Friends,
At this point, I'm out of excuses for my long delays in blogging. All I can say is that if you want me to blog more often, please badger me when I'm delaying. And, if possible, bombard me with awesome blog topic ideas.
Today's post, though, has been a long time coming...
I spend a lot of time in restaurants and coffee shops. This is because I work from home a lot, and I've found that I'm a lot more productive "in a restaurant or coffee shop" than I am "from home". Places like this, to provide customers with a nice atmosphere, typically play music. And because these establishments want to attract rather than repel patrons, that music is usually in a commercial-free loop rather than a DJ/commercial radio station.
Since these patrons will be of all ages, the loop of music is typically 'multi-generational', spanning the decades. Yet it stays in the 'safe' genre of pop rock, eschewing polarizing niche genres like country and rap. Finally, because the paying patrons aren't young, the decades covered are usually the 70s and 80s, with a little 90s thrown in.
Which musical artists stand to gain most from this convergence of factors? Who was prolific in the pop genre from 1970 to 1995? Many names might come to mind: The Eagles, Elton John, Michael Jackson, etc. However, probably unbeknownst to you, one artist cranked out more playable tunes in that span than any other. And thus, that artist is played in eating establishments all over Pittsburgh on a daily basis.
In case you didn't peek below, or have an attention span of like 0.3 seconds and have already forgotten, that artist is Billy Joel.
The Billy Joel Theorem
I'm not kidding. This is a theorem.
You might be in disbelief. Billy Joel? To you, Joel might just be a former celebrity who drunkenly drives his car into houses. You might not be able to think of any of his songs. But trust me (I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night), he is the most played artist in public pop music loops.
In fact, I've postulated a pretty controversial theorem about just how often he's played:
The Billy Joel Theorem
If you spend any length of time in a Pittsburgh-area establishment that plays a loop of multi-generational pop music, you will hear a Billy Joel song.
You might be thinking, "What about if I just step inside the door of the establishment, then 1 second later I leave?" I theorize that you will be treated to 1 second of a Billy Joel tune.
No, obviously the theorem is false in its bold version above. But I maintain that Joel is the most frequently played artist in these loops. In case you're unfamiliar with his body of work, here are the songs (and their albums) I hear most often in restaurants (though they're not necessarily his best):
Piano Man (1973)
"Piano Man"
The Stranger (1977)
"Only the Good Die Young"
"Get it Right the First Time"
52nd Street (1978)
"Big Shot"
"My Life"
Glass Houses (1980)
"You May Be Right"
"It's Still Rock 'n Roll to Me"
An Innocent Man (1983)
"The Longest Time" (though I may prefer this version)
"Tell Her About It" (man, some of these videos are... interesting)
Storm Front (1989)
"We Didn't Start the Fire" (I'm pretty sure Ryan started it)
River of Dreams (1993)
"The River of Dreams"
[Other songs I occasionally hear include "Captain Jack", "She's Got a Way", "The Entertainer", "Movin' Out", "Just the Way You Are", "Allentown", "Uptown Girl", "I Go to Extremes", and "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)".]
I know this is pretty sad as far as theorems go. But don't worry! In the spirit of facts and data and science, I will now begin logging all the songs I hear in these settings. I will identify the most played artists and songs. And (as soon as Billy Joel hits the top of the list I'm recording) I'll report back to you, TS(s) readers, and we will settle this hotly debated issue once and for all.
We're all in the mood for a melody...
or, at the very least, I'm in the mood for a bunch of blog comments
Are you a Billy Joel fan?
Which artist do YOU seem to always hear when you're in public?
Jon
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
1.28.2013
Word of the Month: Direction
Friends,
So I took a break for the holidays. That is: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Eve, Christmas, New Years, and my birthday. So, a pretty long break. (Maybe I've written about holidays so often in previous years that I needed to actually just live some.)
My goal is to update Tangent Space(s) about once a week. Taking a 2-month break is obviously counterproductive to that. So, let's make a deal: I'll do my best to start now with one blog post per week, and in turn you simply agree to read and comment on everything I write, ask meaningful questions, add hilarious commentary, promote my blog everywhere you go, and take about 15 minutes per week to think of and send me topic ideas.
Deal!
But right now, I'm going to hop on a train a fellow blogger from my church is starting. It's a monthly blogging exercise in which you take one word and write about it however you want. Now, before I start, I want to admit/complain that the marketing for this campaign is decidedly feminine:
And yet, this will hopefully prove to be just the push I need to start back up. The word for January is... direction.
What's up with One Direction?
On their website, they refer to themselves as '1D'
When I was in elementary school, my main concern was being cool. In third or fourth grade, I learned that Boyz II Men were cool. I promptly asked for their music and soon received the album II on cassette tape.
One day in fourth grade, a classmate asked me what my favorite Boyz II Men songs were. The only ones I could remember in the moment were "I'll Make Love to You" and "Yesterday" (Beatles cover). I waited nervously, wondering how easy it would be for the world to see through my thinly veiled ruse, my forced popularity-aimed fanhood of a band whose lives and lyrics were like a foreign language to me.
The boy, whose particular opinion counted a lot in determining a kid's popularity, nodded and said, "Yeah, I love 'Yesterday'." Whew.
Looking back with my27- 28-year-old mind, I have a few observations about that hilarious scene:
...until...
The Boy Band Zombie uprising of 2011!! (The seeds of which were sewn in 2010 by none other than 2 of the worst human beings to ever grace television screens, Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherz, uh, Scherzi, umm.. 'Schers not gonna work here anymore')
You probably think I'm overreacting. Maybe. But one boy band --just one-- may threaten the music and TV freedom of us all.
Comment and stuff
We had a deal!!
What is your story with the late-90s boy bands? To which one did you pledge your rabid loyalty?
