Stuff I Like
let the din of battle begin
Feb 5th
“We await glory in silence, oh, let the din of battle begin” – A midshipman on Collingwood’s flagship wrote this in his diary as his ship sailed into battle at Trafalgar
Tom Brady (yup … this is about him – in honor of the super bowl – and I am going to use this quote).
I like him as a quarterback. I like him as a leader. I like him as a competitor. And in all instances he carries himself with a sense of active stillness. He rarely seems rushed.
With words, thoughts or actions.
‘Awaiting glory in silence.’
Great athletes seem to epitomize this quote.
Brady is all about stillness silence. He finds ‘the moment before the moment’ and it is all stillness for him.
For some reason I envision if Tom knew this obscure quote he would use it. His linemen may look at him like he was frickin’ nuts but “let the din of battle begin”? I am not sure it gets better than that.
(especially if you had a camera in the huddle when he said it)
But the quote certainly reminds us of a return to old times of the banners flying in the wind on the battlefield and the silence and stillness before battle … then the charge with horses thundering forward and thousands of feet pounding forward with weapons in hand.
And players rushing out of the tunnel on the greatest battlefield in football.
But this is about the ‘moment before’ where all empties and all becomes still. And then it all starts.
I know Brady loves “being in the battle.”
But I believe he thrives because of that moment before the battle begins … it may be only a minute, possibly even just seconds, but that moment of calmness where everything kind of just “stills.” Just before everything starts moving again and silence is replaced by the ‘din’ of activity. That is THE moment. I almost think in moments like that your body gathers all the adrenaline in one small space and prepares it for release.
It is an incredible moment.
Oddly, Tom & Winnie the Pooh have something in common with this:
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best …” (and then he had to stop and think). “Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were …” (but he didn’t know what it was called).
Anticipation?
Geez. I think that undersells the idea.
It’s bigger than that.
And it is also more important because I believe it often delineates between Brady-like athletes and other athletes.
Try this. Maybe because it is a “me” moment.
In that moment in time there is nothing else … nothing … no sound … no feeling … just ‘me’ … just a space in time with nothing but “me” in it.
Well.
Me (being me) actually tracked down some research on this. Some researchers have imaged the parts of the brain which are in control of us in the ‘moment before’.
(please … no one ask me how the hell they did that)
Interestingly in imaging that part of the brain are not thought to be under our full conscious control or awareness. The studies reinforced the fact that, for most of us, this moment before is one in which there is not much conscious, deliberate thinking going on at all. It’s like a brain “flat-wave” (the guy whose writing I found on it called it ‘a brain wasteland’).
It’s almost like you push your brain to overload and it shuts down for however length of time to ‘reset.’
I don’t know Tom … but I bet he loves those moments.
That precious moment before the moments.
He is probably more aware of himself at this point in time.
But.
He is aware of himself ALL the time which separates himself even more:
“I want to earn it every day.” – tom brady
This is attitude. And I guess this is also about character. Like Brady or not he is not only a helluva quarterback but he has character. Resiliency. A toughness combined with a realistic humbleness (he knows he is good but he knows calling himself great is kinda silly).
And he stands out not because he doesn’t have some of the natural talent many top notch athletes have but rather because how many top notch athletes have let you down with their attitude.
And I also find it interesting to note that the patriots organization has done an amazing job surrounding Brady with likeminded athletes. Wes Welker? That dude may end up being on the best slot receivers of all time. Most talented? Nope (although … don’t get me wrong … he is supremely talented).
but. That talent thing.
There are a shitload of athletes out there with massive talent … but just never seem to develop that Brady-esque/Welker-type attitude. It would be simplistic to suggest that the ones who aren’t as blessed with massive talent are the most competitive and have the biggest heart. It’s just that we take note of this more so because … well … it is obvious they are not the most naturally talented athletes.
It is character.
Being in a state of perpetual dissatisfaction. Jerry Rice was that way. I could name dozens that way. But this is about Tom Brady (because I am using his quotes).
Here are three of them:
“What does three-peat mean? … I’m hoping to put together three good days of practice. I don’t think we’ve done that yet this year.”
- He seems to have a sense of practicality. Combined with some competitiveness and urgency.
“Every quarterback can throw a ball; every running back can run; every receiver is fast; but that mental toughness that you talk about translates into competitiveness.”
- He seems to have a sense of the mental aspect (as well as understanding he is a talented athlete so get off his back)
“Mentally, the only players who survive in the pros are the ones able to manage all their responsibilities.”
- He seems to want everyone to understand that talent alone does not guarantee success. Also. When you read this one … and think about it … he is explaining why it so many supremely talented athletes fail … in the pros … and in life … because part of being a good human (athlete, businessperson, family person, friend, etc.) is understanding how to manage all your responsibilities.
Brady doesn’t take anything, the games, the practices, the moments … for granted.
Somehow … someway … he seems to have the ability … regardless of the urgency or stress … to seemingly savor, and maximize, the time & moment.
We await glory in silence … so let the din of the Super Bowl begin.
the unAmerican american tradition
Feb 4th
Ok. This is about the American tradition (the super bowl) and an un-American aspect (the fact there just aren’t that many American beers left).
The super bowl (according to Nielsen sales studies) is the 8th biggest beer day of the year. It is behind the 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Christmas/New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Easter (in that order) in terms of beer sales.
Oh. And I have actually seen Halloween beat out Ester in terms of sales in some reports (WTF … more beer on Fathers Day, Easter & Halloween then Super Bowl!).
Anyway.
During the Super Bowl Americans drink billions of beers.
According to Slashfood, 51.7 million cases of beer are sold in the week surrounding the Super Bowl. For a comparison, 68.3 million cases are sold on Independence Day and 63 million for Father’s Day.
