A Mash-Up Blog for The New Year

Who doesn't like a good mash-up, right? I've got a lot of thoughts going on, so I thought I'd just let them spew and see what happens. Happy New Year to all, by the way! Here's hoping for a great year, filled with great music.

Bio-pics/Music Docs
I'm an addict when it comes to any film that relates to music. The Last Waltz is by far my favorite. How can it get better than Martin Scorcese directing a concert film featuring The Band, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, The Staples, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, and many other greats of the last half century!! It can't. It just can't. But when it comes right down to it, I pretty much watch them all. There's a great one on the grunge era called Hype! that speaks a little more to my generation. Loved Walk the Line. Woodstock and Monterrey Pop also do a great job capturing the raw energy of the '60s. Man, oh man, just watch Otis Redding during Monterrey Pop. It'll change your life.

I know 2009 is going to feature a new, in-depth doc about The Doors. The Doors are a tricky band to pin down. There is so much myth surrounding this band and of course, its dead frontman, Jim Morrison. A charismatic rock star who passes before his/her prime is sure to be labelled a "legend" and with this label comes a certain amount of perfunctory myth making. Add to that a slightly sensationalized bio-pic directed by Oliver Stone and you have a whole stew of truth mixed with Lizard King lore. I'll be interested to see how this turns out. I've always liked The Doors music and have always found myself drifting away for awhile, but always coming back, which is not something I can say about all of my musical obsessions (still haven't come back to Tesla or Lynyrd Skynyrd!). There's something about The Doors that is captivating beyond words. It's dark, sinister, and prophetic music that arose out of The Summer of Love. "Our love becomes a funeral pyre"---what???? That's some crazy metaphor-ing right there! And don't get me started with "The End". Listen to the live version on their box set that was released around '97 or '98. It'll change your life.

What happened to The Singer-Songwriter?
I'm thinking about this because I just watched a tribute/doc/concert film of Leonard Cohen called, "I'm Your Man". Leonard Cohen is probably number two or number three when it comes to greatest songwriters of all-time--definitely when it comes to living songwriters. The guy is a poet in the truest sense of the word (sorry Morrison, Leonard Cohen probably has more cred than you ever did in the poet dept.). In fact he was already a published writer well before he released his first album. His songs are well-crafted masterpieces. He sometimes takes months at a time to write one song and mulls over each line and word carefully. Does anyone do that anymore?

Half of what you hear in popular music today isn't even written by the person who is singing it. Country music is still by far the most popular radio format in the nation, but is notorious for performers who sing someone else's music and not their own written material. Not too undermine the talents of professional Nashville songwriters, but it's kind of disappointing when you think you're hearing someone's inner thoughts and emotions being sung directly to you and then you find out it's just an interpretation. One example I can think of is Tim McGraw singing a song called "Live Like You Were Dying" or something like that. The song was released shortly after his father passed away and you initially think, "Wow, this is a nice, heart-felt tribute to his dad". But the song wasn't written by him! I suppose he probably channeled some of his emotions into his interpretation, but man, I felt a little cheated (not like someone who loses their dad to cancer I'm sure, but still, in my small insignificant way, I felt cheated). And yes, it does take talent to interpret someone else's work, but there's something about hearing the physical voice meet up with the literary voice.

In terms of singer-songwriter's of this generation, you kind of have to think of people who are still alive, but were more relevant in past generations: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, the aforementioned Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney (although he hasn't written anything nearly as powerful since he wrote with John Lennon), Carole King, and Joni Mitchell. I suppose if you're looking for more recent master songwriters you could include Tupac, Bono, and Kurt Cobain. Tupac and Kurt are dead and Bono and the U2 crew wrote their best work in the '80s and early '90s. I guess if you're talking about relevant singer-songwriters in this moment, you could look to Conor Oberst, but I'm struggling to think of more. Some of the hip-hop guys are pretty good, like Kanye and Common, but I feel like their latest works were a bit weak. I just don't know. I guess everything is cyclical, so in a year or two, we'll probably get a rash of wanna-be Dylan's and then wish they would go away. Maybe it's a lost art.

Inauguration Festivities
Seventeen days remain until Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. It'll be a glorious day for several reasons: an end to the Bush Dictatorship, the historic swearing in of the first black man to become president, and it'll be my birthday. Maybe that last one doesn't hold quite as much historic weight, but hey, it'll be glorious nonetheless. It'll also be interesting to see who will be performing at the ceremonies. Springsteen and Obama were pretty tight on the campaign trail, so it wouldn't surprise me if The Boss made an appearance. Then you have the traditional liberal voices like Eddie Vedder and Neil Young, but I'm guessing neither will be there. Will the hip-hop community be represented? Obama once cited Jay-Z. And there's the Chicago hip-hop-sters like Kanye, Common, and Rhymefest. Will any of them be invited?

