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Overcoming…

by January 7, 2014

The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. Nothing hits as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you’re hit, it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much can you take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!

Rocky Balboa

 

Whether it’s a jab, a sucker punch or a blinding knockout blow, life can have a masochistic sense of personality when distributing its challenges to humanity.

It maintains an heir of indifference, and unapologetically scatters people’s lives about as if they were contents of a jigsaw puzzle.

But one must remember that life’s a journey…not a destination, and that it’s crucial to resist the will to wave that white flag, no matter how bleak it can appear at times.

The following individuals have all encountered divergent obstacles in life, but yet are linked together through the nature of their enduring spirits.  Faith, hope, and perseverance help to define who they are, and have greatly assisted in guiding them on their roads to recovery.

Through the support of family, friends and even strangers, these combatants have rallied against life’s greatest attacks, and have made a stand of their own.

There is a drive within them to battle…to overcome…to succeed.

Life will not get the best of them.

 

 

Greg Bailey

 

To say Greg Bailey is passionate about life would be an understatement. A man brimming with unbridled zealousness, Bailey’s positivity continues to resonate despite his July 1995 diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative neurological illness that impedes motor functionality.

“It was the day before my 44th birthday, and the news absolutely devastated me” recounts Bailey with tinges of sorrow clouding his eyes.

The reaction is not uncommon to individuals who have been diagnosed with the disease. One of the key emotional symptoms of Parkinson’s is depression and anxiety.

For nearly thirteen years, Greg’s body deteriorated at an alarming rate. Inflicted by body tremors, impaired balance and the decreasing ability to perform common bodily movements, Greg, with his wife Babette and two children, Dayna and Alexander, all agreed that the most plausible way to combat the attack against his body would be to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation (DSS) surgery.

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2002 as a productive method of treating Parkinson’s, DSS involves implantation of electrodes within particular areas of your brain. These electrodes produce electrical impulses that regulate irregular impulses. The amount of stimulation in Deep Brain Stimulation is controlled by a pacemaker-like device positioned under the skin in your upper chest (it is replaced every 4-5 years). A wire that travels under your skin connects this device to the electrodes in your brain.

It is a surgery that comes with great risk. But to Greg (a former pilot for Niagara Helicopters), the opportunity to possibly reclaim the stolen aspects of his life was well worth that risk.

So, in April of 2007, Greg underwent the surgery, and within a month, positive results were presenting themselves. In fact, his story was so compelling that CogecoTV documented Greg’s pre-and-post surgery with a TV special dedicated to him entitled One Man’s Journey.

To watch the feature is to fully comprehend where Greg once was, and where he is presently.

At the moment, there is no cure for Parkinson’s Disease, and Greg is still physically accosted by it. But to meet him now, one may find difficulty in specifically labelling him with the disease.

Apart from his physical improvements, his emotional and mental states have also been vastly upgraded.

“I could feel down all the time, but I choose not to live like that. I strive to remain positive, and to never give up. In the morning when I wake up, I tell myself I’m going to have a good day…and I work towards that”.

In striving towards that, Greg is using his experience with the disease to help mentor those newly diagnosed with it. When provided the opportunity, Greg makes himself available to those willing to discuss the feelings he experienced nearly twenty years ago, and still sometimes struggles with today. He makes regular appearances at Parkinson’s charity events, and is readily active in the fight against it.

To many, he is considered a model of inspiration because of his unwavering selflessness.

But to Greg, he’s just a regular guy.

“I don’t see myself as an influential person. I’m simply someone who enjoys assisting others on how to cope with Parkinson’s, and how important it is to always remain positive.”

 

 

Lana Hill

 

Kelsey Hill believed that it was better to give than it was to receive.

The compassionate and outgoing eleven-year old from Stevensville had always been a fervent believer in the importance of philanthropic endeavours. Even as she was earning the honour of being selected as Valedictorian of her Grade 6 class, Kelsey continued to remain a steadfast supporter of charitable causes, selfless in her actions to assist others in need.

When she participated in a walk-a-thon at her school (Stevensville Public School) to help raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House, Kelsey had been the top earner.

But in September 2010, Kelsey and her family’s lives were forever altered when it was discovered that Kelsey was suffering from a Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumour, a rare and aggressive form of brain tumour.

Following her diagnosis, Kelsey underwent three brain surgeries. One of which resulted in the left side of her body becoming paralyzed, ultimately leaving her wheelchair dependent.

She underwent thirty-one daily radiation treatments to her brain and spine, which was then succeeded by six months of aggressive chemotherapy.

