Well, I (for one) had fun.
I spent a lot of time this week in a happy place for me. I’ve been listening to musicians who publicly advocate for what they believe in. I consider myself one of those kinds of musicians. Seeing what’s out there. All sides. I feel like it’s a great time to be the kind of musician who delights in getting to be involved.
People still say “Shut up and Play” while they talk about Jesus?
I’ve written once or twice about how I feel regarding “shut up and play.” But it’s at a new level now. Not only that, the recent Super Bowl highlights for me the importance of speaking your mind.
I remember learning Buffalo Springfield on the guitar and imagining days of protest and bad governance. I didn’t know then I’d wind up being involved with tons of protest music myself. But I also didn’t know much.
Let’s all take time to grow a little?
I routinely chart growth with inventories, noting evolving thoughts or philosophies. I’ve come to treat my brain like a plant. I give it quality ingredients and hopefully it grows. So after years of this, I’m not even the same person I was when I learned to play. I’ve had to roll through identities like changing clothes. To say I’ve picked a few things up is a dramatic understatement. I’ve had to change my reasons. THAT was fearful, at first. THAT is what I think stalls people. They are afraid of leaving comfort. Unfortunately until relatively recently, I didn’t get much comfort. I had mental health issues. Was in poverty. Survival took the place of growth. Surviving got all my calories. Most of the world lives that way. When I got to a cozy spot, I wanted to sing about survival. Don’t remember what I wanted to sing about before that. I think I just wanted to be the singer.
It’s about life, not just ours.
When you hear a protest song from us, we are thinking about you surviving too. All of us, really. Sometimes folks need to change or face justice so we can move on. But the goal is living.
Yeah but the suffering going on right now?
As of now with this shit show “anti-halftime” thing, (which I watched in full. We’ll get there), folks should realize “conservatives” suck at music.. at the moment. Why is that? I hypothesize it has to do with feelings. In my case, I feel for folks experiencing hard times. I think about them. I try to help if I can. I want to eat with folks and feel their company and answer and ask questions. I want bonding of some sort going on over good things. Positive things.. mainly easing human suffering. Suffering has always bothered me whether it was me suffering or someone else. There’s a lot of suffering going on. The conservatives in their anti-halftime show refused to acknowledge anyone’s suffering but Kid Rock’s. It’s not my thing.
Why no protest tunes?
If you’re a musician without any protest music under your belt, I hope you ask yourself, “why?” Are you afraid of losing fans or followers who pay you nothing? Are you wanting to avoid controversy? I hope you don’t play rock and roll. Hard to proclaim you don’t care, caring so much for yourself.
It really is a journey.
We’re all at different spots on our own journeys. I get that. I’ve been doing this music thing a long time, but not near as long as many of my friends. In actuality, I’m probably telling you things they’ve told me before. I just didn’t hear them until this morning’s coffee.
“I don’t even know why I do this!”
Many musicians I know are struggling with “why do I even do this?” I think that’s indicative of not looking around. There’s lots to do, gimme’ a break. The “why” is so we survive and our kids can play songs too. Even if they hate us! Haha.
Overthinking Kid Rock.
I overthink because it’s fun and a habit from survival days. I see it a lot in music folks. I relate to it. I enjoy thinking as a group activity. Naturally, I hate Kid Rock.
Disclaimer:
For fun, I compared half-time shows. My background with Bad Bunny is only from a Tiny Desk Concert from NPR almost a year ago. I thought it was fabulous. My history with Kid Rock goes back 30 years. Even if I liked his shitty music, I’d be sick of it by now. Is this a fair test? No. I said it was fun, not fair. Disclaimer.
Bad Bunny.
First off, if you have not seen the Bad Bunny Tiny Desk Concert, I urge you to watch it if you like relaxing and damn cool Latin vibes. He puts on a good show. Seems very comfortable up there. He’s also very talented, musically. There’s a slackness to his delivery that feels just right. Almost like a swing.
Here is where I tried to share the half-time performance but the NFL kept blocking it. Go check it out if you want. The best thing about football is half-time shows. I like marching bands too!
The Bad Bunny show was short, loaded with clever choreography and special effects. There were celebrities, and the mood was happy. It wasn’t near as good as his Tiny Desk Show in my opinion, but it wasn’t same venue either. I get it, thousands of folks, a time limit, and a football field are all obstacles in making a Tiny Desk Part Two, but I am still holding out for that.
Kid Rock
The Kid Rock show was weird, frankly. Not surprising seeing as Kid Rock was there. But So was a Charlie Kirk memorial. Kid Rock testified his walk with Jesus in a song. Performed under two names. Had the crowd chant things back at him like “USA” as if they magically knew on cue when to do it. But the lip sync was over the top. His performance was so awful, it was hard not to shut it off.. even for science. haha. Not only that, it was almost 40 minutes. I could have gone to mass. (like if I fucking wanted to.)
But the atrocious lip sync…
Whatever happened to the lip syncing made me seriously question life. No attempt was being made at a convincing performance. Understand, this is a video you can go and watch right now, although you’ll have to find the link (TPUSA KId Rock on youtube). It hasn’t been repaired, even though they say it’s broken. Why still have it up? It’s literally that bad. If I was in any way involved with that video other than forcing myself to watch it, I’d demand it be taken down. But as it is, woohoo! Let’s all watch Kid Rock make an ass of himself for the hundredth time in 30 years.
Also, who the fuck are these guys?
I don’t get the TPUSA show coming off as if they’re patriots or even concerned about anyone but themselves. Also, that checks with other TPUSA shit I’ve seen. Their concern seems to be in turning folks into racist idiots. Their concern was on point for the kid rock show. Racists have always hid behind the veil of patriotism. There’s a word for that. Hope you find it.
Kid Rock isn’t into growing as a person, he’s more like a growth.
Kid Rock has been a douche my whole life. He might have been the first person I ever called a douche! It is entirely possible.
It’s obvious the right is up to no good.. their music blows.
Don’t be like them. Make great music from your heart. Or don’t. I simply find a sliver of light in doing it, is all.
return to home.
