Thursday, October 29, 2009

Alaska

another original... the last half was pretty much improvised. I need to write it out to sheet music, and change a few things with the improvised part. My recording software is about to expire, so I got busy today.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

"Waves are Toys from God"

Today, while I was doing my grocery shopping, I looked through a BMX Plus magazine and saw two of my friends. It's a pretty weird feeling seeing people you know in a magazine. My first reaction is always excitement for the friend, followed by regret towards myself. Mostly because, I always wonder how far I could have gone had I actually pushed myself with my riding. When I was 14 years old I dreamed of being a professional, and by the time I was 18, I figured I'd just settle for some pictures in a magazine, or clips in a video. I always had a bunch of natural talent, more than most riders I believe, but I never did anything with it. I remember coming back from a contest in Austin, TX when I was 21. That place left me super motivated to learn a bunch of new tricks. I really wanted to push myself to that next level with my riding. So I could place well, in say, a national expert class, or enter a pro class more than once. That Texas motivation didn't last very long. Within a few weeks, I went back to the usual: Having fun riding bikes with my friends.

Before I went to the grocery store though, I watched a YouTube video via facebook of Clay Marzo, a professional surfer who has a form of autism, known as Asperger's Syndrome. I ended up getting pretty fascinated with the dude, and watched more videos on him. Due to his condition, he is somewhat of a jedi when it comes to surfing. He is apparently by far the best in the world for his age, and could easily make it as a professional, if he actually wanted to.

For some reason, I find an enormous amount of beauty in the fact he could care less about being a professional. Clay is the only person I've ever heard of who doesn't care to be transformed into something so many kids grow up dreaming of. To me it seems like a form of altruism. All he needs is the joy that comes from surfing, and nothing else. Because nothing else is apparently necessary to him. Just a wave and a surf board. It's a bit weird to think, but imagine a world where Michael Phelps set world records at the local YMCA; where Tiger Woods refused to compete on the PGA Tour; or Lance Armstrong just rode back and forth across America, like Forest Gump, simply for the hell of it. That's the world Clay Marzo lives in. I suppose I find it such a beautiful world because I sometimes think so many artists, musicians, writers, athletes, and people in general, including myself, often lose the main motive that gets us doing something, because we replace it with another one less pure. Clay Marzo, is my first, and only, 'favorite surfer'.

"Waves are toys from God." - Clay M.


Monday, October 19, 2009

2 wheels

Some people have to go visit the London Bridge, or the Eiffel Tower, or Grand Canyon, to experience the world's beauty. All I have to do is watch this youtube video, as ridiculous as it sounds:




I'm posting this video as a reminder to do this:

Sunday, October 11, 2009

New Piano Song; plus, random thoughts on music...

I recently downloaded (and will purchase once my 14-day trial nears an end) a music software program called --- something. So, that means I will be uploading some songs in the near future. The first song I decided to record (and post here) is a little piece I wrote this past summer. During that time period, I was reading a lot of online news articles for the first time in about eight months. Which as a result, inspired the name of the song that inspired this blog: A Founding Father Couldn't Get Elected Today. The title is obviously politically motivated, but really has no other connection to the song, besides that.

It is a very unique song. In general, and for me, personally, as someone who likes to screw around on a piano. I let my friend Dave listen to the song immediately after recording a decent take the other night. I described to him how it was a weird song, and that I honestly wouldn't know whether or not I would enjoy it if some stranger randomly approached me, and had me listen to it. That is currently not the case now, because I now realize the answer. I don't believe I would like the song, simply because I wouldn't be emotionally connected to it. I like it simply because I wrote it. I am emotionally connected to it, because my emotions and tiny 3 year-old neurological musical piano pathways made it. So it's just a no-brainer whether or not I would like it to some extent. But I have a feeling, that if this song were on youtube, uploaded by somebody else, I would probably listen to ten seconds of it - conclude that it sucks - then click on another video. Though possibly different scenarios, I think this happens a lot with music. And I don't mean to sloppy musicians like myself. I'm talking about really really good professional musicians who should be listened to! All because I, and so many others, never give ourselves the chance to connect emotionally with the music.

Now I believe there are two ways to be drawn to music. Not really, I'm sure there are millions of ways, but I've got to list two that are on my mind for this blog: 1st) By the "technical objective aspect," which basically includes everything heard in the objective world; and 2nd) The "emotional aspect." These are pretty simple explanations, so I'll let you think of some personal examples to figure out. I think it's hard to have one without the other, and I feel like my favorite musicians do a swell job of mixing the two ingredients together. However, I do think listening to a song, and not being on the same level emotionally with that song is like watching a comedy movie without possessing the ability to laugh (and just in case you can't imagine that, just imagine watching a comedy movie immediately after arriving home from a funeral). I think these two aspects of music explain why I listen to such few bands, and why I am totally in love with Radiohead. This obviously hinders me musically, in a way that I don't give other deserving bands, artists, composers, etc. enough of a chance for me to connect emotionally with their music. This also explains why I love Radiohead so much, not just because their technical objective ability is absolutely amazing, but because when I hear it, I can feel it in my bones (reference to one of their songs). And I don't only do that though, I feel it in my bone marrow (not a reference to one of their songs). But really, honestly, I just connect with it well, mushy feelings wise. As do millions of other fans world wide.

One of my good friends once said after we saw Radiohead live, that he loved their music so much, because of their ability to play the music he feels inside himself, that he himself, can never express musically. That didn't make much sense to me then, but it makes a tad bit of sense now. Just because I think he was confusing Radiohead's ability to play the "music he feels inside himself" with their ability to bring out the emotion inside of himself, due to his emotional connection with the music. So, I think this is why myself, and probably so many others sell ourselves short on other possible music obsessions. Even after the first several times I listened to Sigur Ros, I laid the CD on a shelf to collect dust for nearly a year, before stumbling over it again later, only to fall in love with it the second time. Maybe us sound vibration listeners just don't give ourselves enough time to connect with the music. Then again, everyone has their pet peeves; and no matter how long I am exposed to Kid Rock musical waterboarding, I will probably never connect with his music, or bang my head to Bawitdaba.





But anyways, to all those bored enough to actually read down this far, there you have it folks: An answer to why I don't believe I would enjoy this song as a person in your shoes. Why I sell myself short on indulging in many other great musicians. Why myself and Jace, are more than just blown away Radiohead. And finally, why some people in the music industry are making a fortune off nearly every musician out there who is forking over their paychecks in desperate attempts to make it big someday. Simply due to the fact those wealth providing musicians are so emotionally connected to their music, they are mentally incapable of hearing their music objectively. So here it is. Another song in the past. Maybe you can connect with it, maybe you can't. Either way, I'll still be screwing around on pianos at night - for me, myself, and I. Just don't listen to it 100 times trying to connect with it. I suggest spending that time wisely by indulging in some of history's musical greats that maybe you didn't allowed yourself to previously absorb. :)