FM/Stevie mention-Giving thanks for the gift of music

[Livia]

http://www.timesherald.com/site/news...&PAG=461&rfi=9


11/21/2005
Giving thanks for gift of music
By: GORDON GLANTZ , Times Herald Staff

Yes, even us heathens can have revelations.

Case in point: While enjoying an acoustic evening with Bruce Springsteen on Nov. 9 (the show was not for the casual, I-wanna-hear-Glory-Days type of fan) it occurred to moi how important music is in our lives.
Perhaps it is because music expresses the emotions that one cannot otherwise gather together in one place.
There are people I know who have no more than passing interest in music, and I cannot fathom the emptiness of their lives.
It is my belief that without music playing a central role in your existence, you are devoid of a functioning soul. You are, without music, nothing more than Dick Cheney.
If I were unfortunate enough to be on the singles scene, there would be no greater turnoff (other than maybe smoking cigarettes or spitting) than a woman saying "all kinds" when asked what type of music she is into.
Generally, the lame "all kinds" response translates to "no kinds."
It's almost as bad as liking show tunes.
One can like and/or appreciate varied genres, but at least explain it.
Myself, I am a classic rocker. But I also like folk music and reggae. I love 1970s soul (the "Philly" sound). I'm not big into country or jazz, but I would never say never. Once in a while, there is a blatant pop song of which I cannot rid myself.
To be honest, I can't be in a car with no music playing. I can't even write this column without something to accompany the pounding of the keys (I'm playing some Bob Marley right now, in case you are wondering).
Having once been an aspiring songwriter (a craft I may try again, as long as I can find someone to play Elton John to my Bernie Taupin), I believe that words ultimately make the song.
A catchy tune and solid beat are nice, but a song must have something to say to play in my show.
On the other side of the coin, if the music does not enhance the lyrics, you are left with a plane that can't get clearance for takeoff.
It is a delicate, and intriguing, balance that makes being a songwriter a special calling.
Tastes, of course, change.
That is part of the fun. A decade or two ago, I loved Billy Joel's "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant." Now ... well ... it makes me want to jump off the Airy Street Bridge.
Conversely, I've come to appreciate many Frank Sinatra classics (particularly "The Summer Wind").
So, on this Thanksgiving, let us be thankful for the gift of music.
Hence, here are my Top 10 favorite songs of all-time (Note: I already feel extreme guilt for leaving about 1,001 fantastic songs - including plenty by Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty, The Beatles and Rolling Stones - off the list):
10) A Horse With No Name - America: A classic example of the words and music working in perfect harmony. Often believed to be a "drug" song, it is actually about the ongoing journey each of us makes in a quest to find ourselves. Even though it doesn't really rock, it rocks.
9) Like A Hurricane - Neil Young: This song from a pure genius puts me in a hypnotic trance from start to finish. Can't explain why, so there is no point in trying.
8) It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Bob Dylan: Some rapper out there would strike gold if he came across, and remade, this poignant rant from Dylan's classic 1965 "Bringing It All Back Home" album. Forty years later, every word rings true. That's why he's a genius.
7) Jungleland - Bruce Springsteen: What can you say? It has to be heard to be believed.
6) This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie: No Dylan? No Springsteen? Without Woody Guthrie, there would have been neither. One major step toward healing our fractured country would be to make this classic our national anthem.
5) If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot: My guitar teacher once asked me to learn this song to help me understand how words and music can work in perfect unison. The discovery of how this one comes together gave me chills ... and still does.
4-A) Badlands - Bruce Springsteen: "Poor man wanna be rich/ Rich man wanna be king/ And a king ain't satisfied until he rules everything." And you wonder why I worship the man? Anyway, this is Bruce's best song live and second best song overall.
4-B) Landslide - Fleetwood Mac: The best of the best from Stevie Nicks, the high priestess of rock.
3) Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult: Many think this one sounds dated but I never get tired of it. About neither death nor the occult, the "reaper" stands for something worse - conformity.
2) Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen: Always the perfectionist, Springsteen's goal was for this to be "the greatest rock song ever." He just about got his wish.
1) I Will Follow - U2: I was too young to recall hearing The Beatles or Rolling Stones for the first time, but I can vividly remember hearing this in 1980. The first listen to a song had never, and will never, leave me so inspired. Immediately, I had to find out who it was and how to get my hands on the album (it was no easy task). The rest, as they say, is history. Subsequently, one of my only claims to fame in high school was that I knew about U2 before anyone else. Too bad it didn't help improve my class rank.
E-mail Gordon Glantz at [email protected].


©The Times Herald 2005

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by Livia

3) Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult: Many think this one sounds dated but I never get tired of it. About neither death nor the occult, the "reaper" stands for something worse - conformity.

... It could use more cowbell.

[Karlie]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

... It could use more cowbell.

Gotta love the cowbell.

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by Karlie

Gotta love the cowbell.

*grin* I love Christopher Walken. "I've got a fever... and the only prescription is... More cowbell!!!"

[Livia]

I wore my "More Cowbell" t-shirt for the first time at Reckless Kelly Friday nite. I got SO many compliments on it! Of course, only the people who know what it means said anything...and forget trying to explain the sketch to anyone, you definitely had to see it for yourself to truly get it.

