Musical Memorial Tributes

I heard on the radio the other day that it’s been 35 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald sunk in Lake Superior. A tragedy that may have been long forgotten had it not been for Gordon Lightfoot immortalizing it in his song “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
Although Mr. Lightfoot took artistic license with the events of the actual sinking, the haunting lyrics have helped keep the disaster in our memories.
“In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

It started me thinking of all the songs written in tribute to people who have died. Tragedies that affected the songwriter so much he/she felt they had to share it with the world. Now this topic that will take more than one blog to do it any justice, but at least here's a start. Consider this my “shout out” to all the songwriters for helping us remember the people we should never forget. Thank you.

Now there are the obvious ones like Don Maclean’s American Pie (“I can’t remember if I cried when I heard about his widowed bride”), and Elton John’s Candle in the Wind (And I would have liked to have known you, But I was just a kid. Your candle burned out long before, your legend never did.”)
But what of the songs about people the writers knew, people that changed their personal lives?

First one that comes to mind is Tom Cochrane's Big League. Tom had met this boy’s father in an arena before a show, the father had asked the artist to play Boy Inside The Man because it was his son’s favourite. Asking if his son would be at the concert, the father replied “no.” The following quote is from the Tom Cochrane website (www.tomcochrane.info)
“That was when he told me his son had died in a car accident that past summer... I felt for that guy, his story hit me hard. Some songs are hard labour, but the best songs are born ... I carried that story with me for quite some time. “
I often wonder how that father must have felt when he heard that song. I still get shivers when it comes to the part where Cochrane says, "Sometimes in the morning I still hear the sound
Ice meets metal...
"Can't you drive me down to the Big League?" “

Speaking of father/son songs, it must have been incredibly difficult for Eric Clapton to write, let alone perform, the song Tears In Heaven.
In 1991, Eric Clapton’s 4-year-old son Conor fell 53 floors through a window left open by some idiot cleaner. After a long silence, Clapton released the song “Tears in Heaven” as a tribute to his son. Imagine having the courage to sing “Would you know my name, if I saw you in Heaven” knowing it’s your own son. Clapton has not performed that song live since 2004.

I couldn’t do this topic without mentioning All Those Years Ago by George Harrison. The song was a personal tribute to his murdered friend, and former band mate, John Lennon.
Released less than a year after John’s death, the song was recorded by all three remaining Beatles. George, Paul and Ringo would not appear together on a song for another 13 years. What I like the most about this song is that it’s a cheerful melody and embraces the happiness Lennon tried so hard to give. It’s a celebration of his life as well as regret of his death. If you ever get the chance to see the video, treat yourself – it’s filled with old photos of the boys and particularly Lennon, some dating back to their pre-Beatles life. Knowing George had been a friend of John's since he was 14 years old makes me appreciate the lyrics that much more.
"But you point the way to the truth when you say
All you need is love.
Living with good and bad
I always looked up to you
Now we're left cold and sad.”

I’ll finish this blog with the song that hit me the hardest. Carry Me by Ray Lyell and the Storm. So how did I go from Clapton and the Beatles to some guy from Hamilton? Ray Lyell and the Storm was a fun, popular Canadian band of the 80’s with hits like Another Man’s Gun and Cruel Life. When I worked at HTZ-FM I had the opportunity to meet the group. I don’t remember much about the evening (par for the course back then), but I do recall Ray talking about the person that inspired the song Carry Me. Over twenty years later and I still remember how I felt the first time I listening to the song, knowing it was about a real person.
“I knew somebody who lost his way
Got himself a loaded gun
They found him lying at the light of day
Now it’s too late to undo what’s already done.”

Those were pretty poignant lyrics for a young woman who had also lost a friend just a few years before. Although it was no accident, and he wasn’t holding the gun, I wonder if things would have been different if someone would have heard the other boy’s desperate voice say Carry Me.
So, I guess this is as close I’ll get to my musical tribute. Here’s to you Dave Jackson, you are always remembered.

"> Carry Me

It’s too late to undo what’s already done.

