My Way vs. Bob Marley's Way

Things don't go my way sometimes.

Yesterday--a beautiful, warm day-- I went to a place and asked about a summer job, and they said, "We're hiring, but not for the summer." My confidence deflated a bit.

Then this morning I wake up, and am greeted by my brother with, "The dog threw up." Which translates as, "Clean it up." He quickly exits the scene to take the dog for a walk, so I do what I gotta do and find the carpet stain spray stuff in the red bottle.

But then--and I know how cliche this must sound--Three Little Birds came on the radio, and my attitude changed. Every little thing is going to be alright. Doesn't mean that it'll go my way, but that it will be alright.

Hey, did you hear about this?
Last week a congresswoman named Donna Edwards (D-Maryland) was testifying before Congress against the proposal for a government shutdown. Instead of uninterestingly going on and on about her views, she quoted the band the White Stripes! When I heard this I burst out laughing, because...well, Congress is kind of old. Exactly how many representatives would even know the reference? Even I as a fan didn't recognize the song she chose to quote, "Effect and Cause," which came off of their 2007 album, and didn't get much air play. But I'm all for shaking people up to get their attention, ya know?

This is "Effect and Cause," from which Congresswoman Edwards quoted.



What's even funnier is that we avoided the government shutdown. Does that mean rock and roll saved the day? Maybe, maybe not, but it makes me smile to think they at least had a small hand in it all :)

I'm really not doing a good job of keeping this blog a regular thing, but I'll keep trying!
I like to read a lot of books about how to write, hoping they'll inspire me or give me the one secret that will write a novel for me. But then I remember that writing is not supposed to be done in a matter of seconds. Not good writing, anyways. Everything you've got is supposed to be invested in it, and to hell with other people. I try to take that attitude, but when I finish what I write, be it a blog post, journal entry or a song, lots of times I find myself second guessing it. The trick is to find out whether you're second guessing because you want people to like your hard work, which is actually quite good, or because you actually really suck. (How's that for a profound quote.)

The task of writing itself is so simple. Hold pencil in hand, apply pressure to paper, repeat. That fools me into thinking writing stories or articles is just as simple. But if I know anything, I know how to practice. This blog has been helping me practice, and I appreciate any feeback I get, good or bad. I'm sturdy like a lobster and can take anything you throw at me. (yes, I'm quoting "Lilo and Stitch!)

Now, for something that seems random but really isn't. My favorite author is Neil Gaiman and my favorite PBS kids show is "Arthur." If I ever become a category on Jeopardy, you will be glad to know this. And do you know what happened? A few months ago, Neil Gaiman made a guest appearance on "Arthur," in an episode called "Falafelosophy," and I was flipping out. Cartoon Neil was giving advice to the character Sue Ellen, who was trying to find her "Inner Neil" and write a graphic novel. I found it extremely funny and encouraging. So, watch it, enjoy, and hopefully, write.

Hilary Hahn and Josh Ritter

In the history of music, there've been a lot of artists who team up with other artists, and when you hear their names together, you think "Huh?"

Bing Crosby and David Bowie, Allison Krauss and Robert Plant, M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, Placido Domingo and John Denver...some were good and some were just weird.

But I was perusing YouTube today, and guess who I found? World-renowned violinist Hilary Hahn performing with the wonderful indie-alternative-folk singer Josh Ritter!

Maybe you know who Hahn is, but not Ritter. He is an independent musician that I first heard of a few years ago on Minnesota Public Radio. He writes great tunes to go with deep, poetic lyrics. His gravelly voice reminds me of Bob Dylan, but unlike Dylan, he looks like he's having fun while performing.

Hahn started out as a violin prodigy, studying from the age of 3, going to the Curtis Institute at 10, and signing onto her first recording contract when she was 16.

She's probably one of the greatest American violinists today.

I wondered how the two ever met, and found out that Hahn and Ritter's families were old friends. The two musicians decided to tour together in 2008.

I listen to music spanning over many genres, and honestly, I don't think I've ever heard such a great collaboration between two totally different musicians. They just bumped Allison Krauss and Robert Plant to #2 on my list.

If you watch the video of Hahn and Ritter playing his tune "Bone of Song" in Switzerland, there was something in the beginning that I found interesting. The duo came out for their encore, and Hahn basically told the audience, "This isn't classical music, but I'm going to play it, and if you don't like it you can leave." Then in another video from later in the evening, Ritter thanks the audience for sticking around to hear his brand of folk music, when they usually expect Mozart or Bach. And I'm sure he liked the change of venues from a rowdy bar in New York to a concert hall in Europe.

If you look and listen closely, there are lots of ways classical music has shaken its reputation of being an institution of snobby, stuffy old birds who want to hear their classical greatest hits: Conductors are actually talking to/with the audience about repetoire, more contemporary and avant-garde works are being performed, and there's a seemingly endless stream of young talent who draw inspiration and technique from many different wells. But there's still not a lot of sanctioned mixing between the classical and the popular worlds. I say, why not? The last chamber music concert I was at, the young conducter and violin soloist not only was a captivating performer well-schooled in Bach and Sebelius, but also toured with bands as a jazz violinist. I didn't even know jazz violin existed!

I think that through the collaboration with musicians of different styles, it gives the artists and listeners a chance to learn. Ritter himself has said he gained a new appreciation for Schubert after working with Hahn, and he loved strumming along to Paganini with her, even though he wasn't a classically trained guitarist. Hahn loved that she was challenged to improvise her solos, and just do something totally different for her regular audience.

I think it'd be cool to see more collaborations like these in the music world. It would make up for the Crosby/Bowie, Domingo/Denver pairings, at least.

'Oh, When the Saints"

If you need something to make you smile...



Two of my favorite people tearin' it up!