Tuesday, March 11, 2008

They say that the pen is mightier than the sword.  The word is a powerful thing.  It has shaped cultures, governments, movements, and helped forge education.  So why don't I give a crap?

Last night, Leonard Cohen was inducted into what I consider the most sacred of all secular temples:  The Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.  While I may not be the expert on his works, I have heard of him, some of his efforts not only as a songwriter, but as a performer as well.  His induction to me is a no-brainer.  But this isn't about Leonard Cohen.  Its about lyrics.

Why does someone who values popular music so much, and enjoys writing himself not give a crap about lyrics?

My last post was only a fraction of a fraction of a percent of a view of my love and appreciation for rock and rock history.  My cd collection is quite large, and fairly varied.  But ever since I can remember, I have been enjoying, and selecting my purchases and downloads based on the way music sounded to me.  If it grooved, if it rocked, if it chugged along with a maniacal pace that created a powerful frenzy in the listener, I was all over it.  If it told a great story, I couldn't have cared less.

The irony is that one of the defining characteristics of my favorite rock genre - progressive rock - are the epic tales told over 17 minute compositions about fantasy lands, fictitious characters on life affirming quests, dragons, pleasure domes, and endless other topics.  Still, it doesn't matter to me.  Its the chug chug of the beat that keeps my interest.  Hearing a frenetic instrumental jam in  5/8, or 7/8 is heaven to me.

duggaduh-dugga dugga, duggaduh-dugga, duggaduh-dugga, dugga dugga

See, even written down its cool!

Wait a second...

I'd like to think that my interest in the composition of a musical selection of any kind does not primarily show my neanderthal tendencies to not comprehend the words.  They just don't speak to me.

I remember when Anthony played for me my first tracks of my now, favorite band, Dream Theater.  He was explaining the complex story from "Metropolis II: Scenes from a Memory" involving a murder mystery and all its characters with examples from the lyrics.  All I could hear was how well these musicians coalesced and created a groove that made my eardrums and my soul drool for more.  "Dude, stop talking, what did the drums just do there?"

To thine own self be true.  

Hey that sounds impressive, who wrote it?

rock on!
Floyd
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The preceeding blog was composed with the following tracks played from my Smart Playlist: Not Yet-

-Hodie: X. Narration: But Mary kept all these things, Ralph Vaughn Williams, London Symphony
-Sonata #28, Her Majesties Sagbutts and Cornetts
-In Loving Memory, Cosmosquad, "Squadrophenia"
-Main Squeeze, Chuck Mangione,"Live at the Hollywood Bowl"
-Five Melodies, op. 35b, Melody #5, Randal Hawes, "Mellodrama"
-Can't Buy me Love, The Beatles, "1"
-By the Fireside, Turtle Island String Quartet, "By the Fireside"
-Sea broth, Cosmosquad, "Squadrophenia"

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