Tuesday Tunes

In an effort to keep this blog marginally on track with content that actually resembles music commentary, I'm launching a new weekly feature: Tuesday Tunes. Basically, in this feature, I will discuss the finer points of whatever song I can't seem to get out of my head each week. Some songs will be anthems for various life circumstances, others simply catchy melodies or tunes that have inspired moving video interpretations. Regardless, the music will receive proper recognition for the niche it fills and the emotional experience it brings to countless listeners.

To get the ball rolling, I'll start with one of my long-time anthems: Sugarland's "Something More." If you're not familiar with the song (or if you just want to re-visit its aural awesomeness), you can listen here. Pay particular attention to the lyrics and Jennifer Nettles' delivery of each word and note. While, on the surface, the song speaks to drifting souls (those who are still searching for, seeking a purpose), even individuals who enjoy contented, fulfilled lives can appreciate and identify with the yearning, wonder, and resolution of the song's central character.

I suspect we all have had and will have moments when we feel as if there must be more that we can get out of life. What I find so interesting and inspiring about this song is the idea that we don't have to accept mediocrity. We can indeed make our own happiness and build whatever life we want. I am particularly intrigued by the underlying commentary about corporate culture and its ability to rob people of truly fulfilling experiences. When Nettles sings, "I could work my life away, but why? I've got things to do before I die...," I am reminded of how so many Americans accept the notion that a job defines a person. They become so consumed by finishing tasks, producing more with less, and winning the proverbial rat race that they miss their own lives completely in the quest to achieve goals that were never theirs to begin with. It is refreshing to hear a song that encourages one to imagine the opposite scenario: a life not taken for granted, but instead filled with profound moments of thoughtfulness, adventure, simplicity, and bliss.

What makes the song a hopeful anthem is the bridge. This is my favorite part. Just a few, simple lines give the listener confidence that a better life is realistic and achievable. "Some believe in Destiny, and some believe in Fate. But I believe that Happiness is something we create. You best believe that I'm not gonna wait..." The lines suggest that with a little faith and some determination, any life is possible. The bridge provides a clarity of thought that reminds people to choose their own fulfillment and do whatever makes them truly happy. Regardless of whether the listener is already fulfilled or still searching for purpose, the bridge's sentiment is uplifting. It challenges people to create the best life they can imagine.

Overall, I applaud the song's construction, depth, and inspiration. It will be on my personal anthem list indefinitely as a constant reminder that life is what we make of it.

Be brave. Take chances. Live.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia...Obama?

This is not new, but it's still interesting (and a bit disconcerting).

We've gone from here:

To here:

All in less than a year. I'm both amused and disturbed by this transformation of public perception. Political views aside, could there possibly be a more laughable representation of the President of the United States of America than having his likeness fashioned into a Chia Pet? As if the rest of the world needs any more fodder for poking fun at this country these days. I would imagine it is a big enough challenge maintaining the world's respect given the massive failure of an economy this nation currently operates in, but I'm certain that allowing the President to be immortalized as a Chia Pet will only make it more difficult to maintain credibility as an important international player. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for finding the humor in life, and for not taking one's self too seriously, but really? Should we not have (at least marginally) higher standards for the person responsible for leading (arguably) the most powerful nation in the world? At this rate, it won't be long before we get here. Can't wait.

Karaoke...With A Twist

I like to sing. Actually, that's not correct. I LOVE to sing. I will sing any song I know the words to...and I know a lot of songs. In fact, I used to think that if I could use the part of my brain that is responsible for memorizing song lyrics for something marketable, I would be rich and retired by now (at the ripe old age of 26). Then I would have more time for singing. Sometimes I don't even realize I am singing, and then it dawns on me that I'm in the office, or at the gas station, where other people can hear me. It's a compulsion, a passion. It makes me feel good regardless of what mood I am in. I don't think it's physically possible to sing freely when I am choked up or tense or carrying anxiety within. Singing is an exercise in relaxation. I feel energized and powerful when I sing. I sing for me.

