Goin With the Flow
(grrr... still having picture issues, sorry)
There has been a theme in this blog of giving advice to those performing and writing music. Even though I am too unskilled to perform and I lack the ability to write music I would still like to weigh in with some advice. WARNING: Some of the songs mentioned below may contain explicit lyrics.
The Power of Passion
When I listen to music outside of church, the primary ingredient I look for is passion. If the artist performs with passion I really don’t care what genre it is. Although I reject most of his music, when Eminem sings about his love for his daughter in When I’m Gone, or about giving his all in Lose Yourself, the passion there makes me want to listen to those songs over and over again (it also makes me want to weep and pray for this man who has felt so much pain in his life, even in his success). The song I mentioned last week, Hate Me by Blue October first captured my attention because of the sheer volume of emotion coming through my tiny car speakers.
The Power of Passion
When I listen to music outside of church, the primary ingredient I look for is passion. If the artist performs with passion I really don’t care what genre it is. Although I reject most of his music, when Eminem sings about his love for his daughter in When I’m Gone, or about giving his all in Lose Yourself, the passion there makes me want to listen to those songs over and over again (it also makes me want to weep and pray for this man who has felt so much pain in his life, even in his success). The song I mentioned last week, Hate Me by Blue October first captured my attention because of the sheer volume of emotion coming through my tiny car speakers.
I believe people (or maybe it’s just me) going through a world of day to day blah want to feel deeply. When an artist effectively funnels their emotions into a song, it really doesn’t matter to most people what the song is about. It’s powerful. If I could request one thing from the Apostolic songwriters and performers out there it would be to truly feel what you are playing and singing. I even give you permission to continue writing the canned stuff and having your picture by the pole or park bench or public restroom if you can just really get passionate about your art.
I know… I know… I am not an artist and this is a lot easier to say than to do (especially if you do it for a living). But this is what I listen for when I listen to music. I believe this is also what the world is listening for.
Final Note on a Short Blog
If you can capture the passion without resorting to the canned stuff, that would be really great too!
Final Note on a Short Blog
If you can capture the passion without resorting to the canned stuff, that would be really great too!
posted by Josh at
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
1 Comments:
Josh,
Point taken and I'm laughing again about the permission to take pictures by the park bench, pole, and restroom. You may not be an artist (that term makes me a little nervous), but you hit on something very important...what does the person listening feel and think. I was told Phil Collins would take his rough mixes to the nearest school and have students listen. He would then "fine tune" his mix, and it worked for him. I don't guess one should soley rely on the listeners, as you know, the public can be programmed into demanding huey, but something can be said for seeking constructive criticism from the demographic your targeting...that is, if you have even thought about a demographic. Who are you trying to hit and what do they think?
KB
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