Think about it.
4 hour TV event = 51.7 million cases.
That, my friends, is quite a lot of beer.
Some more factoids (just because I went factoid crazy here before I get to the un-American beer).
HOW MUCH FOOD WILL BE CONSUMED? (by the way … I cannot take credit for the numbers and math here nor do I want to because if you actually take the time to break them down they become suspect …. BUT … suffice it to say a shitload of beer & food is consumed).
8 million: Total pounds of popcorn consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.
28 million: Pounds of potato chips consumed.
53.5 million: Pounds of avocados consumed.
11.8: Depth, in feet, of guacamole consumed if it were spread across the football field.
293,000: Number of miles of potato chips, laid end to end, consumed during the game.
1 billion: Number of chicken wings consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.
325.5 million: Gallons of beer drank by Americans that day.
493: Number of Olympic-sized swimming pools that could be filled with all that beer.
20%: Increase in ant-acid sales the Monday after the game.
7 million: Number of employees who will not show up to work Monday.
Anyway.
Let me get to the point. Of the 51.7 million cases of beer, or 325.5 million gallons if you prefer, most of it will not be American.
Look. I admit. I do love a good cold non microbrewed funky tasting beer.
I thought I was a huge beer lover until I went to Europe and they started giving me beers that had sweet tastes and fruit tastes and … well … then I realized I imagine I was more of an American beer lover. Yeah, yeah, yeah the “beer connoisseurs” out there are scoffing and will start ranting about their high falutin’ microbrews or Chinese beers or something.
But. I am an unabashed American beer lover.
Unfortunately. That seems to be a tough gig these days.
I haven’t really paid much attention to it but it seems like America has lost its beer (that is kind of a different version of losing your marbles … or balls).
Some background is maybe needed to explain my American beer focus.
My first beer was probably in junior high school when me and a couple of buddies stole a nasty Michelob (I think) that my father had sitting in the frig for maybe 2 years (he didn’t really drink beer). Despite that horrible first experience I ran into a high school senior when I was a sophomore who introduced me to the Champagne of Beers (Miller) and I was in heaven. Throughout high school me and my merry band of beer drinkers drank whatever we could get our hands on … but … the champagne of beers was always our number one choice.
Please. I do have some discerning tastes. There was one afternoon in high school days when over at a friend’s house and our beer had run out … but one.
Ted said “Go ahead. You can have it.” So I grabbed my first … and last … Black Label. I took one sip. Then another (because I couldn’t believe a beer could ever taste that bad) and then asked if anyone else wanted to finish it.
Yup. I passed on the last beer available. Black Label made me want to do it (that was a fairluy momentous moment amongst us young beer drinkers).
Anyway.
While I could always get my hands on a good Canadian beer (high school in Vermont) inevitably it seemed like there was a Budweiser or a Pabst or a Falstaff or a Miller in my hands. And you figure Falstaff and PBR sported the good ole USofA red, white & blue colors so I was being as American as American could be. And then as I matriculated my drinking ass off to college … Coors became the elixir of choice (although I never seemed to leave the Champagne too far behind).
Well.
I am feeling less patriotic these days as I now have discovered that these days American beer is not so much American. It’s tough to grab one of the old tried and true (what people call “watery”) American beers to quaff with friends at ye ole watering hole (damn … that didn’t sound very American did it?).
Interestingly (mostly because I am not sure I thought about it that much) Anheuser-Busch has a market share in the United States of 50.9% for all beers sold (although different sources give a range of about 42% to 52% … I guess no one is sure how to count beer).
That number is primarily Budweiser (all of them Bud brands).
so. Let’s call it 50% market share. Really? 50% of all beers sold?
That’s a big frickin’ number and it cannot be all the NASCAR race fans and their coolers of Buds. Most people don’t buy just one type but also a lot of other stuff. At the very least you would think that Miller and all of the microbreweries would account for more than 50% (or at least I would).
Bottom line? Huge number. That’s all I will say on that.
The bad news for us americans? Bud ain’t American anymore. In 2008 Anheuser-Busch sold the majority of their stock to Belgian-Brazilian beer giant Inbev creating the largest brewing company in the world (and the brewer’s market share in US actually increased after the sale for some reason).
Ok. So if Bud aint American what is the biggest American owned beer?
Not Miller which is South African based and brews: Miller, MGD, Milwaukee’s Best, Icehouse, Southpaw, Steel Reserve, Hamm’s, Pabst, Stroh’s (if you can find it anywhere) and Red Dog.
Not Molson Coors which appears to be based in Canada or maybe Colorado or somewhere in between (they also to have some sort of joint venture with SABMiller to market all beers under the MillerCoors name which confuses me). But, they brew: Coors (the world’s best beer in my eyes), Coors Light (the world’s worst beer in y eyes), Keystone, Killian’s Red and Blue Moon.
So where does that leave us? Sam Adams?
Shiner (which makes an appearance down the list)? After that the list gets slim (by market share size … actual number of choices is huge).
Regardless.
Maybe my patriotism I can hold on to the fact that they are still brewed in America.
In the meantime I still enjoy a chilled Champagne of Beers and love a good Coors original (which I think they call Banquet for some odd reason). And make believe I am being unabashedly American while drinking them.
Enjoy … and know you are probably, most likely, being un-American whilst quaffing a cold one during the American tradition called the super bowl.
wonder of birds
Feb 3rd
So.
I just heard another song and it made me think about “couples bands” … like Over the Rhine or Weepies (a post to follow on their new cd) … and going back maybe K’s Choice (brother & sister) … but the song I heard made me want to spend a minute talking about the band Innocence Mission (husband & wife). The song was Wonder of Birds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sXOIrvOMKU&feature=related
Yup.