Jon
So I took a break for the holidays. That is: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Eve, Christmas, New Years, and my birthday. So, a pretty long break. (Maybe I've written about holidays so often in previous years that I needed to actually just live some.)
My goal is to update Tangent Space(s) about once a week. Taking a 2-month break is obviously counterproductive to that. So, let's make a deal: I'll do my best to start now with one blog post per week, and in turn you simply agree to read and comment on everything I write, ask meaningful questions, add hilarious commentary, promote my blog everywhere you go, and take about 15 minutes per week to think of and send me topic ideas.
Deal!
But right now, I'm going to hop on a train a fellow blogger from my church is starting. It's a monthly blogging exercise in which you take one word and write about it however you want. Now, before I start, I want to admit/complain that the marketing for this campaign is decidedly feminine:
 |
| hashtag #awordwithyou (seriously) |
And yet, this will hopefully prove to be just the push I need to start back up. The word for January is... direction.
What's up with One Direction?
On their website, they refer to themselves as '1D'
When I was in elementary school, my main concern was being cool. In third or fourth grade, I learned that Boyz II Men were cool. I promptly asked for their music and soon received the album II on cassette tape.
One day in fourth grade, a classmate asked me what my favorite Boyz II Men songs were. The only ones I could remember in the moment were "I'll Make Love to You" and "Yesterday" (Beatles cover). I waited nervously, wondering how easy it would be for the world to see through my thinly veiled ruse, my forced popularity-aimed fanhood of a band whose lives and lyrics were like a foreign language to me.
The boy, whose particular opinion counted a lot in determining a kid's popularity, nodded and said, "Yeah, I love 'Yesterday'." Whew.
Looking back with my
- We all cared way too much about popularity.
- That kid could have been quasi-faking his love of Boyz II Men too! What if none of us actually understood or liked their music!? One person could have seen something on TV about how cool they were...
- The thing, though, is that Boyz II Men actually was pretty awesome. To a less legit extent, so was All-4-One. But then something terrible happened in the mid-90s. In about 1995-1996, these two groups essentially lost their mojo. This left a gaping hole in the music scene for 2 all-male vocal groups. In 1997, those spots were filled... by the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.
- While it was standard operating procedure for girls to love these late-90s boy bands and for guys to hate them, of course we all secretly loved to jam out to their catchy hits, provided no one was around to see us. That's the thing about catchiness-- it doesn't matter if the thing is of terrible value to society or you personally. You get sucked in. See also: Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Michael Crichton, John Grisham, Storage Wars, Pawn Stars, etc.
...until...
The Boy Band Zombie uprising of 2011!! (The seeds of which were sewn in 2010 by none other than 2 of the worst human beings to ever grace television screens, Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherz, uh, Scherzi, umm.. 'Schers not gonna work here anymore')
You probably think I'm overreacting. Maybe. But one boy band --just one-- may threaten the music and TV freedom of us all.
Comment and stuff
We had a deal!!
What is your story with the late-90s boy bands? To which one did you pledge your rabid loyalty?
Jon
10.10.2011
Musings on "How He Loves"
I know "How He Loves" is, like, sooooo 2007, but in all my days of tangenting, it has somehow slid under the radar. Given the wild success (joking; I have no success criteria) of my last post about worship music, it now feels like the time to finally address the elephant in the room.
"How He Loves," if you're not familiar with it, is fascinating because it splits every church into two groups: those who roll their eyes when the "sloppy, wet kiss" line comes, and those who wait til 2 seconds after the service to start avidly defending the song and presenting the backstory of its origin (as if we eye-rollers haven't heard it 3,000 times).
But arguments about that line -- "heaven meets earth like a sloppy, wet kiss" -- are seriously tired. It might remind you of an affectionate kiss from a lovable puppy. Perhaps it conjures images of a half-blind over-perfumed great-aunt. Or maybe memories of middle school's "seven minutes in heaven" (woah! heaven reference!). I don't really care what that line does for you, because I want to focus on the violent imagery found elsewhere in the song.
The violence of God's benevolent grace
Warning: content may not be suitable for children
Verse 1:
"He... loves like a hurricane; I am a tree bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy."
With Hurricanes Katrina, Ivan, Ike, etc. (including Bob, if you were on vacation with my family in 1991) still in the back of everyone's minds, this seems like an unnecessarily off-putting choice to symbolize God's mercy. It's especially weird since God's mercy is defined (by Wayne Grudem) as His "goodness toward those in misery and distress."
Verse 2:
"If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking."
What strikes me as strange about this is that the line ends with "sinking." I think "floating", "diving", or "swimming" could have done the trick without the implication of death by drowning. Again using Grudem's definition, God's grace is His "goodness toward those who deserve only punishment." Isn't it ironic, then, to explain it using the punishment one would receive from a pirate?
Verse ???:
This has naturally led me and at least one of my friends to come up with our own violent images of God's love. Here are a few ideas...
His love chops me to pieces like a chainsaw
I am in the fetal position, being pummeled by God's kindness
A freak gasoline fight accident of God's faithfulness burned me to a crisp
Put on your writing caps
Seriously, please comment. There's no pressure. You will receive far less scrutiny than the dude who originally wrote "How He Loves"
Give me your best new lines of violent imagery.
What do you think of "How He Loves" and its many metaphors?
Jon
"How He Loves," if you're not familiar with it, is fascinating because it splits every church into two groups: those who roll their eyes when the "sloppy, wet kiss" line comes, and those who wait til 2 seconds after the service to start avidly defending the song and presenting the backstory of its origin (as if we eye-rollers haven't heard it 3,000 times).
But arguments about that line -- "heaven meets earth like a sloppy, wet kiss" -- are seriously tired. It might remind you of an affectionate kiss from a lovable puppy. Perhaps it conjures images of a half-blind over-perfumed great-aunt. Or maybe memories of middle school's "seven minutes in heaven" (woah! heaven reference!). I don't really care what that line does for you, because I want to focus on the violent imagery found elsewhere in the song.