My prediction is that Jay-Z will be there on his best behavior, maybe with Beyonce, but maybe not. I think Springsteen will definitely be there and Dylan will be invited, but won't show. My hope, and I think this isn't that much of a long-shot either, is that Mavis Staples will be there as well. First off, Mavis is a Chicagoan and Barack has to keep it real with the Chicago folk. Secondly, being part of The Staples Singers, she represents a link to The Civil Rights Movement. Third, she's just an amazing person/performer. I'm hoping she'll make the guest list. Buddy Guy would be a nice Chicago addition as well.

Upcoming Podcast
Well, I'm editing together podcast number one of The Hidden Chord. I'm still shooting for a January release date and I'm quite excited about it. It will include some great commentary and discussion from Phillip Groves, Joao Morlett, and myself. It will also include an interview and music from an energetic and exciting up-and-coming band called The Shackeltons. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a more energetic live show than theirs, nor am I sure if I've met more down to earth guys than these guys. Also I'll be playing a couple of tracks from other bands who are out there grinding it out, trying to make it in today's scene. It should be fun!

A Look into an Obama Presidency

There's a line in "High Fidelity" that says (paraphrased), "It's not what you are like that matters, but what you like." Rob Gordon (John Cusack) tells us that what makes people interesting is their taste in music, movies, and all things pop culture, rather than their actual personality traits. I'm not quite as gung ho as this, but as a recovering music snob, I do give creedence to this philosophy. So based on this, what is an Obama Presidency going to look like?

Barack Obama's music taste isn't necesarily new news. Rolling Stone ran an interview with him in which he revealed some of what is on his iPod. But now that he's been elected, now is a good time to re-examine the tracks that can now officially be deemed, "president-worthy". To give credit where credit is due, my friend and talented musician in his own right, Michael Mullowney (left in photo) gave me this idea. I'm including the picture of him and podcast contributor, Joao Morlett (right in photo), with Michelle (and Sasha) Obama, who is (or I guess more appropriately, was) a regular at the restaurant we all work at. I'm supremely jealous of their photo op, but I too have waited on Michelle and the kids, and once, the man himself--the 44th President of the United States of America.

Yet I digress. My brush with greatness is a mere footnote. Let's get back to the serious business of fortelling the nature of the Obama Administration, based on his music tastes.

The Rolling Stones "Gimmie Shelter" I've always liked the song, but honestly never understood most of the lyrics beyond, "If I don't get some shelter. oh yeah I'm gonna fade away". So through the magic of search engines, I was able to find out what slurring Mick was singing about. Wow! Did you know this song is political? Here all this time I thought he was talking about finding a dry place to have a picnic!! Boy was I wrong! Kidding...mostly. What does this tell us about President Obama? It shows he's a realist. "War, children, it's just a shot away". He'll be careful with how he speaks to the rest of the world. There will be no chest-thumping speeches about the "Axis of Evil". President Obama will take the path of diplomacy. War is just a shot away and we are already mired in too much conflict. But this song is also a sign of Obama's optimism, as well. For in the end, "love is just a kiss away". Can we have peace in the world, Mr President? Yes we can!!

Bob Dylan "Maggie's Farm" and the album "Blood on the Tracks" So Barack is a fan, not just a casual observer, of good 'ol Zimmy. I mean, who doesn't like Bob Dylan. But there is a difference from saying "I like Blowin' in the Wind and Like A Rolling Stone." and saying you're into "Blood on the Tracks". Just one more piece of evidence that Barack Obama is the most perfect human being alive.

These are a couple of good choices. What does "Maggie's Farm" say? "I tried my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants me to be just like them...I ain't gonna work on Maggie's Farm no more." This is Dylan declaring himself to be his own man. Obama too, will be tested by those who want him to be just like them, but will hold firm in his beliefs and vision. He will rise above the "Idiot Wind" that blows through politics ("Idiot Wind" being a track from "Blood on the Tracks"--How do you like that segue?).

Essentially "Blood on the Tracks" is a break-up album. Inevitably, many Obama supporters who are currently "Tangled up in Barack" will feel let down, ignored, and betrayed. A break-up will be had. And like most break-ups, it won't necessarily be one thing that causes the split. It will be a series of things, but it will add up. And the once jubilant supporters will wonder who this man they once knew has become. For once they will see him for what he is--an imperfect human being like the rest of us. Obama knows this already and spoke of this at his victory rally in Grant Park. Expectations for any president are high, but expectations for him are Dylan-esque. At some point President Obama will metaphorically trade in his acoustic for an electric and many in his fawning masses will cry, "Judas!". Oh it will happen.

Jay-Z "Dirt off the Shoulder" I've got to admit, I've got nothing on this one. Maybe his suit will be dirty one day and he'll ask Joe Biden if he can brush it off for him. That's what the Constitution wants the Vice President to do right?