Innocence Mission is an acquired taste. It certainly isn’t uptempo but oddly it is upbeat (in message).
I tend to call them the best band in the “wistful Alt-pop genre” (I think i made that genre up). They are probably known best for Bright as Yellow which was used in the movie Empire State Records (a great movie … a great song … a great soundtrack).
Bright as Yellow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA4ZfLzy1VM&ob=av2e
Their songs have a … well … I imagine it is like a ‘fragile’ quality. Mostly because they are all sung by Karen Peris (her husband is the other songwriter & guitar player) and she has probably the consummate wistful voice. I have never seen them in concert and I wonder if you can even hear her when she sings live. She sounds like a wistful storyteller … and the songs just seem to wander in a light way … and you get sucked in thinking if you lean closer you get to hear them a little better because they seem to have something important to say. With Christian underpinnings they tend to write hopeful introspective songs but you really have to pay attention. The Innocence Mission have been doing their thing for over 20 years and 10 albums (and their sound hasn’t really evolved much over time … it just is what it is … and it is good).
They have this interesting ability to create songs which thru the lyrics and music arrangements seem to have an emotional level that is, well, comfortable … like sitting in a room filled with a group of friends just talking and laughing.
Can I listen to their music all the time? Nope.
Do I like to listen to it when I am reading (or writing)? Yup.
And maybe what I like best? Wonder of Birds may be the most aptly song name to describe Innocence Mission.
confessions of an ad man
Jan 29th
Well.
Maybe its because I get to talk with a lot of teen/20somethings or maybe its because all my friends are cynical bastards … but I seem to defend the advertising business a lot.
And maybe because of that I thought I should take a moment and share some truths.
Because the business (for the majority) is not made up of liars, hucksters, clowns, alcoholics and smarmy assholes.
And mostly we try and tell the truth to businesses and consumers. I say mostly because I admit that there are some moments inside an agency where one of the minority (from the above aforementioned majority) find a voice (most typically with regard to new business) and says things that send a shiver up my ethical spine.
Regardless.
Some truth (I imagine this is just an abbreviated list of truths of which we could add many many more if I were to think about it more).
Advertising is not always about just selling stuff.
Advertising isn’t just a catalyst for buying (or convincing someone to buy) … it is a catalyst for how people see things, think about things and, sometimes, actually do things. I heard Spike Lee once say .. “I feel a responsibility for everything I create <because millions will see it>.” Advertising may be the most powerful thing out there to affect people. We know we are in a business but we also know we impact people significantly more than the sales numbers ever reflect. We in the business never forget this (albeit it may look like we have on occasion). Ok. Let’s just say that the people in advertising who really ‘get it’ never forget this.
That said …
Yes. Creativity is about results & awards (or recognition).
We understand what we do makes an impact … and should be measured by some type of results. On the other hand … because it is creativity we like some creative validation that you didn’t just have to throw mud against the wall to make something stick. The truth is that advertising people thrive on both. And we have to because sometimes bad advertising can generate results. And people get fooled by just looking at sales results (and not examining the results in terms of what people actually think … because that impacts future behavior). Good advertising can generate better results (and better long term impressions). And awards help better delineate between the crappy advertising that shows results and good advertising that shows results.
We like results & recognition. And we like people talking about it … speaking of which …
Social media is actually not that social.
We care about social media. Probably more than most business owners actually do. Many businesses create an illusion of ‘social’ but in reality maintain a relatively non-social business model (as defined in traditional social terms). So. The truth? The term social media has taken on galactic size proportions standing for everything … and nothing. Here is the truth. Most social media vehicles are simply information disseminators. They aren’t social. They permit people and businesses to narcissistically spew forth ad nausea about themselves. What makes the web different is that there is an OPPORTUNITY to respond. If you take part in responding … well … it still isn’t social … it has simply become a dialogue (sort of). It only becomes social when there is some interaction like talking with someone at a party. Trust me on this one … in most cases it remains at stage one (the spewing part). For the most part the current social world is a monologue.
Oh. Just like TV.
Now. This doesn’t diminish the importance of social media and the future … it’s just that the good agencies keep perspective and actually recommend what is going to be the best for a clients’ business.
Ok. Back to TV.
Television is not dead.
One TV ad on American Idol can reach more teens then a PitBull tweet. And make a bigger impression (because you have those funny moving picture thingies).
Anyway. As long as tv executives keep their heads out of their asses often enough to actually produce programs people will watch … there will be TV ads. And as long as there is TV advertising there will be a maddening mix of insightfully educating entertaining executions and pedantic pedestrian drivel waste of :30 seconds.
Why is that? ….
We don’t know what works (for sure).
Sure. There are some basic principles that can insure your advertising will be in the “good” portion of the gene pool but, in the end, setting research aside … people are fickle and clients (in general) find it difficult to make the hard choices (because they prefer to ‘please’ rather than ‘prod’ the mind) needed so that the advertising actually has enough sharp edges on it to stand out. I will say this … give a good advertising agency (not a hack agency) one year to do whatever they believed was the best thing to do and I would bet over 80%+ of everything they did would be good (people like it) and effective (creates results).
Anyway. We are probably like songwriters. We write songs and we know some are better than others when we write them. We also kind of recognize when we write a hit – on the off chance when we write something like that – but you can never be sure until it is actually out there for all to hear & see.
And we do care what people think …
We do care about clients (most of them).
There is nothing better than knowing you have created something people like and generates results in partnership with a client you respect.
Nothing.
The only advertising people who have no/little respect for their clients or nothing good/nice to say about their clients (most typical comment is “they just aren’t that smart”) aren’t good advertising people. And you don’t want to work with them anyway.
