Legneds

"Musicians don't retire; they stop when there's no more music in them." - Louis Armstrong

       Last night I was editing my playlist on Spotify and I came to realize how some of my favorite musicians have passed away. Have you ever realized how many mucisans this world has lost, yet their talent outlives them? 
       Take Michael Jackson for instance; even though he's passed away in 2009, his songs still play on the radio and people make sure he is remembered. John Lennon, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Kobain, Jimi Hendrix and Frank Sinatra are some of my favorite artists, yet I'll never get the chance to see them play live.
       Today, I just want to touch up on these two topics that always seems to be running through my mind: lost talent (which I just finished writing about) and hidden talent. Yes, it's kind of cliche to say it's ALWAYS on my mind, but I'm not kidding when I say it is.
       Whenever I walk through the halls, I think of who has a secret passion that could get them to be another Michael Jackson or John Lennon? For all we know, they spend every second of every day (excluding school) playing guitar or working on a musical that they're part in. They have the potential to become a celebrity, someone others pay to listen them play, sing, or maybe even dance. 
       Maybe they're too shy to express what they love to others, maybe they're insecure or maybe, just maybe, they go unnoticed. I have a friend to whose dream is to be in a band and she is damn talented. She has the ability to achieve just that, yet, no one gives her the chance. No one wants to listen to her and no one wants to collaborate with her. Do they not understand how much talents is being turned down? I hate knowing that she has the capability to do what she love but no one gives her a second look and I have nothing i can do about it.

Tony

"I never wanted to sing. I just wanted to play rhythm guitar - hide in the back and just play." -Kurt Cobain

       When I decided I was going to play guitar I refused to accept the fact that I had to LEARN first. My parents told me they had found me a guitar teacher and I was unbelievably mad. I didn't need a guitar teacher, playing wasn't even that hard... or so I thought.
       I tried proving to my parents that I could play but after multiple failed attempts, I accepted the teacher. He started coming over every Tuesday.
       He wasn't like every other guitar teacher though. He didn't start off with music theory or teaching me the difference between F major, F minor or F sharp. He asked me what my favorite bands were and started teaching me songs that I loved. 
       For the first few months, everything was great. Tony, my guitar teacher, had already taught me several songs and most of the chords. After the first five or sixth months, he started making me sing. I hated it, I hated it so much. I began to dread Tuesdays because I knew I'd be forced to sing. I complained about it to him every week. It was the most treacherous thing he could make me do. I didn't care about breathing with my diaphragm and not letting the notes come from the back of my throat. 
       I didn't care one bit. I didn't NEED voice lessons because I never sung for people, only myself in the comfort of my own shower. I would tell him every week, "I'm paying you to teach me how to play guitar, not sing." He kept insisting no matter what, even after all of the tears and arguments.
       It's been almost three years now, and my passion for guitar has reached new extremes. I've picked up on singing as well and I finally feel comfortable enough to sing for people that I know, and I love it. Tony may be a pain in the ass, but he fought for me. He knew that I had potential and he refused to let it slip and all I can do is thank him for it. 
       
       The quote by Kurt Cobain explains the situation I was in. I didn't want to sing, it was the last thing I wanted to do. All I longed for was a good guitar teacher, who got me to play like Slash in two months but of course, it didn't happen. I'm still learning new techniques on guitar, and now my vocals as well. 

Arctic Monkeys

"You had us all, standing on our heads, doing our best tricks." -Alex Turner

       Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band formed in the early 2000's in a suburb of Sheffield. The band consists of Alex turner (lead vocals, lead/rhythm guitar), Jamie Cook (rhythm/lead guitar), Nick O'Malley (bass guitar), and Matt Helders (drums).
       The band has released five studio albums: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), Humbug (2009), Suck It And See (2011) and AM (2013), as well as one live album at the Apollo (2008).
       They are definitely my favourite band at the moment. My older brother introduced me to them about four years ago and ever since then, I've clicked to them. Their altered setups and varied choice of guitars and drum petals give them an original, solid, indie rock sound. They have heavy lyrics and accented vocals making their songs ever more appealing.
       If you ask me what my favourite song by them is then I probably wont give you a direct answer. There is not ONE song of theirs that I don't like. I can say that my favourite albums are Favourite Worst Nightmare which consists of "505", "Old Yellow Bricks" and I also like Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not which includes "Mardy Bum", "Fake Tales of San Francisco" and "Riot Van."

