Category: Music


Same as it Ever Was – An Addendum to that Whole “Fantasy” Post

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September 21, 2010

  Before you accuse me, Take a look at yourself

Eugene McDaniel  – “Before You Accuse Me”

So, against my better judgment, I decided to be nice to a group of fans who I THOUGHT might appreciate some videos I took, that came out really well, of a certain artist, that I, like them, enjoy watching perform.

I went on this artist’s site, created my account and proceeded to wander in to possibly the craziest group of wingnuts I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

I was, within seconds, accused of first, being a troll, then, being another person who they all think is a troll, and finally, an Adam Lambert fan (which is apparently worse than being a troll or a troll imitating another troll) who came in there for the sole purpose of bashing them.

Realize that not only did I direct them to my YouTube channel (which has zero Adam Lambert, FYI. Really? Couldn’t they at least accuse me of being a Daughtry fan like they used to? I mean I don’t particularly like his music, but, hell, at least I hear he’s a good guy – and not a diva).  I also directed them to this blog… oh and I went on using my REAL name.. not my nick name “Meerkah.”

I found myself angered at the accusations. Not because I felt in any way that they might directly reflect who I was as a person, but because the whole ordeal immediately reinforced every bad thing that has ever been said about this artist’s fan base. These folks love to say that everyone ‘bashes’ them, but how can anyone NOT bash them when the reception received, by someone who for all they know could be a potential new lifer, is so heinous??

Seriously, they love to complain that this artist needs to widen his fan base, and that people just don’t ‘understand’ good music. But really, what if I had been a new fan? What if I had just come on there to chat it up with other fans? Anyone not already accustomed to the rampant, ridiculous, stupidity that permeates this particular group, and didn’t already know that among the whack jobs there were some legitimately good people, would have run for the hills.

One fan asked me to please not take it out on the artist. Well, of course I wouldn’t. I’ve been a fan of his long enough to know better. But it’s no surprise to me, that when I go see him play, it’s always the same group of people running for the merch table at the end of the show to catch a glimpse. It’s no surprise to me that any new fan is looked upon suspiciously. And it’s really no surprise to me when my friends, who’d never seen him play, but who very well might enjoy his sound, refuse to go see him play, because, well, they don’t want to deal with a fan base that has a reputation for being insane, or even worse, when, my friends who have been fans as long as I have been won’t go to a show because they’d dealt with the crazy before, and really don’t want to have to pay to be subjected to it again.

Really? I am aware there are far more ‘normal’ people, than ‘crazy’ ones, but the ‘crazy’ ones seem to be the loudest, most obnoxious of the bunch. I am appalled at the reception I received in that room, and if I actually DID know the guy (as I was informed that the other “Troll Persona” they attributed to me had claimed) I’d tell him what an insane group of jackasses are doing to HIS reputation. Because make no mistake, when a new fan comes on to that board, these old timers are representative of the artist.

The folks who ‘live’ on that site need to realize, that they very well might be the ones inhibiting the growth of the artist. That no matter how amazing he is live, or how great his songs are, they are, much as crabs in a basket, keeping him down by perpetuating the ‘crazy’ fan base reputation that they themselves created.

For me, as a fan, it is infuriating to watch. This is a very talented musician who doesn’t deserve his reputation sullied by a bunch of crackpots who somehow think it’s their God given right to police HIS site. He has moderators for that folks. You all are there to just enjoy, chat it up, make friends, and not alienate any other potential newbies.

I don’t know the guy. I never said I did. But guess what, neither do you. Stop ruining his career because of some fantasy you may have that he will thank you for chasing away folks that YOU may not like or may be jealous of for whatever insane reason your deranged minds come up with.

You like this guy? Do him a favor and learn some fucking manners.

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It’s Just a Fantasy – It’s NOT the Real Thing

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September 20, 2010

A glistening smile, a twinkle in your eye

Well, I can smile like that, just give me a try

And I’ve traveled around just to hear you

And your songs don’t leave my mind

So tell me what should I do, to get you to say “hi”

Toby Lightman – “Don’t Wanna Know”

 

Fan – (noun)     1. An enthusiastic admirer of a celebrity or public performer    2. Same as fanatic (noun)  –  a holder of extreme or irrational enthusiasms or beliefs

 

One day, while hanging out on my Facebook page, I noticed someone had sent me an I-M.

