As I get ready to travel to my beloved Smokies for the Thanksgiving holiday with my family and dear friends-- I'm compelled to post a prose I wrote a while back-- I've always felt a connection to those hills that is quite 'surreal' to a large degree--
"Answering Within"
The frozen night falls between
tree and mountain and I listen
For the silent blue stillness stirs me
Leaving untouched hands of ages past
Filling in the traces I left in a long ago dream.
Was I here before? Or does the familiar ridge sing
to me from this side only.... The dark road of night
is traveled in all hours and to me wears the
reflection of darken silk.. oh yes, I've seen this place before
~HTK
Friday, November 21, 2008
Where is the Substance of Lyric?
I went to see Sarah Brightman last Tuesday night-- it was incredible. As a true lover of voice and song this woman knocked me out-- starting with the obvious--she has a 3 octave range! Insane-she not only is killer with the classical genre she can mold her voice around a pop tune-not easy to do without sounding utterly ridiculous. She has the voice of an angel. Her tunes are superbly arranged and well thought out. Substance, my friends(I sound like John MCain) substance. I totally go for over the top performances and high octane drama! Theatre in all it's splendid grandour. The thrill of it! I love it.
I saw an ad the other night for the 'American Music Awards' to be broadcast Sunday night... there was a time I would not have missed this show--I was like any other red blooded American girl-- I wanted to be hip to the scene and have my finger on the pulse of American pop culture-- well yuck, pooh and blahh not anymore! I am afraid I am "outdated"!!! oh, God I am 40!!!! I hearken back to the time I sat listening to records with my Mom and Dad-- they introduced me to folks like Dylan, John Prine, Buffy Saint-Marie the list goes on... these people transformed songwriting like at no other time in the history of music-and it just happened to coincide with them coming of age as young adults-- the Baby Boomers making some noise and rattling cages! The 60's! It was impeccable timing--almost like an Immaculate Conception of thought, expression and idealism- Substance... something worth thinking about and pondering in one's mind. In many ways-- to borrow Tom Brokaw's phrase-they were also the 'Greatest Generation' -caring and passionate about the issues of the day. Watching a war on t.v. every night that shook them to their very core. Waking them out of the slumber that was the idyllic 1950's. It was and had to have been a very rude awakening. But so many wonderful writers channeled that 'innocence lost' into some of the greatest music of our time. Substance..... please.. will many of you get over the fact that you think Dylan can't carry a tune?-- and listen... really listen to 'Blowin' in the Wind'--- it's not some left wing hippie anthem-it is a commentary to our times then and our times NOW! It is relevant- it has, dare I say, substance! So many people today are all about the quick fix, the sound bite buzz they can all pop a chubby over-pleassssse! I know rap is an art form--and I'm all for self expression-but it is killing the English language and sacrificing well thought expression like a lamb to the slaughter. It saddens me. So, I make it a point, albeit for some folks inconsequential-- to expose my children, to what I believe to be quality. I don't want them walking around at age 30, saying, "Who the hell is Bob Dylan?"Then by the very same token I would not want them asking "Who is William Faulkner?" Bearing in mind we are all products of our time and influences.
As as young child I sat many an hour at my Grandfather's knee--literally- listening with him to his extensive collection of music. Pete Fountain, The Mills Brothers, Count Basie and Judy Garland to name a few---my Grandfather was an excellent musician. He could play by ear and have it down cold! He was a proud member of the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band and the UGA Symphony and Orchestra(Back in the day when dances..... were well.... DANCES!!!) He loved melody and lyric....those moments are frozen in time for me. I knew I was listening to greatness--no one... I mean NO ONE turns a phrase like Sinatra or Rosemary Clooney- Dean Martin and Perry Como---ahhh, Forget about it!!! The lyrics, yes, the lyrics. Sweeeet! I am a child born of Savannah-and so was Johnny Mercer- whew.... this man makes all others pale in comparison-Substance! Tapping into that 'inner knowing and longing' that we all have-but many never attain it-- ahhhh... yes, they don't write 'em like that anymore.
I went to see Sarah Brightman last Tuesday night-- it was incredible. As a true lover of voice and song this woman knocked me out-- starting with the obvious--she has a 3 octave range! Insane-she not only is killer with the classical genre she can mold her voice around a pop tune-not easy to do without sounding utterly ridiculous. She has the voice of an angel. Her tunes are superbly arranged and well thought out. Substance, my friends(I sound like John MCain) substance. I totally go for over the top performances and high octane drama! Theatre in all it's splendid grandour. The thrill of it! I love it.
