Doesn't It All Seem Like A Pale Imitation?

It all seems plastic.

The whole world is full of copy cats and wannabees. 

From music to film, books even sports and politics.   Maybe I'm just getting old.  

Popular music is sounding very much like it did in the seventies disco era.  Lady Gaga is doing Donna Summer. Maroon 5 is doing the BeeGees. Films like the latest Hollywood blockbusters are mostly comic books from when comics were on paper, come to life.  Transformers, Spiderman, Green Lantern, Superman, Star Trek... blah, blah, blah.  I'm not a big hockey fan but I've been hearing for most of my life that phrase repeated every fall; "The Leafs" have a real chance this year! Herman Cain is involved in a sex scandal.  Wow!  that's never happened before.

They say history repeats itself and I guess I've seen enough to notice that myself.

I suppose there's lots of other reasons too.  

What you think?

OLD MAN RUNNING

This is a cool blog.  Day to day struggles of a guy who is 76 years old and has been running for 39 years!  Woah.  I've been running off and on for 30 years.  Every year is harder.  76 is a ways off for me, but I can appreciate the effort it takes to keep going when your body is letting you down.

My runs started to slow down when I hit 40.  At least that's when I started to notice it.  The progression has continued and my knees aren't what they used to be.  I played squash for some 20 years, but I began to worry that my knees would never recover if I kept up the pounding on them, so I have given it up.  Maybe one day I'll go back to it.  I've heard there's some amazing medical treatments to regrow cartilage that are in the works and it bodes well for athletes of all sorts.


http://oldmanrunning.org/

Twitter Music Trends - Real Time tracking of musician talk on TWITTER

You can see who is being talked about the most in realtime.  It's kind of interesting to see the names moving around as the Twitter universe focuses on one musician then another.

Here's a pic.  Very 1980's terminal, but it gets the information across very simply

Your comments are most welcome...

http://twittermusictrends.com/

Dennis Hopper Interview about James Dean

Dennis Hopper talking about James Dean. Pretty funny… From his last interview in INTERVIEW magazine.

SHAFRAZI: How did you first meet James Dean?

HOPPER: I was walking down a hallway at Warner’s. I was on my way back to Nick’s office with my agent, Robert Raison. You’ve got to understand, Hollywood, at this time, was all suits and ties. These guys were old-school gentlemen. They smoked cigars, but they were gentlemen. Suddenly I see this guy walking toward me in a turtleneck and dirty Levi’s. He looked like he had five days’ growth, and his hair was all messed up. As we walked by, my agent said, “That’s James Dean.” I’d just seen him in East of Eden, but I didn’t even recognize him. So I had my meeting with Nick, and then I went to the drugstore across the street from Warner’s, and Dean was sitting at the counter. He had a cup of coffee and sugar, and he was pouring the sugar on the spoon until it got to be heaping, and then he would watch it dissolve in the coffee, and then he’d pour another one. He was doing this over and over. He wasn’t talking to anybody. Raison said, “Let me introduce you.” So we went up, and he said, “Jimmy, this is Dennis Hopper. He’s going to be in the movie with you.” But Dean never stopped. Never looked around.

SHAFRAZI: He kept pouring the sugar.

HOPPER: He just kept pouring the sugar and letting it dissolve in the cup. But here’s what was really important, which has taken me a long time to digest: I had never seen anyone improvise before. I really did think at that point that I was the best young actor in the world. And then I’m on set, and the first thing we’re doing is the scene in Rebel at the police station, where he gets arrested. And suddenly, Dean starts making siren sounds. When they search him, he starts to laugh because it’s tickling him, and I’m thinking, “Where the hell is this on the page? Where is this coming from, man?” I’d never seen anyone improvise before. Because I was a Shakespearean actor, I had preconceived ideas, line readings—everything was a gesture, everything was conscious.

BRANT: It was disciplined.

HOPPER: Yeah. But in Method acting, you can’t have preconceived ideas. You have to live in the moment. You have to keep yourself open. I was totally on the other side of the track. In point of fact, Harry Cohn did have something to say. [laughs]

BRANT: I remember you telling me a story about filming a scene with Dean and Elizabeth Taylor when you were making Giant.

HOPPER: We were working on Giant, and we’re out in the middle of Texas. It was a scene that takes place just before Dean discovers oil on his land, where Elizabeth Taylor comes by and he makes tea for her. It’s the first time Dean has ever acted with her. But even though we’re out in the desert in Marfa, there are a thousand people watching us film behind a rope. It’s a scene where Dean has a rifle on his back. He brings her in and makes her tea, and then, suddenly, he stops. And he walks a couple hundred feet away to where these people are watching us, and in front of all of them, he pulls out his dick and pisses.

SHAFRAZI: In front of them?

