Sunday, January 21, 2007

I Dig Rock 'n Roll Music

I Dig Rock n’ Roll Music

When I was a kid, I was in Girl Scouts. Even when most kids were really embarrassed to be in scouting, I loved it. I proudly told people I was a scout for nine years. I still tell people I was a scout for nine years. Tonight that appreciation was underscored in an unusual way. I am the fire maker in our house; in fact, just yesterday Ducky said I build a much better fire than he does. My reply, “I learned in Girl Scouts.”

The fifth annual Winter Folk Festival offered two days of Americana, Celtic, and Folk music; two folk classics headlined festival’s concerts. I really wanted to go see the Highwaymen last night and really I should have bought tickets. As a festival underwriter the station received tickets to the concert and a pair for the Sunday concert fell to me; the group headlining the day’s music, The Brothers Four. Wow.

I have always loved folk music and I thought that love came from learning the songs in school. I, naively, believed everyone knew those songs, having learned them in grade school. But I think I was wrong. As we sat in the Florence Events Center excitement began growing inside me. At the opening cords of the first song, my heart started beating faster, and I turned to Ducky and questioned, ”Yellow Bird?”

The look on his face was classic, “You’re asking me?” Sure enough the Brothers Four opened the concert with their rendition of Yellow Bird. Now I’ll admit the reason I know all the words to the song is because we sang it in Junior High chorus as part of our competition repertoire, Ducky on the other hand gave me a look as I sang that loudly spoke, “You’ve got to be kidding.”

Then the group blended in to Sloop John B. and Ducky was singing too. An awesome beginning to a concert that had most quietly sitting in their seats, applauding with gusto at the end of each song. Then they delved deeper in to the folk bag and drug out Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land, Pete Seegers’ Where Have All The Flowers Gone, If I Had A Hammer, and Arlo Gutherie’s City of New Orleans I was joyous. Singing low I realized, that except for the man seated behind me with the WONDERFUL voice, no one else was singing. I looked around watching silent lips, wondering how could this be? We learned these songs in school.

Afterwards, standing in the foyer waiting for them to come autograph my CD a lady asked to see my disk because she didn’t know if she wanted to buy it. She’d been to the concert the night before and was surprised she didn’t know many of the songs. Tonight she knew more, but she wasn’t sure the disk was for her. Heretic. Even without my glasses on I could tell the LP was full of great music. She bought a copy for herself. Now, I’m not an autograph hound and as the crowd to see them grew in size and clamor I decided to leave. I had the CD and that was the important part, along with that heady feeling you get after a great concert.

As we walked to the truck I asked Ducky what he thought, what his impressions were, and commented that I was happy he’d sung along on a few songs. His reply startled me as much as the lady’s comments in the foyer. He hadn’t known too many of the songs. With Ducky’s comment came my epiphany, I knew these songs and I had a love of these songs, a love of this music that brought tears to my eyes with the first cords of The Greenleaves Of Summer. I HAVE AN UNDYING LOVE OF FOLK MUSIC because of Girl Scouts. Folk music led to my love of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, The Mamas and the Papas, to Cat Stevens, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Loggins and Messina, and Bob Dylan. Thank God for Girl Scouts and all the lessons it taught me.

Okay, so I have to ask, if you love folk music too, do you love folk dancing? If you love folk music are you a head banger too? Because I really love Led Zepplin, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, and Clannad. Thank God I’m a DJ. And if you love music, do you know why? Does it speak to your heart? Is it the sound track of your life? Does each person you love come with a song attached?

You will be asked to put your pencils down in 10 minutes. The clock starts now.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Magical post - simply magical.

I've always loved music. One of the reasons, which I only consciously figured out within the last several years... is understanding the physical reactions I have to listening to music. I hear music AND experience visual effects to a lot of music. Colors, waves of sound/sight, sometimes to searing vocals, and sometimes to the bass or drum beats. I had somehow, narcissistically assumed that everyone experienced music the same way as I did...

I love all kinds of music except rap, which I find discordant. Crosby, Stills and Nash... heavenly. Do you remember Bread? America? The Mamas and the Papas make me weep, especially when I hear "Monday Monday." There's a little bit of headbanger in me, too: Bowie, Zepplin, Robert Plant (especially the lyrical and enigmatic "Big Log"), Clapton. Clannad is heavenly, which led me down the road to Delerium, which I also love.

Many loves of my life have music associated with them. "Eras" of my life have theme songs and artists.

Sorry, but I probably exceeded the allotted 10 minutes :)

**hugs**

Cele said...

Oh, mi gosh Sid you are my musical other half. Except you can probably write music. Dude you rock.

Jazzy said...

Oh my, where do I begin!!!! I LOVE music! I was a music major and ended up with a music minor. I play the saxophone. My license plates, Hot Sax, are my way of always reminding myself of my love of music. Plus, there is a little bit of a story behind my plates. :)

I love all types of music! I love classical, Mozart, Bach, Beetohoven, Chopin. Wow, I could go on and on. I love jazz! DUH, if you could not already tell. I love Kenny G, Tom Scott, Maynard Ferguson, Brandon Fields, Ella, Benny Goodman, Dizzy, New York Voices (the lead singer was an adjudicator at a jazz festival that my college played at one time; long story short - BIG Solo "Georgia on My Mind" - Great reaction from the judge!) and on and on and on and on....

That is my serious side. I also love rock 'n roll! My FAVORITE band of ALL TIME is STYX!!!!! I know every single one of their songs! There are truly too many groups and artists to mention here. I just like so many. My tastes are clearly more 80's, 90's and beyond. Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, REO Speedwagon, Black Eyed Peas, Greenday, etc, etc, etc, etc,....

I like country too. I don't listen to it as much as I used to, but I do like it. The Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Wynnona ....

Music speaks to me the same way that poetry does. I was at a club in Montana with some friends years ago, and another friend of mine was playing with his band (Jazz) at the club. I could not wipe the stupid grin off my face the entire time that he was playing! I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat. My heart was racing. (Let's face it, I almost started crying!) My friend whispered to me, "You really miss it, don't you?" All I could do was nod my head (as a small tear ran down my cheek) because I was too excited to speak! Music has been in my heart and soul all of my life!

Ok, I went way over my 10 minutes. Sorry :)

Cele said...

Jazzy my daughter played sax but moved over to Alto Sax. She loved it.

How do you feel about Jeff Lorber and Lee Ritenhour? I really enjoy jazz fusion. To me music is about your soul, it takes you some place deep inside of you and speaks to your deepest dreams. Close your eye and listen and you can be in another place and time, captivated.

I really enjoy big band too, and love the Mills Brothers.

Why don't you find a group to play with, just not on Friday nights...if ya get my drift. :)

Jazzy said...

I play all of the saxophones (alto, tenor, baritone, soprano). My specialties were with the alto and baritone saxophones.

Jazz fusion is good. I like all kinds of jazz.

I haven't played in a long time. I would have to practice and get my chops in shape before I would feel comfortable playing with a group.