Fangirly: “so umm.. Hi, this is so and so, we met the other night at Canal Room, do you remember me?”

Me: “of course I do. We were introduced by whatsisface” (Hence the reason I accepted her friend request)

FG: “Yeah, so umm.. how close are you to whatsisface, I mean, like, are you two, you know, together, cause, like, you seem pretty chummy”

Me: “No. We’re just friends.’

FG: “Oh, cause, I think he’s hot”

Me: “Umm yeah, he’s a good looking guy.. I guess, I just don’t look at him that way”

FG: “Really? Cause I think he’s  HAWT!”

This chick then begins to go in to detail exactly how HOT he is.. and what she’d like to do to him.. prompting me to ask her, nicely, to please stop as he is a good friend, and I find the images she was conveying to be disturbing. And then I unfriended her.

Seriously, I understand liking a performer, whether it’s a musician or an actor. I get the whole ‘fantasy’ thing – I mean seriously, we all have our fantasies. I even get the whole wanting to discuss, among other fans, any particular fantasies one might have. I don’t disparage that at all. What I DON’T get is full on obsession, or the absolute craziness that some fans have where they believe the object of their, shall we say, affection, might in any way respond or make the fantasy reality.

Take for example the woman who, while I was walking down Bleeker Street , with one of my musician friends after one of his shows, propositioned him. The guy, trying to be nice without alienating the fan, turned her down. She proceeded to offer him fellatio, right there, practically getting down on her knees, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, to prove she was serious.

Really?

How disgusting, never mind degrading!

Once upon a time, I joined a fan site. Now realize, it wasn’t a fan club. I mean I’m a member of the Dave Matthews Band Fan club, but hey, for $35 I get first dibs on seats, and am never in the nosebleed section. What I’m talking about is a site, devoted to one artist.

I had never been part of a ‘fandom’ before and was taken aback, at some of the craziness I witnessed there.

As a disclaimer, I will say this was ONE site. I actually was convinced, after running away from this site to join another one, where the fans were more like me. They liked the guy. Some were a bit overboard, but the crazy was quickly squashed by the sane there – but that first site? Wow. It opened up a window to insanity I never even knew existed.

Exhibit A:

One evening, bored, I decided to wander in to the site’s chat room. There weren’t many folks in there. Just me, and about four other folks, three of whom I had become personal friends with (and am still quite close to today). In wanders one of the ‘crazy’ fans and posts a phone number and writes: “This is his number, anyone dare to try it?”

Two of my friends, not believing this crazy person, tried it. It was the artist’s actual phone number.
I immediately started fearing for this guy – And, hoped he had the sense to change his phone number (he did, thankfully).

Exhibit B:

The lady who swore she was destined to be with this guy because a) her cat shared his birthday and hair color, b) she and her boyfriend broke up the same day she first saw him sing, c) he was really nice to her when she got to meet him – she SWORE he was giving her the eye…

Exhibit C:

The lady, who after meeting the artist, decided that he has to be gay because he didn’t come on to her in her chest revealing, leopard print blouse and too tight jeans – I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the dude’s lack of sexual desire for the woman had nothing to do with him being gay (not that there’d be anything wrong if they guy were – it’s just, that, well, he’s not) rather, it had more to do with the fact that this woman was older than his mother – and she looked more like a supersized ‘Snookie’ than, say, Demi Moore.

Exhibit D:

While on that site, I befriended a group of ladies who had become friendly with the artists’ former band members. They were friendly enough with the band to have been given permission to set up and promote a few shows in the area. Because actually setting up these shows required contracts being signed, arrangements being made for travel, accommodations, etc.. the ladies who were setting up these shows couldn’t divulge information freely until all ‘I’s’ had been dotted and ‘t’s’ crossed.  This, however, was not quick enough for some of the folks on this board. The folks running this board were promised the information would be posted there as soon as all was finalized. One of the moderators on this board decided to publicly denounce these ladies as liars, stating that they didn’t know what they were talking about and were taking the whole board for a ride. She continued to threaten these ladies with all sorts of stupidity and proceeded to spread her ridiculous accusations on other boards.

