They’re nothing that will ever capture your heart
When you ask people what their favorite song is, a large number will say some popular song that’s getting a lot of radio play. That’s OK. People like contemporary and radio friendly, and favorites can change. A large number of people will also suggest a timeless song that they love. Sometimes it’s an in between. Sometimes it’s unusual.
For years, I’ve loved the song “Downtown Train.” When I was a kid, my mom frequently played Rod Stewart around the house, and his cover is the one I grew up on. I loved it. I hadn’t heard the Tom Waits original since my parents weren’t into him (I was really young), and the internet did not exist yet.
Honestly, the first time I heard a Tom Waits song, I was afraid. I had to turn it off because his voice scared me so much. The gravel just wasn’t working for me. It was unfortunate, but at the time I didn’t realize what I was missing. I couldn’t really appreciate it, and I’m a bit disappointed in myself, looking back on it.
It took some time, but I finally decided to look up the original “Downtown Train.” I felt under-impressed. And that’s the second time I felt disappointed in myself as far as Tom Waits is concerned.
I listened to it again some time later and could finally appreciate what I was hearing. I could finally take the time let the emotion sink in and the words do their work. It was the lyrics I fell in love with in the first place. Now I’d stopped being elitist about the vocals. Rod Stewart can sing it, and his version is very good. Tom Waits initially gave it that something. It seems much simpler in its construction, but he pours his heart and soul into it.
Sometimes that heart and soul is all you need. And then it’s magic.
And now for something different
It’s been a rather long week if you’re a fan of Fall Out Boy. I don’t want to harp on everything that was said and what words were thrown around and taken out of context by the media and others. I don’t want to talk about how fans should feel or assume anyone will actually listen to what I have to say or even read this since it’s just one more note on the subject.
I think they’ll be back when the time is right. Even Don Henley said the Eagles would play together again when Hell Freezes Over.
Now that things have calmed down, instead of focusing on what the members of the band really meant and what the fate of the group is, I’d like to say something else because I think it’s gotten lost in the shuffle and the storm of the internet monster that was created this week, and this is all I’m going to say about it here. You might see me talk about their other projects, but not specifically the break unless something happens like they do get together again or publicly announce a breakup.
I’ll keep this short and sweet.
To the guys: Good luck. Good luck in your pursuits as you step back from the world that is Fall Out Boy for a while. Take the break and enjoy it because you deserve it after eight years of hard work. Have fun making the albums and playing in the bands that you didn’t have much time for while you were busy touring. I hope you enjoy every second of it, and I hope that if you do decide to return as a band that it’s for the reasons you’ve said you would: because you want it and it’s fun for you.
Because I’m a firm believer in doing what makes you happy, and music should be about heart.
American Idol Season 9: The Auditions
This year, for American Idol, I’m going to post a blog at some of the major points. I don’t want this place to focus on Idol, but it is something I enjoy, and you can’t really ignore the presence of these artists in the music industry.
So we have our first major period of Idol ending: The Auditions.
Some people love them, some people hate them, and some people just sit through them because there’s nothing else to watch on Tuesday and Wednesday night. I like to watch them to get that first glimpse of the people entering the competition. The people who can’t sing and think they’re a gift to society are fun to watch too. Sometimes. What about this year?
Here’s what’s coming up
I plan on live-blogging the Grammys tonight. Since the show goes late, and I have to be up early tomorrow, spelling and grammar mistakes will not be fixed until late afternoon tomorrow. I haven’t done a live-blog in some time. I used to do them for American Idol, but this show will be quite a bit longer than an hour.
Looking at the list of upcoming releases this year, it looks like there’s some good music coming out in the next few months and later this year. I’ll be looking out for it.
I also would like to talk about certain artists and bands without reviewing albums or singles because there’s things I’ve wanted to touch on that I haven’t. I’m trying to get back on track with this because I enjoy doing it. The fact that I’ve made an effort this month is a good start.
I just need to unwind in my time machine
I woke up this morning with a scratchy throat, and my head stuffed. I have no idea whether I caught a virus or it’s my allergies or this cold weather finally getting to me. Otherwise, add that to my stressful week (not to mention other things), and I’m not a happy person. Instead of continuing to complain about it, I decided to go back and listen to an album that I hadn’t sat down and heard from start to finish in a while.