[Karlie]

Originally Posted by Livia

I wore my "More Cowbell" t-shirt for the first time at Reckless Kelly Friday nite. I got SO many compliments on it! Of course, only the people know what it means said anything...and forget trying to explain the sketch to anyone, you definitely had to see it for yourself to truly get it.

Haha! I have a 'more cowbell' t-shirt too!

[lilymoon]

where do i find one of those t-shirts??

[Karlie]

Originally Posted by lilymoon

where do i find one of those t-shirts??

I got mine from www.yque.com.

[lilymoon]

thanx, karlie!

[Livia]

I got mine here:

http://www.bustedtees.com/product.php?name=morecowbell

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by Livia

http://www.timesherald.com/site/news...&PAG=461&rfi=9


11/21/2005
Giving thanks for gift of music
By: GORDON GLANTZ , Times Herald Staff

Yes, even us heathens can have revelations.

Case in point: While enjoying an acoustic evening with Bruce Springsteen on Nov. 9 (the show was not for the casual, I-wanna-hear-Glory-Days type of fan) it occurred to moi how important music is in our lives.
Perhaps it is because music expresses the emotions that one cannot otherwise gather together in one place.
There are people I know who have no more than passing interest in music, and I cannot fathom the emptiness of their lives.
It is my belief that without music playing a central role in your existence, you are devoid of a functioning soul. You are, without music, nothing more than Dick Cheney.
If I were unfortunate enough to be on the singles scene, there would be no greater turnoff (other than maybe smoking cigarettes or spitting) than a woman saying "all kinds" when asked what type of music she is into.
Generally, the lame "all kinds" response translates to "no kinds."
It's almost as bad as liking show tunes.
One can like and/or appreciate varied genres, but at least explain it.
Myself, I am a classic rocker. But I also like folk music and reggae. I love 1970s soul (the "Philly" sound). I'm not big into country or jazz, but I would never say never. Once in a while, there is a blatant pop song of which I cannot rid myself.
To be honest, I can't be in a car with no music playing. I can't even write this column without something to accompany the pounding of the keys (I'm playing some Bob Marley right now, in case you are wondering).
Having once been an aspiring songwriter (a craft I may try again, as long as I can find someone to play Elton John to my Bernie Taupin), I believe that words ultimately make the song.
A catchy tune and solid beat are nice, but a song must have something to say to play in my show.
On the other side of the coin, if the music does not enhance the lyrics, you are left with a plane that can't get clearance for takeoff.
It is a delicate, and intriguing, balance that makes being a songwriter a special calling.
Tastes, of course, change.
That is part of the fun. A decade or two ago, I loved Billy Joel's "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant." Now ... well ... it makes me want to jump off the Airy Street Bridge.
Conversely, I've come to appreciate many Frank Sinatra classics (particularly "The Summer Wind").
So, on this Thanksgiving, let us be thankful for the gift of music.
Hence, here are my Top 10 favorite songs of all-time (Note: I already feel extreme guilt for leaving about 1,001 fantastic songs - including plenty by Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty, The Beatles and Rolling Stones - off the list):
10) A Horse With No Name - America: A classic example of the words and music working in perfect harmony. Often believed to be a "drug" song, it is actually about the ongoing journey each of us makes in a quest to find ourselves. Even though it doesn't really rock, it rocks.
9) Like A Hurricane - Neil Young: This song from a pure genius puts me in a hypnotic trance from start to finish. Can't explain why, so there is no point in trying.
8) It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Bob Dylan: Some rapper out there would strike gold if he came across, and remade, this poignant rant from Dylan's classic 1965 "Bringing It All Back Home" album. Forty years later, every word rings true. That's why he's a genius.
7) Jungleland - Bruce Springsteen: What can you say? It has to be heard to be believed.
6) This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie: No Dylan? No Springsteen? Without Woody Guthrie, there would have been neither. One major step toward healing our fractured country would be to make this classic our national anthem.
5) If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot: My guitar teacher once asked me to learn this song to help me understand how words and music can work in perfect unison. The discovery of how this one comes together gave me chills ... and still does.
4-A) Badlands - Bruce Springsteen: "Poor man wanna be rich/ Rich man wanna be king/ And a king ain't satisfied until he rules everything." And you wonder why I worship the man? Anyway, this is Bruce's best song live and second best song overall.
4-B) Landslide - Fleetwood Mac: The best of the best from Stevie Nicks, the high priestess of rock.
3) Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult: Many think this one sounds dated but I never get tired of it. About neither death nor the occult, the "reaper" stands for something worse - conformity.
2) Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen: Always the perfectionist, Springsteen's goal was for this to be "the greatest rock song ever." He just about got his wish.
1) I Will Follow - U2: I was too young to recall hearing The Beatles or Rolling Stones for the first time, but I can vividly remember hearing this in 1980. The first listen to a song had never, and will never, leave me so inspired. Immediately, I had to find out who it was and how to get my hands on the album (it was no easy task). The rest, as they say, is history. Subsequently, one of my only claims to fame in high school was that I knew about U2 before anyone else. Too bad it didn't help improve my class rank.
E-mail Gordon Glantz at [email protected].


©The Times Herald 2005

It occured to Moi? How precious is that?

[cliffdweller]

"It is my belief that without music playing a central role in your existence, you are devoid of a functioning soul. You are, without music, nothing more than Dick Cheney."

My sentiments exactly.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

... It could use more cowbell.