The violence of God's benevolent grace
Warning: content may not be suitable for children
Verse 1:
"He... loves like a hurricane; I am a tree bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy."
With Hurricanes Katrina, Ivan, Ike, etc. (including Bob, if you were on vacation with my family in 1991) still in the back of everyone's minds, this seems like an unnecessarily off-putting choice to symbolize God's mercy. It's especially weird since God's mercy is defined (by Wayne Grudem) as His "goodness toward those in misery and distress."
Verse 2:
"If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking."
What strikes me as strange about this is that the line ends with "sinking." I think "floating", "diving", or "swimming" could have done the trick without the implication of death by drowning. Again using Grudem's definition, God's grace is His "goodness toward those who deserve only punishment." Isn't it ironic, then, to explain it using the punishment one would receive from a pirate?
Verse ???:
This has naturally led me and at least one of my friends to come up with our own violent images of God's love. Here are a few ideas...
His love chops me to pieces like a chainsaw
I am in the fetal position, being pummeled by God's kindness
A freak gasoline fight accident of God's faithfulness burned me to a crisp
Put on your writing caps
Seriously, please comment. There's no pressure. You will receive far less scrutiny than the dude who originally wrote "How He Loves"
Give me your best new lines of violent imagery.
What do you think of "How He Loves" and its many metaphors?
Jon
10.05.2011
The Worship Song Hall of Fame (read: banned list)
Worship music is something that most Christians really get into. Its benefits are many; it...
But sometimes, just as you're starting to drown out worldly thought-distractions and open up emotionally to God, a familiar chord progression begins. And by "familiar" I mean "way, way too familiar; so familiar, in fact, that the mere sound makes you want to close your ears and start saying 'LA-LA-LA' so you don't have to listen to one more second of it."
Some worship songs have just been so overplayed in churches and conferences the last 5, 10, 15 years (and in some cases, are also so bad) that -- for those of us who are still coming along on this spiritual journey of patience, maturity, and self-control -- they instantly induce an un-worshipful cringe.
And so, I give you...
Worship songs that need to be retired
and if they're not willing to retire, I'm trying to get them fired
[Note: there are some songs that would make this list, except you never hear them anymore, e.g. "Shine Jesus Shine." But it seems they have already called it quits, so there's no reason to bring them back onto anyone's radar.]
1. "Heart of Worship" [1998]
I'm amazed at how such a boring song became so incredibly overplayed. It doesn't even have a bridge, it just keeps coming back to "I'm coming back to the heart of worship..." over and over and over and over and over again. In the video linked above, Matt Redman at times looks like he's going to fall asleep while singing the song.
2. "Here I am to Worship" [2001]
Slow, boring, repetitive. It does have a bridge (and a poignant one at that), but the most musically and emotionally driven moments of the song coincide with pretty self-centered lyrics ("here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God").
3. "Trading My Sorrows" [1998]
I don't really hear this one too much anymore, but when I do, it's really hard to sing along with
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord Amen
4. "God of Wonders" [2000]
Good lyrics, decent song, just toooooo many times.
5. "Breathe" (or "This is the Air I Breathe") [1995]
Nothing to say. Stop playing this song.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Shout to the Lord, Open the Eyes of My Heart, Indescribable, Days of Elijah, Friend of God, Better is One Day
What songs are in your worship hall of fame?
Fun fact: I wanted to work in a "warship" pun by this point, but it didn't pan out
What are your favorite worship songs right now?
Which ones are you really tired of?
Jon
- provides an opportunity to focus undivided attention on God and His character
- gives a medium to passionately express your gratitude and love to God
- allows you to be united in mind and spirit with your community
But sometimes, just as you're starting to drown out worldly thought-distractions and open up emotionally to God, a familiar chord progression begins. And by "familiar" I mean "way, way too familiar; so familiar, in fact, that the mere sound makes you want to close your ears and start saying 'LA-LA-LA' so you don't have to listen to one more second of it."
Some worship songs have just been so overplayed in churches and conferences the last 5, 10, 15 years (and in some cases, are also so bad) that -- for those of us who are still coming along on this spiritual journey of patience, maturity, and self-control -- they instantly induce an un-worshipful cringe.
And so, I give you...
Worship songs that need to be retired
and if they're not willing to retire, I'm trying to get them fired
[Note: there are some songs that would make this list, except you never hear them anymore, e.g. "Shine Jesus Shine." But it seems they have already called it quits, so there's no reason to bring them back onto anyone's radar.]
1. "Heart of Worship" [1998]
I'm amazed at how such a boring song became so incredibly overplayed. It doesn't even have a bridge, it just keeps coming back to "I'm coming back to the heart of worship..." over and over and over and over and over again. In the video linked above, Matt Redman at times looks like he's going to fall asleep while singing the song.
2. "Here I am to Worship" [2001]
Slow, boring, repetitive. It does have a bridge (and a poignant one at that), but the most musically and emotionally driven moments of the song coincide with pretty self-centered lyrics ("here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that You're my God").
3. "Trading My Sorrows" [1998]
I don't really hear this one too much anymore, but when I do, it's really hard to sing along with
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord Amen
4. "God of Wonders" [2000]
Good lyrics, decent song, just toooooo many times.
5. "Breathe" (or "This is the Air I Breathe") [1995]
Nothing to say. Stop playing this song.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Shout to the Lord, Open the Eyes of My Heart, Indescribable, Days of Elijah, Friend of God, Better is One Day
What songs are in your worship hall of fame?
Fun fact: I wanted to work in a "warship" pun by this point, but it didn't pan out
What are your favorite worship songs right now?
Which ones are you really tired of?