What proceeded next was a week of hair pulling, name calling and cattiness unlike any I’d ever had to endure before. This was effectively what sent me running in the first place. I mean, as a friend of these ladies, and as someone who was going to be helping out at the events, I did have some knowledge of the work they’d all put in to making these events happen. The folks on the board knew that and in addition to attacking these ladies publicly, I was sent some of the nastiest, idiotic E-Mails decrying my own sanity, stating I was naïve to believe these women and to not come crying to the board moderator once I’d realized I’d been played for a fool . The sheer ignorance of some of the people on this board, folks who would call up potential venues essentially trying to insert themselves into situations they had no business inserting themselves in to, trying to discredit people who were working on creating an event for THEM to enjoy, was horrific. If memory serves my final post on that board was basically me telling them all to kiss my ass.

Now while that experience was bad enough, at least it was, well, virtual. The up close and personal experiences tend to be even more ludicrous. For example, standing with one of the band members, and having him show you a Face Book E-Mail from some chick who’s calling you and your friend “groupies.” Him laughing about it and saying  “Really? Cause neither of you have tried offering me what SHE was offering me the other night – which I declined, by the way. I mean I have standards!” Or, watching your friend get the stink eye from the less attractive fans as they whisper and point to you both because they’re pretty sure one of you is going after the object of their affection (again, wrong).  Or even worse, folks KNOWING you’re friends with an artist and them walking up to that person and saying “I’m friends with Meerkah” in an attempt to either discredit you, or to use your name to get them to maybe befriend the person (what these folks don’t realize is the phone call/text I then get in an attempt to confirm said ‘friendship’ and my immediate response of ‘stay away – stay VERY FAR AWAY’).

I guess, because I don’t see these guys that way, or even when I DO, initially, see them that way, once the fantasy is broken, and I meet them in person, I tend to just see them as the human beings they are. I mean yes, they are very talented people who perform nightly to an appreciative crowd, but sometimes I wonder if the fans themselves don’t expect a bit much from these guys.  They all have personal lives. Their job is to entertain, but once they’re off that stage, shouldn’t their lives be all their own?

Seriously, I’ve seen entire fan groups  have a collective heart attack at the mere mention that the object of their affection might have a girlfriend, or might be getting married and all I keep thinking about is “what? You REALLY thought he was going to marry YOU?” That’s the part I DON’T get. The part where fans seem to think they own the right to dictate the artists’ life.

I’m not going to say that I haven’t been guilty of fantasizing – of COURSE I have. But at some point you’ve got to realize that a fantasy is just that. At some point, you’ve got to realize these are real people, with real lives – Lives that they should be permitted to live in peace without some crazy stalker jumping out at them from the bushes while they’re trying to have some time to themselves; or lives where, if they’re out having dinner with friends, they don’t have to stop mid-bite to take a picture when you know full well, you’ll get your chance later that evening at the show they’re in town for; or lives where their girlfriends don’t get stalked to the point where they give up because your fans are insane.

I think my point might actually be made better by a note that was posted by a fellow fan of one of the artists I follow during one of the crazier times on one of the crazier sites. While this note was originally geared towards one artists’ fan base, I feel it relates to many ‘fandoms’ I have witnessed since then. I am reposting this, with permission, deleting the name of the artist and anyone associated with him that might be mentioned:

Perhaps the saddest reality, is that each and every person here has wasted an inordinate amount of their life on this whole bullsh*t parade.

Herein lies the truth. 99.9% of you will never be able to call “the artist” your friend. (Well you can claim it all you like, but being #23,452 on his MySpace page ain’t gonna make it so!) Hell, I’m going to go so far as to say that another 99% of you will never even have “crew and band members” think of you at all. That’s the real deal folks.

Facts are facts and you can all (and I do mean ALL of you) cry a river of outrage if you want. Friends are made when you actually care to know a person for who they are, not because of what they do or what (scary) you think they are all about.

Fact: “The Artist” is a great artist. Fact: He is actually kinda sweet and does some really great things for the underprivileged around him. Fact: He is a business person and appreciates you as fans who support his music and allow him to do what he loves to do. Fact: He has had girlfriends in the past. He will have them in the future. Not one of them is, or should be your concern. Sorry.