Wordle

I stumbled across this site www.wordle.net and I'm addicted. I entered my blog address and wordle creates a "word cloud" of my Blog. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. The applications for this are limitless. Enter a crown speech and find out what was the most prominent word, enter your resume, your facebook page. For today's visual learners this is a lot of fun. It's also very revealing. Dare you .. Wordle yourself.
Follow the creator's blog here.

What you are now is who you were when.

A colleague and I were talking the other day about moments in our lives that are etched in memory of where exactly we were when they happened.
Sure, we both had the obvious including September 11, Columbine, even Princess Diana’s death. But what became most interesting were the more obscure memories.
Mine included the first time I saw a microwave oven being used, the Patty Hearst kidnapping and the 1989 World Series Earthquake. But the one event that clearly stands out in mind that remember every word, every feeling, everything that was going on - happened on December 8, 1980.
1980 was a pivotal year for me – I had just started college at 17 – and was pretty unsure of what my life ahead had to offer. The only things I did know were 1- I was way too young to be away from home for college and 2 – I loved the Beatles. Pretty simplistic by today’s standards, but in an age before computers, CD’s, remotes or cell phones – it was complicated enough.
On December 8, 1980 my girlfriend, Brenda, called me to tell me the news. “Did you hear John Lennon’s been shot?” Of course I didn’t believe her, there was no reason to shoot John Lennon. He wasn’t a radical or a political player; all he wanted was to give peace a chance. The man made people happy, and except for his bad taste in wives, he was a genius – my girlfriend must be mistaken. So I turned on the television, again remember this is an era before a lowly college student could afford cable – so all I had was CKVR Barrie. Nothing – no mention, I was positive she was wrong.
Then the 11:00 news – they replayed an earlier announcement from Howard Cosell during a football game “This, we have to say it. Remember this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy, confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City, the most famous, perhaps, of all The Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to the Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival.”
And at 11:20 Walter Cronkite confirmed John Lennon was dead.
I cried, all night. I cried the next day at school, I went to the vigils, I held my Bic lighter in the air, I sang, “give peace a chance” but I never understood.
That week, I can honestly say, changed me forever. I was no longer the naïve teenager from Fonthill from a sheltered background – I was someone who had the person they believe in the most ripped out from under them, for no reason at all. There was no reason for Mark David Chapman to do what he did. He even sat there and waited for the cops to come. He took everything away from me, and millions of others just like me.

That was the day I realized life wasn’t fair.

This December will mark 30 years … Life still isn’t fair, people are still doing unthinkably cruel things, but lucky for me, I’ve found more heroes to get me through the day.
Here’s to you John.

There are places I remember

All my life, though some have changed

Some forever not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends

I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life I've loved them all


But of all these friends and lovers

there is no one compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning

When I think of love as something new

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life I love you more


Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life I love you more

In my life I love you more

Oscars Good, Bad and Ugly

Yes, it’s my annual post that has nothing to do with music – indulge me for my usual Academy Awards rant.

Good
It was a good tribute to director, writer, producer John Hughes. I had no idea he was responsible for so many of the 80s teen movie classics (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Uncle Buck) tribute. Watching the movie clips with my teenage daughter was a hoot; we’re going to rent every one of them.

Writer Geoffrey Fletcher’s acceptance speech was so sincere. As the first African-American to get an Oscar for a screenplay, he really showed that writers have heart. I believe in you Geoffrey! Due to copyright issues I can't post the speech, but to see it click on here.

I have never been so excited to see a commercial, over and over again. I’m talking about the trailers for Russell Crowe’s new movie.

I can’t wait to see Robin Hood – it’s like Gladiator set in Sherwood Forest.

Bad
I can’t believe CTV’s terrible job of substituting the American signal. Commercial breaks cutting off parts of the show in more than one embarrassing occasions, plus bleeping out the swear words.
Judd Nelson – what happened to him?
The tribute to the deceased actors – again they screwed it up. These guys spent their lives in the movies; give them the credit they deserve. Don’t they know by now not to start with a big actor because he stupid camerawork still has to figure out what’s going on? So no one saw Patrick Swayze – and why the hell would they have Michael Jackson and NOT Farrah Fawcett? She was in more movies than Jacko, who can forget Cannonball Run. I wonder if Corey Haim will get any recognition next year. I loved the Lost Boys.