And we do care about the people who buy the stuff too, but …
The consumer is not the king/queen.
Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble but if they were (kings & queens) they could demand anything they wanted and businesses would go out of business chasing their fleeting whims.
Here is the truth. A sale is a partnership between the seller & the buyer. At its best it is a marriagelike relationship. In either case … things are balanced … with one not significantly more important than the other. And why is this important? Well. With balance there is trust. And that is the basis for any long term brand or business proposition. Treat them like a king/queen? Yikes. At some point they will believe they are one and … well … treat the company like a serf (that is bad by the way).
Speaking of how people are treated …
Creative people always have a thread of insecurity (or fear).
If people want to wonder why creative people (or agency people in general) do wacky things … well … try this on for size. Remember what it felt like the first time you were in love and decided to say it out loud? You were scared shitless it wouldn’t be reciprocated. Or, worse, someone would just laugh. Well. That’s life in advertising on a daily basis. Creative ideas and ads and thoughts are emotionally, typically insightful, parts of our soul we elected to have the kahones to share with the public. In the end no client is the enemy, the consumer isn’t the enemy … fear is the enemy. Understand that and you understand the people in the business.
Ok.
I am sure I missed some other truths, but those are probably the biggies.
Good advertising people don’t lie. Either by omission or in actual ‘untruths.’ And they actually have the clients’ business interest in mind with almost everything they do … because when a client is successful, even if an agency may not get credit, they almost never get fired.
That’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth (at least for today).
rat girl thoughts
Jan 27th
So.
I wrote about Rat Girl (Kristen Hersh) awhile back … and have been meaning to come back to the book and some quotable/comment-able thoughts from Kristen and her book.
Let me say this upfront.
Rarely have I found so many quotable thoughts from one book.
Anyway.
There is no particular order for these thoughts & quotes. I simply wrote them down as I read Rat Girl. So there is some spontaneous nonlinear thinking to be shared (and several other posts will follow using specific quotes).
With that … it seems appropriate to start with this following quote because I love music and I tend to believe it is one of the few global forms of communication with the ability to cross cultures and actually bend cultures …
“They <songs> don’t commit to linear time – they whiz around all your memories collecting them into a goofy pile that somehow seems less goofy because it’s set to music. Songs are weird. They tell the future and they tell the past but they can’t seem to tell the difference.” - K. Hersh
Well.
I am not sure I have ever heard a better explanation for why music is so powerful, oh, and timeless. Great songs & songwriters have the ability to capture moments & thoughts in a way that they become timeless …’ or maybe better said they become ‘a relevant time’ to the listener.
And there are really two thoughts here.
Some songs inspire timelessness on things you are experiencing now … they just express eternal ‘truth.’
And the some songs are, well, not timeless.
What do I mean?
Well.
Not timeless is easy to describe. They are of a genre and style and wording that may make it a hit today but quickly slips away into that irrelevance space that most tepid shit ends up in.
But timeless? Whew. That stuff speaks to you forever. Because, as Kristen suggests, they live concurrently in the past, present & future in what they say and how they make you feel.
You hear it and it can make you think of something that was. And you ache, or think or just laugh a little.
You hear it and it can make you think of something that is. And you ache, or think or just laugh a little.
You hear it and it cam make you think of something that could be. And you are hopeful, fearful … or just think.
That goofy pile of thoughts is less goofy set to music … and by being less goofy it makes you think … think about something.
And that is what makes a great song great.
It doesn’t have to be great grandiose type thinking … it is just thinking.
Once again … if you ever need to explain to someone what makes music the thing that is universal globally … just pull this quote out.
It is a timeless quote.
Next.
“Play a grown up ‘til you grow up.” – K. Hersh
Ok.
Let’s think about this one a little.
This was written by a 19 year old. Bi polar. Pregnant. Fronting one of the most avante garde bands of the time. And she is often thrown into environments where she was expected to be a grown up … and make grown up decisions (or maybe think like a grown up).
Putting this quote into perspective … all she really wants to do is be a musician … to create and play what was in her head.
What did she do?
Play a grown up.
I like this one for a variety of reasons.
Mainly because it was written by a 19 year old. And one who embraced her originality (which would almost presume she would balk at being “grown up”).
But I also like it because in its simplicity it is a Life truth.
I think a lot of teens understand this (play a grown up). And will do it … that is if they are permitted to and it is nurtured.
All teens contain originality. That is what youth is all about.
Some young people are strong enough to “play grown up” on their own (see Kristen Hersh as an example).
But most young people aren’t strong enough … okay … maybe ‘resilient enough’ is a better way to phrase it. They seek to fit in first and foremost. It’s the safest path. And, therefore, true originality is few and far between (being part of a flock isn’t conducive to originality).
So. She reminds us that even those teens who are grown up – are simply acting like it … that is until they actually become a grown up.
Ok. I say all this to make a point.
We adults can either nurture it or destroy it. And destruction is a lot easier than nurturing. Destruction can happen in the smallest word or action.
We adults need to remember this. Not all teens are as strong as Kristen Hersh. Most are more fragile. Does this mean we should pamper our youth? Absolutely not. But be cognizant of repercussions of our actions as we nurture.
Also.
There is a business side to life, yeah, I said life. By business I mean there are rules of the road we all have to follow on how we are supposed to act, what is appropriate or not, all that stuff we need to do and are supposed to do … if we want to get what we want. And this is true regardless of your age. and to make it trickier it all varies depending on the situation.
What do I mean? If you are 19 but put in a situation surrounded by 40 year olds you have one of 2 choices …
(1) act like a 19 year old and get nothing
(2) or act like a 40something and get what you want.
Simple to do? Nope.