Jon
10.02.2011
Reimagining Jimmy Eat World
If you were a cool teenager in the winter of 2001, you were listening to Jimmy Eat World's album Bleed American. They were pretty new, their music was of the increasingly popular alternative-emo-pop-punk variety, and let's face it, the album RULES.
If you were a teenager who wanted to be cool in the summer of 2002, you were finally listening to the album.
I discovered Bleed American in the summer of 2002.
"Your House"
But given new meaning by my optimistic imagination
First of all, here's the song:
The gist of the song is that the singer is tired of a woman breaking his heart over and over again, so he's trying to cut ties with her to move on.
And sure, that's a real thing. I appreciate the honesty. But I can't seem to help getting a little depressed at the oft-repeated lines
If you love me at all, please don't tell me now
If you love me at all, don't call
So I've invented an alternate meaning for the song. Imagine a guy who likes a girl. This will work better if you picture a nerdy guy liking a girl who's not necessarily reciprocating (I'm envisioning Screech and Lisa from Saved by the Bell).
Ok, now because this guy is striking out, he resorts to saying "If you love me, I want you (for reasons I won't go into) to act like you don't love me." This sets up the ultimate win-win scenario for poor Screech/me/loser/guy. If she acts like she loves him, WIN. If she acts like she doesn't, he can just shoot her occasional knowing glances and construct an imaginary reality in which she's suppressing her love in order to fulfill his cryptic demand. WIN.
And that's basically what Jimmy Eat World is saying--
If you love me at all, don't call.
Saved (from being eaten by Jimmy) by the bell
See what I did there?
I combined the names of the 2 pop-culture references in this post.
Did you listen to Jimmy Eat World in the early 2000s?
Who was your favorite Saved by the Bell character/couple?
Jon
If you were a teenager who wanted to be cool in the summer of 2002, you were finally listening to the album.
I discovered Bleed American in the summer of 2002.
"Your House"
But given new meaning by my optimistic imagination
First of all, here's the song:
The gist of the song is that the singer is tired of a woman breaking his heart over and over again, so he's trying to cut ties with her to move on.
And sure, that's a real thing. I appreciate the honesty. But I can't seem to help getting a little depressed at the oft-repeated lines
If you love me at all, please don't tell me now
If you love me at all, don't call
So I've invented an alternate meaning for the song. Imagine a guy who likes a girl. This will work better if you picture a nerdy guy liking a girl who's not necessarily reciprocating (I'm envisioning Screech and Lisa from Saved by the Bell).
Ok, now because this guy is striking out, he resorts to saying "If you love me, I want you (for reasons I won't go into) to act like you don't love me." This sets up the ultimate win-win scenario for poor Screech/me/loser/guy. If she acts like she loves him, WIN. If she acts like she doesn't, he can just shoot her occasional knowing glances and construct an imaginary reality in which she's suppressing her love in order to fulfill his cryptic demand. WIN.
And that's basically what Jimmy Eat World is saying--
If you love me at all, don't call.
Saved (from being eaten by Jimmy) by the bell
See what I did there?
I combined the names of the 2 pop-culture references in this post.
Did you listen to Jimmy Eat World in the early 2000s?
Who was your favorite Saved by the Bell character/couple?
Jon
9.26.2011
Songs for next year
New beginnings are some of the most exciting things in life. The clean slate that comes with a new house, a new city, a new job, a new friendship (or a new ______) provides an occasion for so many positive things, e.g. evaluation, reflection, anticipation, discovery, and hope.
Two overlapping observations about new beginnings:
old songs about new years
in no particular order (I just like numbering things)
1. New Year's Eve by Five Iron Frenzy
Some lyrics:
It's New Year's Eve and I'm full of empty promises I half-pretend to keep this time, just like last year.
This New Year's Eve I'm waiting for tomorrow. My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe this New Years Eve will turn out better than before. I'm holding on, still holding out until they close the door... on me.
A year goes by and I'm staring at my watch again, and I dig deep this time for something greater than I've ever been, life to ancient wineskins. And I was blind but now I see.
This New Years Eve, something must change me inside: I'm crooked and misguided, and tired of being tired. This New Years Eve, I'm waiting for tomorrow. My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe... in You.
Some thoughts:
I didn't want to bombard you with all the lyrics, so you may not get the real gist from the excerpt above. But this song, to me, is about the futility of hoping in positive change just because a new year is dawning. After the pointless pattern of making resolutions and then forgetting them, he finally realizes that real change happens inside and is brought about by God.
2. Next Year, Baby by Jamie Cullum
Some lyrics:
Next Year,
Things are gonna change:
Gonna drink less beer
And start all over again
Gonna read more books
Gonna keep up with the news
Gonna learn how to cook
And spend less money on shoes
Resolutions
Well, baby, they come and go
Will I do any of these things?
The answer's probably no
But if there's one thing I must do,
Despite my greatest fears
I'm gonna say to you
How I've felt all of these years
Next Year
Some thoughts:
Interestingly, this awesome Jamie Cullum song echoes Five Iron's thought about the ineffectiveness of New Year's resolutions. It seems like in the wake of a new era, we feel as if we have the power to significantly change ourselves, but later reality sinks in and we realize we can't. But I like how, in the face of this futility, the singer recognizes he has the capacity to change one thing -- and he identifies his (as yet unspoken) love as his top priority.
3. The Ice of Boston by The Dismemberment Plan
Some lyrics:
Pop open a third bottle of bubbly.
Yeah, and I take that bottle of champagne, go into the kitchen, stand in front of the kitchen window, and I take all my clothes off, take that bottle of champagne, and I pour it on my head, feel it cascade through my hair and across my chest, and the phone rings...
And it’s my mother.
And she says “HI HONEY HOW’S BOSTON?”
And I stand there, all alone on New Year’s Eve, buck naked, drenched in champagne, looking at a bunch of strangers.
