Subject: MUSIC, AGE, and ALIENATION
From: Paul Kennedy (kennedyp@toronto.cbc.ca)
Date: Wed Jan 05 2000 - 01:48:28 EST
Dear Fishes:
This is one of those 'conversations' that an 18-year-old will never believe
they get sucked into. I like Bob Dylan. My father liked Glenn Miller. I
liked the Beatles, and the Stones. My mother liked Frank Sinatra.... Mel
Torme... They're too old. I'm too young. ....Kurt Cobain.... We'll never
be able to talk.
Why am I picking up this thread with the vague hope of spinning it into some
sort of richly rewarding tapestry?
First: I certainly never intended to diss Mr. Cobain, and I'm a bit
surprised that my original message was so interpreted. Basically, I was
trying to say that I don't know ANYTHING about him, or his music--so I
automatically disqualify myself from any discussion about either of the
above. ......I went to school with Neil Peart (drummer for RUSH). He's
given me public credit for making him a musician. I've never listened to a
note of his music. So if "RUSH" suddenly popped up in the bananafish
subject line, I'd likely feel morally obliged to ignore all postings--even
though I could tell you things that might make my old buddy Neil blush.
Why? Because I'd have nothing to say.....
Second: I remember a discussion here some months ago about "Smoke Gets in
Your Eyes".... Somebody REALLY smart (but much younger than me....) said
that it didn't really matter what the song actually sounded like.... I can
only hope that it was the stupidest thing they'll ever say. The "Smoke"
scene from CATCHER would be sonically empty if I couldn't be playing "Smoke"
in my imaginary soundtrack while I read it. Generational musical
intolerance works both ways.
Third: Ever since the invention of audio recording, we've enjoyed the
unprecedented priviledge of listening to great musical artists who have
long-since been pushing up roses. Let me recommend Billie Holliday, Maria
Callas, Glenn Gould, Roy Orbison.... I imagine, (but I can ONLY
imagine--sorry Scottie, and John Lennon) that Kurt Cobain might be included
in this list. Some day, when I've got world enough and time, I'll try to
give him a listen.... But I guess that RUSH (for personal reasons) should be
first in line....
....after Bach, and Beethoven.... and Brubeck.... and Buxtehude....
So much music. So little time.
Music ought to bridge the gaps between generations. My (now 14-year-old)
daughter was delighted when she first witnessed BOTH her parents singing
aloud to some stupid sixties song on the car radio. She's been through
Alannis, the Back Street Boys, and I can't tell you how many "musical
suppliers" in the meantime. We'll meet again when she's 40, and I'm on my
deathbed. And we'll agree on maybe Bach, and Bob Dylan, and maybe (maybe)
Kurt Cobain--whom she's yet to discover....
Open minds must be open in ALL directions.
Cheers,
Paul
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