Grimmer reality: Even the “band and crew members” of the world need you for one purpose and one purpose alone. Buy the ticket – take the ride. That’s all folks! We all have a job to do. They sell stuff and make it so that you all have an escape to the lives that clearly aren’t what you’d hoped they’d be. That is all they owe you. They are not here to sleep with you or make out with you or put you on their top ten friends to make your life worth living. In fact, I am quite certain of this. If you happened to have a “lucky” (and I use that word loosely) encounter with any of “The Artists’” extended posse, well good for you (I guess) but ask yourselves the real reason you tried so hard for that “precious connection.”

That goes for all of you who sit here and bash one another. You all struggle to find the thing that makes you special and to have others look upon you as worthy of praise or jealousy. Look inside yourself and realize what is really important. It’s not the cyber-fame that will be with you when you need a friend the most. It’d be those around you who you actually have stood the test of time with.

Trust me on this, fame is fleeting – and by fame I mean real fame – not this crazy board hysteria. When real fame is gone, guess who is left? REAL FRIENDS. That’s who will be there for “the Artist” and every other celeb-du-jour when their star dims. They know this. That’s why they don’t waste time in these cyber palaces of the unholy. It’s why you shouldn’t either.

All of these women being bashed are clearly in need of some good ‘ol self esteem. Yes, it’s sad, yes, it’s more than sad. It’s devastating to those real people in their lives who have lost them to this nonsense. IT’S BEEN TWO YEARS PEOPLE! Get over the insanity, step away from the keyboard and go outside! It’s flippin’ nice out. No excuses! “The Artist” is on vacation and so you all need to take one too – a vacation to the land of Normal, and a return from the land of the loony where you have existed for way too long.

Leave “The Artist” and his friends and employees alone to do the only thing that is relevant. Make the music.

I hope you all manage to get some perspective sometime soon. Sadly, by the time that happens, “The Artist” will announce the next tour. Then I can see the backbiting, eye-gouging and dart throwing shall begin again, just to grasp that 43rd meet and greet pass!!!!

Ok, I have now clearly wasted way too much of my time on you all already, but I thought I’d remind you what reality looks like, as its been way too long a respite for most of you. I’m going off for a run and a nice dinner out with friends. You should try it sometime.

Best of luck to all of you trying to grasp the golden ring of computer coolness. Try not to fall off the horse.

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Rendezvous with the Angels and how Tony Lucca Managed to Render me Speechless

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July 30, 2010

There are very few things that ever render me speechless. I guess if you know me, you know I’m almost never at a loss for words. EVER.

That said, it took me a a few weeks to figure out how to even begin to describe or even discuss Tony Lucca’s “Rendezvous with the Angels.” That, and I needed to find my old thesaurus to figure out exactly how many ways one can say “phenomenal”, without being too repetitive.

I’m a little too old to have ever watched the “Mickey Mouse Club” back in the 90’s (you know, the one with Justin Timberlake, Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilera, et al), I was too busy with college and loving all things grunge (oh yes,  I was SO in LOVE with Eddie Vedder back then.. wow),  so I had NO idea who Tony Lucca was when Rachel (yes, the music guru), dragged me to see him play (also on the bill that evening: Keaton Simons and Curtis Peoples).  I hadn’t as of yet taken any of her musical suggestions, so didn’t realize that when Rachel says “go see so and so” the correct response was to, well, go.

She decided that since she was planning on coming in to NYC to see the show again (she’d seen them the night before in Boston) she would  take the Staten Island Ferry to come visit me and MAKE SURE I was going to make it to the Bitter End that evening.

On the ferry ride in to Manhattan, she told me about Tony’s background on MMC, and I remember thinking “well, I hope the other two are worth it.” Honestly, I don’t know what I was expecting. But when Tony took the stage, I was mesmerized by his voice, his lyrics (and the fact that he literally switched between Piano and guitar almost every other song).  Needless to say, by the end of his set, I had run to the merch table and bought his “Canyon Songs” and have been a fan since.

Because I literally never miss an opportunity to see Tony play, I’d already heard a few of the songs that were going to be on his recent offering “Rendezvous with the Angels.” Because it’s Tony Lucca, I knew the CD was going to be amazing.  What I didn’t expect was to be stunned silent by the sheer beauty of the entire collection. I REALLY didn’t expect, to put it in the words of one of my friends, to be “paralyzed” by a few of the songs. It’s really THAT good.