HOPPER: Facing them, with his back to the set. Then he comes back in and does the scene. So, later, we’re driving back to Marfa, and I said, “Jimmy, I’ve seen you do a lot of strange things, man, but you really did it today. What was that all about?” He said, “It was Elizabeth Taylor. I can’t get over my farm-boy upbringing. I was so nervous that I couldn’t speak. I had to pee, and I was trying to use that, but it wasn’t working. So I thought that if I could go pee in front of all those people, I would be able to work with her.” [all laugh]

Your Comments Are Most Welcome

Kings of Leon - Caleb Followill - Drunk on Stage?

DALLAS — After a shocking set in Dallas on Friday night at the Gexa Energy Pavilion, Kings of Leon have canceled their tour.

Lead singer Caleb Followill said his voice was shot and he wouldn't be able to sing anymore. Audience members said that Followill appeared to be drunk. His brother Jared Followill tweeted... "I know you guys aren't stupid. I can't lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade." 

LiveNation announced that the family band would be back September 21 for a do-over show. But around the same time, Kings of Leon's Saturday night show in Houston was canceled, and now the band won't be touring again until September 28.  

Photo by Linda McKinney

Caleb Followill was noticeably "off" during the performance in Dallas.

Unfortunately, the U.S. dates cannot be rescheduled due to the band's international tour schedule. 

Jared Followill also tweeted, "Utterly depressed. It's completely out of my hands. Family has to come 1st. If bass solos & backing vocals were more popular, I'd be there."

How Intuitive is your songwriting?

Wikipedia Says:

"The term intuition is used to describe "thoughts and preferences that come to mind quickly and without much reflection".[1] "The word 'intuition' comes from the Latin word 'intueri', which is often roughly translated as meaning 'to look inside'’ or 'to contemplate'."[2] Intuition provides us with beliefs that we cannot necessarily justify. For this reason, it has been the subject of study in psychology, as well as a topic of interest in the supernatural. The "right brain" is popularly associated with intuitive processes such as aesthetic abilities.[3][4][5] Some scientists have contended that intuition is associated with innovation in scientific discovery.[6] Intuition is also a common subject of New Agewritings.[7]"

There are many ways to write a song and there is no right way, only methods that have been successful for other songwriters. However, one of the bests ways is to follow your intuition. If you can open up your subconscious and let your ideas flow from there, it will guide you down the path towards your goal. When it comes to songwriting, that is towards a unique and satisfying (at least to you) composition.

My own writing comes from my sub-conscious and I find my words and melodies being chosen as if by
someone else who is using me as a vessel. I know it sounds kind of "out there", but after a long time working in this way, I have come to accept that my conscious self is just a small part of a larger "something" that seems to know a lot more about me and the world I live in that I do.

I often will write something and find messages in the subtext of the writings that mean something to me in multiple ways. I believe it's kind of like dreaming. Associations in my writing have meaning for me, both at a personal level and as a indicator of my understanding of our shared culture.

I guess I'm talking like a Jungian.

Truthfully though, I think writing lyrics is the core of writing a good song. I admire songwriters who can
combine a compelling melody with lyrics that have a message or lyrics that can provoke images that send a
message to the listener. It's hard work, but in the end it's worth it. Songwriters like James Blunt and John
Ondrasik can do just that. They are a couple of my contemporary favorites. Check them out if you haven't
heard them and be sure to read the lyrics!

Here's an online test to find out how intuitive you are. Intuition Test

It's All About The Journey

As some of you might know, I became a YouTube partner at the beginning of this year.  It was a big thing for me after putting many hours into learning and developing a whole host of new skills from songwriting to recording, guitar playing to how to use a video camera etc, etc.

For those of you who don't know... Youtube has a partnership program for creators of video with original content.  There are a few benefits to being a partner including collecting a share of revenue from those ads you see on the Youtube videos.  Partners also receive some other small goodies like the ability to place a customer banner with links at the top of your channel.  These little things set you apart from the crowd and can give you a professional persona.

I look up to people on Youtube like David Choi and Tyler Ward who consistently present good video on a regular basis as well as being good musicians and songwriters.  These guys and lots of others are leading the way when it comes to being creative, independent musicians and entertainers.  I think musicians who have ignored this medium are doing so to their own detriment.  You literally have a potential audience of millions.  How many bar or cafe gigs do you need to play to match that kind of accessibility?  I'm not saying that having a Youtube channel should be your whole career as a musician, but it should be one of the arrows in your quiver.

One of my biggest problems is creating video that is authentic, entertaining and varied.  I have a lot of video with me just playing an original song in front of the camera and these are popular with people who like my writing and singing, but I have also experimenting with green screens, stop motion and other video effects.  I think most times my "video spectaculars" come off looking amateurish, but on Youtube that is not a problem and may even be seen as a sign of authenticity by some.  I see every video as a learning opportunity and as time goes by, I think I will only get better.

Recently, I have contacted Derek Shelley a local minister and amateur actor and director to help out with a new "music video".  Derek and I had lunch and I found out that he was very interested in casting and directing a video.  One of my new songs "Angel's Wings" will be the subject of the video.  I have yet to record the song, but I've passed on lyrics to Derek.  I've also asked one of my old acting buddies (Bob Stone) to star as the main character.  Bob said he'd be happy to help out.