Uh, looking at them, looking at me, looking at them, and I say:
“I’m fine Mom—how’s Washington?”
Some thoughts:
This is one of the funniest songs ever, or at least one of the funniest songs about depressing failed love. The guy moved to Boston to be with a girl, but she later dumped him, leaving him alone in a huge city. Hilarious, right?!? No, but D-Plan has a way with stories. Note that it's on New Year's Eve that he naturally takes stock of the situation.
Help compensate for my inadequate breadth of musical knowledge
it's nowhere near the breadth of my vocabulary, which includes words like "breadth"
What songs about new beginnings do you love?
Jon
Two overlapping observations about new beginnings:
- Music captures well the emotions associated with new chapters in life
- New Year's epitomizes, almost perfectly, this idea
old songs about new years
in no particular order (I just like numbering things)
1. New Year's Eve by Five Iron Frenzy
Some lyrics:
It's New Year's Eve and I'm full of empty promises I half-pretend to keep this time, just like last year.
This New Year's Eve I'm waiting for tomorrow. My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe this New Years Eve will turn out better than before. I'm holding on, still holding out until they close the door... on me.
A year goes by and I'm staring at my watch again, and I dig deep this time for something greater than I've ever been, life to ancient wineskins. And I was blind but now I see.
This New Years Eve, something must change me inside: I'm crooked and misguided, and tired of being tired. This New Years Eve, I'm waiting for tomorrow. My heart is on my sleeve, and yes I still believe... in You.
Some thoughts:
I didn't want to bombard you with all the lyrics, so you may not get the real gist from the excerpt above. But this song, to me, is about the futility of hoping in positive change just because a new year is dawning. After the pointless pattern of making resolutions and then forgetting them, he finally realizes that real change happens inside and is brought about by God.
2. Next Year, Baby by Jamie Cullum
Some lyrics:
Next Year,
Things are gonna change:
Gonna drink less beer
And start all over again
Gonna read more books
Gonna keep up with the news
Gonna learn how to cook
And spend less money on shoes
Resolutions
Well, baby, they come and go
Will I do any of these things?
The answer's probably no
But if there's one thing I must do,
Despite my greatest fears
I'm gonna say to you
How I've felt all of these years
Next Year
Some thoughts:
Interestingly, this awesome Jamie Cullum song echoes Five Iron's thought about the ineffectiveness of New Year's resolutions. It seems like in the wake of a new era, we feel as if we have the power to significantly change ourselves, but later reality sinks in and we realize we can't. But I like how, in the face of this futility, the singer recognizes he has the capacity to change one thing -- and he identifies his (as yet unspoken) love as his top priority.
3. The Ice of Boston by The Dismemberment Plan
Some lyrics:
Pop open a third bottle of bubbly.
Yeah, and I take that bottle of champagne, go into the kitchen, stand in front of the kitchen window, and I take all my clothes off, take that bottle of champagne, and I pour it on my head, feel it cascade through my hair and across my chest, and the phone rings...
And it’s my mother.
And she says “HI HONEY HOW’S BOSTON?”
And I stand there, all alone on New Year’s Eve, buck naked, drenched in champagne, looking at a bunch of strangers.
Uh, looking at them, looking at me, looking at them, and I say:
“I’m fine Mom—how’s Washington?”
Some thoughts:
This is one of the funniest songs ever, or at least one of the funniest songs about depressing failed love. The guy moved to Boston to be with a girl, but she later dumped him, leaving him alone in a huge city. Hilarious, right?!? No, but D-Plan has a way with stories. Note that it's on New Year's Eve that he naturally takes stock of the situation.
Help compensate for my inadequate breadth of musical knowledge
it's nowhere near the breadth of my vocabulary, which includes words like "breadth"
What songs about new beginnings do you love?
Jon
7.20.2011
Nothing updates you on my summer like rap music
I'm on yet another trip for work, which means little to no time for blogging. My goal is to be back in a Tangent Space(s) groove by the first or second week of August. Thanks to those of you have been reading and commenting on my sporadic June and July posts.
Because I can't give you a real post now, I'm giving you this (imaginary one?) instead. On my last trip, I had the great pleasure and opportunity to lead 4 guys in Bible study and discipleship. When it was time for me to leave, they did something special to say goodbye. I probably don't even have to tell you what it was -- obviously, given my personality and interests, they wrote and perfomed a rap song.
Because it's tough to hear the words in this video, I included them below. If you like rap or like me, or even if somehow find yourself on this blog while liking neither, I think you'll enjoy this ridiculous and hilarious tribute (in case the video doesn't embed properly, you can find it here on youtube):
Because I can't give you a real post now, I'm giving you this (imaginary one?) instead. On my last trip, I had the great pleasure and opportunity to lead 4 guys in Bible study and discipleship. When it was time for me to leave, they did something special to say goodbye. I probably don't even have to tell you what it was -- obviously, given my personality and interests, they wrote and perfomed a rap song.
Because it's tough to hear the words in this video, I included them below. If you like rap or like me, or even if somehow find yourself on this blog while liking neither, I think you'll enjoy this ridiculous and hilarious tribute (in case the video doesn't embed properly, you can find it here on youtube):
"Who is Jon Mathieu?"
Written by Mike and Marcus
Performed by Mike, Marcus, Chris, and Ben
What kind of things can I say about Jon?