I saw an ad the other night for the 'American Music Awards' to be broadcast Sunday night... there was a time I would not have missed this show--I was like any other red blooded American girl-- I wanted to be hip to the scene and have my finger on the pulse of American pop culture-- well yuck, pooh and blahh not anymore! I am afraid I am "outdated"!!! oh, God I am 40!!!! I hearken back to the time I sat listening to records with my Mom and Dad-- they introduced me to folks like Dylan, John Prine, Buffy Saint-Marie the list goes on... these people transformed songwriting like at no other time in the history of music-and it just happened to coincide with them coming of age as young adults-- the Baby Boomers making some noise and rattling cages! The 60's! It was impeccable timing--almost like an Immaculate Conception of thought, expression and idealism- Substance... something worth thinking about and pondering in one's mind. In many ways-- to borrow Tom Brokaw's phrase-they were also the 'Greatest Generation' -caring and passionate about the issues of the day. Watching a war on t.v. every night that shook them to their very core. Waking them out of the slumber that was the idyllic 1950's. It was and had to have been a very rude awakening. But so many wonderful writers channeled that 'innocence lost' into some of the greatest music of our time. Substance..... please.. will many of you get over the fact that you think Dylan can't carry a tune?-- and listen... really listen to 'Blowin' in the Wind'--- it's not some left wing hippie anthem-it is a commentary to our times then and our times NOW! It is relevant- it has, dare I say, substance! So many people today are all about the quick fix, the sound bite buzz they can all pop a chubby over-pleassssse! I know rap is an art form--and I'm all for self expression-but it is killing the English language and sacrificing well thought expression like a lamb to the slaughter. It saddens me. So, I make it a point, albeit for some folks inconsequential-- to expose my children, to what I believe to be quality. I don't want them walking around at age 30, saying, "Who the hell is Bob Dylan?"Then by the very same token I would not want them asking "Who is William Faulkner?" Bearing in mind we are all products of our time and influences.
As as young child I sat many an hour at my Grandfather's knee--literally- listening with him to his extensive collection of music. Pete Fountain, The Mills Brothers, Count Basie and Judy Garland to name a few---my Grandfather was an excellent musician. He could play by ear and have it down cold! He was a proud member of the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band and the UGA Symphony and Orchestra(Back in the day when dances..... were well.... DANCES!!!) He loved melody and lyric....those moments are frozen in time for me. I knew I was listening to greatness--no one... I mean NO ONE turns a phrase like Sinatra or Rosemary Clooney- Dean Martin and Perry Como---ahhh, Forget about it!!! The lyrics, yes, the lyrics. Sweeeet! I am a child born of Savannah-and so was Johnny Mercer- whew.... this man makes all others pale in comparison-Substance! Tapping into that 'inner knowing and longing' that we all have-but many never attain it-- ahhhh... yes, they don't write 'em like that anymore.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Kristofferson--What he has meant to me.
By the title you'd think I know the man personally. I WISH!! But- boy howdy do I know his music. Thanks to my parents. My Mom and Dad were always so great about that. As a young child they exposed me to so many wonderful things-- the performers they took me to see! Once I start going down the list--it's pretty impressive I must say. I'm so glad they carried enough insight to do that. They planted the seed-it took root and grew.
I have been listening to Kris Kristofferson since before I could walk- I learned to talk listening to his music. Aside from his physical beauty-this man is brilliant! His writing is simply amazing. I have always likened him to a "musical Ernest Hemingway". People in the industry know how incredibly talented he is--he's won all the writing accolades. But the general public really only know him as the actor, or the guy that wrote "Me and Bobby McGee" for Janis or "Sunday Morning Coming Down" for Johnny Cash-- great songs, yes! But there is so much more.
His artistic commitment was and is stellar. He did everything an artist should. He suffered, he sacrificed and he examined every portal of his soul--good, sometimes very bad and indifferent. Most people are unaware that Kris is a Rhodes Scholar. He studied English Literature at Oxford. He was an officer in the U.S. Army-- and was set to teach English Lit. at West Point-- then he threw it all away-- for art. He went to Nashville, got a job as a janitor, yes, janitor at Capitol and hung around listened and learned. Much to the dismay of his family-- his Dad was a high ranking officer in the Army- and his mother pretty much disowned him. All for following his dream. But it was necessary. He had stories he needed to tell. It was do this- or die. There was no other way for his soul to survive. I know I'm going on and on--I sound like his publicist! I listen to his music everyday and have for years. Those songs just strike a chord with me. They are like old friends- I hear so many of them differently now then I did, say, when I was 15. Through older and wiser ears- but they have always resonated with in me. I would tell people who love good music and impeccable writing then do your self a favor and listen to his catalog-and even if it is not your cup of tea-- you'll have at least tried. To me, he is an American master-and a huge part of my musical conciseness.
