"the beat, the beat, the beat..."

"...and I believe with all of my heart that it is a contributing factor to our Juvenile delinquency of today. I ah hundred percent believe it. Why I believe that is because I know how it feels when you sing it. I know what it does to you. And I-I know the evil feeling that you feel when you sing it. I know the-the lost position you get into, and the beat... well ah, if you talk to the average teenager of today and you ask them what it is about Rock and Roll music that they like and the first thing they'll say is the beat, the beat, the beat."        -- Elvis Presley

The first time I heard this quote was part of an into to an old album/record/tape/CD I used to listen to.  I believe the artist was Dime Store Prophets, but I don't remember the song it was attached to.  It was 'the beat, the beat, the beat' that caught my attention and ran through my head constantly.  It got me thinking a lot about society and what songs say to people.  I love a song that has a good beat, a great hook and something that is memorable.  (ie, you find yourself humming the melody without even knowing it)  At the same time, it's a bit scary when you actually see the words you are trying to sing but fumble through what we can.  

A good example of this is when I auditioned for the Retreads last year, we played the song Semi-Charmed by 'Third Eye Blind'.  I knew how the song went, but I only knew half the lyrics (if that) from listening to it on the radio.  It's a very catchy song, has an upbeat melody and a great hook, what's not to like?  Of course the words go by very fast, when you slow them down, or actually read them, it's a very dark song dealing with Meth Addiction.  

I won't go into much detail, but here's one line from the song...what do you think it means?

The sky was gold, it was rose
I was taking sips of it through my nose
And I wish I could get back there, someplace back there
Smiling in the pictures you would take
Doing crystal meth, will lift you up until you break
It won't stop, I won't come down
I keep stock with the tick-tock rhythm, I bump for the drop
And then I bumped up, I took the hit that I was given
Then I bumped again, then I bumped again

Perhaps drug hallucinations from cocaine mixed with Meth, a drug high that eventually crashes, so keep taking more and more resulting in heart palpitations or arrhythmia, but take another 'hit' and keep your high anyways...of course that's just one opinion.  It could mean something completely different. 

For more on this song, you can look here: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2072

I would advise you to keep your overhead down; avoid a major drug habit; play everyday, and take it in front of other people. They need to hear it, and you need them to hear it.
--James Taylor  

 I figure the counter to Semi-Charmed Life would have to be James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend".  Since James Taylor is classfied as a folk singer, this song lacks the upbeat rhythm and hooks that Semi has. The Lyrics in this song are inspiring, and encouraging, especially considering how cruel or unfair the world can be sometimes.  In most cases, no one is ever completely alone.  If you are reading this, then I hope you know that I am your friend, and may not come knocking on your door, but will do what I can to help.  I know I have a few friends who will do the same.

If the sky above you
should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud now
and soon I'll be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
all you got to do is call
and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Please don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have Semi-Charmed in my old band's line up, but it just didn't sound right so we dropped it.  With my new band, Jack's Roommate, this song isn't even on our radar, but neither is James Taylor.  It's the audience that the songs are geared towards.  I find it a bit disturbing when I see girls under 10 singing Kate Perry, don't you?

I'ma get your heart racing in my skin-tight jeans

Be your teenage dream tonight

Let me put your hands on my in my skin-tight jeans

Be your teenage dream tonight

***Shudder***

Lyrics and meaning aside, the true heart of any song is the rhythm, which makes me understand why Elvis said what he did.  It is the pulse, that makes a song move.  That uncontrollable drive that makes you unconsciously tap your toe, or get up and dance.  It provides an emotional effect.  And rhythm does not just mean drums...

Back in my High School days our drum line entered several Winter Percussion Ensembles and did really good.  For me the most memorable section was when we used no instruments and just our hands.  Clapping in various ways to create different pitches and rhythms.  It definitely turned a few heads....kind of like these guys below

I guess all I'm trying to say is...."I HATE SAUERKRAUT"!  


speaking of which...here is a true musical genius...

 

-Brian

"People are flowers. Music is water. Musicians are the hose."
-- Carlos Santana