But if you don’t even try and act like a grown up and you are 19 in this situation I can promise you one thing, unequivocally, you won’t get shit.
In the end? Play a grown up until you are a grownup.
Another awesome quote in its simplicity.
Next.
This one is mindboggling as she, in her own words, defines passion in life.
“I think you need something in your life that is both beautiful and necessary. A person or a mission or a place. Beautiful might not be pretty and necessary may not be understood, but, still … I think caring, not death, is the passport to heaven.” – K. Hersh
Ok.
I have been tempted to have this quote framed.
And, once again, from the mouth of a 19 year old.
“beautiful may not be pretty and necessary may not be understood.”
Whew.
That is chill bump type stuff.
Not all passion is shared. And what is necessary to you may not be necessary to someone else.
Frankly that thought may be one of the most difficult for people to grasp.
We so often set a ‘standard’ for what is good, acceptable or the ‘best’ for people.
So what happens to the people who don’t ‘fit ‘within the guardrails? They are oddballs … out of the norm or mainstream … and are forced to swim upstream.
Shit. So what about the majority who do go easily within the guardrails? Maybe they never get to see what is beautiful and necessary (what a fucking shame).
Regardless.
This quote is a big thought. A thoughtful thought. And rather that have me define it or explain it I just posted it so everyone could read it … and all I ask is for everyone to think about it.
Because, honestly, I cannot stop thinking about it.
Next.
“If you play too many wimpy chords you’re just asking for wimpy scales. Play colors.” – K. Hersh
This one is awesome for not just for musicians but for anyone in the creative business.
Shit.
This is actually awesome for anyone.
A lot of people are really successful playing it safe. Or doing what others have done. And then there are the few … those who play colors.
I am not suggesting, using her words, that it is bad to be ‘wimpy.’ Because in this case wimpy isn’t bad … it’s just … well … maybe not aspirational. And that’s okay because not everyone does aspirational stuff. And not everyone SHOULD do aspirational stuff. Not everyone s wired for that.
But.
Boy.
“Play colors.”
If you are even closed to being wired this way this simple quote is pretty powerful.
Me?
If I could have one thing in my obituary it would be “we saw colors when he was there.”
Do I believe I deserve that now? Nope.
But that is surely what I am aiming for.
Ok.
This is the last quote I will use from the book.
“Everything about Betty is huge, bigger than life. I’m smaller than life – so unremarkable that I’m practically invisible.” – K. Hersh
So.
I lied.
There was an order in the quotes … at least I that I purposefully put this one last.
For a variety of reasons this one really struck me.
And, no, you don’t need to know who Betty is to think about this and understand it.
But.
Think about this as you read this quote … fact here was one of the most talented songwriters and singers of her generation … and she thought herself unremarkable.
And small.
And it got me thinking.
That word unremarkable.
It’s a big word.
Maybe even an immense word when referring to oneself.
Maybe I like this quote not because I am as talented as Kristen Hersh … but rather because I feel unremarkable.
Not in a bad way. Just that in comparison to some pretty remarkable people I have been fortunate to have known.
Frankly … I tend to believe a lot of people feel the same way. They feel unremarkable. And maybe not invisible but … well … not remarkably visible to the broader world.
And yet I, just as most people I imagine, would like to do something remarkable.
C’mon.
We all want to leave something behind… but how do we do that when we are so small in life.
So few of us actually make an impact … well … a really big impact.
The kind of impact that makes you remarkable.
And I do think the majority of us feel small and insignificant on occasion (if not the majority of the time). I know I do.
And once again that’s not bad. It just is.
But I want to make a difference.
Is it “making people see colors?”
Or implementing the global education initiative?
Or something else?
Heck. I don’t know.
What I do know is Kristen captured the essence of our smallness in a way that was clear and concise and thought provoking.
And it made me want to be sure I at least tried to do something that, in the end, was visible.
So.
You may not like the book (Rat Girl).
And you may not like Kristen Hersh’s music.
But, boy, you gotta like how she takes some really complex thoughts and breaks them down into some really simple words.
Thank you Kristen.
to be yourself or nobody
Jan 26th
“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.”
- ee cummings
Just when I think the battle to be yourself ends when you have gained a certain maturity and finding a place in time when you are “comfortable in your own skin” and whatever success you have attained (which creates at least some affirmation that “yourself’ has some merit) I am reminded that good ole ee was right … it is the hardest battle and you never have to stop fighting a world doing its best to make you like everyone else.
Ok.
To be clear. I am not talking about doubting yourself.
This is about being distinct as an individual … and facing those who maybe don’t want you to be like everybody else … they just want you to be like them.
Here’s the deal.
ee never worked in an organization (as a poet he worked for himself).
So maybe he missed out on the business organization aspect. Because, sure, the world does its best to make you like everybody else but in the business world you often face leaders who try and wear you down seeking to ‘do it my way.’
Well.
Sometimes that is okay (I am not suggesting it is always wrong).
But I sometimes see organizations do their best to take their best & brightest (who are often the most distinct) and constantly do their best to recreate them in a likeness of themselves.
For young people this is often what I caution them to be cognizant of:
Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess, and to gain applause which he cannot keep. ~Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, 1750
Applause is a tantalizing mistress.
And sure. On occasion you may be able to walk in someone else’s shoes and be comfortable … but the most comfortable will always be your own.
And just as each day you put your shoes on and head out we all need to learn to put “yourself” on and head out every day.
And be comfortable.
Oh. And put on a personality & character Kevlar vest.
Because this is a tricky one in the business world.
And I do believe it matters what age/experience you are. Well. At least in terms of what issues your Kevlar vest is trying to deflect.