But Kelsey’s hope never faltered, and a smile brimming with the fearlessness of an innocent child continued to permeate her face each and every day.

“She was always happy, and would be the one comforting us when we should have been the ones comforting her”, says Kelsey’s mom, Lana Hill. “She was strong as a rock. She would never give up, no matter how difficult it became for her”.

Though the amount of medical procedures Kelsey would undergo each day could be overwhelming both emotionally and physically, she never lost her drive to assist others. And in 2011, still battling for her life, she created Team Kelsey, a foundation dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer, and to assist children already affected by it.

Kelsey’s biggest wish was simply to live in a world where children could live without fear of a shortened life…a world without cancer. And this is what Team Kelsey continues to fight for, even after Kelsey’s passing in December of 2011 at the age of 13.

“She was our role model, and we wanted to continue her legacy”, notes Lana. “People were so inspired by her because all she wanted to do was to help others, and that, in turn, inspired us. There are so many families battling through situations like these, and we feel it is important to continue to raise money for these charities”.

In just two years, Team Kelsey has raised nearly $90,000 for charities that include Ronald McDonald House Hamilton (RMHH), McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, and families affected by childhood cancer.

As a result of their continuing charitable efforts for RMHH, the children’s underwater themed playroom and a wheelchair accessible bedroom were named in Kelsey’s honour.

Team Kelsey has had strong support from the community, and as a result have had many parents/volunteers donate their time to the fundraisers held by the foundation like a blood donor clinic (to honour childhood cancer survivors and those who’ve lost the fight) and the Kelsey Hill Memorial Pasta Dinner Fundraiser.

“Losing Kelsey was a tremendous tragedy for our family”, says Lana. “But we are doing our best to turn this negative into some sort of positive because that’s what she would have wanted. Her spirit and legacy are very much alive, and they continue to direct us everyday”.

 

 

Jordan Scott

 

At the age of twenty-two, Jordan Scott has experienced the dark realities of this world.

“My father was addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol. One year, when I was twelve, my dad blew all of the Christmas money on drugs. It wasn’t long after that that we lost our car and house because of his addictions.”

Jordan’s father entered rehab, and exited a changed man.

He had quit drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, and was introduced to members of the community who would help guide him on his road to redemption.

It was during this transitional time period that Jordan’s mother and father became extremely controlling of her life. Never one to partake in the “extracurricular activities” of adolescent curiosity, Jordan’s life was, nevertheless, under the scrutiny of her parents’ watchful eyes and vehement tongues.

It was only a matter of time before the tension proceeded to boil beyond the edges.

One day at school, Jordan was behind on a school project, and chose to skip her next class to complete it.

It was the first and only time her father would physically abuse her.

Out of despair, Jordan confided in a guidance counsellor at her school in Kincardine, Ontario, and was immediately placed in a woman’s shelter. She remained there for two weeks until her aunt took her to live with her in London, Ontario.

After a few months of peaceful domesticity, Jordan moved to St. Catharines, Ontario, to reside with her parents (who had recently moved back after having originally lived here). But the tension of past strife continued to mount, and she was soon kicked out after her inability to pay her parents rent money.

Left with nowhere to go, Jordan moved to the YWCA, and was finally rewarded with the inspirational support she had been seeking her entire life.

Amidst the turmoil of the times, Jordan graduated high school.

She applied and was accepted to Centennial College for Art and Design, and it appeared her life was finally set upon a definitive course of action. But regrettably, Jordan dropped out soon after a number of personal issues (one of which was the passing of her grandfather) caused her to lose her focus.

It wasn’t long before she began finding solace in alcohol.

As a result, her behaviour grew increasingly unhinged, and eventually she was embracing life with reckless abandon. She was drinking heavily every day, was in and out of transitional housing projects, and was even apprehended for shoplifting.

Her life’s vision was becoming blurrier by the moment.

She met with an addictions counsellor, and was soon on the road to recovery. She was accepted to Mohawk College for Photography, but encountered further personal struggles which ultimately reignited her fling with alcohol dependency.

She dropped out after one semester.

It took her approximately one year to realize she once again needed support, so Jordan reached out to the Community Addictions Services of Niagara (CASON) for guidance.

It took time but her life regained traction, and for a third time, Jordan reenlisted in school.

This time determined to succeed.

In October 2013, Jordan did just that by graduating from Trillium College with a certificate for Community Service Worker.

“There were times I gave up on myself…never giving myself enough credit. But I never lost that dream of earning an education. The support I received from others reminded me that that I wasn’t alone. The key now is to simply take one day at a time, and see where it all leads”.

