Sounds of Silence
Saw the Grammy's tonight. By far the highlight of the evening was the opening; Simon and Garfunkel in a single spotlight with a guitar and singing "The Sounds of Silence". No pyrotechnics. No gold chains with diamond dollar signs bigger than life or scantilly clad dancers with pythons. Just pure music and harmony. It was stunning and the crowd was silent. The music was a piece of history. I found myself thinking, "...of all the concerts I have missed in my life, Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park would be the one I'd have liked to have a chance to see." What a moment in life that would have been for me. I would have been 10 years old at the time and, truthfully, I wonder if I would have really appreciated it. Would I have known that my early thirties self would thirst for that moment? Sometimes I do things. Simple things like do the dishes earlier than I normally do, or put away my clothes from the laundry right away. At that moment I think the me of tomorrow will be so grateful for this deed being done.
I think I'd like to be back in a time when the art was winning over the machine. I think those times may be lost forever. Although it's nice to see girls like Avril Levigne come out and be a girl with pipes and attitude who doesn't feel it necessary to impersonate a stripper to get a number one record. Avril, you look like you're a little bitchy but yeehaw. You're young yet and now, you probably have more money than you know what to do with.
I think the key is the internet, a great equalizer almost communist in nature (music for everybody, information for everybody). That and local movements everywhere. Support the local artists who haven't yet fallen prey to the corporate system. Shake things up. A revolution. Take back the music, the books, the art. I'll take up my sword and tilt at windmills if I have to.