I’ve heard folks call Tony a “story teller.” I can find no better term to use myself. Tony’s lyrics do indeed take you on a journey. Whether it is one of loss and the longing to find the strength to move on after heartbreak in “Undertow”; The hopes and wishes and eternal love an expectant father has for his child in the beautiful “Always”; The desire to relive a lost love even if it’s just for one night “Stay with Me”; or the happy fluttery feeling at hearing from your long distance love in “Long Love Letter”; or, to the song that literally floored me, (and had me hit repeat a few times before I was ready to listen to the rest of the CD), “Song to a Martyr” (yeah, I relate to the theme… and yes, I guess I can say it’s my favorite track on a CD full of favorites).

Musically the CD takes you from the happy/poppy (I actually read one review that said it could be a toothpaste commercial?), “Make You Mine;” To the bluesy/gritty “Like Love”; to the heartbreakingly melodic “Nobody but You.”

In addition to the songs Tony penned himself, the CD includes a stunning cover of Billy Joel’s “Vienna” (PS:  my favorite Billy Joel song!) and a song Tony co-wrote with Melissa Polinar (I’m telling you folks you MUST check her out! http://www.myspace.com/melissapolinar), called “Back to Me,” which includes guest vocals by Sara Bareilles.

I can go on and on about how stunningly poignant and beautiful the CD is; How one minute you’ll be dancing around the living room, the next contemplating your broken heart.  But instead, I’ll leave you with a few video clips of some of the live performances of a few of the album’s songs.

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“Franklin and Vermont” and my (almost) bipolar reaction to Ernie Halter’s latest CD

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July 12, 2010

So remember how I said I’d probably go on and on about Ernie Halter at some point? Can’t say I don’t keep my promises… Ernie’s got a new CD out, and I literally can’t stop listening to it.

Ernie’s latest offering “Franklin and Vermont” dropped a couple of weeks ago, and , of course, since I’ve been waiting for this CD pretty much since his last release “Starting Over,” (two years ago)  I went and got my copy right away. I’m not a reviewer. And I’m going to point out that biased as I may be, if the CD wasn’t good, I wouldn’t say a thing.

The thing is, this CD is more than just ‘good’, it is simply PHENOMENAL!

Every song on this CD had me simultaneously smiling, and I’ll admit, tearing up a bit, almost as if I were hearing these songs for the first time.  (And yes, I realize this makes me sound simultaneously bipolar and all fangirly, but you’re going to have to just deal with it).

Smiling, because, aside from being one of my absolute favorite musicians, he’s also one of my favorite people, and knowing even a little bit of where these songs come from, I can’t help but feel  a whole lot of joy mixed in with just a little bit of pride – you know, the kind of pride you feel when you see a friend do something they love, do it well and be successful at it. Tear up because, well, same as above. (Hey, I AM one of those girls who cries at the end of a chick flick, sue me!). Having been fan of Ernie’s music as long as I have been, it’s amazing to see how much he has grown, both as a song writer and as a recording artist. And, while I genuinely love Ernie’s previous offerings, this CD is by far his best one to date. There’s a joyous, almost euphoric feel to it, like you know, the guy who wrote and recorded this is just in a better place in his life than he was before. And again, this makes me ridiculously excited for him.

The first time I ever saw Ernie perform, I knew I’d be a lifelong fan. The thing about Ernie’s performances is that no matter who you are, or what you’ve been through, you can relate to whatever it is he’s singing up there on the stage.  What I love the most about this CD (and “Starting Over”) is Ernie has somehow managed to do something most artists, even some of my  other favorites rarely ever achieve, Ernie’s managed to capture that live vibe onto his recording. (I know there’s a process he uses, and it’s got to be mentioned in the reviews somewhere, but I am not a reviewer, nor do I read reviews or really know any of the technical jargon used in recording studios, I just know that I’m never fully satisfied with most studio albums, no matter who the artist, because most studio albums are so over processed that they tend to just leave me feeling like something is missing – not sure if that makes sense, but what I’m saying is I really wish more musical acts would utilize whatever process Ernie uses, because it really DOES make a difference.)

There are many standout songs on the CD, and while I’d love to name a favorite one, I simply can’t. The collection as a whole is simply stunning. However, the standouts (at least off the top of my head) are:

“Almost You” – I heard this one the first time I went to see him play a few years back – I loved it then, and was surprised it didn’t make it onto the last CD. Ernie’s tweaked it a bit since then and  the updated version is amazing. Glad he waited to record it!