No, it wasn’t vinyl, but is was the first album I bought with my own money, and there’s a sort of sentimentality to that. I bought it on a whim because, even then, while it was a CD, we were still a few years away from listening to an album online before going out and buying it. This album was Savage Garden’s Affirmation.
Affirmation may not have sold as well as their debut album, but it was still a hit. I can recall hearing the first sounds of the title track, keyboards and synthesizers in the mix with an electric guitar as an added flourish. It isn’t an indication of the whole album either. “Hold Me” starts in with the drums and piano, and Darren’s voice overall is sheer brilliance. Every song is different enough to not make the album boring but it’s held together by that something that made Savage Garden what it was. They did emotion right. They knew how to reach deep down and find the words and sound to touch a person. Not to mention, the vocals are superb. Darren Hayes has a gorgeous voice, and he uses it well. The emotion and sincerity is all there.
Can I say my every album experience was the same? Um, no. But I can say this about this one. Probably the most important one. After all, there’s something about walking into the store and poking through the rows of cases to find the one you’re looking for.
So maybe I love that because my first experience was a good one. Think back to the first time you bought an album. Did you spend months anticipating its release or just buy it because it was sitting around in the store, waiting for someone to pick it up? What did you love about it? Do you still care about it today or have you pushed it away? It’s an interesting thought. Maybe it has stuck with you all these years. I know it has for me, even if I hadn’t listened to it fully in a long time, it’s still been on my playlist and still getting some listens. And occasionally, I still dig it out to listen to the way I originally did, with the speakers on my stereo turned up and the disc spinning as fast as it can.
Hope for Haiti Now
I know I just made a post detailing some of my frustrations with the way certain people act. However, let’s put that aside for a moment. I’d like to address other issues.
In this time of tragedy for a country that, financially, was unable to cope with the natural disaster it faced, it is beautiful to see people all over the world coming together to help. The Hope for Haiti Now benefit was a fine example of how music can bring us together to share stories and spread the word of good. It can move us to do things like help a country in need.
I only say that the country is financially unable to cope because, from the stories we heard on the night of the benefit, the people of Haiti are more than capable of using their own courage and heart to help themselves and each other.
And the rest of us will help with what we can.
The audio performances from the benefit are available on iTunes, as well as the entire show. 100% of the proceeds will go to organizations helping the efforts in Haiti. You can also find out more or make a donation at the Hope for Haiti Now website.
This is in no way a demand for you to donate. This is simply information for those who want to be aware and a thank you to those who are taking the time to do what they can in even the smallest of ways.
The musings of a tired and annoyed person
I can’t figure out what’s going on here. It used to be that if you heard of an artist on an independent label, it might have been considered unusual. Nowadays, it isn’t. Since we’ve been introduced to sites like Myspace and Youtube, these indie artists are reachable. Before, you might not have known that they were around, considering many radio stations stay well within the boundaries of songs that are charting. Now, things are a little easier. Unfortunately, we’ve also been exposed to a certain breed of music fans. There’s no doubt in my mind that they always existed, but now they’ve become more prominent. These are what I would call the indie elitists.
If you have never had to deal with this brand of music fan, count yourself lucky. I’ll always be the first person to say, “To each their own; like what you want to like.” However, when you see your tastes as the epitome of what everyone should listen to and what good music should be, you need to get off of your throne.
As someone who likes both independent and signed artists, I would like to say the following (and, as a disclaimer, I’m not suggesting that all fans act this way, but there are a few out there who drive me insane):
- If you liked a band or artist when they were independent and then they were signed to a major label, it does not make you a “better” fan than someone who has been listening for less than a year. The musicians don’t care. Really, they will not praise you at a show for liking them for five years and shame the person who has only liked them for two.
- Just because someone is signed to a major label, it does not mean he or she is selling out. It means they’ll actually make some money doing what they like to do. Does it really bother people that much?
- If a song reaches the top 40, it is still not an indication that the artist has sold out. It just means a lot of people like the song.
