Groundhog Day! Did the little critter see his/her shadow? I don't care; I live in the Midwest where the weather will fluctuate despite what the groundhog "says."
I've spent some time mourning the loss of my Colin Hay wine bottle that I purchased at the first show my dad and I attended two years ago this month. Enough of that, though, because I can always order another when I see him again. And, if I read the website correctly, I can easily order a custom label and request the winery to use the same label that was used two years ago. It might be a stretch and cost extra money, but it's worth a shot. Also, I'm going to do something creative with the remains. I'd love ideas if anyone has a few, or just one!
I decided to use my vacation this spring to go to Nashville and see him perform at the City Winery there. I'm so stoked! ALSO, I'm in a contest to win tickets to see him the following day. (If you want to be my new best friend, head to this page and watch all the video and view all the photos one time to give me extra entries!)
Before that, two new releases are on my radar, Waiting For My Real Life and the newest album Fierce Mercy. The documentary about Colin's music successes and struggles was released January 30th. It travels through his life, hitting the major high points of his career with Men at Work to his low points of finding his way in the music industry. I can't get enough of it. Every time I watch it, I catch something I missed the previous times. Colin's life is a fascinating story when you see how it continued after the split of his band. I need to talk less of it and you need to go see it for yourself!
Here's one quote that really stuck with my since watching the film nearly 3 times:
Creativity is my salvation. Going out on the road and in those two hours and what you get from that is... you know, you get high. You do it to get to that because that's the addiction. You want that. You want it again because it's clean. It's pure. It only involves these people and you. You can't fake that. It has nothing to do with a record company or radio station. It has to do with connecting with people... That's what I'm trying to tell you. I hope that's what it is, because otherwise I've been wasting my time.... wow! Colin has a way with words, duh! But, this is the very reason why I am completely in love and obsessed with his songs. He is an open book and lets you read all the chapters of his life through each track. As the listener, we take it all in and relate to it. Especially when it hits really close to him, it makes the song that much more personal and meaningful to us.
The quote is basically what I was concluded from my meet and greet experience with Vertical Horizon last fall. I feel so blessed and amazed my two favorite artists understand what their music does to their fans. Specifically, with these two artists, the lyric and melody combination is an emotional experience. Whether it's sadness, happiness, humorous, hopeful, or just plain fun, there's always an arousal of emotion. When I was in high school, I didn't have the time or money - or the courage to ask for money - to attend concerts. I also didn't have the same appreciation I now have for music; I was a movie buff and spend countless hours watching films with my family.
Now that I have an urge to go to live concerts and to travel, finding meaning and value in music is at the top of my requirements for choosing my music; doing this justifies the money and time spent to see bands and solo acts. I'd much rather go to a live show at a coffee shop, winery, brewery, or small venue to listen to an authentic performer than go to an arena filled with thousands of people and hear an over-glorified band or artist. In an intimate setting, it's frowned upon to speak loud or to be a nuisance.
Music should be listened to in a comfortable, quiet, warm setting. I don't know if that makes me sound old, but I don't care. This type of space lets you enjoy the beats and words to their full extent. Colin's show was the first time attending one in this manner. Don't get me wrong, I still love going to see bands like Sixteen Candles where I get sweaty and dance like a maniac, but there is a time and place for each music genre.
But anyway, go see the film. And, when you can, go to a Colin show. It'll change your life. Well, maybe not change your life, but it will be an experience you'll never forget.
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