The Ugly
Sandy Powell, winner of Best costume design wins the most ungrateful acceptance speech. “I already have two of these” beeyotch.

Who was that bitch who rushed on stage and Kanye’d Roger Ross Williams’s acceptance speech? Elinor Burkett – “isn’t that the classic thing a man not letting the woman talk” if I knew you I wouldn’t let you talk either. Rumour has it that Williams’ 87-year-old mother tried to block her with a cane. Way to go granny!

Music Snobs

Urbandictionary.com defines a music snob as: “A person who believes s/he has a more refined taste in music and has much more knowledge in the field of music in general. Every song and genre is unacceptable unless the snob happens to like it, then it is absolute perfection. Music snobs feel obligated to enlighten everyone with unwelcome critiques and irrelevant musical trivia.”

Music snobs are the most irritating type of snob I know. At least wine snobs have some foundation for their arrogance, there are years of research, cultivation, pricey bottles and snobbery behind the science.
But music, com’on - It’s not a commodity, it’s not something to purchase or consume, it’s something you experience, you listen to music for the sheer pleasure of it.

Music doesn’t have to be a song on the radio, it’s a rhythm that attracts you and can calm you down, pump you up, turn you on, or just make you smile. It could be rain on the roof or a train in the distance, as long as you enjoy it.
So how can someone tell me that what makes gives me pleasure isn’t as good as what they are listening to?

A colleague of mine is a typical music snob. I once mentioned my daughter was going to a Jonas Brothers concert. “OH MY GAWD …” she exclaimed, “I would never allow the Jonas Brothers in my house. My daughter likes the classics, Led Zeppelin, the Who, Rolling Stones.”

Isn’t that some form of child abuse? Not allowing your children to listen to something they like? Is my daughter any less of a person because she likes a boy band? People that want to shove their music interests down my throat and, worse yet, their own children’s throat – should be locked in a room full of hockey moms. I mean, watching the Jonas Bros on the Family channel today is no different than watching the Monkees when I was a kid.  (Yes, I had a crush on Michael Nesmith I was a rebel.)

Just because I don’t like a certain type of music, doesn’t mean I should expect other people to dislike it too. I’d rather chew tin foil than listen to a Celine Dion song, but it makes my mother happy to sing along. YMCA will never go down in history as a classic song, but when played at a wedding you can’t deny that everyone’s having a good time.

What goes around comes around – the site Top ten Artists Who An Aging Music Snob Can Start Admitting He/She Likes only scratches the surface. But music snobs are simply missing the point.

Music motivates, inspires, and changes perspectives. There is nothing more personal, different songs affect people in different ways. It’s a bookmark to moments in our lives. And unlike music snobs, who run their course – the love of music stays with us forever.

Simple things to put yourself in a good mood

Forget about the therapeutic lifestyle changes and the “feel good” books, but how about some instant gratification? That’s what I’m looking for. Here are some simple, basic things that I use to put myself in a good mood.
1. Music! Naturally, everyone has a song (or songs) that can change even the grouchiest mood. See my top ten list below.
2. Buy someone a coffee, anonymously. I know this sounds rather silly, but it actually works. Sitting in the drive-thru line at Tim Hortons can really piss people off, next time you pull up to the window offer to pay for the person’s coffee in the car behind you. It will put you in an excellent mood, and brighten someone else’s day too.
3. Juggle…anything (soft). Oranges, Hershey’s kisses, Tylenol bottles, it doesn’t matter what, because unless you actually know what you’re doing you will suck at it. The result, you’ll be laughing at your silliness and realize that it’s okay to ‘drop the ball’ when you’re juggling too much at once.
4. Lie on the floor. That’s it. Nothing more. Just lie there and do absolutely nothing, if you really have to do something try to ride an imaginary bicycle like we used to do in gym class.