Younger people are still being molded as well as molding/shaping themselves. So, in general, they are protecting their soul as well as some core of distinctness that kind of makes them who they are (they may get confused at times by mistaking external – how I dress and how I speak – as core distinctness but that is a different post for another day).
But older people have a more solid ‘mold’ and have to be more careful when choosing who to work for, work with and the culture of the organization.
I am not sure this is the best advice to give anyone but I tend to like ‘black & white’ thoughts more because … well … they draw a clear line you can see when considering where to step:
It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you are not. ~Andre Gide
In the end I guess what I am saying is … if you cannot be yourself, who you truly are, day in and day out … at work and not at work … you really kind of become … well … nobody. Harsh thought? Well, yeah. But sometimes truth is harsh. Oh. And sometimes truth is enlightening … and freeing.
So. Maybe I should end this way …. at minimum … choose to at least know who ‘yourself’ is. Then at least you know what choice you end up making between what you are and what you are not.
jeep & robert frost
Jan 24th
Ok.
It is very difficult in the car advertising business to make your advertising stand out.
Car manufacturers spend zillions of dollars (ok … only billions of dollars) and it is difficult to find something truly new and relevant and interesting to say.
So sometimes you just have to find a different way of saying the same thing and hopefully it stands out.
Jeep Wrangler Arctic just did it (for me at least).
In the television ad I saw I heard a poem I sort of recognized … and I couldn’t figure out who the voice was who was saying it (but it sounded dated).
The poem (and words used in the ad)?
“Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
The author? Robert Frost.
Holy cow.
Some copywriter dug around in his/her literary mental archive and saw these words and said “shit … I bet if we put some amazing footage of a Jeep Wrangler (Arctic to be specific) driving through some impossible snow underneath these words … well … it would be the shizzle.”
Then he/she thought some more and said …
“Oh. No. Let’s do better. Let’s use Robert himself.” (thought bubble attached: hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm … I wonder if there is a recording of Robert Frost reading it?)
Holy shit (instead of ‘cow’ this time). Yes. There is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfOxdZfo0gs&feature=related
And then they edited it to make this Jeep ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHeG8J5b1U4&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL3F36F72A7E0D8CB7
(by the way … if you stay on the link and let the next Jeep Compass ad run it is a great border collie ad)
Ok.
Is it brilliant advertising? Maybe not.
It is a brilliant creative way to say what you want to say? You bet.
It is an incredibly creative way of saying something that almost every ‘rough ‘n tumble’ car manufacturer has said.
Will most people know it is Robert Frost? Hell no.
But it sounds cool and tough and timeless and the words are relevant and if you do know it is Robert Frost … well … it make you feel like you are a smart Jeep owner.
Anyway.
Here is the entire Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening poem:
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Good stuff Jeep.
Oh. I have read a couple of commentaries on this advertising where some people were getting in a tizzy (a technical term) on using Robert Frost to sell Jeep Wranglers. Geez people … get over it. Get a life. It is a smart idea. And it’s not like they are using his poem (and voice) to sell feminine wipes or erectile dysfunction drugs (not that there is anything wrong with either of those). This was artfully and thoughtfully done.
Once again. Well done Jeep.
facts and creation
Jan 23rd
“Without the hard little bits of marble which are called ‘facts’ or ‘data’ one cannot compose a mosaic; what matters, however, are not so much the individual bits, but the successive patterns into which you arrange them, then break them up and rearrange them.” - The Act of Creation
I find it tragic to watch bright, energetic youth become lethargic and uninspired in the workplace.
Yes. Tragic. Because it is such a waste of not only mindpower but, well, will power. And it is also tragic to the work company because lethargy does not lead to ideas/ideation/creative thinking.
To me? The real problem lies with the older folk (in manager positions) who seem to lack a comprehensive relevant view of learning. Or maybe better said … they have an archaic way of viewing the way it should be done.
There are a lot of leaders (management whatever you want to call them) who appear to be guilty of classifying learning as being a difficult and frustrating experience.
This is in combination with the fact they also tend to have odd views on ‘how to make it fun.’ Oh. And to complete that thought … they have a belief that they have to ‘make it fun’ because learning is difficult/frustrating. Therefore it is a flawed belief system.
Look.
Creative thinking and innovation does not arise out of a vacuum but must be supported by a culture that encourages people to experiment. To experiment with facts, with ideas and products. With the hard little bits of marble as it were.
Original thinking and new ideas has to be nurtured and rearranged in successive patterns … not destroyed and scattered.
We can all encourage creativity by helping young people learn to assess the bits of marble and take intellectual risks in their work & ideation. Does this have to be “made” fun? Nope. And it is, frankly, silly to think it has to be.
Instead this is like providing a spark to combustible matter. I am not suggesting it should be painful but rather fun is slightly less relevant than providing the inspiration to learn and become engaged.
Ultimately I don’t believe management should teach people how to create ideas.
The goal should be to prepare young people to be competent and original in their thinking.
Do that and they will create mosaics like you have never seen before.
Oh.
And in successive patterns.
(by the way … that is a good thing)
christian music musings
Jan 22nd
It’s Sunday and I thought I would write about church-going music. So let’s begin with a song my mother heard on the radio and a quote from my mother when she heard it:
“did they get kicked out of the church?” – my mother
The song? Flyleaf “Again”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbdCeWoEH1U&ob=av2e
(little lead singer with a huge voice)
My mother doesn’t get half the music I like but she is always interested in hearing things … and always interested in what has changed since … well … Frank Sinatra (to be fair she also likes the Beatles and even David Bowie’s voice).
Anyway.
Writing about contemporary Christian music crossed my and for a several reasons … first was when I skipped through the dial and heard a Flyleaf song I happen to like and decided to point out to my mother that they were a Christian band (which elicited the quote at the beginning) as well as I heard a Switchfoot song under the introduction to an espn gameday football game (oddly … I also heard a Switchfoot song under a radio ad for The Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle).
