Pop On Pop: More songs about music

What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?
Rob Gordon, High Fidelity

Okay, just to set the record straight (and clean, preferably with a new stylus) I READ LYRICS. I think the words are important. Sure, lots of great songs have stupid, nonsensical words. From Papa Ooh Mow Mow to Gabba Gabba Hey rock music has its fair share of lyrics that are all about the sound, and not about the deeper meaning. And there is no shortage of poorly written lyrics in pop, but that usually puts me off an otherwise good song anyway.

The words, especially if you are young, in love, feeling disenfranchised or lonely… think "teenager" and you know what I mean… the words are HUGE. They say what you probably can't articulate. And because they are also there for your own personal torture, the words seem to be reaching right into your heart, soul and mind. You think "Wow, that says exactly how I feel right now!"

Lyrics in pop music are there to be interpreted by the listener. That's the beauty of it. The less specific they are the better too. I've often heard people talk about a song they love and what they think it means, only to think to myself, I didn't get that from the lyrics AT ALL. No problem. It's all good. Just don't start investigating what the writer was actually trying to say if you want to preserve your personal spin.

Here is a short list of pop songs written specifically about pop songs, with my comments:

Rubber Ring by The Smiths: Morrissey and gang wrote this one about pop songs that saved your life. Best lyric: "Yes you're older now and you're a clever swine, but they were the only ones that ever stood by you."

I Write the Songs: Yep, the Barry Manilow number. You'd think he actually would have written it too, but you'd be wrong. Composed by long time member of the Beach Boys Bruce Johnston, I Write the Songs is a cheesy but wonderful expression of love for pop songs. I've been alive forever…

Sir Duke: Stevie Wonder has often confused me as a lyricist, but not on this extraordinary tribute to the pop songs from a generation previous.

Heart Songs by Weezer: This ode to the soundtrack of Rivers Cuomo's youth lists all of the frontman's artists and records that have influenced him. He told MTV News that it ranged from "From Gordon Lightfoot's 'Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald' when I was 5 to Nirvana's Nevermind."

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=11879

There are so many more of these. Send me some of your favourites and I will include them next time :)

Did I tell you I love music?

I know, almost everybody says they love music. Those that say they don't are (thankfully) few and far between. But I can remember as a very young boy being painfully shy about letting anyone know just how much some of those pop songs on the radio meant to me.

My parents loved music. They played it around the house, went to see shows, Mom was an accomplished pianist and was already teaching by the time she was a teenager. And we lived in a musically rich part of the world, right across the Mersey River from Liverpool. I actually got to take the Ferry Cross the Mersey while Gerry & the Pacemakers had the song on the charts. I think there was an even bigger band out from there at the time too…

It took a long time before I could tell people I was "crazy about music". Sure, I said I "liked" it and even sang along, but I can't remember any of my little friends freaking out when Windy by The Association came on, or needing to get away from any other noise when Mary Hopkin started singing Temma Harbour or Those Were the Days.

I knew I was… different.

By the time I reached my teens I had found my kindred spirits. And for the rest of my life (so far) I continue to gravitate towards those to whom music isn't just a part of their lives. Music IS life.

Next time, some of my favourite songs About music.

Curve balls at Christmas

This time of year just about everyone has a hectic schedule and we find ourselves running from appointment to party to yet another shopping excursion. Our plans don't usually provide for the surprise changes that inevitably pop up to throw off our carefully orchestrated "to do" lists. It's helpful to keep something in mind… It's Christmas. It's a time of giving, so be prepared to give your time to others. That may be taking a child out to help them get their Christmas shopping done. Or talking with a friend that is having a hard time because the Christmas season intensifies just about everything and everyone.

The most valuable gift we have to give is our time. Be as generous as you can with your time and you will find that it is it's own reward.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

Peace

Curve balls at Christmas

This time of year just about everyone has a hectic schedule and we find ourselves running from one appointment to another party to another shopping excursion. Our plans don't usually provide for the surprise changes that inevitably pop up to throw off our carefully orchestrated "to do" list.

It's helpful to keep in mind that it's Christmas. It's a time of giving, so be prepared to give your time to others. That may be taking a child out to help them get their Christmas shopping done.

Imagine Peace 2010, October 8 at Hamilton Place Studio Theatre

I did this doodle, based on John Lennon's style, for an upcoming tribute to John celebrating what would have been his 70th Birthday.

Never too old to rock'n'roll: Being in a band as a grownup!

Okay, so almost all of the big groups from the sixties that are still around are full of guys (mostly) in their sixties now. They have been playing their respective style of rock/pop/whatever for literally ages now, and I don't even think it feels weird to them to be doing it in the September of their years either. I have seen and met many veteran performers in the last few years and they seem pretty happy to me. Some are happy to still have an appreciative audience… some are happy just to still be around to play at all.

But what about people like me? And I am part of a large and growing group. We've never been famous, we don't even have a one-hit -wonder in our back catalogue, and most of us missed out on being in a band when we were young. We were too busy finishing school, having kids of our own, or working on our career. But now? Today we are starting bands, writing songs, releasing CDs and playing bar gigs. Not because we have to. Just because we can. Realizing a dream from our younger days, we have found others who share our passion, or at least our interest, and we are getting out there and doing it.

I thought of this today because I am now in my second serious (sort of) band of my forties. And this one is awesome. Musically we have some real potential, but the awesome part comes from the people. We are having a ball playing together and everyone looks forward to our weekly practices. It has become a big part of all our lives.

I played in a punk band that had some actual success… industry award nominations, songs that charted on respected alternative radio, great media support. My favourite thing to tell people was that "I was 42 before I owned my first electric guitar". It was mostly fun. Like a poker night but without all the drinking. I did that for four years and have no regrets at all. But what is happening now is so much better. The music is beautiful, the company is beautiful, and I encourage any and all of my friends to do it too. You are never too old to start a band my friend.

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