“Angel” – This is one of those songs, that as a woman, you wish your guy felt that way about you.  Since many of Ernie’s fans have at one point or another heard the story behind the song and had the pleasure of meeting the lovely woman this song is about, you just want to thank whatever force it was that broke down Ernie’s car that day. (And if you DON’T know what I’m talking about, get yourself to an Ernie Halter show!)

“Gone” – The first time I heard this song, I cried.  The cello and sincere vocals on the CD version make this one of the most beautifully written and recorded songs about the difficulties of moving on after suffering the loss of someone you love I have ever heard.

“Yes I am” –  In addition to paying homage to Stevie Wonder, (LOVE me some Stevie!), this song’s message of “don’t mess with me” is one I’ve been feeling for weeks  now, so it’s been on constant repeat on my iPod ever since I got the free download of it off Amazon – (Yes, that IS me in my car belting it out like a crazy woman – what? ). It’s one of those songs, you KNOW you’re going to want to dance to when you see him perform it live (Hello, Hotel Carolina – Ernie with a full band – this song? Can’t wait!).

I’ve heard many artists say it’s flattering to have their songs held in such high regard that another artist would choose to cover them, but truly, Ernie is one of the few performers I’ve heard that can actually cover another person’s song and make it his own without ruining the integrity of the original. On “Franklin and Vermont,” Ernie covers the uber-talented Melissa Polinar’s “Meant to Be,” (seriously, if you haven’t checked her out, do so, immediately – wait, first finish reading this… then go check her out, I promise, you’ll thank me), Squeeze’s “Black Coffee in Bed,” (one of my favorite songs of all time – and I LOVE Ernie’s low-key version of it… Brings on a whole new meaning to the song for me), and Cold Play’s “In My Place.”   

The final song on the CD, “This Beautiful Ache,” which features Amy Kuney and another favorite of mine, Tony Lucca (whose latest release, “Rendezvous With The Angels,” comes out tomorrow – can we guess what CD I’ll be gushing about next??), is by far one of the most achingly beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. 

Ernie often thanks his fans for, essentially, giving him a job. Personally, I’m thankful to him for making music that I love. And again, I’m pretty sure I speak for anyone who’s ever seen him perform when I say, thanks Mrs. Halter for forcing those piano lessons on Ernesto Jr. , please continue to remind him that he (and all of us out here who love listening to him), owe you big time!

If my gushing on and on about these songs isn’t enough, check out these videos of Ernie performing some of them live:

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My music Guru – and why I have to thank Taylor Hicks (Don’t Judge!)

Filed under: Music — 4 Comments
June 18, 2010

I can honestly say that the majority of friends I’ve made in my life, I’ve become acquainted with through music. It’s strange , I know. My two best male friends? We became friends over a mutual love of Pink Floyd.  My oldest female friends? I met through our mutual admiration of a local band we all followed.  The folks I spend the majority of my time with these days? I met through musicians I currently follow.  The musicians I currently follow, I became aware of them through my musical guru, a phenomenal woman from Boston named Rachel, who I met –

Wait for it….

…On a Taylor Hicks fan site (don’t judge).

Back in the Spring of 2006, I was home, sick with pneumonia. While I had watched previous seasons of American Idol, I very rarely bothered until they’d hit the top 10 or less. This particular year, I hadn’t watched any of the season. I had no interest after Bo Bice had lost the previous year (what? I thought he was hot), effectively killing my 100% record of predicting the winner (yeah, I know, Carrie Underwood is very talented and totally deserved to win—but Bo Bice was HOT – and I loved his voice  – and his hair).

So, there I was, sick, in bed, flipping through the channels, pausing momentarily as Ryan Secrest begins to introduce some guy named Taylor Hicks, who was apparently going to sing “Something” by the Beatles. My initial reaction was to groan. As a Beatles fan, I’m very very  critical of anyone who tries to remake their songs (seriously, I love U2, but their version of “Helter Skelter”? not so much). “Something” is pretty much one of my absolute favorite songs (note to any man who ever wants to grab my attention, THIS song, DMB’s “Crush,” or “Pretty Girl” – David Ryan Harris or Ernie Halter version, is sure to make me melt… just sayin’).  

Now I’m with most folks who love music in believing that this show is pretty much nothing more than glorified Karaoke.