       I picked todays quote because when I went to their concert in January, that's exactly what I was doing. I was dancing like a maniac and screaming like a psychopath. I'm pretty sure the people next to me wanted to punch me. Seeing my favourite band in concert was unbelievable and life changing, I promise I'm not exaggerating. I was one of the most surreal nights of my life.

U2

"Rock stars are good at making noise." - Bono

       This week I figured I'd talk about one of my all-time favorite bands instead of my personal connection to music.

       U2 are an Irish rock band who were formed in the late 1970's. The group consist of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar and keyboard), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen (drums).
       Throughout the years, U2 has maintained a sound built on melodic instrumentals, highlighted by varied guitar licks and Bono's edgy vocals. Their lyrics are full of spiritual imagery and they focus on personal and social concerns. 
       U2 have managed to uphold their success throughout the past three decades and have been spread throughout the music industry. They don't follow the lines of a 'typical rock band". They add their own artistic flavor and combine it with an original sound and honest lyrics. 
       They released their first album Boy in 1980 which was then followed by 16 other hit albums. My personal favorite is The Joshua Tree which was released in 1987. It consists  of the songs "With or Without You", "Where The Streets Have No Name", and "Running To Stand Still".
       Their latest song "Ordinary Love" is part of the Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom soundtrack which came out in November of 2013. It starts off with a moody keyboard but picks up and builds to an upbeat rock as Bono sings.

       U2 will always be one of my favorite bands. My favorite song by them "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" which is on All That You Can Leave Behind and "With or Without You" which, like I mentioned before, is on The Joshua Tree.

       My parents have actually always been big fans of U2. They saw them plenty of times and sadly, never took me with them. I've been listening to them ever since I can remember. My mom would pick my brother and I up from school back when I lived in Denver and we'd play their songs over and over until we memorized every lyric. I remember sitting by the our fire place before heading up for bed and listening to our (now ancient) portable CD player with really poor quality head phones. They will forever hold a place in my heart, Itunes, Spotify, and whatever technological device is popular at the moment.

Concerts

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." - Plato

       Concerts. The ideal place for people to let loose and forget about all things possible.

       Everyone in one venue sharing a common interest. All is silent except for the muffled one-on-one conversations. Complete strangers are introduced to one another and new friendships arise. 

       A wave of screams surfs the air once the main lights dwindle down and blinding lights illuminate the stage. The moment the band walks on stage the roaring screams become louder and louder. Insanity kicks in once a chord is played and that's where it all begins. 

       Sweaty bodies swaying, heads bobbing and hearts pumping in unison as the speakers give their say. The words of each song send chills down one's spine as they reminisce on their relation to the lyrics. 

       The cells of each individuals brain vibrate to the beat of the drums as the guitar licks echo throughout the night.  

       No one is neglected, all are collectively sharing the same experience. 

       Just when everyone thought the concert hit it's peak, the most famous song begins to play. Hands are thrown in the air and everyone's feet are lifted off of the floor. Vocals are being strained and minds are in convulsion as pure joy floods the room. 

       You decide to take a small glimpse of the people behind you and you see the crowd jumping simultaneously. A rush of excitement sparks through your body, allowing you to let loose and enjoy the time being.

       Time flies and before people know it, the night is over. The band gives their thanks and plays the last song. The slow, melodic tempo calms the audience. Lighters and flashlights ablaze the venue and screams no longer fill the air. The leader singer stops singing but the crowd sings in harmony. 

       I went to a Vampire Weekend concert on May 1st and there was a point where Ezra (the lead singer) pointed the microphone to the crowd and we all sang, "We know the fire awaits unbelievers all of the sinners the same. Girl you and I will die unbelievers bound to the tracks of the train." 

       At that time, all of my senses where corrupted by my hype and happiness but at that exact moment, I felt like I fit in. All of the people around me were enjoying the same thing that I was. We came together on this one night to share our love and exchange our happiness.

Fine Tuning

"My guitar is not a thing. It is an extension of myself. It is who I am." - Joan Jett

       I picked up my first guitar about two or three years ago. Like I said in my other post, my brother influenced me to start. I'm not going to lie to you, it was torturous at first.

