Note: this is the first in which we hope to be many posts from new contributor Ed Van Winkle, modern-day philosopher and music lover. He will post occasionally here as part of his 'In my humble opinion' series.
Oh how much we grow when we pay just a little more attention. I hope you are also on a continuing journey of acceptance, tolerance, beauty and benevolence. [Ed Van Winkle]
In my humble opinion...
Fewer things are more influential in our ever-evolving enjoyment of treasure than timing. Fewer still are pockets of music that strike a personal chord at the most potent opportunity.
Falling in love with a band and/or a song has everything to do with the context of our perception in the moment. It's more than our mood, our current emotion or the culmination of environmental factors. Those incomparable realizations are cravings being satisfied before we even knew we had them.
So I put it to all of us; Let's experience music more than once, at every point in our life.
Revisit a song, band, genre, era, style, version and give it a new fair shake with our fresh ears.
A bit of the ol' context for example:
The quick evolution of alternative music from eighties into nineties added to the rising wave of angst and message driven sound: Operation Ivy, Fugazi, Pennywise, Dead Milkmen and countless other insanely independent groups became relatable and we loved them LOUD. '92 brought Rage Against the Machine into the picture and the core part of my musical identity was forged for the foreseeable future. I was committed to a library of music adopted by so many of us driven to defy conformity. I'm sure you can picture us shredding authority with our skateboard lifestyle all up in everyone's face.
It wasn't until much later that I started appreciating the more delicate, poignant and moving side of that era's complete offering. A definable example is Freedom by George Michael.
Side note: I have always loved diversity and equality. I wasn't always vocal about that in my youth but I sure as hell am now.
Freedom. What an inspiring and intricate art piece. As I listen to it now as a husband and father, I roll my eyes at my teenage self thinking it was little more than a video of gorgeous models in edgy scene work.
Oh how much we grow when we pay just a little more attention. I hope you are also on a continuing journey of acceptance, tolerance, beauty and benevolence.
As we part ways, I urge us all to give some forgotten works another spin. You'll find treasure. I guarantee it.
I mean, even some yacht rock slaps now. Who knew?
with love
Ed Van Winkle