I have been listening to Kris Kristofferson since before I could walk- I learned to talk listening to his music. Aside from his physical beauty-this man is brilliant! His writing is simply amazing. I have always likened him to a "musical Ernest Hemingway". People in the industry know how incredibly talented he is--he's won all the writing accolades. But the general public really only know him as the actor, or the guy that wrote "Me and Bobby McGee" for Janis or "Sunday Morning Coming Down" for Johnny Cash-- great songs, yes! But there is so much more.
His artistic commitment was and is stellar. He did everything an artist should. He suffered, he sacrificed and he examined every portal of his soul--good, sometimes very bad and indifferent. Most people are unaware that Kris is a Rhodes Scholar. He studied English Literature at Oxford. He was an officer in the U.S. Army-- and was set to teach English Lit. at West Point-- then he threw it all away-- for art. He went to Nashville, got a job as a janitor, yes, janitor at Capitol and hung around listened and learned. Much to the dismay of his family-- his Dad was a high ranking officer in the Army- and his mother pretty much disowned him. All for following his dream. But it was necessary. He had stories he needed to tell. It was do this- or die. There was no other way for his soul to survive. I know I'm going on and on--I sound like his publicist! I listen to his music everyday and have for years. Those songs just strike a chord with me. They are like old friends- I hear so many of them differently now then I did, say, when I was 15. Through older and wiser ears- but they have always resonated with in me. I would tell people who love good music and impeccable writing then do your self a favor and listen to his catalog-and even if it is not your cup of tea-- you'll have at least tried. To me, he is an American master-and a huge part of my musical conciseness.
Monday, November 17, 2008
A Child of The South
I've been writing prose for a long time. In fact, a used to feel a lot like "John Boy" Walton feverishly writing in my journals tucked away in my room. It's a need for me-- I call it "recording the ramblings of my internal rotation". I'm just now catching the wave of all this blogging biz--and I must say I like it. What a wonderful way to express one's self-- if it's only for a few close friends-or the wayward Internet surfer who just happens to stumble on what you've written.
I am nocturnal by nature- my imagination sparks at night. I tend to write in spurts when the house is quiet and my family are all asleep.
As stated above-I am a child of the south. And damn proud of that fact. My family both paternal and maternal are multi-generational Georgians. On my Dad's side in particular my lineage dates back in Georgia to the pre- Revolutionary War. My sweet Daddy pain stakingly did his homework and gathered so much information about our family for my brother and I. It truly was a gift he left for us and his four grandchildren. So this I wrote for him-
"Dixie's Cradle"
I am a Southern heartbeat
My finger presses firmly
on the streaming flow of her conscienceness
Birth, rememberance, death
tucked away in Dixie's cradle
She retains them all
and brings them back into herself like a bloom at dusk
She is my mother-the one who bore me
I cling to her--knowing nor seeking no other.
~HTK 2008
I am nocturnal by nature- my imagination sparks at night. I tend to write in spurts when the house is quiet and my family are all asleep.
As stated above-I am a child of the south. And damn proud of that fact. My family both paternal and maternal are multi-generational Georgians. On my Dad's side in particular my lineage dates back in Georgia to the pre- Revolutionary War. My sweet Daddy pain stakingly did his homework and gathered so much information about our family for my brother and I. It truly was a gift he left for us and his four grandchildren. So this I wrote for him-
"Dixie's Cradle"
I am a Southern heartbeat
My finger presses firmly
on the streaming flow of her conscienceness
Birth, rememberance, death
tucked away in Dixie's cradle
She retains them all
and brings them back into herself like a bloom at dusk
She is my mother-the one who bore me
I cling to her--knowing nor seeking no other.
~HTK 2008
Music moves me
I've always loved music--- from a time that I can't even remember. My Mom always had a radio going. I'll hear things now from way back and I don't even know how I know the tune but I do. I amaze my family with my ability to retain lyrics. I am by definition a frustrated musician. I started playing drums again last year--nothing fancy, mind you--just a little electric kit that contains all the "bells and whistles" for me to get my groove going. It has been a God send! It helps to calm and soothe me. There are muscians and song writers I admire-and as I move through these blogs I'll discuss why.... so maybe there will be someone out there who will give a 'flyin ya-hoo' as to what I have to say--if not, then in the words of the man who is the genuis of my musical journey-Kristofferson- "and if I never have a nickle I won't ever die ashamed, cause the truth remains that no one wants to know."
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