But then the guy started singing.

And he did a phenomenal job.  

See?

I immediately go on line to see if there were any sites where a video of this would eventually become available. I wanted to see it again… and again… and again.  I stumbled on an entire website devoted to Taylor Hicks, which apparently had videos and mp3 downloads of all of Taylor’s performances. Of course, in order to get these gems, one must register to join.

So I did.

 I figured I’d get the vids and/or mp3s and that would be that.  But then I started reading the threads…

 And I was intrigued.

I’ve never seen such blind devotion towards an as of yet (‘yet’ being back then), relatively unknown. Now, I love people watching, and studying human nature in general, so clearly, I decided to stick around.  Having never been a part of “fandom” I never truly realized how crazed some people can get. I’m not talking your average fan who will go to shows and buy CDs and try to meet the object of their devotion. I’m talking about people who devote a majority of time to that person in such a way that would make a more normal person fear for said person. But somewhere in that congregation of crazy, there were a few folks who seemed normal. And by normal, I mean they didn’t think that the goofy gray-haired guy shit flowers and farted bubbles or was their future husband because he shared the same birthday as their cat. (I shit you not – this is a true story)

Now despite the infatuated and the dillusional, some of the info on the site was useful. For example, I found out that Taylor had released two cd’s independently, prior to his appearance on American Idol. I took a listen and loved what I heard (seriously, listen to “Somehow” or “The Fall,” you’ll totally understand). The man was nothing if not talented. So I began to visit the site regularly and eventually wandered in to the chat room where within hours I met a few ladies who have become some of my closest friends in the world. 

After the Idol finale, where Taylor won (and my streak of being able to predict the winner was restored – seriously, I have predicted the winner each year since, at top 10 week… Now if only I could transfer this talent to the lottery, I’d be all set), I began meeting these ladies in person at events in which Taylor would be performing. Suffice it to say, I saw A LOT of Taylor Hicks over the next year or so. July 21, 2006 Rachel  came down from Boston, on a very soupy day, to see Taylor perform on GMA. The minute we met in person, there was a mutual recognition of kinship. It was like hitting the friend jackpot. I’m generally pretty skeptical when I first meet someone, but with Rachel, it was an instant friendship  – One that has continued way beyond Taylor Hicks.

Eventually I, and all of the friends (out of something like 4000 members, I’d say there were 10 of us that weren’t insane), left the site -screaming.. seriously.. the people in charge over there? Nuts. Not even kidding a little.. (one day, I WILL write blog about THAT experience and why I fear super fans so much – seriously, the cat thing, not even scratching the surface of the surface of the crazy).

The friends I made there, in addition to being some of the best friends I have ever had, friends who supported me and my husband when he was sick, helped me pick up the pieces when he passed away and who even now, as I go through yet another crappy time in my life, are there to hear me out and help me, have also become the ones I plan vacations with (most of my vacations are music related) and who have introduced me to some of the best music (and the best musicians) I have ever known.. which also, has brought a whole other new group of awesome people into my life (and given me a glimpse to other potential crazies out there).

Rachel had been telling me about this guy Ernie Halter for months. “Go see him, I SWEAR you’ll thank me. You’ll LOVE HIM.” Eventually, (January 2008),  I took her advice and went to see him at the Bitter End.  

She wasn’t kidding.

I continue to thank her to this day.

If YOU haven’t checked him out, you REALLY should… http://www.myspace.com/erniehalter … you WILL thank me (and Rachel, and his mom for forcing him to take piano lessons, and his label – Rock Ridge Music- for letting him record his stuff the way he feels right..and…), I promise. He is an amazing singer/songwriter, and beyond that he’s a fantastic person! But don’t take my word for it. Give him a listen, and then go see him perform. He’ll be on the road this summer with another amazing singer/songwriter named Tony Lucca http://www.myspace.com/tonylucca . Both of them are coming out with new CDs this summer… I can go on and on (and probably will in future posts), but right now? Just go check them out.

But by going to see Ernie Halter (and Tony Lucca, and Keaton Simons and Curtis Peoples and…) I also have met some phenomenal people who I see regularly, speak to almost daily and who genuinely make my life so much better than I ever thought possible in the aftermath of my husband’s death.  

And I can trace all of this goodness in my life to…

Yep, Taylor Hicks.

