Moments two : Musical Epiphany.

I love that moment where you find a musician (or band, or even piece of music, you know what I mean) that you have not known of before, or you did not know much of before. And you realise that this musician is musically brilliant, exceptionally talented, and also really speaks to you. And you realise that you may have found a new wonderful music to add to the soundrack that is your life, the jukebox that is your mind (and/or your mp3 player of choice). And generally you then want to tell everyone you know because it is so brilliant and wonderful and inspiring and other positive adjectives. I like to call this moment the external musical epiphany, to differentiate it from the internal musical epiphany; wherein you (usually spontaniously) compose a brilliant piece of music, musical theory, or your musical composition 'comes together'.

So here are some of my best external musical epiphany moments.
hhhhhmmmmmmm, ok, in retrospect, allow me to reclarify that statement. By my best, I don't actually mean my best total, I mean my best non-mainstream moments. Because I am sure that everyone of our sort of generation had one of those moments listening to Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, U2, Green Day, RHCP etc. Those sort of bands are life changing, genre defining, and highly significant; definately fit into this paradigm. But they are also known by everyone (and if they aren't known to you, stop reading and go listen!), and adding them to the list makes the list longer, but not more interesting or novel. Likewise, I can list a hundred musicians from classical, jazz, blues, folk songs, war and rock'n'roll eras that have been character forming for me, but people these days often don't relate to that kind of music so I am trying to keep that to a minimum. I am hoping that this list might exemplify my point but also introduce some new music into your lives.
Also, I can't really include any music that I haven't listened to for more than a least a year so this isn't a list of the current crazy indie music on my playlist. Maybe I will make a crazy indie playlist some other time.

Old school music
Music your older siblings, your mum and dad... or perhaps your grandparents might know but you might have missed. I am going to cheat here, and add some modern blues and jazz into this section because I figure if you don't like the odd stuff you wont like the new stuff anyways.

Bobby McFerrin. Often refered to as the Don't Worry, Be Happy guy. I heard and took on board the Don't worry, be happy message like I think everyone did, but I have since learnt more about him. The man is amazing. He is a very talented human beatbox, my two favourite examples of this being his Bach 1st Prelude/Ave Maria and I can see clearly now with Judy Donahy though he also sings very well and does some wonderful improvisations. He can performed with some very cool classical musicians. But one particular performance amazed me since I first saw it, and impressed me with the universality of human nature; his demonstration of the power of the pentatonic scale at the 2009 World science festival is very beautiful, clever and insightful.

Duke Ellington. Hearing Caravan for the first time changed my life. I'd never realised how much power jazz music with no lyrics could have, how music alone could create imagry.

Katie Melua. Little girl, big voice, very nice and mellow blues. Particularly her first album as I am not very familiar with her newer ones. I found her at a fairly pivotal time in my life, I was feeling pretty numb and it was a big relief to find something that I had an emotional reaction to.

Jonny Lang. So when I was a teenager... wait, lets begin differently. When I was a child I shared a room with my sister, and our parents used to put on a cassette from our draw full of cassettes for us to listen to as we went to sleep. I can't remember if it was in lieu of a story or what. But, when my sister and I became teenagers and still shared a room this created a bit of a problem, because I liked all sorts of weird and mainstream music, but my sister pretty much just liked everything I didn't and vice versa, so putting on music before bed became an issue. Then we both worked at the opening of a video store and were allowed to take home some of the prizes. We got a stack of posters etc, and one of us (probably my sister since I don't remember... which means I probably shouldn't now have it, but I do...) picked up the cd single of this guy. And it was the only thing we could agree on (which is so daft cause I am pretty sure blues isn't her normal thing at all), so we had the one song play on repeat... No idea how this guy managed to get that voice but it gives me chills.

Modern music
Music from the last 20 years.