I mean, I liked the song, but I'm not very good at analyzing Jay-Z. I think it's Obama's way of being contemporary. This is a stretch, but here's my take on this song. There will be plenty of cleaning up to do when Obama is sworn in this January. Oh he'll be needing some extra strength multi-purpose cleaner to rid the the country of the unpleasant layer of Bush that pervades. This song will remind him that there will be some serious scrubbing to do. It's that or when we see him brushing his shoulders off it'll be how we know when President Obama is "feelin' like a pimp." I haven't quite figured it out yet.

Stevie Wonder The string of amazing albums in the '70s before anyone imagined he was capable of writing the awful load of crap called "I Just Called to Say I Love You". I mean, really???

Above anything this shows Obama's great taste in music. Stevie Wonder had a string of five albums that are unparalleled in music. These albums have it all--soul, rhythm, love, politics, spirituality, funky grooves, and innovation. This is Stevie Wonder at his genius period. Hopefully we are seeing Barack Obama at his genius period as well.

I think the song from this period that best encapsulates President Obama is "Higher Ground". Ok, so maybe that wasn't the biggest leap one could make, but oh well, my blog, my selections. "Teachers, keep on teachin', preachers keep on preachin' (the election is over, Rev. Wright, you too are allowed to preach again)...believers, keep on believin." To steal a phrase from Obama's former adversary, "It takes a village...". President Obama knows this and will ask for as much passion and effort from everyday Americans as he asks from himself and his own staff. "Gonna keep on tryin' till I reach the highest ground." He will fail, undoubtedly, but President Obama is not a quitter. There is always a higher ground to reach for, and this will be the time and place and history to reach for it.

Sheryl Crow Huhhh??????

Ok, so if you've seen the man dance, you know he's not the coolest person alive. That award goes to his wife Michelle. And no disrespect to you Mr. President, but if you have Sheryl Crow on your iPod, please don't admit it. Sigh! Ok, here goes.

I'll focus on "Are You Strong Enough". It is President Obama's way of telling his staff that, "I have a vision, but I'm going to rely on you heavily. You need to be strong enough to be with me and ready to support me when I fail and help me when I say 'I don't know'." As opposed to our current president, President Obama will not be afraid to ask questions and seek answers, rather than acting carelessly. He'll surround himself with intelligent, thoughtful, and pragmatic men and women who are strong enough to be his advisors on the tough road ahead.

This will be no easy ride, President Obama. This ain't no disco. This ain't no country club. This is DC. Again, I'm sorry to be a broken record, but...Sheryl Crow????

Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Charlie Parker President Obama reclaims some of his lost cool points with these selections. I mean, without jazz, there would be no term "cool". Miles had an album called, "Birth of the Cool".

This is an encouraging sign. Jazz is a thinking person's music. Yes it may be improvisational, and no doubt President Obama is going to have to do a lot of improvising, but it is highly technical and complicated. Real jazz isn't Bill Clinton honking away on a saxophone on the Arsenio Hall Show. It's ground-breaking and spiritual like Coltrane's "A Love Supreme". It's technically and auditorally beautiful like Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue". It's jaw-droppingly perfect like any Charlie Parker solo when he wasn't out of his mind on drugs. And jazz is the one true American artform. I think Barack Obama is a jazz kind of guy. Cool and calm on the outside, but always thinking and looking to break new ground on the inside. Constantly innovating and finding new ways to riff on old themes. He'll bring out the best in his side players to produce great work.

So there you have it: A look into an Obama presidency based on his iPod selections. You probably can't tell I'm an Obama supporter. I'm just basing my predictions on the facts that the music presents us. I'm sure McCain supporters are wondering where R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It" is. I'm not so naive to think that perfection is going to be what happens. There's going to be a lot of bumps in the road and missteps and moments that bring to mind Bob Dylan leaping into born-again Christianity that make us all collectively say, "What????" But I have hope.

Most of the music listed above is music for the thinking person. It's the type of music that academics study. And I don't know about you, but there is something very comforting in knowing that an intelligent person is running our country. And our government consists of three branches, not just an executive branch like George W. Bush wanted us to think. Our country's recovery is in the hands of Congress and the Supreme Court as well. I think President Obama can unite everyone if they are willing to be united. You're not going to "get" Miles Davis's "Bitches Brew" if you don't allow yourself to "get" it. You've got to keep with it and finally it all comes together and you realize that you've found something. You have been transformed in a way. That's what it's going to take for the USA to turn around: a good dose of transformation from the inside out.

Yes We Can!!!

