| ©Random Thoughts &Opinions ....from a true renaissance man By Neville R Waters |
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Random thoughts and opinions from a true
renaissance man…Are we ready for spring to
spring…believe me, we are ready on the east
coast of the United States (it all flows from
heeere anyway…whoops I’m gonna open anutha
can of worms)…Can we agree that the spectacle
of Michael Jackson on trial for child molestation
charges is a sad and tragic event…my
generation has literally grown up with this man
and have watched him become all that he has
become…...........
renaissance man…Are we ready for spring to
spring…believe me, we are ready on the east
coast of the United States (it all flows from
heeere anyway…whoops I’m gonna open anutha
can of worms)…Can we agree that the spectacle
of Michael Jackson on trial for child molestation
charges is a sad and tragic event…my
generation has literally grown up with this man
and have watched him become all that he has
become…...........
a fabulous entertainer, a curiosity, a caricature, a trend setter,
sometimes disturbing, wildly popular and very much
misunderstood…regardless of the outcome much like the OJ Simpson
Trial, the result will be hotly debated. I’m sure our collective
preference would be for spring to bring the new Michael Jackson,
uhh, song…now available in so many formats we can’t say “album” or
“LP” & cassettes have been rendered essentially obsolete with CDs
soon to be a thing of the past due to MP3 players and digital
downloading. Technology can be such a curse and blessing…it’s
wonderful to have the capability of enjoying music through the use of
portable devices, but there’s an isolation associated with downloading
music…sure you can share it by emailing your friends…but it’s not
like cranking up the turntable, puffin on a li’l sumpin sumpin &
bobbing your head with the heads of friends discovering the fresh
melodies of your favorite group or an unheard debut performer or,
well, you get the point…the collective enjoyment of listening to music
is lost…it’s the difference of seeing Ice Cube in “XXX” at the movie
theatre or at home on the DVD…once it is actually released
commercially, not the day it’s actually released in the theatre…it still
amazes me how fast bootleg versions of movies hit the street…see
another example of the blessing/curse technology thing.
sometimes disturbing, wildly popular and very much
misunderstood…regardless of the outcome much like the OJ Simpson
Trial, the result will be hotly debated. I’m sure our collective
preference would be for spring to bring the new Michael Jackson,
uhh, song…now available in so many formats we can’t say “album” or
“LP” & cassettes have been rendered essentially obsolete with CDs
soon to be a thing of the past due to MP3 players and digital
downloading. Technology can be such a curse and blessing…it’s
wonderful to have the capability of enjoying music through the use of
portable devices, but there’s an isolation associated with downloading
music…sure you can share it by emailing your friends…but it’s not
like cranking up the turntable, puffin on a li’l sumpin sumpin &
bobbing your head with the heads of friends discovering the fresh
melodies of your favorite group or an unheard debut performer or,
well, you get the point…the collective enjoyment of listening to music
is lost…it’s the difference of seeing Ice Cube in “XXX” at the movie
theatre or at home on the DVD…once it is actually released
commercially, not the day it’s actually released in the theatre…it still
amazes me how fast bootleg versions of movies hit the street…see
another example of the blessing/curse technology thing.
But my next biggest peeve with the effects of
technology is the lack of great album
covers…Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Last Days and
Times” was a classic piece of psychedelic
artwork. I know you remember the excitement
you felt describing the latest album cover from
the Ohio Players…how many of you messed up
your sheets trying to use honey in creative
ways….come on, admit it…sweet sticky thing
alright.
technology is the lack of great album
covers…Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Last Days and
Times” was a classic piece of psychedelic
artwork. I know you remember the excitement
you felt describing the latest album cover from
the Ohio Players…how many of you messed up
your sheets trying to use honey in creative
ways….come on, admit it…sweet sticky thing
alright.
I’m not gonna let myself be so tied to something old that I do not
embrace the new…I realize the benefits and the fact that as times
change, so must we, but do we have to accept that one hit rap video
makes you a music mogul. Whodini had a blazin first album, but we
didn’t have to endure the Who Unit spin off…did Run, DMC and Jay all
release solo albums before their group put out a second record…why
didn’t Heavy D put the Boys on front street…what was Kid without
Play. The artists today have no sense of patience…they are merely
are a product & a reflection of the instant gratification generation. I
recently noted a radio station playlist that included Trillville, Sly Boogie,
Cassidy and Tupac…Tupac, ain’t that brutha dead yet…so who are
they??? But more importantly does it matter…will they ever produce
anything with the comparable impact of “Fight the Power” from Public
Enemy or “The Message” from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious
Five. Everything has speeded up…thanks again, technology…the
attention is greater…the rewards are more enticing…don’t wait…there’
s no hate on makin money, but that’s a different thrill from making a
classic. When you are young and seemingly have so much time, a
year is so far away…as you get older, the year becomes a period to
savor because its value and preciousness are recognized…yeah, but
what was right for me then, ain’t always right for me now…hello low-fat
diet…& ironically whether you take it slow or fast, there is not much
room to waste time…each year we witness the return of spring with its
promise of hope and rebirth…don’t waste it…embrace the joy while
seizing every moment…thank you for your time this time until next
time.
embrace the new…I realize the benefits and the fact that as times
change, so must we, but do we have to accept that one hit rap video
makes you a music mogul. Whodini had a blazin first album, but we
didn’t have to endure the Who Unit spin off…did Run, DMC and Jay all
release solo albums before their group put out a second record…why
didn’t Heavy D put the Boys on front street…what was Kid without
Play. The artists today have no sense of patience…they are merely
are a product & a reflection of the instant gratification generation. I
recently noted a radio station playlist that included Trillville, Sly Boogie,
Cassidy and Tupac…Tupac, ain’t that brutha dead yet…so who are
they??? But more importantly does it matter…will they ever produce
anything with the comparable impact of “Fight the Power” from Public
Enemy or “The Message” from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious
Five. Everything has speeded up…thanks again, technology…the
attention is greater…the rewards are more enticing…don’t wait…there’
s no hate on makin money, but that’s a different thrill from making a
classic. When you are young and seemingly have so much time, a
year is so far away…as you get older, the year becomes a period to
savor because its value and preciousness are recognized…yeah, but
what was right for me then, ain’t always right for me now…hello low-fat
diet…& ironically whether you take it slow or fast, there is not much
room to waste time…each year we witness the return of spring with its
promise of hope and rebirth…don’t waste it…embrace the joy while
seizing every moment…thank you for your time this time until next
time.
