As music becomes more high tech, it loses personality

I'm a picker, I'm a grinner, I'm a lover, and I'm a sinner.
I play my music in the sun.
I'm a joker, I'm a smoker, I'm a midnight toker,
Sure don't want to hurt no-one.

From “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band

I miss the old pop and rock songs from my childhood. Of course I have most of them recorded, but its not the same to turn on the radio and hear what comes out of the speakers now. I know every generation has its own music and thinks that the music from the generations before isn't cool, but I really don't like a lot of today's music. Quite frankly it seems to me that the only quality a person has to have to become a famous singing star is to be weird enough to fit in. Ever notice how just plain strange most of todays stars are? Ok, ok I know; The hippies and hair bands of the 60's, 70's, and 80's were a little different too, but somehow they were cool. The music rocked! Maybe that is why they call it rock hmmmmmm.

I will continue my gripe about today's music. Too many of the lyrics suck. I have to admit that musicians of today are usually pretty good. Of course they have all the electronic cheaters that help them sound good, but that is ok. Playing music takes talent and hard work regardless of the electronic gadgets. I am a musician myself and sometimes the added effects are necessary, and add more character to the music. Now if someone could just write songs that make sense/tell a story/even talk about something fun. Rap music bugs me no end! I always tell everyone that rap stars are people who can't sing but want to be music stars anyway. Lets face it, if you have heard one rap song, you have heard them all. It seems that in the never ending struggle to be different, our musicians have all become alike. Oh for the good ol' days......

Amazing Grace

Who wrote the song Amazing Grace? John Newton wrote it between 1760 and 1770. The song is very old, much older than I at first realized. On a trip to the Philippines last year I attended a small country church with my wife. She begged me to sing Amazing Grace for the congregation. I finally accepted and sung what I knew, in spite of my jumping nerves. Surprisingly everyone seemed to know the song. I had no idea that it was popular so far away from this country.

Over the years other writers have composed additional verses to Amazing Grace, and in fact Amazing Grace was not the original name of the hymn. It is thought that perhaps some verses of some of Newtons other hymns were added to the song. Regardless, the six stanzas below were what appeared in the first edition of the Olney Hymns, near the date of Newton’s death. Enjoy the lyrics, it is one of my favorite songs.

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

A lot of today’s music sucks

I remember when I was a teen I thought my music was so cool and the music my parents listened to was pretty terrible. Back then it seemed that my music would be cool forever, but of course it wasn’t. I grew up in the days of Elton John, Grand Funk Railroad, BTO, and all the other bands of the 70’s and 80’s. I still think a lot of that music is cool, plus it just seems to have better arranged music and higher quality lyrics than most today’s music. I joke a lot that most of today’s songs sound like something a kid would write. It is no joke however. Even so, sometimes I can’t help but laugh at some of the lyrics I hear, especially on today’s so called country music. I think most of the “country” singers probably don’t know which end of the cow the horn is on. The exaggerated country accents and fake gravely voices (imitating the old Kenny Rogers sound no doubt) make me sick and I usually turn the radio off or to another station when one of those comes on. Its sad but music has come down to the same principles that nearly everything in our society has fallen too; make money any way possible, but don’t worry too much about quality or longevity. Maybe I am biased but I think a lot of the older music, yes from my parents day, but also from my day, will live for many years. I just can’t see very many of todays songs being remembered for any length of time. Of course there is little talent involved in the music industry now. Its more sexual or shock orientated. Oh well, I can’t change it, but I can certainly hold onto my old music albums.