One Eskimo. Do love these guys... I first heard them watching Bones on tv, and was so struck by "the song in the background" that I zerged the internet to identify what I had heard. Adapting a classic old song into a classic soulful new song... mmmm love, and they created a theme album, which contains a video for each song telling the story visually as well as musically - so awesome and so rarely done these days. The other songs I have heard from the album are beautiful too.

Jack White. May be a little mainstream nowdays but still... The first time I heard the White Stripes (yes yes, I do remember who first got me onto them) I was blown away, and I continue to be impressed with their simple and yet very energetic and evokative music. I also really like The Raconteurs. I watched this great documentary featuring Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White called It might get loud where the three discuss their different methods, backgrounds, inspirations, priorities, projects and sound, and it was really great. I like all three artists, but I think if you didn't like one of them prior you'd come out if not liking at least respecting them. Jack White talked about his favourite song and how really that is what he is trying to emulate, and when you listen back on the White Stripes back catalogue you can actually detect that influence.

Our Lady Peace. One of those bands where you have heard some of the songs before and yet don't realise that they are all by the same artist. Probably my favourite band. I first heard their music at a party at a friends place when I was 16 or 17, and I have loved them ever since, purchased all their albums and have not been disappointed with any of them, though their sound has changed over time. I am a bit old school in my love of concept albums, and these guys have one of my favourites... I tried to write a list of all the reasons I love this band, but basically I love everything about them... except that I have to read their wiki to know when their albums come out when there should be sky writers and billboards.

Great Big Sea. Another band that I first heard at one of our rowdy teen parties and couldn't get enough of. They have these great, quite upbeat, catchy songs. But they have this other side to them, where they play rock versions of traditional sea shanties, some very silly - it reminds me a little of Lonnie Donegan (That blend of part normal and part nonsense). I love that they work traditional instruments like the fiddle, the mandolin and the bodhran. Just learn the words and then TRY not to sing along at the top of your lungs, TRY not to smile when you hear them.

Dropkick Murphys. On a similar note... Celtic punk band, who have a great range of original music with heavy celtic inspiration and some amazing punk covers of traditional celtic songs. They capture the old Irish anger of the rebal music (like the Wolfe Tones) and incorporate traditional irish folk music, and some new expatriate anger. I found them because I am irish. I might love them because I am irish too...

Youtube musicians
I have found a lot of music I really like through Youtube. Music I consider good enough to pay for. I am pretty eclectic so there is a range of course... And given the current trend (Darren Cris, Justin Beibs (I am not linking this...) and Others) potentially the future music section.

Garfunkel and Oates - my favourite comedy duo (if you recognise either of them, it is because they are both actresses as well, Kate is most notable as The Gooch on scrubs; and Riki was (I believe) most hysterical as Ramona, the grad student who bullied Sheldon into working instead of procrastinating. My favourite of their song is Me, You and Steve, though I am also partial to their song Sex with Ducks.

Sons of Admirals - I love these guys independantly, and I love them together. I tried to find a typical example of each. Charlie is mostly a vlogger/comedic musician/teenheart throb. Tom is a little eccentric but totally brilliant. Edd does rock with so much soul it hurts (well in my opinion anyway). Alex is an ideas man, his music is a bit more pop-ish, but very listenable. And they are all involved in each others projects, like Chameleon Circuit and Chartjackers and each others albums which they sell through DFTBA records (a label put together by and exclusively for Youtube musicians).

HeyHiHello! - These guys aren't really in my usual taste, but there is just something about them I really like. Perky, and sweet, and I find myself listening to them over and over.

Moments One : Film Love.

I love that moment when you are watching a movie or tv show and the two characters have that moment of romantic tension... and they don't necessarily work it out or anything but as the observer you know for sure that there is something "THERE" and (because you know it is a tv show/movie) probably these people belong together and will therefore end up together. Unless it is a sneaky twisted tragic chick flick or a complicated tv series and one or the other of them dies or something awful happens, like in Gone with the wind (though she kind of deserves it) or a version of Romeo and Juliet or Aliens ... yeah, you get the idea.

