I don't go out as much as I did when I was younger. Between work, family and other responsibilities, most of the time a good time is just getting in bed early, reading or watching a little "tv" and getting some much needed and well-deserved rest.
When I do go out, I want to hear some good music, maybe dance, have a cocktail or two and hang out with some cool people. Nothing is worse than going out, everything is in place, weather is good, the joint has a good ambience, it's a good vibe among the people, and the music is...off.
Not to criticize any artist or type of music. "To each his own," and "everything ain't for everybody." But to me, when everything is in place and the time is right/the wine is right, the music HAS to be right! Maybe it's the overall playlist, or maybe it's just that the occasion calls for a hot new song that's burning up the charts or is begging to be "broken" (when a DJ introduces a hot new song for one of the first times before it becomes a widespread hit) and it's not played. Whatever the case, it can still be a fun time, but to me it just seems that something's...missing.
The music HAS to be right and it HAS to be a good crowd present. But even when everything is right, and everything is hitting on all cylinders, it still feels off more often than not to me nowadays.
Why?
It's cause the music don't mean nothing. There ain't no soul. It moves the crowd, but at the end of the night, nothing important has happened. No new friendships were made. No new ideas were exchanged. A good time was had by all, money was made, but in the end, nothing, and no one, is changed. Everybody's leaving out the same way they came in.
So what do it mean? What do I expect when it comes to music and promotions and people?
I expect for the music to seize the moment.
In my other life, I work as an educator running youth and community education programs. Everyday, I face a community filled with violence, poor education/closing schools, poor health and generational poverty. On those occasions when people from all walks of life and experience get together and let their guards down and are receptive to a message, to a movement, all too often that feeling ends when the night ends. When the song ends. All of these people, with their talents, abilities, resources, connections and insights into these issues that affect us all, just wander off back to their worlds, sometimes never to see each other or be in that space again.
Such a waste.
Music is the soundtrack to our lives and makes us feel something. With so much going on in our society and so many people needing help, music has the power to reach all manner of people and connect us to each other. To inform us of issues of our times and about the people and organizations in our community that are doing something about them and how we can help.
If music is all about "balling out,' drinking, smoking, "hooking up" and just forgetting our troubles and having fun, that's fine I suppose, but, it's even better if it leads to something that can positively impact our community and bring us together.
I thought for a long time about what this first blog should be about. And this is it in a nutshell.
Music is made to convey messages. And the message in MY music is love! So here it is world! I got a lot of stories to share and things to say that I hope you'll find interesting. I'm using MY music (OUR music!) to tell a story about hope, despair, joy, triumph... and love!
So join me next time as I explain exactly why I'm a "Son of Soul," why this website exists and how together... we can change the world!
So, until next time, "Keep on 77 Groovin', ya'll!"
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