Slightly over a year ago, I decided to channel my passion for singing into organized instruction. I began taking vocal lessons to learn proper breathing technique, stretch my vocal range, and pick up some basic music theory and performance pointers. My first few teachers were quite good at the basics and at teaching the more classical genres (opera and musical theater). I was fortunate to work with them and to learn to appreciate some forms of music that I had not previously experimented with, but I had not found exactly what I was looking for in a voice instructor.

Through a friend of a friend, I was connected with my current instructor, and it is an entirely different experience altogether. Gone was the rigid, commercialized, formal studio lesson arrangement of the past. Instead, I found someone who performs in a local band, teaches from her basement, schedules lessons to accommodate my rigorous work schedule, and most importantly, is flexible with the types of music I can study. Rather than forcing me to connect with operatic pieces or overly-dramatic musical theater numbers that do not come naturally to me, she gives me the freedom to take my favorite songs and study them in depth. I can learn the notes, then the words, then the emotional inflection, and finally the performance elements of each song - pop, country, and Motown classics alike.

Recently my instructor suggested that I try some live performance to expand my musical experience base. It should be mentioned that I did conduct a solo recital with some standard songs taught by my first few instructors, but the recital was small, on my terms, and with only my closest family and friends in attendance. My current instructor is suggesting that I get out there and perform for a room full of strangers...just for kicks. Surprisingly, I am up for the challenge. Working with songs that I actually enjoy, connect with, and "get" gives me a confidence that I have lacked in the past when it came to public performance. As a jumping off point, I plan to sign up for the next "season" of "Can You Rock?" This extension of live-band karaoke features amateur vocalists performing in front of a house band that is comprised of several musicians from Indianapolis-area bands. Their song repertoire is extensive, so I need to narrow down my options to a few works-in-progress. Song suggestions from the approved list are encouraged! Stay tuned for updates on my progress and a recap of the big performance in October.

All Ye Faithful

I recently caught a couple episodes of True Hollywood Story on E! that focused on the wives of superstar men. One of the episodes featured wives of major league baseball players, and the other told the story of the wives of some rock and roll legends. While it is obvious that playing a sport and playing an instrument are physically different talents, those who reach the upper echelons of either discipline encounter many of the same fundamental challenges as a direct result of their professions. Consequently, the wives of celebrity athletes and rock and roll gods face similar dichotomies of existence created by the lifestyles and career demands of their megastar husbands.

On the one hand, there is the incredible power, wealth, and status that comes along with being married to a pop culture hero. On the other, there is a life filled with loneliness, nearly-single parenting, and suspicion of a husband's extracurricular activities while he is away from home. As the shows explained the pros and cons of being married to a public icon, there was one topic that interested me more than the others: fidelity within the marriage. Because both professional athletes and rock stars spend the majority of their lives traveling away from whatever semblance of a rooted "home" they have, a natural question arises about the likelihood of these pop culture stars remaining faithful to their wives and families in the face of temptation. And not just any temptation. Temptation the likes of which none of us "regular" people have probably ever encountered. Rather, a daily onslaught of beautiful, willing, adoring women ready to give themselves up at a moment's notice just to live out a couple minutes of what is likely a lifelong fantasy. How could any warm-blooded man (famous or not) resist that forever?

What surprised me most was that all the men who were interviewed claimed to be faithful to their wives. Perhaps they have grown out of the "hit-it-and-quit-it" stage of their early stardom and are not interested in one-night stands with groupies anymore. Perhaps they fear castration if their shockingly-dynamic and overwhelmingly-intelligent wives ever found out about an episode of infidelity. Interestingly, I think rock and roll icon Alice Cooper summarized it best when he explained that he had never cheated on his wife in 31 years of marriage because, to him, no other woman had ever been worth giving up years of happiness for a few minutes of empty ecstasy. His marriage is simply more important to him than chasing fleeting bliss. I was impressed by his grounded assessment and mature response, especially given that rock stars are by nature some of the most immature performers in existence. Their profession demands an emphasis on youth, reckless abandon, and unbridled passion, and many rockers ride the fame train all the way to their own demise. Those who step back from their egocentric lives for a reflective moment, however, may realize that life can be filled with more than sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and that they can find happiness and fulfillment in an honest marriage.

