Growing up my musical tastes swung like a pendulum. Maybe it was a case of not knowing who I was yet and trying so many directions or maybe it was an inkling of the insight that I could like a large variety of music. Perhaps a little of both and I've turned into a pretty open minded individual about music and taste from a vast array of genres.
I grew up as a multi-racial kid in a mostly poor part of town. I wore one white glove for a weekend cuz Michael Jackson did it in 1983. I even would've worn a Thriller jacket if I could have afforded it. I would breakdance, pop lock, moonwalk, backspin and beat box. But all of that was only 1 chapter in my novel of a musical life.
My first concert was AC/DC at the Memorial Auditorium 1981 or 82, Back in Black tour. I sat on the floor and was passed a joint during the show... no I didn't hit it, I was 8! I went with my half brothers. They had me by 15 years, so if they said something was cool, I was all in. Being young and impressionable, I emulated their musical taste and AC/DC, Kiss, Van Halen and similar bands were the bees knees in my world.
Fast forward 2 years and my interest would be held by Run DMC, Whoudini, Kurtis Blow, etc. In those days I might've chosen Michael Jackson over Prince, barely. What was I thinking? As the 80's progressed so did I, venturing into new avenues of sound. I went through a skateboarding/punk phase where I listened to the Replacements, Minor Threat, Sex Pistols, Clash, Dead Kennedys and things like that. Then I went through a mopey New Order, Cure, Echo and Psychedelic Furs period. Somewhere in there was a poppier Howard Jones, Duran Duran, Cars, Blondie thing to be followed by a somewhat regrettable Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, hair band thing only to finally conclude the decade in an abstract rap Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, BDP and Public Enemy deal... and that was just the 80's!
I've worn so many hats over the years I may have perpetual hat-head. I wouldn't trade it though. It's shaped me into becoming the person I am and the lover of many forms of music. I'll pop in a Kayne West song, follow it with a Stereolab tune, bounce to Alicia Keys before throwing on some Guns n Roses, Joy Division, Underworld, Dido, Parliament Funkadelic, Prince and Deee Lite.
Music is one of my favorite things. It can be so powerful. It can bring tears to your eyes, a smile to your face and sedate you better than some stupid pill. The best and worst part there is so much out there. It's bad because you'll never have all the good stuff and great because you'll never have the good stuff. You ever hear that clich about the hunt being better than the kill? Me neither, but if you had ever heard something like that you could apply it here.
I was popping on a bunch of oldschool rap tunes this evening with some new stuff and got a little nostalgic. I marveled at the differences and similarities of rap 20 years ago and today. I could write a whole new entry over what I found this evening but something inside of me wants to now throw on an Aimee Mann record and that's gonna lead me into a whole new direction and switch me into a new train of thought. Next stop: anywhere ... Away I go!
I grew up as a multi-racial kid in a mostly poor part of town. I wore one white glove for a weekend cuz Michael Jackson did it in 1983. I even would've worn a Thriller jacket if I could have afforded it. I would breakdance, pop lock, moonwalk, backspin and beat box. But all of that was only 1 chapter in my novel of a musical life.
My first concert was AC/DC at the Memorial Auditorium 1981 or 82, Back in Black tour. I sat on the floor and was passed a joint during the show... no I didn't hit it, I was 8! I went with my half brothers. They had me by 15 years, so if they said something was cool, I was all in. Being young and impressionable, I emulated their musical taste and AC/DC, Kiss, Van Halen and similar bands were the bees knees in my world.
Fast forward 2 years and my interest would be held by Run DMC, Whoudini, Kurtis Blow, etc. In those days I might've chosen Michael Jackson over Prince, barely. What was I thinking? As the 80's progressed so did I, venturing into new avenues of sound. I went through a skateboarding/punk phase where I listened to the Replacements, Minor Threat, Sex Pistols, Clash, Dead Kennedys and things like that. Then I went through a mopey New Order, Cure, Echo and Psychedelic Furs period. Somewhere in there was a poppier Howard Jones, Duran Duran, Cars, Blondie thing to be followed by a somewhat regrettable Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, hair band thing only to finally conclude the decade in an abstract rap Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, BDP and Public Enemy deal... and that was just the 80's!
I've worn so many hats over the years I may have perpetual hat-head. I wouldn't trade it though. It's shaped me into becoming the person I am and the lover of many forms of music. I'll pop in a Kayne West song, follow it with a Stereolab tune, bounce to Alicia Keys before throwing on some Guns n Roses, Joy Division, Underworld, Dido, Parliament Funkadelic, Prince and Deee Lite.
Music is one of my favorite things. It can be so powerful. It can bring tears to your eyes, a smile to your face and sedate you better than some stupid pill. The best and worst part there is so much out there. It's bad because you'll never have all the good stuff and great because you'll never have the good stuff. You ever hear that clich about the hunt being better than the kill? Me neither, but if you had ever heard something like that you could apply it here.
I was popping on a bunch of oldschool rap tunes this evening with some new stuff and got a little nostalgic. I marveled at the differences and similarities of rap 20 years ago and today. I could write a whole new entry over what I found this evening but something inside of me wants to now throw on an Aimee Mann record and that's gonna lead me into a whole new direction and switch me into a new train of thought. Next stop: anywhere ... Away I go!