"Good 'ol Rocky Top..."

So... lots of states have unofficial theme songs.

New York- "New York, New York"
Alabama- "Sweet Home Alabama"
Texas- "Deep In The Heart Of Texas"

California's been serenaded by everyone from Tupac to Phantom Planet. One of Ohio's odes got remixed by the entire cast of the Drew Carey show... there are all kinds of unofficial theme songs. They get played at football games, sometimes at concerts too.

I wasn't even aware Tennessee had an Unofficial Theme Song until I moved here and everyone knew the words but me. It was like my first ACU Chapel all over again!

Tennessee's U.T.S. is "Rocky Top"-- and because I haven't heard it my whole life-- I think it's adorable. It's so catchy! And I still find it really novel because I'm fairly sure everyone in Nashville knows the song except me.

UT (TN, not TX-- even though they're both orange and represented by big T's.) uses it as their fight song, and at any major city events, the folks in charge end up playing it over a loudspeaker. The Franklin cloggers practice dancing to it on the steps of city hall, artists cover it at concerts, and anywhere it makes an appearance, *a sing-along ensues.

And I secretly love it. :) Know why?

Eecause every time it comes on, life turns into a musical. Everyone knows the words, and everyone sings along. (Of course after visiting the dueling piano bar this weekend, I've realized that the same thing tends to happen with "Ice Ice Baby" and also any hits by Michael Jackson or Bon Jovi... but Rocky Top still has sort of a wider appeal... in TN at least.)

Anyway, I'm happy my new state at least has a catchy U.T.S.... "Music City" oughta know a thing or two about writing a hook.

*This is not the best or most complete version of the song... but it's how it usually sounds when I hear it. :)

I'm So Over It.

I hate to be negative, but blogging is about sharing your thoughts, and lately, these 5 things, when brought up in conversation, tend to invoke those four little words in bold printed above.

1. Celebrity gossip. I don't care. I especially don't care about Britney Spears. Or Paris Hilton. Or Lindsay Lohan. Maybe if we stopped stalking them and paying so much attention to them, they'd calm the hell down.

2. Red Bull. People are all jacked up on it. But it hasn't been around long enough for us to know whether overconsumption of it will really wear out your heart faster or cause your body to do other weird stuff. I just don't like it. It's just one more thing to be addicted to. (How and when did our nation get so prone to/apathetic about addictions?)

3. Reality TV Shows About Rich People. Boring. Stupid. Overdone. I'm tired of getting sucked in by them and having my life wasted.

4. Slasher Movies. They will always be gross, and they're just getting worse and worse. And it seems regular tv has to get more intense just to keep up with people who get bored when blood and brains aren't being slung everywhere. Fact is, there are real blood and brains of innocent people being slung everywhere in countries all over the world everyday... and we hardly ever even hear about it-- because the news is all caught up with the life and times and uh-ohs of the people from bullet #1. And we (as individuals) subsequently, do nothing to stop it.

5. The overabundance of hip hop music that insults my gender and my intelligence. At the moment, namely "Crank Dat Soulja Boy". If I hear that ridiculous song one more time... nothing will happen. Because it's just on, everywhere, all the time and I can't get away from it.
I hate music that doesn't mean anything. I thought that was the point of music. To convey a message, a mood. To tell a story, to give the listener something to relate to. Not just background noise. Not a soundtrack for mindless drunken gyrating. Mindless gyrating is meaningless. Superfluous words that don't mean anything are meaningless. Idleness is meaningless. Meaninglessness is meaningless.

And depressing.

You know what I hear when "Crank Dat" and everything else like it comes on?

Little boys. (And don't tell me I'm thinking too hard about this-- that's how this crap got popular to begin with. No one thinks about it.) Immature, selfish, egocentric, unfullfilled and unaffirmed little boys, telling each other (and any female who will listen) how pimp and tight and BAMF they are, because no one who loved them ever bothered to tell them that they could be more than that. That they could be heroes, role models, defenders, revolutionaries, with power and influence who gain true respect from everyone-- not just they boys in the street.