The kind of dude you can bring home to mom
Role model with faith so strong
So that's why I had to put him in this song
When I met him I learned how a Christian outta be
Discovering truth and theology
The kind of dude you can bring home to mom
Role model with faith so strong
So that's why I had to put him in this song
When I met him I learned how a Christian outta be
Discovering truth and theology
Even though I never used to take him seriously
(A flash hat and a shirt with TMNT)
The smart dude taught me how to do ministry
With more life than a 5 hour energy
Explore, guide, build, mentor faithfully
The love of Christ exploding - TNT
He taught me when Christ comes first we won't curse,
(A flash hat and a shirt with TMNT)
The smart dude taught me how to do ministry
With more life than a 5 hour energy
Explore, guide, build, mentor faithfully
The love of Christ exploding - TNT
He taught me when Christ comes first we won't curse,
we'll only converse, preach each verse,
Satisfied - no thirst,
KGP - no good works,
love like Christ loved the church
Jon Mathieu is more than a beard
Jon Mathieu is more than a beard
And we all know that he is a little weird
Jon Mathieu is more than a Pirates fan
Jon Mathieu is more than a Pirates fan
Oh yes, Oh yes
He's a man
Then later on he helped me cast vision
So I could get the heart incision
And faithfully go out fishin', and envision the Great Commission
The thing about Jon is he's very pragmatic,
He's a man
Then later on he helped me cast vision
So I could get the heart incision
And faithfully go out fishin', and envision the Great Commission
The thing about Jon is he's very pragmatic,
He loves mathematics and quadratics
He never fell off like Paul in Demascus
He's got a great understanding of what's tragic
It's been great hearing everything, every laugh
And learning spiritual multiplying math
"The Awesome" was cold, but his heart surpassed
Discipleship goals, forever will they last
You're more enjoyable than The Hangover
You put your life in God's hand- Poker
You helped us out on this ride- Chauffer
God'll bless you a million times over
He'll give your guidance on life's roller coaster
You'll burn for him and glorify him --toaster
Spreading good news like Al Roker
Keep praying, Stay Blessed
Jon Mathieu is more than a cute smile
And we all want him to stay a while (longer)
Jon Mathieu is more than a farmer's tan
Oh yes, Oh yes
He's a man
He never fell off like Paul in Demascus
He's got a great understanding of what's tragic
It's been great hearing everything, every laugh
And learning spiritual multiplying math
"The Awesome" was cold, but his heart surpassed
Discipleship goals, forever will they last
You're more enjoyable than The Hangover
You put your life in God's hand- Poker
You helped us out on this ride- Chauffer
God'll bless you a million times over
He'll give your guidance on life's roller coaster
You'll burn for him and glorify him --toaster
Spreading good news like Al Roker
Keep praying, Stay Blessed
Jon Mathieu is more than a cute smile
And we all want him to stay a while (longer)
Jon Mathieu is more than a farmer's tan
Oh yes, Oh yes
He's a man
And we will miss him
But we know it's not the end
But it won't be the same again
But we know it's not the end
But it won't be the same again
Just like the waves
My heart breaks to leave his face
He has taught me just how to see
The light inside of me
Jon is a friend
My heart breaks to leave his face
He has taught me just how to see
The light inside of me
Jon is a friend
Thanks so much to the four awesome guys who performed that for me. I hope you've all enjoyed the experience too!
Jon
6.28.2011
Why Ska Went the Way of the Buffalo
Friends,
If you know anything about music, you know that ska is cool. When you take the typical rock pieces (guitar/bass/drums) and throw in a bunch of horns, what you get is something sweet. There are still a bunch of directions you can lean within the "ska" family -- punk (MIghty Mighty Bosstones, Less than Jake), reggae (The Skatalites, Sublime), pop (No Doubt), or what is considered just ska (Reel Big Fish, Five Iron Frenzy).
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Here's the issue: ska is dead. Consider the above bands, which were all the ones I could think of off the top of my head:
Mighty Mighty Bosstones: last successful venture was in 1997; fell apart, for all intents and purposes, in 2003
Less Than Jake: popularity in the late 90s, successful album in 2003, then a slow fade into anonymity and an abandonment of ska for pop-punk
The Skatalites: a 60s band who had some success as they re-formed in the 90s, but now it's a group of dudes that continually changes members and tours for the heck of it
Sublime: hugely popular in 1996, when their lead singer died of a heroin overdose
No Doubt: very popular in the 90s, but went away in 2001 so Stefani could launch her successful dance-pop career, or something
Reel Big Fish: started a pretty steep decline in 1998, with the exception of one hit in 2002 that didn't feature horns
Five Iron Frenzy: not really popular outside their "cult following" (of which I'm a member); disbanded in 2003
As per yoozh (I don't know how to write the abbreviation for "usual"), wikipedia says it best -- "By the late 1990s, mainstream interest in third wave ska bands waned..." My question is "Why?" Here are some theories I have:
Reasons ska (or any extinct sound) died* and went to heaven**
1. Maybe it was a top-heavy genre
When you think about the era of crooners, you think of Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Bing. Maybe when those three guys called it quits, there were no comparable talents to fill their shoes and the genre died. Maybe the demise of the Bosstones, Sublime, and No Doubt ended this party.
2. Maybe people were worn out from all that skanking
3. Annoying pretentious music insider comment: Genres always come and go because music is an organic thing that is constantly being innovated. People started making better music than ska, so people stopped listening to ska.
4. Maybe the youth of America has a collective attention span of about 10 years
5. Maybe the sound of ska naturally appeals to a certain narrow age range (say, 15-22)
If so, it might have a natural lifespan of 7-14 years in this culture of myriad competing fads.
*As with all living things, every music genre eventually dies
**Like dogs, all music genres go to heaven. Except death metal and whatever genre Marilyn Manson represented.
Help me speculate
Do you like ska?
Why do you think ska died?
Jon
If you know anything about music, you know that ska is cool. When you take the typical rock pieces (guitar/bass/drums) and throw in a bunch of horns, what you get is something sweet. There are still a bunch of directions you can lean within the "ska" family -- punk (MIghty Mighty Bosstones, Less than Jake), reggae (The Skatalites, Sublime), pop (No Doubt), or what is considered just ska (Reel Big Fish, Five Iron Frenzy).