Being newly engaged myself, I ponder the concept of fidelity often. A lifetime of pop culture conditioning suggesting that fidelity is obsolete forces me to examine my situation frequently so as not to be caught off guard by any secret transgressions. Thankfully, I have never been given a reason to doubt the security of my relationship with my fiance. I often recognize how fortunate I am to have found a perfect match for myself, someone who shares the same outlook on life, the same values, and most importantly, the same emphasis on honesty and full disclosure within a relationship. I don't consider myself a terribly high-maintenance partner, but I do insist on knowing that my fiance and I can trust each other 100% of the time. No doubts = no problems (or at least no major ones...all relationships have challenges, of course). As my fiance and I embark on the next chapter of our lives together as a team, I embrace the imminent adventure of the future knowing that we are both faithful to ourselves and to each other. If Alice and Sheryl Cooper can do it, so can we.

When Is Enough Enough?

I stumbled upon this ESPN.com article today, and it reminded me of my familiar frustrations with gifted athletes who throw away huge opportunities in favor of bad decision-making and illegal behavior. According to the article, Jamar Hornsby, who was slated to begin playing for the Mississippi Rebels football team this fall, has been indicted on felony assault charges and consequently released from the team. The article goes on to say that this is not his first offense, as he was previously released from the Florida Gators football team after pleading no contest to using a credit card stolen from a deceased Florida student who had dated one of his football teammates.

Understanding that young people make mistakes sometimes, it still upsets me that Hornsby was even given a second chance at a free education after wasting his first opportunity. Although Hornsby's first offense was initially punished by the loss of his spot on the Florida football team, his bad behavior was eventually rewarded with positive reinforcement and a free pass when Mississippi signed him for the 2009 season. Apparently, just one criminal act did not satisfy the threshold of who could be excluded from the Mississippi football team. It took a second criminal offense to finally move the team and administration to reject Hornsby's place on the roster.

Similarly, but on a grander scale, I recall the numerous transgressions of Adam "Pacman" Jones (photo above) during his time playing for the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys from 2005-2008. Beginning in college, Jones started racking up run-ins with the law. When Jones managed to get himself put on probation before the 2005 draft, what should have been a big red flag for any prospective teams looking to pick him up, was cavalierly ignored in the pursuit of the best available athlete. In less than 2 years, Jones was arrested for and/or charged with at least 4 criminal acts, but he continued to play. Only after the 4th offense was he suspended for one (yes, one) game by the Titans. Meanwhile, the legal system continued to extend his probation but never administered any recognizable punishment for his wrongdoings. Only after controversy surrounding a Las Vegas strip club shooting that Jones was allegedly involved in did the NFL finally step in and suspend Jones for an entire season. Unbelievably, the NFL reinstated Jones in 2008, only to re-suspend him after a number of other off-the-field incidents. Currently, Jones is a free agent and eligible to play.

I struggle with the idea that it is ok to condone such appalling behavior as that of Hornsby and Jones simply because they are exceptional athletes. Perhaps everyone deserves one second chance, but more than five second chances? Where is the line? When is enough really enough? Does an innate athletic marketability give someone moral invincibility? I can only hope for Hornsby's sake that his second blown opportunity is his last, and that he'll finally learn that at some point you must become accountable for the things you do with your life. Obviously Jones has not learned that lesson yet, and perhaps he never will. When society consistently forgives criminals simply because they are star athletes or celebrities, the lesson becomes infinitely more difficult to grasp.