 

Quinn and Keenan Baker

 

It would be a simple solution for Quinn and Keenan Baker to bear hostility towards this world.

To allow their personal tragedies direct them down a path emanating with animosity and bitterness.

But then again, seventeen year-old Quinn and fifteen year-old Keenan have never allowed their circumstances to become their crutch.

“It’s all about the choices you make in life. You make your own road by walking it”, says Quinn.

Quinn was seven and Keenan was four when their mother passed away from breast cancer in 2003 at the age of thirty-four. Just over four years later, their father died from lung cancer at the age of forty.

Orphaned prior to their teenage years, the boys moved from Wilson, New York to St. Catharines to live with their grandparents in the summer of 2007.

Assuming the role of guardians, their grandparents did what they could to make the transition as seamless as possible. But without the benefit of knowing many in the Niagara Region, Quinn and Keenan were basically forced into re-starting their lives from scratch.

Understanding their need for companionship at such a crucial time, their friends from Wilson did what they could to support them, from performing fundraisers for the family to the donation of money.

“If it wasn’t for the kindness of our friends and family, it would have definitely been a lot more difficult to persevere during this time period” says Keenan. “We were humbled and honoured by their selfless generosity”.

Consequently, these philanthropic endeavours appear to have had a profound influence on their own lives.

As of now, Quinn and Keenan have donated their time to numerous charitable institutions such as the Rankin Cancer Run, the Walk a Mile in HER Shoes campaign for Gillian’s Place, numerous car wash fundraisers, and the collection of non-perishable food items for Community Care.

In a world consumed with self-gratification, it’s always sobering to be reminded about the importance of giving back.

“We were raised to be polite and to help others in need”, says Keenan. “Simple acts of caring are important to us, so we’re constantly asking ourselves, ‘what can we do to help’?”

Their benevolence was recognized earlier this year when Mike’s Miracles announced the brothers as co-winners of the Mike Vandendool Hero Award. An honour awarded to humanitarians readily active within their community.

Though they were humbled by the acclaim, they don’t necessarily desire the attention.

“We don’t advertise it”, says Quinn. “We’re just happy volunteering our time. We prefer telling our story through our actions rather than our words”.

Apart from their charitable contributions, both brothers have become enamoured with the arts, a field their parents passionately embraced.

Quinn is heavily involved with music (and tries to incorporate it into his acts of charity whenever possible) while Keenan is driven by visual arts, possibly inspired by his mother’s art book growing up.

In fact, as a career, Quinn is working towards becoming a music teacher while Keenan has aspirations of becoming a concept artist for video games (his second option is to become an Oncologist-a specialist in cancer treatment).

But for now, their plan is to continue helping those in need.

“The most important thing we’ve realized is to have love for yourself and others” says Quinn. “We truly believe that any little act of generosity can help make this world a better place”.

 

***This Feature Article appeared in the Winter (2013) edition of Niagara Magazine.

 

 

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Blog,

I Love Green Day, I Hate Green Day… (A Grade 9 Reading)

by August 20, 2013

In grade 9, no band captivated my fuzzed-out imagination quite like Green Day. 1994’s Dookie and 1995’s Insomniac were interconnected like the best of friends, bristling with electrifying sonic compositions and thematically-focused notions of self-destructive teen angst. To this day, both albums continue to resonate fondly within my soul, as most albums do when one “comes of age” during their teenage years.

But one tends to grow weary of the vanilla flavourings of familiarity. With music, a musician’s relevance tends to rely heavily on that musician’s willingness to alternate styles and texts throughout the duration of their career. Performers like U2, Madonna, David Bowie, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones (the list does continue) have had continued success over the years because of their ability to experiment and adapt to alternative modes of musicianship.

The same can be said for Green Day.

Though, as much as I’m inclined to loathe the “new and improved” Green Day (a Green Day concerned with the nature of politics, daring to write a song lasting over the pop-punk maximum of three minutes), I can’t fault them for their decision to do so.

During the mid 90s, alternative music seized control of the music scene, and all but guaranteed that any notion of music (no matter how experimentally obtuse) would find acceptance somewhere. But by the late 90s (and in regards to the Pop-Punk scene), society grew tired of bands like Green Day, The Offspring, and Rancid because their sound was frozen within the confines of a musical movement.

Arguably, Pop-Punk garnered worldwide recognition as a result of Green Day’s Dookie, which included hit tracks like Longview, Basket Case and When I Come Around. But musical movements have expiration dates, and tend to eventually wear out their welcome, thanks in large part to the exploitive nature of record labels.

