a marriage. We do – and it creates a bond that neither of us would ever break. After a recent move, she said “We can never get divorced now – all of our CDs are merged together.” Truer words were never spoken.
Until next time – go buy a CD… from a section you wouldn’t normally walk in… let me know how it goes. If you hate it, send it to me… I will add it to my pile of music other people hate – most of which I like!
