philosophy
posted February 27, 2008, 8:01 pm | Log In To Post Comments | 
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There is a song that I like: "Salty Dog," not by Bob Dylan, but the remake by Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power. It's a beautiful song, remade with Marshall's own personal style, which, in a sense, is very Dylan-esque. Her album "The Covers Album" is all remakes of her favorite songs, ranging from the Stones to the Velvet Underground and of course Dylan. As a long time admirer, she traveled from state to state during her early years as an up and coming musician, performing in whichever town Dylan had decided to have a show. Countless of her songs and albums are essentially odes to him. Sometimes when she sings I think she's singing to him, as if she is standing there in the crowd at one of his concerts. In a sea of people, all swaying in unison like waves, she's looking at him, telling him that she loves him the best way she can: silently and with all her heart.
At least, that's what I imagine, her standing there in the crowd, alone with her dreams and desires. Sometimes I feel that way — I think everyone feels alone in the world at some point, wanting to say or do something but time or space does not allow it. I don't think that everyone knows exactly what they want to study, or be when they grow up. I'm not sure if we will all live where we say we will, have the salary we desired, even do the whole marriedhavekidsbuyhouse thing. The only "thing" that has become certain during my young existence is the fact that the future is always uncertain.
But I'm pretty sure we all know what we love. Our families, our dear friends, writing, solving problems, helping others, and in my case, music. I love music more than I understand it. I can't sing, I can't play the guitar, but I can't drive without listening to Built to Spill at full volume. I can't read without Blonde Redhead on my stereo. I can't tell someone that I care about them without the Jesus and Mary Chain coming to mind, it's lyrics dancing on the tip of my tongue as I speak it: "I'd be a plastic toy for you."
And I guess I'm okay with not having a voice yet. I'm just alright with putting my faith in you, Zac Condon, or you Stephen Merrit. Because ultimately that will change. Because ultimately I know one day I will learn how to take what I love and make it a part of who I am.
Comments:
Man, your words are my thoughts.
In the past couple years I've become somewhat of a cynic about a lot of things in this world. A lot of what I wanted to do with my life conflicts some of my cynical beliefs about consumerism, "the man," whatever you want to call it.
The only thing I've known to be constant throughout my life is music. To this day I can't understand someone who doesn't listen to music every day. Music incorporates everything in this world into a melody, a lyric, a drumbeat, whatever and it breaks my heart to see people like what was described in the new blog entry "Hipster Trash" who want to tear people apart even within the confines of music.
I'd love to trade philosophies back and forth. Through my cynicism I've developed a lot of my own philosophies as well, I'm just not one to share them in words so eloquently.
-John
posted on February 27, 2008, 11:09 pm
Oh man, that's deep. Let me tell you that I'm in my 30s and I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up. Music is the soundtrack to life. Enjoy it. Discover more. Tell people about bands and albums that deserve to be heard just because they do. People bug me sometimes because I quite often answer questions with a song lyric or two. I don't care. These people say what I want to say. Be yourself and be happy with who you are. Don't let your life pass you by. Live life. Enjoy life. It doesn't matter what you do, just how you do it. Feel good about yourself.
Well, now I'm rambling but really it call comes down to Carpe Diem. Honestly.
Additional Tags: Carpe Diem
posted on February 27, 2008, 10:20 pm