Any good love story tends to have these moments (any bad one is intending to have these moments and failing miserably), and because they are a standard of the cinematic spark

Anyways, as I am on a bit of a downer at the moment, I am thinking about cheerful things, and so here are some of my favourite romantic tension characters/moments. Ones I could find clips for anyways, its hard to explain these things to someone who hasn't seen them without clips.

Starting with a few classics, Casablanca - Rick and Elsa - And yes, this doesn't resolve how you might like but boy is this movie well scripted for tension... the build up is slow but it is beautifully executed; and Cat on a hot tin roof - Maggie the cat and Brick - I love this movie, it is so dysfunctional but so enthralling. If you haven't seen it, they are husband and wife, but their marriage has been damaged in their history and by the start of the movie Brick has agreed to stay with Maggie in a (drunken) non-sexual role. Why do old movies seem so much better written than new ones?

Psych - Shawn and Juliet - "Very close talking" ((2006) (Episode - #2.9) - Bounty Hunters!). This show is awesome and hysterical and if you haven't watched Psych you should because I am really enjoying it for its clever, over educated jokes and great acting and light hearted fun-ness. Anyway, this moment is brilliant and funny whilst maintaining tension which I was impressed with. Shawn and Jules have a great relationship where he flirts with her and he is definately on her radar but she tries to hide that and I want to see where it goes (and I am a season behind so if you ARE up to date, then shhhhhhh).



The Princess Bride - Wesley and Buttercup - and you have probably seen it before anyways, but it's great and must be mentioned. Fairytale of our generation...

Vampire Diaries - Damon and Elena - ok, so this tv show isn't for everyone as while it has lots of hot boys and girls, and lots of drama and gore, it centres around the love triangle created by two brothers who have been vampires for 150 years and who have both fallen in love with the same girl... who is not only completely a danger magnet but is also the dopleganger of the vampire who turned them (and manipulated them and entirely screwed up their relationship with one another etc). Damon is the 'bad' brother (please keep in mind that the truth is more complicated than that), and Elena is (currently) in a relationship with Stephan (the 'good' brother), however the tension between Damon and Elena is far more exciting.



Amelie - Amelie and Nino - bizarrely for a love story they don't have many scenes together, but they do have one of the best ones.

Pride and Prejudice - Darcy and Elizabeth - feature film but particularly the BBC version. Shhhh about the cliche!!!

10 things I hate about you - Patrick and Kat.

And just.... all of Firefly/Serenity. Go watch it already...

Critic

Blargle! I wrote this, and then google booted me out and I hadn't copyed and it didn't save and I lost it all at 2 am and now I am re-writing it but I am a wee bit bitter about it. Saving often...

I read somewhere... no, more specific, I shall tell you where. I was reading poems on a webpage dedicated to poetry, and within the "Comments about this poem" section I read something that surprised me. A little more context - the poem was

Alone Looking at the Mountain ~ by Li Po

All the birds have flown up and gone;
A lonely cloud floats leisurely by.
We never tire of looking at each other -
Only the mountain and I.

Sidenote: I have always enjoyed this poem and I am... Insulted? Surprised? Amused? Concerned? that a poem that was writen back around 700AD in China and has managed to remain in circulation all this time was rated at 7/10 by the "internet". Seriously?? I shudder to think of what anchors these people.

Anyways... within the comments section was a person (hereafter designated "he" though my gender interpretation is based on a generically masculine username) who I believe was trying to suggest that the comments section wasn't for "this poem is so great, thanks Mr Po" comments (on the ground that Mr Po is a chinese man from 700AD and therefore does not speak english, and has also been dead for 1300 years) and should be more for intensive english analysis - what do the birds MEAN? And he concluded his statements thusly "Poetry is both emotion and reason, not simply one or the other!".