Here's the issue: ska is dead. Consider the above bands, which were all the ones I could think of off the top of my head:
Mighty Mighty Bosstones: last successful venture was in 1997; fell apart, for all intents and purposes, in 2003
Less Than Jake: popularity in the late 90s, successful album in 2003, then a slow fade into anonymity and an abandonment of ska for pop-punk
The Skatalites: a 60s band who had some success as they re-formed in the 90s, but now it's a group of dudes that continually changes members and tours for the heck of it
Sublime: hugely popular in 1996, when their lead singer died of a heroin overdose
No Doubt: very popular in the 90s, but went away in 2001 so Stefani could launch her successful dance-pop career, or something
Reel Big Fish: started a pretty steep decline in 1998, with the exception of one hit in 2002 that didn't feature horns
Five Iron Frenzy: not really popular outside their "cult following" (of which I'm a member); disbanded in 2003
As per yoozh (I don't know how to write the abbreviation for "usual"), wikipedia says it best -- "By the late 1990s, mainstream interest in third wave ska bands waned..." My question is "Why?" Here are some theories I have:
Reasons ska (or any extinct sound) died* and went to heaven**
1. Maybe it was a top-heavy genre
When you think about the era of crooners, you think of Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Bing. Maybe when those three guys called it quits, there were no comparable talents to fill their shoes and the genre died. Maybe the demise of the Bosstones, Sublime, and No Doubt ended this party.
2. Maybe people were worn out from all that skanking
3. Annoying pretentious music insider comment: Genres always come and go because music is an organic thing that is constantly being innovated. People started making better music than ska, so people stopped listening to ska.
4. Maybe the youth of America has a collective attention span of about 10 years
5. Maybe the sound of ska naturally appeals to a certain narrow age range (say, 15-22)
If so, it might have a natural lifespan of 7-14 years in this culture of myriad competing fads.
*As with all living things, every music genre eventually dies
**Like dogs, all music genres go to heaven. Except death metal and whatever genre Marilyn Manson represented.
Help me speculate
Do you like ska?
Why do you think ska died?
Jon
1.11.2011
Nostalgic Tangent series: music
I rarely yearn to be a developmental psychologist (if that's even a real term), but now is one of those times. Because as I think back on my childhood music phases, I'm noticing that they occurred later in life than last post's TV phases or next post's movie obsessions. Truth be told, I had very few "childhood" music faves, just a bunch of obnoxious adolescent ones.
Why is that? Referring back to my opening sentence, I'm guessing it has to do with the development of our minds. Kids have ample time to watch TV and are drawn in, entranced, to moving things. But what context is there in a kid's life for music? They don't have the patience to just sit around listening to music, and so if they have favorite songs, they're probably from Barney or some wretched Mickey Mouse detective show (much to the chagrin, I'm sure, of parents and older siblings).
Well, enough pretend psychology. Here were my major musical phases growing up. Be warned: they're going to shock you.
My ridiculous list of favorite musical performers while I was growing up
Phase 1 (1993-1994): Billy Joel
My early love of Billy Joel was the result of three factors:
"From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia, rode a boy with a six gun in his hand."
That line alone compels me to love Billy Joel.
Phase 2 (1995-1997): Boyz II Men
For those of you who know me now but didn't in 1996, which probably accounts for 99% of people reading this, this will be a huge surprise. But believe me, or at least believe my Boyz II Men cassette tapes, that I was a huge fan.
But there are consequences to every action, and being a fan of an R&B group at age 10 is no exception. There is a hilarious-- and I mean uproariously funny, embarrassing, horrifying, amazing, and profoundly disturbing-- home video of me and my cousins, circa 1995, in which my cousin Simeon and I sing "I'll Make Love to You" as the musical accompaniment for our cousins' dancing. I don't know about Simeon (who was a player from a young age), but I definitely didn't know what making love was at age 10.
I just sang about it.
Phase 3 (1998-1999): Bad Religion
I will probably devote at least one blog entry someday to the craziness of middle school. Isn't it amazing that almost everyone, especially girls, hated middle school? But I won't let myself get carried too far away on that tangent.
For me, middle school wasn't too bad. And for that, I mainly have to thank my then-best friend Brett. At a time when other middle schoolers were... well honestly I have no idea what they were doing... Brett and I would sit in his basement and ponder metaphysics, mathematics, Jesus, and women. I'm serious. That's what we did.
In addition to making my middle school years unique, nerdy, and cool, Brett introduced me to a lot of music. Foremost among this music was Bad Religion.
Ironically, the person who probably laid the most groundwork in those years for me to know God also introduced me to a band whose logo is an X-ed out cross.
Phase 4 (1999-2000): Dave Matthews Band
I won't go into much detail here. Dave Matthews Band's first three studio albums were incredible, and they were even better live. But beyond just the music, the rampant popularity of DMB eliminated all middle ground and forced all my peers and me to choose a side:
What about you?
What music did you grow up on?
Please comment. I get lonely.
Jon
Why is that? Referring back to my opening sentence, I'm guessing it has to do with the development of our minds. Kids have ample time to watch TV and are drawn in, entranced, to moving things. But what context is there in a kid's life for music? They don't have the patience to just sit around listening to music, and so if they have favorite songs, they're probably from Barney or some wretched Mickey Mouse detective show (much to the chagrin, I'm sure, of parents and older siblings).
Well, enough pretend psychology. Here were my major musical phases growing up. Be warned: they're going to shock you.
My ridiculous list of favorite musical performers while I was growing up
Phase 1 (1993-1994): Billy Joel
My early love of Billy Joel was the result of three factors:
- I was the age when I started to like music
- My dad was a huge Billy Joel fan and would often play his records for me
- Billy Joel rules
"From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia, rode a boy with a six gun in his hand."