The Rights of the Musician

Since the arrival of the Internet and P2P file sharing, the music industry has gotten a lot more tricky. But in a way, it's nothing new. Musicians have always had somewhat of a fight in terms of getting properly compensated for their work. Stories abound of how musician "A" is screwed over by label/management "B". Or there's the timeless story of musician "A" getting his/her work stolen by musician "B" and not properly credited. And since it's political campaign season, this one's my favorite. Politician "A" decides he/she will use musician "B"'s song in his/her campaign without asking said musician. What a mess!

This is what happens though when art becomes a business. There was a time well before my and probably your time as well when art was not intricatly tied into business. I'm sure there are places in this world where art escapes the clutches of the business world. And to be fair, a lot of artists do make art for art's sake. But the problem that occurs in a market-driven society is that art for art's sake does not get viewed by a lot of people. And what is art if it is not shared? So if you have an artistic vision that you want to share with the world, you kind of have to make a deal with the devil and find your way into the business end of things.

It's not always a deal with the devil. It's a necessary evil, though. In a perfect world, art would be created by artists and appreciated by an audience without worry of monetary transactions. But it is not a perfect world. Artists need to know the business world in order to survive. Everyone needs to make a living.

All that being said, what rights does the musician have when it comes to controlling and/or getting compensated for their work?

P2P is a dicey situation. It's reality, whether artists like it or not. No one buys the physical product and many don't go to legal download sites for their mp3s. They go to Limewire and maybe get an download of inferior quality, but they got it for free. For many, it just doesn't feel like stealing, so it must not be, right? Many artists have accepted this as reality and have tried to roll with it. Radiohead said name your price. Saul Williams gave away an inferior version of his album, but asked for payment for the higher quality download. These ideas were met with mixed results. At least someone's trying though. It seems a lot better than fighting for the old models through litigation. Metallica lost a whole lot of fans after suing those who stole their music.

And now there's Axl Rose fighting against those who leaked GNR's work that is perpetually in the works, "Chinese Democracy". Apparently someone posted some leaked tracks and is now getting sued for it. Does Axl have the right to do so? I suppose so. Is it the best course of action to go after your fans? I really don't think so.

It's a tricky world we live in with the Internet and all. I think artists should have control over their work and be properly compensated as well, but at the same time, we all need to be realistic as well. P2P is reality and people will use it. People get excited about getting the scoop on their favorite artist's new work and will go after leaked tracks. Is it fair? Is it right? In a perfect world the answer to both of these questions is "no". But once again it is not a perfect world. Do I have a solution? No. If not, I'd probably be working within the music industry and not just blathering on about it as a blogger. It's not fair, Axl and others, whose work is stolen and/or leaked, but look it's going to happen. I say accept it and move on. The reality of the retail end of the music industry is that there is little left of the retail end of the music industry. Get creative with leaking your own music. Get creative with how to sell/give away your own music. Just don't waste time slamming your head against the brick wall that is suing your fans.

What about the right an artist has to who plays their music and how their music is represented (i.e. politicians and political campaigns)? This goes back to Ronald Reagan using "Born in the U.S.A." without Bruce Springsteen's permission. First of all, it's funny that Reagan would use this song which politically represented very little about where he stood. But did he have the right to do so, no matter how silly it seemed? Now here 24 years later, we have the likes of John Mellancamp, Jackson Browne, and Heart in an uproar over the use of their songs by the McCain campaign. None of these artists are McCain supporters, but does this give them the right to disallow the use of their work for McCain's purposes? At first thought I think that the artist should have control over how their songs are used, but it gets tricky. Where do you stop? Say you tell John McCain he can't use your song, does that mean you can go to radio stations that are owned by people of a certain political persuasion that does not suit you and yank your songs from them as well? What if a couple of horrible people decide to get married and try to play your song at their horrible wedding? Can you step in and break your cd over your knee and yell, "NO!"?

So maybe I'm getting a little silly here, but what happens when the product is out of your hands and within the public's realm. I'd like to think that out of good faith if an artist asked a politician not to use their work, the politician would comply. The McCain campaign hasn't. But then again, John McCain would be stuck with a whole lot of Ted Nugent and Kid Rock music, but little else. It probably stands to reason, as long as the artist is fairly compensated, anyone can use their music. Maybe a politician should have to pay a little bit more. I don't know. And to be honest, I don't know how any of the litigation attempts have panned out or if they have. At the very least, it's a little shady of someone to just say, "I'm going to use it whether you like it or not". Is it fair? Is it right? Once again no. But once again, we do not live in a perfect world.

So in conclusion, we live in an unfair world where musicians get screwed over. Is this the complete truth? No, but the society we live in is not artist friendly. You have to fight to make it and continually fight to keep making it. I wish we lived in a society where being an artist of any kind was rewarded with adequate funding from several directions--the public, the government, private agencies, etc. Some of that exists, but in my opinion, not enough. But hopefully it doesn't stop artists from producing art that inspires and transcends the world of money and litigation and so on. And hopefully one day artists will get their fair share.