Well.
That is how mainstream christian bands have become.
Oh. Yeah. They are both christian bands if you didn’t know.
Oh. Yeah. That would mean they play “christian music.”
Uh oh. Bad stigma. Christian music is no good.
Wrong wrong wrong.
I will remind everyone with Switchfoot who really was the first to showcase the new face of christian music.
Maybe the most recent? Skillet. Kind of been chugging along under the mainstream radar and then their 2 recent often played songs Monster (which is disliked) and Awake (which I liked): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aJUnltwsqs&ob=av2e
Just in case you haven’t been paying attention christian based music has gotten better. And in some cases really good. Sure. There is still some of that sappy bad forced lyric stuff out there but there is a new generation of musicians have expanded their christian view to be broader in how they communicate their christian values and beliefs.
As I pointed out to my mother …. there is a whole new generation of ‘enlightened christians’ out there who are seeking shit <music> that is relevant to their own generation.
So.
I admit … maybe even 10 years ago if someone said “you wanna listen to a Christian music cd” I think I would have just asked if someone could have stuck an ice pick in my ear instead. Today? Not so much the ice pick in the ear thing.
Christian music really has evolved with the times (although, I would suggest that what would be considered an ‘atheist’ song, Dear God by XTC – an AWESOME song – probably did more for Christian music than any song before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk41Gbjljfo ).
Some of the music can be really nice to listen to. Maybe it’s a growth of some sub genres but the Christian sound is keeping pace with mainstream (although I do believe they still tend to be a little formulaic with big multi chord riffs and lyrical chorus overlays).
I guess I attribute the evolution (beyond my thought on Dear God) in my own warped mind that I envisioned some Christian musicians woke up one morning and remembered that Jesus led a quasi normal life. I seriously doubt he walked around his entire life talking in parables (which is why I loved Crash Test Dummies “God shuffled his Feet”:
God shuffled his feet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzNzCiZwk28). I bet he had a life with family and friends and probably talked to them about the new sandals on sale at the corner market store, pimples and how much he hated black olives. I would assume he just talked sometimes (or at least one would hope or his friends would be exasperated trying to figure out the parables in every conversation).
Anyway. Simplistically the change probably occurred because different generations desire different things. So, to stay relevant, some musicians with some new ways of looking at things came along. And the good things for those writing these songs is that the reality is people do want to feel like God exists in the present, and not some antiquated relic that couldn’t possibly understand the issues of today, approached music through their own eyes and ways of looking at things.
Trust me. If God actually did speak to me I would hope he would avoid the ole thee’s and thou’s in trying to communicate something. And a lot of musicians understood the same thing.
And if you listen to today’s contemporary Christian musicians many of the rock songs transcend the intended market and reach the ears of people not completely in sinc with the whole church thing.
Here is the fun thing (at least to me). The christian traditionalists, who I would like to point out are most typically parents, hate it.
Why? People (simplistically) say … it’s rebellion. It’s unholy. It’s … well …different.
I would like to point out here that different musical taste is not in itself an act of rebellion. Each generation distinguishes themselves musically from the generation before. That is a fact. Older generations don’t like it, but each generation does it (Beatles to their parents, jazz to their parents, etc.).
To me music has never about rebelling against my parents or anyone else. I just liked the sound. I just liked how it sounded and inevitably how it spoke to me and the feeling I have. I liked what it represented as to what I thought & felt.
And while I titled this Christian music I do believe labeling “christ-centered music” as christian music is a mistake (but it helped me provide a thread for what I wanted to write about). That label implies a form that is inherently ‘Christian’ (which is false). I asked a christian friend of mine once what is a Christian. I got a nice simple response. A person in love with Christ. So what would it sound like singing? Jeez (I almost typed the ‘other word’). That’s a stupid question. It could sound like anything.
Anyway.
To me there are three types of Christian music.
1. The overt Christian band. Note. This is typically not my type of band.
This band seems to use their music/lyrics to specifically talk about god and such and is quite open about who/what they’re talking about in their lyrics. They preach. They celebrate. They specifically do Christian type messaging. No guessing games here. Let’s call this ‘all Christian all the time’.
Personally I think their stuff is often too preachy and difficult to listen to if you don’t have that faith (even though some of the music is well written and the singers have interesting voices).
Professionally I believe they struggle because there is some restrain on the authenticity and freedom to create great music. True creativity means truly expressing what is in your heart/soul. It means allowing freedom into the music which means you don’t feel the inexplicable need to resolve each song by singing “Jesus Saves” (or “I love god”) in every refrain.
Anyway.
What helps you out is they call themselves Christian so you can avoid it if you want.
How up front they want to be with that is up to them, whether it’s in all their songs or just some of them. But If I purchased a CD from a band who labeled themselves as a “Christian” band though I’d expect to be hearing about Christ somewhere in those lyrics.
2. The ‘not as overt’ bands. In other words (not mine but a Christian’s description) “the band that crosses more into the mainstream/secular world” and “taking the medicine to the sick.” (oh my)
They don’t hide their faith, but they don’t spell it out in their lyrics all the time. And some of these bands kick ass. Flyleaf. Switchfoot. POD.
These are the kinds of bands that people frequently ask about because they can’t tell by listening to the music. Switchfoot’s “Meant to Live:” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp6Qh-wT3ys&ob=av2n is probably the song (if they weren’t a Christian band) I would use as the anthem for my Global Generation idea (although I do suggest a POD song in Global Generation 3). Meant to Live is a song U2 would have been proud writing and singing. Interestingly (and I would imagine many people would argue with me) I would put many Country music groups in this section.