That line alone compels me to love Billy Joel.
- [Tangent-within-a-tangent: I have postulated a Billy Joel Hypothesis. It states that if you visit an establishment in Pittsburgh, PA that plays a loop radio of pop music, you will hear a Billy Joel song during your time there. I don't know which song, and I don't care how short your visit it. You'll hear one.]
Phase 2 (1995-1997): Boyz II Men
For those of you who know me now but didn't in 1996, which probably accounts for 99% of people reading this, this will be a huge surprise. But believe me, or at least believe my Boyz II Men cassette tapes, that I was a huge fan.
But there are consequences to every action, and being a fan of an R&B group at age 10 is no exception. There is a hilarious-- and I mean uproariously funny, embarrassing, horrifying, amazing, and profoundly disturbing-- home video of me and my cousins, circa 1995, in which my cousin Simeon and I sing "I'll Make Love to You" as the musical accompaniment for our cousins' dancing. I don't know about Simeon (who was a player from a young age), but I definitely didn't know what making love was at age 10.
I just sang about it.
Phase 3 (1998-1999): Bad Religion
I will probably devote at least one blog entry someday to the craziness of middle school. Isn't it amazing that almost everyone, especially girls, hated middle school? But I won't let myself get carried too far away on that tangent.
For me, middle school wasn't too bad. And for that, I mainly have to thank my then-best friend Brett. At a time when other middle schoolers were... well honestly I have no idea what they were doing... Brett and I would sit in his basement and ponder metaphysics, mathematics, Jesus, and women. I'm serious. That's what we did.
In addition to making my middle school years unique, nerdy, and cool, Brett introduced me to a lot of music. Foremost among this music was Bad Religion.
Ironically, the person who probably laid the most groundwork in those years for me to know God also introduced me to a band whose logo is an X-ed out cross.
Phase 4 (1999-2000): Dave Matthews Band
I won't go into much detail here. Dave Matthews Band's first three studio albums were incredible, and they were even better live. But beyond just the music, the rampant popularity of DMB eliminated all middle ground and forced all my peers and me to choose a side:
- DMB-lover: You had to go to one DMB concert every 18 months, listen to them at least once a week, and complain about how the radio was killing "Crash" by overplaying it.
- DMB-hater: Your only rule was mandatory complaining anytime a DMB song came on the radio, a DMB fan droned on about their awesomeness, or a "DMB" bumper sticker was spotted on a car.
What about you?
What music did you grow up on?
Please comment. I get lonely.
Jon
12.13.2010
art (it seems more artsy to use all lower case)
Of all the words out there that can mean a million different things, "art" might be the shortest. With just three letters, the tiny word carries so much on its back... it reminds me of an "ant". Sorry, the words are so similar, I had to do it.
But seriously, I think everyone is an artist in one way or another. Today I thought we could take a few mini-tangents to various media of creativity. I just decided that they'll all be Christmas related:
Poetry -- Christmas haiku
My Corolla makes it home:
Christmas miracle
***
No room at the inn
The couple found a trough
The Word became flesh
***
One thing I don't get
About Rudolph the reindeer:
Why does his nose glow?
Visual art -- Whimsy4Windows
For whatever reason (the three main candidates are lack of talent, lack of interest, and a traumatic experience with an elementary school art teacher), I never really got into creating visual art. But little did I know, all along my mom has been great at it!
She recently began an endeavor to create and sell "windows." These are framed creations of faux stain glass that you hang in a window. They look really cool as the sunlight goes through them. Check them out here at her Etsy site.
While it doesn't go with the Christmas theme, please note that the following window (which is sadly no longer listed on Etsy) is officially titled "Cowboy Bob." Not Cowboy... Cowboy Bob.
Music (video) -- Sara Bareilles, all day every day
Okay, my obsession with Sara Bareilles is growing. She has two winter-themed songs you can listen to for free on her site, and they're AMAZING. Seriously, I would be willing to make one of those extreme movie-commercial stataments:
If you listen to one new winter-themed song this season, make it Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. (Sorry for the commercial you'll probably have to watch first, but it's well worth it! This video is really awesome.)
Your art and/or your favorite art
But seriously, I think everyone is an artist in one way or another. Today I thought we could take a few mini-tangents to various media of creativity. I just decided that they'll all be Christmas related:
Poetry -- Christmas haiku
- [Tangent-within-a-tangent: Did you know wikipedia claims haiku poems have lines of 5-7-5 moras, not syllables?? We've been making haiku wrong our whole lives! Whatever, I'm sticking with what I know.]
My Corolla makes it home:
Christmas miracle
***
No room at the inn
The couple found a trough
The Word became flesh
***
One thing I don't get
About Rudolph the reindeer:
Why does his nose glow?
Visual art -- Whimsy4Windows
For whatever reason (the three main candidates are lack of talent, lack of interest, and a traumatic experience with an elementary school art teacher), I never really got into creating visual art. But little did I know, all along my mom has been great at it!
She recently began an endeavor to create and sell "windows." These are framed creations of faux stain glass that you hang in a window. They look really cool as the sunlight goes through them. Check them out here at her Etsy site.
While it doesn't go with the Christmas theme, please note that the following window (which is sadly no longer listed on Etsy) is officially titled "Cowboy Bob." Not Cowboy... Cowboy Bob.
Music (video) -- Sara Bareilles, all day every day
Okay, my obsession with Sara Bareilles is growing. She has two winter-themed songs you can listen to for free on her site, and they're AMAZING. Seriously, I would be willing to make one of those extreme movie-commercial stataments:
If you listen to one new winter-themed song this season, make it Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. (Sorry for the commercial you'll probably have to watch first, but it's well worth it! This video is really awesome.)
Your art and/or your favorite art
- Write a Christmas haiku or two and share as a comment
- Share links to whatever art is moving you right now
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