(originally posted on MySpace on June 30, 2007)
Ok, so I’ve thought about this blog entry for a bit, and I’m a little hesitant to get it started. My wife and I and our close friend Jennifer drove out to Genghis Cohen last night to see Ernie Halter perform. Such a great night, and I have SO MUCH to say. His performance got me a little philosophical about good ole fashioned rock and roll soul….so this post may have to be in two parts. First, a little history from my perspective…
Part I – The Giants
There are two greats in the music industry that transcend all genres of music, and provide a blueprint for success for future artists; Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m certainly not saying these two are the only giants of music, but they are definitely giants. Ever hear a Sam or Otis song? They are both gone, and their music isn’t as mainstream today as it should be or as it was. However, the undeniable factor for each is their ability to stop a room and fill it with their work. If you’ve ever enjoyed them, you know of what I speak. You can’t just hear a song of theirs playing and not acknowledge who is singing. At least I can’t. It is because their voices and their music are so heartfelt and honest that it creates a memory every time you hear it. It creates a memory, it brings back a memory, it takes you someplace you were or reminds you of a place you’d rather be. Listen to Sam Cooke’s You Send Me, Cupid or Twistin’ the Night Away. I believe these were his biggest hits, and for good reason. Each song puts you in a great mood almost immediately. The rhythm, the voice, the lyrics…all good stuff. And cool for everyone. Who hasn’t been in love before or who doesn’t just want to twist the night away? Honest sentiments from an incredible voice that touches you every single time. At least to me.
And Otis Redding. I think the younger crowd might know Otis by one of two songs (or of course both) – Try a Little Tenderness and Sitting on the Dock of the Bay. Both songs are timeless, classics and absolutely incredible. Tenderness builds and builds the emotion, giving us a hint of the pain and love and soul about to unload. And then it does, in a whirlwind of horns, drums, guitars, keyboards and that unmistakable ingredient that makes the whole dish your favorite, his voice. His voice fills all of your senses, making your heart beat a little faster, your mind relax completely and your body shake and groove with each beat. You don’t care about anything else but being as close to the music as you can. Otis was soul, was rock, was love. And my favorite opportunity to hear the emotion, to really experience every ache and pain of what it is like to feel something deep inside you is in These Arms of Mine. Each time I hear it I feel like I’m eavesdropping on a private confession; like I’m not really supposed to be hearing what I’m hearing. But I am, because Otis made this gem for everyone to enjoy. He poured his heart out on this record for all of us to share with him the joy and pain of life and love. Good and bad. It makes us feel like he really wants to share his life with ours, and it makes us feel good. And it makes the world a better place…
A better place indeed.