3. Then there are the mainstream bands that have (some) Christian members. Their lyrics might be about anything without mentioning Christ specifically. However, I suspect their beliefs sneak out in places throughout their lyrics, whether they mean for them to or not. Think Mutemath, Evanescence, Lifehouse, The Fray. These are bands that have some faith and weave in their beliefs within their songs but don’t dedicate their full portfolio to the message. Think about Evanescence.
Oh. And 12 Stones. Remember them?
Bet ya don’t.
Okay. Remember Evanescence “Bring me to Life”? (AWESOME song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YxaaGgTQYM&ob=av2e). The guy who sings along with Amy Lee is the lead singer of a band called 12 Stones (a christian band … and the songwriters of Evanescence just didn’t like to be called a Christian band but suggested their songs communicated a positive faith message).
Anyway.
Why do I think the first group has such a challenge (beyond the obvious thought that some people just don’t want to hear it)? Think creatively here.
Christian artists, who are overt, have a challenge. They want to meet what they call the The Great Commission (“go and make disciples”) but it’s difficult to do in a single song (let alone an entire cd).
Think of it this way. If I wanted to write a song about my girlfriend Bunny, then decide to write an entire cd about her (even if her specialty was talking in metaphors … or parables … I always struggle to figure out the difference …) and then I decided to make sure I used her name in every song on the cd it would mean I have an entire cd filled with Bunny references. Well. Figure Christian artists try and do that every cd but with god/JC/Him. And that is bad for anyone (whether you believe you have JC on your side or not).
But.
In the end, if you turn on the radio try and be open-minded. There really is no such thing as just one type Christian song anymore and some of it is really really good.
So. Here are some bands (they go from harder to softer Christian music):
Skillet
Switchfoot
Paramore
the Letter Black (a new band I think will cross over)
POD
Flyleaf (if you see them in concert you would never imagine in a zillion years they were Christian)
Mutemath
Mae
Lifehouse
Leigh Nash (ex lead singer of Sixpence Nonethericher)
Robbie Seay band
Ginny Owens
Eisley
Matt Kearney
Some of my favorite Christian songs (beyond ‘I can Imagine’ which I can imagine – pun intended – is difficult for anyone to dislike):
- Switchfoot “Meant to Live.” This is the song that probably put Christian music on the mainstream charts. Awesome song. Well written and big anthemic feel. “Dare you to Move” would be a close second: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOTcr9wKC-o&ob=av2e
- Rebecca St. James “Beautiful Stranger” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgH40uV-nEc ) The first time I heard it was with the video and its impact was HUGE. As a stand-alone song it is awesome also. But with video it’s amazing. Ok. And as for a full on Christian song … God of Wonders is a beautifully crafted and beautifully sung song.
- P.O.D. “Goodbye for Now.” Powerful rap rock San Diego band. Boom is another awesome song. Alive and Youth of a Nation are also good. I actually use one of their newer songs as the anthem for the Global Generation. Oh. The opening riffs on Boom and Alive rank up with two of the best openings to a rock song as you can get. They kick you in the gut from note one.
- Jennifer Knapp “A little More” (its fun a nice folksy song).
- Ginny Owens “If you want me To.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GocT5SAQPNM&feature=related One of the most heartfelt songs of all time. Don’t listen to it if you have just broken up with someone. “Someone Searching” is the next song of her you should listen to. Another beautiful heartfelt song. Lastly. If you ever want your teen to listen to something so they know that you unconditionally love them, consider playing “Without Condition” for them. Yes. It is about God but at its core it will share the thought of love without condition. Which is appealing to anyone regardless of faith.
Anyway.
Here is where the rubber hits the road.
Heart.
One thing I do know … artists with a Christian vision have a passion to minister to a world that they believe needs help.
I believe the best of the best are realistic about their impact but are also very open about their passion for the ‘lost’ in the world and their desire to help even one.
It is easy to slam something we don’t understand.
There are a lot of good musicians who have a strong faith.
And incorporate it into their songs. Some songs. Maybe not all their songs.
Adam young. Better known as Owl City. He’s a devout Christian who takes his faith as seriously as his music. Evanescence. Speaks out often about faith. Paramore. Once again. Christian. Mutemath. But all desire to be known as musicians who have faith and incorporate the message within.
Not Christian bands who can play music. The list goes on and on.
Anyway.
There is a lot of good music out there so ignore the ‘label’ (genre title) and just listen up. You never know what you are missing.
somebody i used to song
Jan 20th
Ok.
How good is this song? (pretty damn good)
Somebody That I used to Know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
This is my next projected “addictive song.’
I heard it on the radio and had no clue who it was … it is a quirky catchy kind of alternative-pop song. Really interesting sound with a chorus using a woman’s voice. I will admit though … this song is much much better on radio than watching the video. I promise you … it is addictive in the car.
Anyway.
The singer is an Australian named Gotye … oh … and apparently this song was featured on Gossip Girl (sorry … didn’t see).
Somebody That I Used to Know is a song by Australian (and Belgian?) singer/songwriter Gotye from his third cd Making Mirrors. The woman in the song (and video) is a New Zealand singer named Kimbra. And while the song is good … the addition of Kimbra’s voice, which complements Gotye perfectly, kind of makes the song really special.
The chorus is really really nice and for a typical song about past relationships it seems to have more emotion than most.
The song was written by Gotye and is personal … writing about experiences he has had with relationships. Just because I was curious (because this is his 3rd cd)I checked around to see if there were any other good songs to share.
Here is a nice one:
Eyes wide open: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyVJsg0XIIk&feature=relmfu
Just heard this song maybe last week for the first time. I think it is gonna go up the charts with bullet.