- When musicians do something that falls into the category of pop, it also does not mean they are selling out. Is it that hard to believe that maybe they actually like that genre of music?
- Music is music. People like what they like. Opinion is opinion and not fact. Stop acting like it is and stop thinking that your point of view is the only one that counts.
Didn’t the Beatles say “all you need is love”?
I don’t participate very much in fandom communities. Why not? Well, despite the fact that everyone in a community loves the same show or series, fans have a tendency to argue over the dumbest crap. Don’t ask why; it just happens. The worst seems to be among certain pairings (this character belongs with that character, and this one belongs with that one). What arises from all of this is petty fights that make everyone involved look close-minded (just have your own pairing and live with it). Did you know some of the Harry/Hermione shippers in the Harry Potter fandom claimed that they’d still get together even after J.K. Rowling said it was pretty clear that it has always been Ron/Hermione? But I’m digressing from the point of this blog.
As a music fan, the petty arguments don’t go away. Fans of certain bands or artists love that band or artist for a reason, and nothing anyone says is going to change that. However, people who hate this particular band or artist slam the group or person, mainly to rile up the fans. I think some of them seriously think they can convince the fans that this artist is actually terrible, but here’s a secret: It’s not going to happen. And I’m sure the majority just want to piss someone off. And what do the fans do? They do get mad and start arguing their side. And just as they won’t change their side, the people who hate the band or artist aren’t going to change their minds either. Do you see what good this does?
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but isn’t one of the functions of music to bring people together? Why argue and fight over something so stupid and pointless? Admittedly, I don’t like every artist out there, but I’m not starting arguments with fans. I just don’t go to pages that involve that person, and if I do get curious and don’t like it, I keep my mouth shut because, odds are, in a community filled with fans of that person, I’m not going to be welcomed.
Unfortunately, humans love drama, whether they’re watching it or create it themselves. Some of us are mean-spirited and find it hilarious to slam someone else’s favorites. We fight back for whatever reason. Remember that when you’re a fan you worship that person to some degree. If anyone says anything against that person, you will respond in an aggressive manner. And this works both ways. What I don’t understand is the people who seriously think they can convince someone that a particular band or artist is crap. Someone out there loathes that group or person. You’d get angry and argue too. Because you all think you’re right.
Do we really understand the definition of the word “opinion”?
If this sounds like I’m one of those people whining, “can’t we all just get along,” then I’m sorry, but why must we ruin something that makes other people happy just because we don’t like it? There is no good reason. If you’re so bored you can’t find anything better to do with your time, then it’s probably time to find a new hobby.
Don’t put me on the back burner…
I’ve been gone for quite a while. My intention was never to leave the blog, but I’ve been student teaching. This place was just sort of left on the back burner. I’m on Thanksgiving break now and hoping to get back to some writing because I do miss posting here. My goal is to pick it up again.
I could have posted about a number of things here, I suppose. I’ve listened to a number of new albums and I even made it to a Rob Thomas concert, despite how busy I’ve been. There’s always stuff going on in the music world to post about and I could have given my opinion on anything. I just didn’t have the time or energy to post, which really disappointed me. Fortunately, my night classes are just about over, and the holiday break will shortly arrive. I’ll do my best to get some posts in then.
I did realize I could post about the recent Adam Lambert controversy, but I will not. Number one, I try to keep this blog more aligned with the music than the controversial parts of it. I went off a little with the “Already Gone”/”Halo” debacle, but I don’t want to do that a lot. I’d much rather that this was a place where someone could come and read about opinions on music today where the blogger didn’t alienate him or her based on an opinion that doesn’t really matter in the first place. Number two, I hate that no matter what opinion a person has on the AMA performance, there is no escaping the backlash. It’s not that I can’t handle someone telling me my opinion is wrong, but I’m tired of the same thing over and over again.
I’m hoping to get some post ideas together. Meanwhile, I’ve been exhausted. I’ll rest up over this long weekend and get a recharge. I hope to start posting again soon. At the latest by the end of December or right before Christmas. I would like it to be much sooner than that, though.