       The dynamics were far too complex for my tiny brain to grasp. My fingers were too stubby to complete a bar chord and I had yet to form calluses on my fingers therefore the nylon guitar strings left painful cuts on my fingertips.

       I remember staring at my brother and wondering how on earth someone could play with such ease. My strums were choppy, my wrist cramped every few seconds and I couldn't last five minutes without wanting to rip the guitar strings. Of course now, the thought of breaking my guitar strings sends frightening chills down my spine. I've had to change them far too many times and let me tell you, it sure is a hassle.

       It took me about 3 months to get the hang of the dynamics. Tony, my guitar teacher, came to my house every Tuesday afternoon and dedicated his time and patience to improve techniques. I would get frustrated at myself because, once again, my brother was approximately four months ahead of me in his guitar playing. I envied him for having such natural, raw talent. I overcame that soon after, so him and I became even bigger music freaks. 

       Knowing how to play has enriched my hearing senses. When I listen to music, I'm not only listening to the voice and mash up of random instruments in the background. I pay attention to the texture, which in music language means what is going on in the song as far as melody and harmony. I take notice of how many instruments and/or voices are playing different things; it has my mind racing a million miles per second but it gives me a strange sense of ease add comfort.

       My brother and I have transformed our living room into our personal music studio. It consists of electric drums, bongos, five guitars (one electric, one electric acoustic, two classical), a ukulele, a harmonica, and a piano. That room has now become our favorite, most comforting spot in the entire house. It's a place for our family and friends to connect and share this raw passion that radiates from us two as we play while the rich, melodic timber coming from the combination of strums fill our ears.

       I am going to add one more quote to this post. I chose this particular one because the truth that lies within these few sentences is enough to prove that two people can share the same passion even if it is told or received in a different way. 

       "Let me explain something about guitar playing. Everyone's got their own character, and that's the thing that's amazed me about guitar playing since the day I first picked it up. Everyone's approach to what can come out of six strings is different from another person, but it's all valid." - Jimmy Page

Way Back When?

"The times you lived through, the people you shared those times with -- nothing brings it all to life like and old mix tape. It does a better job at storing up memories than actual brain tissue can do. Every mix tape has a story. Put them together, and they can add up the story of a life." - Rob Sheffield

       Before I begin to blog about old music and new music, rock bands and boy bands, guitars and pianos, I thought I'd start with a history lesson. Well, not exactly a lesson, just some information on where my love for music originated from. 
       My entire family sprouted from musical roots. I don't know exactly how many generations ago but what I do know is that I'm certainly not the first one. I have an incredibly long list of musicians in my family and it probably dates back to when cavemen used narrow sticks to scrape against hollow tree trunks.
       I promise I will make this quick and partially interesting. My granduncle on my mothers side was named Diogo Fleury and he didn't take ONE music lesson his entire life. He became a composer in his early 30's and wrote a several books about music theory. Both of my grandfathers were the same way- they never had one music lesson but played the piano, guitar and practically any instrument they picked up,perfectly.
       My parents are music freaks as well, I'm almost positive that's why my brother and I became so passionate towards music. We've been listening to samba and rock and roll ever since we were in the womb.
       My brother, who is three years older than I am, is the leading cause of my atypical music taste. My father always says, "If it weren't for your brother, you would be lost in the music industry." 
       We see eye to eye. If we're together then we are either listening to some tunes or horrifically belting out lyrics from any and every song we know while trying to not burst each other's eardrums. He's influenced my taste in music and helped my pick up my first guitar.
       I started playing about three years ago once I picked up on how talented he was. I assumed if he could do it then why couldn't I? I'm not going into detail about what I play because I have far too much to say about it, I'll leave it for another day. 
       The reason I picked today's quote was because music has an undeniable power to bring a society together and that's exactly why it affected my family so much. The best memories I can recall from my early childhood has some sort of musical relation. For example, I remember sitting on my friend's porch when we were about 6 while listening to a mix tape that my uncle made me. I didn't have an Ipod and YouTube was not created at that time so that one cassette tape was all we had. It was on replay for several months until we could no longer listen to the repetitive lyrics and guitar riffs. 
      Music is a form of lifestyle for my family. It has brought us all closer together and shaped me into the person that I am today.