So thank you Taylor. Without you, I wouldn’t have met my musical guru; my iPod would probably not be nearly as filled with awesome music; and my life, as it is today, would definitely not be nearly as blessed.

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Chicks with Guitars (or Pianos) and why I hate “Single Ladies”

Filed under: Music — 1 Comment
June 14, 2010

Recently, while debating the state of music these days with my cousin, and how much I  seriously loathe, detest and okay HATE the song “Single Ladies,” and most of Beyonce’s music as a whole, my cousin snarked at me with “oh please, you just don’t like any female musicians.”

Not true.

First of all, you can’t call Beyonce a musician. I’m not even all that sure she can really sing (when I hear her sans auto-tone, I’ll believe it, until then, the jury’s still out). A musician is a person who can PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT – and I’m not talking being able to play ‘Chopsticks’ on the piano, okay?  (For example, Alycia Keys is a Musician. I appreciate her talent and her vocal skills, even if I don’t like her entire musical repertoire).

Granted, most of the women on the radio don’t suck. The problem is, well, they’re so busy pandering to the masses that they just don’t appeal to me. What can I say? I like my female musicians much the same way I like my male ones – sans extraneous crap. Basically, if they can’t do it without auto-tune, if they can’t sing/perform live without a back up tape (and back up dancers), they’re not for me.

The other night I went to see two of my favorite female singer/songwriters, Aslyn and Toby Lightman, who in a stroke of brilliance, are touring together.

I first heard of Toby Lightman when she was on tour with Taylor Hicks (don’t judge – listen to his pre-American Idol music, or better yet, go see him live, then we can talk).  I immediately bought both of her CDs and have been a fan ever since.  I was introduced to Aslyn’s music on The Rock Boat. (There is no real way to explain The Rock Boat. Simply calling it a music festival on a Carnival Cruise is not even scratching the surface but, it’ll have to do for now). Again, I loved her songs, related to some of them all too well, and of course bought her CDs immediately.

What sets these two apart, from say, Taylor Swift (who’s song writing I genuinely admire, but who’s live performances just don’t cut it for me), or Lady Gaga, or Beyonce, or well, just about any female you’ll see on an awards show these days, is , in my opinion, they are the real deal.  When it comes to music, at least for me, it’s about sincerity, it’s about the live performance, it’s about being relatable.  I know it’s different for everyone, but really,  if you a) can’t sing in tune live, b) need to shock people in to giving you recognition (so much so that your ‘shock value’ overshadows your actual talent- Lady Gaga? Very VERY talented, but who the fuck could tell under all that schtick?) or c) need auto-tune, and super vocal enhancement during your live performances, you’re really not impressing me.  Which really won’t matter to any of the ladies I’m referring to because they’re billionaire superstars by now, so what does it matter what I think, right?

It’s just sad to me that female singer/songwriters, more so than their male counterparts need to up the ante somehow just to get ahead or to make it big at all. Seriously, how many truly talented women are out there singing their hearts out and still struggling to be noticed just because they refuse to get up on a stage and shake their asses like some overpriced pole dancer while lipsynching songs about some dude who lost his chance because he didn’t ‘put a ring’ on it? (okay, so in a nut shell – Guys, if you feel you need to ‘put a ring on it’ so she won’t go off with some other dude, then you’re fooling yourself. Ladies, if you NEED a ring from the guy as a sign that he loves you then you’re not looking for love, you’re looking for a ring. You love a guy? You’ll wait.  He loves you? You’ll get the ring without having to threaten him with losing you. Seriously, as a woman, this is the DUMBEST most insipid and INSULTING song I’ve ever heard).

So back to Aslyn and Toby Lightman –   Both of these women are super talented. Their songs are relatable, and beautiful and their voices are spectacular. When you see them live, it’s them, not some fucking circus made to sell to the masses who need the flashing lights and half-naked dancing men  and women because their ADD-ridled brains can’t muster the necessary focus one would need to appreciate real music (or real lyrics, you know, the kind that don’t make all single women seem desperate for a leash.. umm.. ring).  Don’t get me wrong, sometimes a little flash is okay, especially when you have the talent to back it up (Pink, I love) – but when flash becomes a necessity just to get attention? In the words of my first major live performance disappointment, ‘that don’t impress me much.’

This? Yeah.. Impresses me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME:

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