This comment interested me in a number of ways. Firstly Henry David Thoreau was extensively critised as being "lesser" to Ralph Waldo Emerson because he "overthought it". So it is clearly more complex than this statement leads us to believe. How much reason, how much emotion is required? A cup of one, a dash of the other? Those of us to aspire to Emerson and not Thoreau (not based on poet preference but on a lack of thick skin) require more specific guidelines for this information to be helpful!
Secondly I think that people over value critical analysis and under value emotion (and I realise that I may write emotively and therefore that I might be bias but hear me out). Yes, understanding the imagery allows a greater depth of understanding of the poets message, and yes often the greatest fun in writing poetry is adding layers of meaning by selecting the best images, the best stories, the most well defined words. So thinking critically about a poets work and what they could mean aside from the obvious has a place.
But I think first, before that, its about emotion. Perhaps the dinosaur is a metaphor for consumerism, for innocence lost or societal repression or parental restriction or overeducation or financial insecurity or childhood fears, but first and foremost if it doesn't make you feel like running down a half familiar corridor from an unseen monster with a sister you may or may not have then the poem is wasted on you.
What IS reason in poetry? I mean, what does reason mean in that context? Logic? Judgement? Explaination? Sanity? The only part of the definition that seems relevement is a basis or cause, and for the poem as a whole I say yes definately, but for each image, word, concept I think that is a very pedantic view.
And I think that there are other theories about what makes good poetry, good art in fact that may be more correct. A quote (from my favourite book - again I may well be bias here) goes "The finest paintings are nothing more than the red head of a flower, nodding in the breeze when you were two years old; the most exiting film is just the way everything was back in the days when you stared goggle-eyed at the whilring choas all around you." And I think this may be more correct, regardless of the effort put into the reasons, if the poem is not evokative of something inside the self then it isn't worth remembering or analysing, it doesn't have the sustainability of a great poem. And I bet that some of the great poems were accidents. I bet some of them didn't have nearly as much work or layers put into them as people attribute. Coleridge wrote down his opium dreams... I know a least one song off the top of my head that was actually intended to be about just what it seemed and yet plenty of people are convinced that it has much... more elusive meanings (and yes, I believe the writers, they don't have a good reason to lie about it and in the grand scheme why believe their writing and not their statements?). Because in truth, people superimpose their own opinions and beliefs onto others. A great example I saw one time "Dave Matthews must be christian, I mean, I have never heard him say specifically but I love his music so much and his music is so great"... I don't know about Dave Matthews faith either (actually I read the wiki, he was brought up Quaker but is now agnostic), but I can pull out plenty of lyrics that would cause a priest to aneurism (yeah, I like him, if you haven't heard him give him a listen, try "why I am" if you need a start point) however this listener in question was clearly ignoring any evidence contrary to their desired opinion which was probably based on their own faith and desire to believe that Dave Matthews shared that faith and holding anyone who did share that faith in higher esteem (and from their vibe distaining anyone who did not share that faith) - my point being that so much of the time our interpretations are just confirmation bais and subjective validation. (Actually, just go here and read the entire blog, its great.)
And I know, I am usually the first person on the "let people interpret it how they like" bandwagon. I stand by my pick-your-own-inference policy. But I really resent people forcing their interpretions, or any interpretations on others. To some people it is just a dinosaur, and nothing more, and they are good with that. Is the poem lesser because it isn't about interspecies relations? Are they lesser because they don't see a reptile liberation theme? No one should be forced to see anything in a poem, and I think it is contributing to the decline of litery enjoyment that some people are overthinking for meanings that were never intended and trying to force those with a simplier view point to do the same.
Maybe the poem is a cake, with many layers, and maybe the cake is fuller and richer if you have a slice with all the layers, but some people only like icing and some people have diabetes and you shouldn't force layer cake on person regardless of how good it is.
And I hope that if someone says to us, "man, I dig that dinosaur" that we can put aside our theory on the metaphor for the decline of the british aristocracy and think to ourselves, "yeah, that dinosaur is pretty intense" and just for a moment feel the texture of thick carpet beneath our tiny, adreline filled toes.