It's pathetic. Trendy hip-hop is pathetic. And I hate the stereotype that it sets, encourages and promotes for the Black community nationwide.

I also hate that the Black community (like every other community, mind you) allows a place (BET?) for meaningless garbage like this to flourish, instead of demanding a higher quality of popular music (and film, for that matter. God bless Tyler Perry!). I'm mad that most don't think about it past the surface-- and those that do get blasted for "forgettin where they came from" and "listenin to dat white music". In the meantime, those people doing the accusing settle into the stereotype-- and then get mad with they get profiled.

(sigh)

I know pop & hip-pop will always be around, and much of it will always be mindless and meaningless and overplayed. It has it's place among all the rest of the garbage in the entertainment world, but it just sucks watching the general public turn into media zombies. It sucks to watch people stop caring and start settling for whatever. I'm terrified of numbness, and that's what I get from music like that.

Music associated with the Black community used to mean SO much. Jazz and soul and gospel and RNB & reggae and rap all had purpose, substance. They said something. The music was thick and emotional and controversial-- that's what made it stand out.

Now it feels cheap and mass-manufactured. Probably because it is.

I never want to write anything just to be popular. (Which is probably why I'll never make it in the music business. Which is fine.) I want to write things that have meaning. Things that that share wisdom and experience, things that people can relate to, connect to, be comforted by.

I believe my purpose in life is to spread hope to the hopeless through my own experiences and the experiences of others. To connect people by their similar struggles and remind them that others before them have made it-- and that they will too.

Words that mean nothing, do nothing.

And to quote the man who participated in televisions very first primetime interracial kiss,

"I can't get behind that."

When You Wish Upon A Star...

Yesterday, I went to the Happiest Place On Earth.

We met Ariel. We took pictures at Cinderella's Castle. We laid on beaches and in hammocks at expensive Disney resorts that we weren't supposed to be at. We went on the Pirates of the Carribean ride—and I bought Jolly Roger earrings. I saw Jack Sparrow!!! Twice!!! :) We rode the teacups! We broke the rules in the Swiss Family Robinson's treehouse. We got rained on/soaked while driving the most busted go-karts you've ever seen on the Indy 500 speedway. We went to a Disney Dance Party and danced with Snow White, all 7 Dwarves and Chip & Dale. We got stood up by the Disney Villains. Twice. But they're villains, go figure. We ate dinner at the Starlight Café, while watching Stitch do the Macarena on stage. We saw a beautiful fireworks show and two parades. We rode the Monorail. We rode the Ferry Boat. And I saw Aladdin. But I didn't get to talk to him. :( He was too busy dancing with Jasmine. Pssh.

But it doesn't even matter. Because yesterday—I went to the Magic Kingdom.

And it was magnificently Magical.

(more pics to come!)

Concert Commentary: Vol. 1

Transcribed (because I couldn't help myself) halfway in the dark at a creaky table on the front wall of spectator seats at the site of Jordan Miller's first gig, The Listening Room.

ACT ONE
There's this old man. He might be like 50. Maybe.
His feet are sort of small.
And he's singing a song about drinking too many tequilas to forget about his lost love.
It's terrible.
It's sad.
And it's really sort of hilarious.
Is he wearing Crocs? To his show?
No... they're more like Birkenstock Mules.
If he wrote this song last week, I'm just gonna be really sad.
I can't see his left hand-- but he can't be married.
He's wearing old school, skinny fit man jeans.
He has a pointy mustache, and hair that's cut short to conceal a receding hairline.
His eyes are tired. Worn.
And now he's singing about fishing... oh man.
And there's his hand. No wedding ring.
Man. Poor guy.
I wonder what happened to him.
He doesn't look like he's spent his life being someone's sidekick-- he can stand on his own.
He could have even been big stuff back in the day.
But now he's so sad... and this song is pathetic.
I hope it's not a cover... if it was... ooo.

This guy should be a studio musician for like-- Nickel Creek. Or maybe for a country artist.
But he shouldn't be here... in his socks and Stocks at 9:30 on a Tuesday night... he should be at home with his wife... looking at pictures of his grandkids... poor guy.
At least he's not really out drinkin one too many tequilas... I guess.

