amusing grace

Blah, blah, blah

Pretty busy this week, and I really can’t think of anything fresh to post.  Of course, I want to have something new on here for the 7 people that check in from time to time.  But I don’t want them to be disappointed at some sort of slip-shod “non-post.”  I’d rather just not post at all right now.  Yeah, I’m definitely not going to post anything today.

State of the Music Address

Let me begin with a brief story.  For those of you that don’t know, I work at a live music theater -- we do family-friendly entertainment (music and comedy).  Most of the music we do is what many would call “oldies” -- selections from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s (However, I refuse to call the 70’s “oldies” music:-)  We often get letters or e-mails from fans who have been especially touched by one of our performances. 

Recently a customer wanted to let us know that her father had a great time at one of our shows.  He is a WWII veteran, and he especially responded to one of the musical sections in which we recreated a 1940’s USO show.  She and her dad went out for coffee afterwards, and he began to open up and share many stories from that time in his life -- stories that she had never heard. 

If I ever doubted the power of music to open up the mind and soul, I surely don’t any more. 

I must admit, I’m a little envious of people that had the privilege of growing up during the birth of rock n’ roll, or during the hey-day of early pop for that matter (when it was still squeaky clean).  Sure, I enjoyed my 1980’s teen years, but musically speaking, I often feel like I was born a couple of decades too late.  Now don’t get me wrong; I liked the Thriller album just like everyone else, and in my book you can put Earth, Wind & Fire up against most any band.  I just wonder if someday I’ll get sentimental about “my music” the way some of our customers do at the theater.  You have to admit, “Whip It” doesn’t stand up too well against “Only You” (and The Platters didn’t even have to wear flower pots on their heads). 

The cliche is a tired one, but now I can say it confidently, as someone who has had the privilege of singing scores of tunes from many different eras:  When it comes to songs, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” 

To be fair, songs like “Unchained Melody” have longevity on their side;  and I’m sure there are some current artists (John Mayer, Alicia Keys, and the like) who will pen one or two songs that my kids will still be humming in 30 years.  But generally speaking, the era of “popular music that is actually artistically above reproach” is gone.  Teens buy (or download, I should say) so much of the marketplace’s music, and let’s face it -- most 14-year-olds are more concerned with Christina Aguilera’s “sweet hair” than with the fact that she oversings everything. 

And speaking of vocals, most popular singing today is totally groove-driven.  It’s all about a 3-1/2 minute bass and drum loop; and then finally (seemingly as an afterthought) the “artist” will sing a quasi-melodic line that consists of varying combinations of about three notes.  At least they have their “not-as-interesting-as-the-back-of-a-cereal-box” lyrics to fall back on:-)  That may be fine for some; but give me a melody with some contour that wraps itself around the lyric -- all in the context of chord progressions that are oozing with texture.

Well, I’m starting to sound bitter about today’s music, and I’m really not.  There are some songwriters and singers today (many of them on the “fringe” of the music scene) that seem to “get it.”  I just feel that to some extent many young people are missing out.  I guess my parent’s generation thought it about me, too. 

Who knows? 60 years from now, grandmas in aprons might be cooking a big microwave feast for the grandkids; all while sweetly humming the complex refrain from “Oops I Did It Again.” 

Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of all Time (Doesn’t include classical music, which is an impossible list to compile due to the sheer number of masterpieces).

Carey's leftovers #5

-I saw a funny sign in a jewelry shop the other day:  “Ears Pierced While You Wait.”  While you wait?  Is there really another option here?  “Yeah, I’ll just pick these up in an hour.”

-At the end of some months, Visa doesn’t send me a bill.  They send me a thank-you note.

-I think the fondue restaurateurs really missed out on a good marketing opportunity by not calling it fundue.

-Tide, Cascade, Surf -- evidently using detergent is supposed to be a very oceanic experience.

Child prodigies. . .

1764 – Mozart, age 8, composes Symphony No. 1 in E flat major

1813 – Zerah Colburn, age 9, was able to multiply 6-digit numbers in his head

1984 - Tiger Woods, age 8, wins the 10 & under division at the Junior World Golf Championships

1994 - Michel Kearney, age 10, graduates from the University of Alabama

1998 - Tara Lipinski, age 15, becomes youngest gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games

1982 – Carey Dyer, age 11, completes two sides on a Rubik’s Cube

List of other child prodigies

Unexplained guilty pleasures. . .

Can’t explain it.  But I sure enjoy it.

-Being the first one to mess up an untouched jar of peanut butter.

-Blowing out a candle and then blowing on the remaining puddle of molten wax until a thin film appears on top.

-Writing down things I’ve already done today and then checking them off.

-Successfully removing all of the cotton from a bottle of aspirin.

-Rolling down my truck window to the surprise of a bothersome insect, which is then unexpectedly sucked back out into the world.

-Plucking an unwanted hair.

-Taking the first bite out of a chocolate cream-filled eclair.

-Listening to an obscure song and then thinking to myself, “I am most likely the only person in the universe who is listening to this song right now.”

Okay, now – don’t judge me.  You have quirky things that you seem to enjoy for no reason.  Come on – ‘fess up and leave a comment!

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