Parenthood

So I'm watching the Disney channel this morning (I know... trust me, I know) and I catch this "music video" for a guy by the name of Dan Zanes. Its just a little throwaway number in between two shows, but its got a great vibe and wouldn't you know it... I notice that my feet are tapping and I'm kind of couch-grooving to this Disney music video. You know: couch-grooving. Don't play. We've all done it.

Sigh.

So I grab the laptop and consult with the almighty Google oracle to find out what the scoop is on this guy. Turns out he's a prolific kids & family musician with kind of a cool DIY vibe. He even apologizes for not having time to play all the birthday party requests, but offers this piece of advice:

I don't have the time, but I have a better idea for you. call your friends that play instruments and ask them if they will put a birthday band together for the occasion. three or four songs can go a long way and it's very inspiring for people to see friends gather together to make music. don' let the professionals have all the fun.

So that's pretty cool.

CLICK HERE for his video page. "Catch a Train" is the one I saw this morning. There are some other gems in there, but I won't spoil it for you, though "Down in the Valley" has a nice featured guest.

But anyways, I've been thinking a lot about music and how we as a species have this innate, silent beacon inside of us that radiates outward looking for sounds and rhythms and music. I've been trying to get more in touch with finding out WHY I am craving a particular artist at a particular time. Or to figure out how unexpected music that I encounter spins the dials of my emotional kaleidoscope.

For example, the past 3 days or so, I've been craving sad, slow, lamenting acoustic stuff. And I still haven't really figured out why I had such a pointed and specific need for that certain mode of music.

I guess a lot of this has been born out of our last Brickwall Film Competition. The assignment we gave to all of our teams (and to ourselves) was to make a music video for local bands here, and I noticed that Jim and I's brainstorming sessions were unusually creative and vivid. And since we finished that video (CLICK HERE to watch it if you'd like, its at a MySpace page so I hope it works) I've found my brain twisting back to music and video and the complex relationship we have cultivated between the two.

I have a lot of friends who are musically inclined, some of which are in functioning bands, some who are solo, and some who are just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. I myself, not so much. I have other talents in other areas; I think would be a proper outlook on my musical situation. So which ever end of the spectrum you are on, please take just a moment and let me know about your music, and what inspires you or grabs you or that you secretly turn up in the car when it comes on the radio and no one else is riding with you.

And more importantly that WHAT you are listening to, but WHY were you called to listen to it in the first place?

And how does your mind process the music as it streams? Visually? Colors? Memories?

And then? (No and then!) And then? (No and then!)