ACT TWO
These kids are a little better.
She's wearing cute jeans. And an engagement ring. I think.
Maybe her guitarist is her fiance?
Yeah, they're cute.
He looks like... every other boy in a baseball cap with a guitar. Quiet.
She's dark-haired, thin, looks like she was on drill team in high school.
This song, Lucky One, would sound better as a country song.
If she had a little bit raspier/breathier voice.
Hah! I was right! She just said they're newlyweds.
Sonny & Cher. Her words... not mine.
She's also got this Gaitlinburg accent goin' on in her talking voice.
She should lay it on a little thicker for her act!
This song would work better with some twang in it.
Her songs are actually pretty catchy, pretty well-written...
But her voice... mmm... it's just alright.
This song-- Hidden Heroes-- works though.
Anything patriotic has a place.
Patriotic music is a genre in itself.
This song is sweet though.
Yeah, these kids could do alright--
As country song writers.

ACT THREE
Ms. Jordan Miller.
Her voice is SO pure and it's got great color to it.
Like old school Rachael Lampa.
She just makes it look easy.
Easy.
I love people like that.
Her songs all start from cute little anecdotes.
She deserves a better crowd than this.
A youth group. Girls. They'd love her. :)
Her face is so sweet when she's singing. Like she's totally in her element.
I could tell she was nervous when she started, but she's loosened up now.
She don't need that mic though. ;)
And the bass on that keyboard is up way too loud.
But I'll cut the sound dude a break. It's late-- and things can't be perfect at your first show.
There's such a market for her.
She's way more of a natural superstar than the other girl.
This is a good song.
I'd never heard it. But now I have.
And I bet that before long, the world will too.

See Ya Later?

"Because we have a moment here...let me tell you that I have recently become a secret connoisseur...of last looks. You know the way people look at you when they believe it's for the last time? I've started collecting these looks..."
-Drew Baylor, Elizabethtown

Not the greatest movie, but an interesting concept nonetheless.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the movies alone after work-- simply because I'd never done it before-- and because it's cheaper before 6pm. I watched Becoming Jane. Then I came home in a Jane Austen-y mood and watched Pride And Prejudice. The more I watched, the more it got me thinking-- about saying goodbye.

I can't help but wonder if through our own human advancement, we've made interaction with each other more convienient for lifestyles-- but harder on our hearts and relationships.

Nowadays, technology allows us to keep in touch—almost to a fault. We've got GPS trackers and cell phones and blogs and online photo albums and facebook and myspace and text messaging and skype and—all kinds of other crazy mess. It's really difficult NOT to stay in touch. All you have to do is google someone's name and there you have them. Add twenty bucks and you can get a full background check too. Nowadays you have to WORK to lose somebody.

Say you're trying to avoid someone. Or cut them out of your life, for whatever reason. Besides letting go of all the little things (pictures, movies, songs, foods, landmarks, articles of clothing), if you really want them gone, you have to block their myspace. Take them off your top friends. Change your relationship status. You have to unfriend them on facebook. You have to delete their email address and their cell number, change their special ringtone and text message alert, and take off the alert you had on their AIM screenname. You have to change the background picture on on your phone AND your desktop. You can throw away their address, delete your digital pictures and burn your film ones and at that point there's a chance you've lost them for good…

Except for the fact that any time, at any moment of weakness, you could google them, pay that $20 and get all that info back in under 24 hours.

Back in the day, you burnt their letters. And there were no scanned backup copies or photocopies or trash folders to rummage through. There wasn't even Scotch tape to put the ripped pieces back together! There were no background check websites. There were no phones and no planes and no cars! It took ages to get anywhere, to get ahold of someone. There was no such thing as instant communication. If you wanted to escape someone, all you had to do was leave. It was done. And it was entirely possible that person would never see you or contact you again, unless they wrote to your family's house.

I can't help but feel sometimes that maybe we were never meant to stay so connected to everyone we've ever met. Maybe we were never meant to pop in and out of each other's lives so quickly and carelessly.

