"All this machinery making modern music can still be open-hearted."

 

     Music nowadays has taken such a huge cultural shift since it began some thousands of years ago. Gone are the days of classically trained musicians and symphonic orchestras and simple, straight-edged Rock 'n' Roll, and now the times of overbearing pop are present.

    I personally don't care for what's on the radio this day in age. I don't know why I put it that way, considering that I'm only 17 and haven't been around for much of the other stuff, so who am I to say what's around now isn't ~better~ than what got constant airplay back in the 60's, 70's, etc. I see music as something that honest people make by playing an instrument with their own two hands, stuff that they sat down and wrote from their own heart. As a musician myself, I have learned to respect other genres and artists, but I don't see how punching a few buttons on a laptop is considered music. (i.e Dubstep- a concept I have still yet to grasp.)

                                                             This, is not music.




                                                This, however, is honest musicianship at work.

    I suppose it's a biased opinion, but there is definitely a difference from then and now. Times are changing and it's sad to say that some of the good stuff has come and gone. What we need is another Hendrix, Bonham, Lennon, etc. Not some goofball with a weird haircut twisting a few knobs on a board. Pop has dominated the charts for a while now (and whatever 'Mumford and Sons' is considered) and it would be super neat to see a breakthrough artist among the likes of classic greats (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen) But I suppose it's only a matter of time before it happens. Maybe I should just give something new a chance. I couldn't hurt to try it, right?

Thanks for reading.

Regards,

Nate.



                                                                   "Save Rock and Roll"
 

School...

I suppose that I should start off with something important, but there really isn't much that comes to mind as "important" to me very often any more.

Sure, school is important, but when you've already tanked your grades with not even 2 full weeks left, what is so important about it?

What I have come to realize is that you need to pick and choose your battles as a person, even if that means skipping out on some things. I've come to terms with what's going on with me, and I have accepted that. People don't realize that some things need to be looked at in another light. Everything has a certain level of importance, no matter how miniscule that amount may be. You just have to find what's important to you.

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School isn't as important as it used to be for me. After getting a 21 on my ACT, with a projected ending GPA of 1.5 (I hope to GOD this is inaccurate) it just isn't worth the fight. Yeah, my mom is pretty pissed about it all, but who should let their intelligence be defined by a two digit number? Some people are smarter than others, whether it's book or streetwise. Some are quite intelligent, but just don't apply themselves. (ie: Me) This seems like the pointless rants of an angsty teenager, but who am I kidding? School has become a joke.

I have heard time and time again from teachers (even my principal at one point) that college isn't necessarily in the cards for everyone, and yet they keep pushing us for the pristine grades they want us to have, and throwing us into compulsory study halls until we improve to their standards.   What they don't realize is that with some people, lecturing them on how bad grades and low test scores will keep them from getting into a good school just puts them down and lowers their self -esteem, making them not try any more, since all hope is lost already.

I suppose what i'm trying to say is that I personally don't think that school should be as big of a deal is it is being made out to be. Go out and live your life the way you want to. It's your future. Don't let your parents or some guy with a suit-and-tie mentality decide your fate for you. It really sounds cliche, but it's the honest truth.


      Don't let a few numbers bring you down.
       You can do whatever you want and be whoever you want to be-
          Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.