This video will be more complicated and involve more people than I have previously used before, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.  It's another creative side path on my to ... who knows where.

Where did Pluto Go?

I think I miss Pluto.  It's no longer a planet. It was demoted to a dwarf planet.  A fate I wouldn't wish on anyone.


Memories are strongest from when we are young.  We can form relationships that we remember the rest of our lives even if they don't last that long.  Who forgets their first love or first kiss?  


I find myself, now and then, dreaming about those people from my past and often I wake up feeling sad.  I guess I'm sad about the fact that I no longer keep in touch with them, or maybe sad that those days when I was young and full of naive notions has been and gone.  I'm not complaining, it's just an observation.


I think some people hold on to the past a little too long.  It can eat you up inside, so that you don't live for today. They're always living in the past.  It's especially hard to move on in your life when you feel like you've lost something and you have a deep hunger inside to recapture that moment when everything was right.  


Some people are like that about music too.  They hang on to what they love and stop listening to new music. It doesn't fit with what they find comfortable and appealing.  Quite often the music is tied to what they heard and felt in their younger years.  The feeling of the time is really what gives the music meaning to them.  Think of an old song you like and see if there is a memory from your personal history that's linked to it.


It's all about feeling something


Songs get played, sung and listened to in places that are sometimes special and sometimes not.  They only have meaning in the context that they are presented.  You need to feel something, so that you remember.


They don't live in a vacuum.  They are presented somewhere.  Whether it's in a club, or a wedding or when you're feeling blue about someone you lost. 


James

Social Media Has Made Me Fat


The Medium is the message


There's been some famous defections from Twitter lately (John Mayer, Ricky Gervais, Courtney Love etc.) and that got me to thinking.  We are being bombarded by information every minute of everyday.  I feel out of touch most of the time. There is just so much going on in the world and every bit of it is being reported on by someone, whether through the older traditional media or the new social media.  There's just too much to keep track of.  I might be getting older, but I'm finding that there are a growing number of so called "celebrities" I've never heard of.  There are events I'm completely unaware of, movies I haven't seen, music I should listen to that I don't, people I should talk to that I can't!  I don't have the time.


There was a time in the not to distant past that I felt I had a handle on what was going on (for the most part) in popular western culture.  I don't have that illusion anymore.  I feel lost, adrift on a sea of endless realities shows, streams of facebook updates and a 24 hour news cycle.  I just want to make it all stop and get my bearings.


Truth and Consequences


The big record companies have been making the argument for a while that when they were on top, their was a clear choice as to what music was to be listened to and what music was to be avoided.  Things were simpler then and there wasn't as much "noise".  The chosen few were given the keys to the palace and everyone else was left in the cold.  That is to say, they were the gate keepers who determined what was good or bad music and they let us know when they had decided what we should listen to.


Ah the good old days...  Now of course there are enough musicians just on Youtube, to fill a small country and we are left to discover which ones are good and not so good ourselves.  To be sure, there are still some barriers to entry for new musicians, but it is by far much easier to record, market and distribute music to an audience than it used to be five years ago.  The problem now is finding and keeping an audience.  


This brings me back to being bombarded with media.  I've listened to at least five artists / bands on Youtube this week and they were all good.  All of them had an interesting sound and I would have spent more time listening to them ten years ago.  Now, I find I don't even finish listening until the end of the track.  And I couldn't name any of them now.  


I don't like this.  I know a great deal of hard work goes into writing, performing and recording an album and there should be time to appreciate it.  What I think I have as a culture now, is too much of a good thing.


Too Much of a Good Thing


What we have now is a classic supply / demand scenario with way more supply than demand.  When this happens the supply side has less value to people.  This is the situation we're in with popular music and popular culture.  Good or bad (mostly bad) there's lots of it.  I, you and lots of others have been pigging out on the media and now we've gotten fat and lazy about what we watch, listen to and consume.  What can be done?  Maybe a diet?  Better content and no more crap. Goodbye reality tv.  Or maybe we do need gate keepers...  who would of thunk it?


I've got to go and check my facebook page...


Bye for now


James

Autotune - Why Did You Lie?

Autotune is not our friend


Autotune is used to correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances. It is used to disguise off-key inaccuracies and mistakes, and has allowed singers to perform perfectly tuned vocal tracks without the need of singing in tune. While its main purpose is to slightly bend sung pitches to the nearest true semitone (to the exact pitch of the nearest tone in traditional equal temperament), Auto-Tune can be used as an effect to distort the human voice when pitch is raised/lowered significantly.  This has led to it being used in numerous pop songs from Cher to T-Pain. 


It's a become a staple with many "Pop Stars" who can't pull off the real thing or are looking to have some robotic sound on a song.  I'm not a fan.  I don't really like over produced music and use and over use of Autotune falls into that category.


I feel like the artists who use it to correct bad singing are lazy or lying.  There's nothing like a live performance with authentic voices, full of feeling and nuance.  They sometimes aren't perfect.  That's art and that's life.  I for one prefer my music to be from real people with something real to say not machines that have no soul.