let me guess... (nina simone!)
so, to mix things up a bit, i added Diana Krall radio to the stores Pandora music shuffle..
those of you familiar know that this then gives you music by the specific artist and also a variety of others who fall in the same genre..
morning customer: "i love this music.. who is it?"
(me!): "not sure. let me look... i love it too....
Nina Simone... I want some sugar in my bowl.. essentials album"
***
afternoon customer: "great music.. who is this..?"
(me!): "you know I'm not sure.. I love it too.. let me go look..
Nina Simone... she's putting a spell on us..."
***
evening customer: "who sings this song? I love this song"
(me!): "I love this song too! -sing along all the time and have no idea who it is..
but I might have a good guess now...
there IS a quantifiable unknown -by (me!), sandra, tvgp
there are both quantifiable unknowns and unquantifiable knowns. so, sometime I do in fact, wonder.. I wonder if I have done the most actual writing out of everyone in the world; to date.
this is not from a place of competition or ego. this is from a place of very pure curiosity. as I go through my boxes again.. and see/consider, not only my 11 years, 4000 posts here, but
come across journal after journal..
and then consider how many journals ive written in, cover to cover, and burned...
although it is quantifiable.. that is, if one kept track from jotting of first word to end of life/last word..
there does exist a word and page count. but the track has not been kept. so I wont, and cant know..
but, may I confess here, I do marvel at my own out put. not in a positive way, but sympathetic..
compassionate. and if I consider the quality of my life without this form of communication..
anyway.. ive rid myself of several more journals, and have come to prefer typing to writing, and this blog platform to paper journals. and ive always preferred writing to talking
it remains true still: the analogy; writing is like driving a hybrid on the highway... I can go and go and go without using much energy.. talking is like driving an SUV in San Francisco.. I can do it, but the amount of energy it requires.. consuming/taxing
i.e., in bible study group, I was asked about meeting Ayesha Curry..
and if you read my blog post about it... lots of detail, emotion, excitement... lots of words used to tell the experience. but what came out of me verbally at bible study
"yes.. that was exciting. made me happy. the last shall go first... "
-that is literally all I said. /I'm tired people, I'm working 7 days a week...
and you and I both know people, who would, in conversation, go on and on.. hold court, as the saying goes.. but if you asked them to write about it: -struggle.
what is your primary form of communicating? anyway.. there are lots of us out there..
-
mega bloggers. and, without the innovation of the blogosphere; this was unknown too..
-what is not quantifiable, but known; to (me!) -the healing powers of writing. -the (vocabulary word?) significance/gratification of using God given instincts/talents/gifts -the growth that takes place from the thinking that takes place during writing -creative growth -relationships enhanced, saved, -personal evolution... lots of unquantifiables; but clearly known/experienced..
and what is not quantifiable, is what takes place for readers who enjoy, or feel validated, or grow, or think about.. or reconsider.. or are influenced... or inspired into action -as a result of reading someones writing..
I only revisit all of this because I have come across an abundance of journals ive written..
my God.. I never shut up.
***
and there is a quantifiable number of documentaries ive watched.. but track has not been kept here either.. I can only guess, and that guess is
a lot!
and very happy/fulfilled/delighted to add to that number two more outstanding documentaries:
harryandthesnowman.com and what happen, miss simone.
so, its all the tv/movie watching I need & love: joyce meyer, bishop t.d. jakes, my Charlie rose, my CBS sunday morning, "The Voice!"
-THAT VOICE! -all my imaginary bettin' money is on the table for We McDonald..
honey, did you see/hear her sing Mary J Bliges, No More Drama?!?
and an occasional movie/documentary.. someone else's life story to get lost in.. and learn from..
and I will close with this:
I really don't need to see anymore famous musician documentaries.. even though I thoroughly enjoyed
Nina Simone's..
the life pattern is so..
well, there is a very predictable pattern. change the singer/change the scenery; repeat the patterns..
Janis Joplin, Ray, Tina Turner.. long list struggle, drugs, abusive relationships; exploitation; fame not being all its cracked up to be.. money not being the answer..
but I am curious, -because, if you fast forward a couple decades, there will be more documentaries, movies, shows created about the young adults participating/competing on The Voice today
and will the pattern be broken? -for your sake; I pray so.. is anyone learning from past generations? or just repeating...
I pray we see some evolution..
In Jesus, what a gift to hear their vocal gifts, name.. amen!
MUSIC by MESSAGE by/for (me!) sandra, tvgp
as I have mentioned before -write now, music radio stations are organized by sound -not message.
so, country music has a sound unique to its genre we can all recognize; as does rap, as does r&b, as does classic rock, classical, heavy metal, punk, gospel, opera, broadway musicals etc.
and on the occasions ive asked, and been asked, "what type of music do you like"
we answer according to -sound- not message.
but!
if I could create a new way to organize music and music radio stations, it would most definitely be
BY MESSAGE. the message inside the lyrics.
ive already written about it.. true love songs; my definition.. and how hard they are to come by
and how, when radio stations say "love songs" you could be listening to a break up song, a lust song, an apology song...
what they call a love song, and what I call a love song... two very different things!
***
so, yesterday, I was listening to music while doing a cleaning/organizing project, and my access to music for the day was Pandora
and, I may choose, via Pandora, artists and genres.. but not -message- not, the content of the lyrics I want to be listening to
and, for the project I was working on.. I needed a certain energy, which comes from the beat or melody
and inspiration, which comes from -MESSAGE/LYRICS. positive, of love.. of good things
and, sure enough..
a break up song comes on... and I don't want to listen to that, so I click on thumbs down; skip.
then, a lying/cheating song comes on... click thumbs down; I don't want to listen to that..
then, a 'if I had a second chance..." thumbs down.
then, at last! a wonderful love song. and I can be very productive during love songs; true love songs.
but it got me to wonderin'... /again.
on the receiving end of the programming associated with Pandora; when I click thumbs down..
what -message- are they receiving from me, their customer, and how are they
interpreting, or misinterpreting that feedback.
because
I may indeed love the artist, and the genre
my thumbs down is to THE LYRICS.
and I offered before, and offer again... i'd make a great radio station music editor.
and, my dream radio station has a very wide variety of genres;
a very wide variety of artists
but, the common denominator, instead of being sound/genre, the common denominator is THE MESSAGE inside the country, or soul, or classic rock, or gospel, or metal, or alternative, or opera, or jazz, or rap, or easy listening.. Christian...
that would be awesome.
and, KLOVE, Christian radio station.. this is close to the experience, because, it is music by message, with a bit of a spectrum when it comes to sound.. but, a short spectrum. -that message, inside all kinds of different sounds/genres.. wow to that.
but,
I'm a fan of secular love songs and styles.. or inspirational..
I should start creating a list..
and have already mentioned -projecting Jesus, into the song by james Morrison, under the influence of you.. that's fun.
but, since.. well, I could listen to Foreigners feels like the first time over and over again write now.. and/or feelin' good by nina simone... good to be alive, by andy grammar... always & forever.. at last... ascenscions don't ever wonder, stevie wonder, ribbon in the sky.. one eskimo, amazing, too close.. if I don't have you/Alicia keys..
and if I were a song-writer.. the beat would be as sexy/seductive as pony/Ginuwine, but the lyrics would be..
/i'm working on them write now...
"Thank You Jesus!" -for the human instinct of music-making.. and romance... and true love.
hallelujah & amen.
