Who knew what would show up on my musical radar this week?
Classic rock legends, The Who, rocked the world as they entertained at halftime for the Super Bowl. I was with them heart and soul when I heard the familiar sounds of a harmonica. I excitedly asked the twitter community, “When was the last time you heard a harmonica at Super Bowl halftime?”
A fellow tweeter, Taylorsezine, who knows a thing or two about music, tweeted back the harmonica stats and said “…the ghost of The Who past LIVES!!!”
The blogging community review was immediate and widely mixed with its reaction to the performance of the rock superstars. The Lefsetz Letter instantly judged that “The Who just killed classic rock.” Others said “Great.” The debate went on. Even one reviewer suggested all that was needed was to add the question mark.
The Who?
Then a very unexpected bleep flew onto my radar. I was introduced to hard core metal this week when a young college student wrote an essay about his favorite music genre—one not in the mainstream. No kidding.
Of course, I thought he was talking about some kind of new “heavy metal,” which I had actually heard of. No, this was definitely not the heavy metal of the late 20th century.
In the ensuing discussion after I had read his composition, other students eagerly joined in, one calling it “screamo” music since the musicians scream. I asked if there were actually lyrics, and they said yes, if you could understand them, or wanted to. They seemed to mumble something about bad language. Okay, that’s not new in music.
He explained also that hardcore metal concerts featured hardcore dancing where attendees take fake swings at each other in aggressive “dance” moves that often ended up in fights and brawls.
What?
If someone accidentally gets hit, well, it’s what you expect. One popular dance move is throwing your arms out and if someone is in the way…well, it’s the dance. “It’s fun. We meet lots of people and make friends.”
Everyone at the concert rushes the stage. I said that I had stood at the stage and had to stand my ground. It was painfully evident that they were not impressed and that I had been no where near a stage like theirs and “standing my ground” was no where near hardcore metal’s “standing your ground.”
Since most young students today learn by laptop, I asked for him to show me hardcore metal on his laptop…in a few seconds we were on YouTube and I was listening to, yes, “screamo” music. “There is a beat,” I lamely commented. And there was.
These were not young people with lots of body piercings and green hair.
Punk rock is so totally passé.
These were intelligent young people working on their education.
Where have I been?
Then I received an email with the link to a promotion with the picture of Taylor Hicks on the cover of a “Hot Metal” Hohner harmonica for sale.
Now we are talking “ metal.”
Taylor Hicks playing a screaming harmonica is hardcore metal that I can embrace! I have been there at the stage and heard that kind of metal…
Now, I know that I should have some kind of lofty and worthwhile point to all of this. I don’t.
It was just an interesting week of extremes on my musical radar…from classic to not so.
Speaking of radar…there was still a lot of snow on the radar.
Just ask Taylor Hicks.
Taylor and Hohner have been friends for years:
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?1663
The Taylor Hicks “Hot Metal” Hohner harmonica is available here:
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/look_inside/18739157
Classic rock legends, The Who, rocked the world as they entertained at halftime for the Super Bowl. I was with them heart and soul when I heard the familiar sounds of a harmonica. I excitedly asked the twitter community, “When was the last time you heard a harmonica at Super Bowl halftime?”
A fellow tweeter, Taylorsezine, who knows a thing or two about music, tweeted back the harmonica stats and said “…the ghost of The Who past LIVES!!!”
The blogging community review was immediate and widely mixed with its reaction to the performance of the rock superstars. The Lefsetz Letter instantly judged that “The Who just killed classic rock.” Others said “Great.” The debate went on. Even one reviewer suggested all that was needed was to add the question mark.
The Who?
Then a very unexpected bleep flew onto my radar. I was introduced to hard core metal this week when a young college student wrote an essay about his favorite music genre—one not in the mainstream. No kidding.
Of course, I thought he was talking about some kind of new “heavy metal,” which I had actually heard of. No, this was definitely not the heavy metal of the late 20th century.
In the ensuing discussion after I had read his composition, other students eagerly joined in, one calling it “screamo” music since the musicians scream. I asked if there were actually lyrics, and they said yes, if you could understand them, or wanted to. They seemed to mumble something about bad language. Okay, that’s not new in music.
He explained also that hardcore metal concerts featured hardcore dancing where attendees take fake swings at each other in aggressive “dance” moves that often ended up in fights and brawls.
What?
If someone accidentally gets hit, well, it’s what you expect. One popular dance move is throwing your arms out and if someone is in the way…well, it’s the dance. “It’s fun. We meet lots of people and make friends.”
Everyone at the concert rushes the stage. I said that I had stood at the stage and had to stand my ground. It was painfully evident that they were not impressed and that I had been no where near a stage like theirs and “standing my ground” was no where near hardcore metal’s “standing your ground.”
Since most young students today learn by laptop, I asked for him to show me hardcore metal on his laptop…in a few seconds we were on YouTube and I was listening to, yes, “screamo” music. “There is a beat,” I lamely commented. And there was.
These were not young people with lots of body piercings and green hair.
Punk rock is so totally passé.
These were intelligent young people working on their education.
Where have I been?
Then I received an email with the link to a promotion with the picture of Taylor Hicks on the cover of a “Hot Metal” Hohner harmonica for sale.
Now we are talking “ metal.”
Taylor Hicks playing a screaming harmonica is hardcore metal that I can embrace! I have been there at the stage and heard that kind of metal…
Now, I know that I should have some kind of lofty and worthwhile point to all of this. I don’t.
It was just an interesting week of extremes on my musical radar…from classic to not so.
Speaking of radar…there was still a lot of snow on the radar.
Just ask Taylor Hicks.
Taylor and Hohner have been friends for years:
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?1663
The Taylor Hicks “Hot Metal” Hohner harmonica is available here:
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/look_inside/18739157
Photo credit: Hohnerusa.com
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