5. Put a pair of sunglasses on your pet, or a small child strictly for your own enjoyment.
6. Naked sleeping, naked TV watching, naked iPod updating, naked tub scrubbing…need I go on? (and step away from the mirrors)
7. Google an old boy/girlfriend see what they’re up to. If you’re impressed, drop them a line – even better, if they’re scarier than hell, you will be incredibly happy that you dodged that bullet.
8. Watch a bird, squirrel or any wildlife for a while. Let yourself be amazed at the simplicities of life.
9. Think of a TV Show you used to watch as a kid and look it up on YouTube. 10 minutes of H.R. Pufnstuff and I can’t help but be in a happy mood.
10. Tell “Bob” jokes. They are so stupid they are funny. In case you’re not familiar here are a few to get you started:
What do you call a man with no arms and no legs:
In water – Bob
In leaves – Russell
On the wall – Art
In a fire – Bernie
Under your car - Jack
On the floor – Matt
Sitting on a grill – Frank
His wife - Patty (lmao)
11. Send a friend a card. Not an “e-card” or an email, an actual Carlton card just because.
12. If you have the time, watch an old movie by yourself. I did this purely by accident on a Sunday afternoon, after the first 15 minutes of feeling guilty that I was accomplishing nothing just sitting there. I started actually enjoying the movie “13 going on 30” yes it was no blockbuster, but it was a mindless feel good movie that brightened the rest of my day.

Now what about those songs? Here’s my list – I’m hoping to get input on others.
1. I Saw her Standing There - Beatles
2. Walkin’ on sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
3. I feel good – James Brown
4. Shout – either the original version with Lulu or the remake by Otis Day and the Knights
5. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
6. Love is a Battlefield – Pat Benetar
7. Only the Good Die Young – Billy Joel
8. Kodachrome – Paul Simon
9. Rockstar – Nickelback
10. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
11. Stuck in the Middle With You – Stealer’s Wheel
12. Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood
13. Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti & Spearhead
14. I want you to want me (Live) – Cheap Trick
15. I Played Chicken With the Train – Cowboy Roy with Big ‘N Rich

Honourable Mention to the Swingers Soundtrack and anything from ELO.

There are so many more I’m sure I’m going to add to this list constantly, but I’d like to hear from others.

2010 is a point of view

It’s been 8 months, 25 days and 18 hours since my last blog post. I know, that goes against every bit of blogging etiquette, and I have no real plausible excuse. My only reason for neglecting the pleasure of writing my blog is that 2009 sucked. Yes, sucked. And to sit in front of a computer and bemoan that fact just seemed too depressing for me and anyone who happened to read it.
So instead of writing, I relied on my other great passion to get me through … music. For the last eight months I reveled in losing myself in songs. It’s amazing how easy it is to find solace in music.
We choose songs to:
Enjoy our happiness (James Brown - I Feel Good),
Lift our spirits (Walkin’ on Sunshine- Katrina & the Waves)
Get pumped up for a big game (BEP – Let’s Get It Started)
Celebrate a victory (nothing does that better than Queen’s We Are The Champions)
And, of course, to make us cry - because misery loves company, and a good song is always a welcome guest.
Songs that have helped me wallow in self-pity over the years include At Seventeen by Janis Ian (the epitome of teenage angst), Don Henley’s End of the Innocence and more recently Soulmate by Natasha Bedingfield.
Even Taylor Swift helped to numb the pain with White Horse “I’m not a princess, this ain’t a fairy tale. I’m not the one you’ll sweep off her feet.”

But 2010 is all about having a different point a view. It took a very special friend to remind me that music and songs play a role in every part of our lives and nothing warms your heart or gives you goose bumps like a song that seemed to be written specifically for you.

That revelation has reopened my eyes to this optimistic point of view. I’ve evolved from Nickelback’s “Gotta Be Somebody” to “Never Gonna Be Alone”.

Like Monty Python would say Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
“If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
and that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
don’t be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.
And...Always look on the bright side of life.

Lyrics just don’t get any better than that!