People used to savor their times together, because they really never knew when they'd see each other again. There was such thing as a stranger on a plane or on a beach. I bet people didn't take each other for granted as much, because they didn't have the luxury of being in each other's faces all the time. They could never really be sure if they'd see each other again-- so they just enjoyed whatever time they were given.

I've reflected hard on these things because I have real trouble saying goodbye. If I have enough time to think about the gravity of goodbye-- I can't do it. I'll demand this cinema-quality closure-- closure that reflects and honors the depth and intensity and importance of the relationship between me and the other person-- closure that I rarely get.

So many times I want to not think about it. I want to just say see ya later. And sometimes, in an effort to fight the pain of truly & properly saying goodbye-- I do.

But I don't want to do that.

I want to live every moment like it's my last and say every goodbye like it's my last. I realized that sounds sort of dramatic, because we all tend to expect to see people again... but what I mean is that every time I walk away, I want to leave with an attitude and a countenance that my friends could remember with joy if I never saw them again. I don't want to walk away sad or angry.

I want to make the most of every potential last moment.

Things...

1. I recently changed the default language on my myspace to Spanish. So now when I pull up my homepage, it reads "latino.myspace.com" and says things like "nuevos mensajes!" after I log in. And I look in my buzon (inbox) and it tells me whether the messages are Leer or No Leido. it's a little confusing... but I like it.

2. Since it's far enough away from my birthday, Christmas, and any other gift exchange type holiday, I'd like to take this moment to announce that I do in fact have an Amazon wish list. If you have any desire to view my very diverse list of wishes, you can search my name on the Amazon website.

3. I am now in possession of Season One of Heroes! I'm on the 3rd disc, and plan to be caught up by next Monday. So if you're a fan-- let's talk! Next Tuesday!

C'mon, c'mon...

Found this from ages ago. Just wanted to do it using my favorite band.

Choose a single band/artist and answer the questions using titles from any of their songs. This is harder than it looks! Only the song TITLES are supposed to answer the questions, not neccessarily the lyrics...

My artist choice: switchfoot

Are you male or female: Concrete Girl

Describe yourself: Learning To Breathe

How do some people feel about you: Living Is Simple

How do you feel about yourself: Awakening

Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: Amateur Lovers

Describe your current gf/bf/crush: Golden

Describe where you want to be: Edge Of My Seat

Describe what you want to be: Something More

Describe how you live: Dare You To Move

Describe how you love: On Fire

Share a few words of wisdom: This one's really hit me lately...

You've been living life like it's a sequel,
And you're already bored with the plot--
As if the cast and the score
Are more money than before,
But the script and the backdrops are stock.

We've got the rest of our lives to regret
All the words that were said here tonight, but I bet
That the morning, in the morning
You'll find us in bloom...

So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon--
Let's not be our parents...
Oh c'mon, c'mon, c'mon--
Let's follow this through...
Oh c'mon, c'mon, c'mon--
Everything's waiting...
We will rise with the wings of the dawn
When everything's new... when everything's new.

Let us rise up like the summer sun,
Let these songs awaken the dawn ,
Let us breathe every breath,
Like a gift to be kept,
Let us breathe it all in till it's gone

We've got the rest of our lives to live out
All these dreams we stayed up tonight talking about--
In the morning,
We'll start hoping,
But nothing to soon...

So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon--
Let's abandon this darkness!
Oh c'mon, c'mon, c'mon--
Let's follow this through!
So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon--
Everything's waiting...
Well be lit up like fire and gold,
When everything's new...
When everything's new.

BTW, in case I've not mentioned it in awhile...

I LOVE switchfoot.

I want to hang out with switchfoot.

I want to be friends with switchfoot.

Switchfoot is what I want for my birthday. And Christmas. And my ringtone.

If anybody has connections to a job where I can legitimately be paid to follow switchfoot around—please let me know.

Immediately.

I'll move and everything.

Will work for switchfoot.

Switchfoot is also one of those words that gets really weird when you write it too many times.