Thus, by the end of the 90s, alternative rock began to reek of banality. Green Day’s musical niche was no longer captivating the eardrums of music fans now focused on boy bands (Backstreet Boys, N Sync) and Nu Metal (Korn, Limp Bizkit)*.

So Green Day went back to the drawing board, and made the decision to reinvent themselves with a new focus and drive dedicated to issues that were far more important than the selfish ideologies of a teenager. The days of mom and dad not understanding me were gone, substituted by social and national issues.

Republican politics became the subject of Green Day’s ire on the 2004 concept album American Idiot.

This transformation exposed Green Day to an entirely new fan base, but tended to ostracize many of the supporters that grew up listening to their 3-chord in-your-face sonic explosions. 21st century Green Day were now about issues affecting the world as a whole, and it was vividly displayed in their three minute-plus tracks. The songs no longer had that sense of urgency that helped to fuel their mid 90s success. Rather, these songs were the epitome of a mainstream rock n’ roll cliché**.

Now, here comes the contradiction. This “new and improved” Green Day does not satisfy me the way they once did. BUT, if they hadn’t altered their sonic styles, wouldn’t I be complaining about their need to grow up and create a new sound?

I make these complaints about Blink 182 all the time.

So here’s what it comes down to…I don’t like that Green Day changed, but I would be angry if they hadn’t changed.

So where is the solution to my problem?

The way I look at it is very simple. During my “coming of age” in grade 9, those two Green Day albums became examples of how important personal soundtracks would be on my journey towards personal growth. If American Idiot had been released when I was in grade 9, I’m almost positive that I would be looking back on that album as a soundtrack to my life, and viewing their current musical output as disappointingly lacklustre.

I truly believe that the music existent during your transformative years will always remain relevant within the deepest depths of your heart. The music of the 90s will continue to resonate with me (no matter how awful some of it may be) because it was present during those “awkward” years.

That’s why I tend to despise most modern-day music because it’s ‘just not the same’. I’m sure 80s kids fret over the same issues concerning the music of the 90s.

The cycle continues from there.

I have tremendous faith in my belief that the music from here on out in my life will never match the emotional connection I have with the music of the 90s.

Call me closed-minded.

But that’s not to say that modern music doesn’t have its moments… It just doesn’t have that compelling allure like music once did.

*Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins originally disbanded the band because they could no longer compete in a “Backstreet Boy” world.

**There is nothing necessarily wrong with the American Idiot or 2009’s 21st Century Breakdown material, but for me personally, there is no emotional connection to the material.

a99c
Music Reviews,

Malachai-Return To The Ugly Side

by June 6, 2012

Album: Return To The Ugly Side

Label: Domino Recording Co.

Rating:  4/5

A slow and tragic atmospheric journey into the psychedelic landscapes of Trip hop that is enunciated, at times, by fierce and powerful beats: This is how it is best to describe Return To The Ugly Side, Malachai’s sophomore follow-up to their 2009 debut Ugly Side Of Love.

The duo, consisting of Gary Ealey and Scott Hendy, provide the listener with an orgiastic feast of mood, melody, and stunning hypnotic manipulation within a relatively short length of time (14 songs clicking in at just over 35 minutes).

True to the Trip hop genre, Malachai deliver a dark and disturbing album that is not meant to be glossed over lightly. There is a great diversity of sound present here, and it is highlighted by melancholic themes and haunting lyricism. Many tracks, such as “Rainbows” and “Distance”, systematically enslave the listener with poetic poignancy and intimate personal anguish throughout most of the duration time of Return To The Ugly Side.

Greatly influenced by Massive Attack, Portishead and even hints of N.E.R.D., Malachai create a distinct, personal piece heavily derived from acid-infused sampling.  The duo, from Bristol, England (the birthplace of Trip hop), work hard to create a multi-layered narrative that incorporates many seamlessly intertwined musical genres ranging from hip hop and rock to jazz and club music.

A hectic ride through the shadows of life, returning to the ugly side was a journey well worth embarking upon.

a99d
Music Reviews,

Beady Eye – Different Gear, Still Speeding

by June 6, 2012

Album: Different Gear, Still Speeding

Label: MapleMusic Recordings/Dangerbird Records LLC

Rating: 3.5/5

 

Just as Oasis’ “Rock n’ Roll Star” (the first song off of their debut album Definitely Maybe)provokingly slapped you across the face with that ‘pay attention to me’ audacious sneer, Beady Eye’s introductory album Different Gear, Still Speeding brazenly confronts the listener in much the same way with the opening track “Four Letter Word”. The song embodies such a feeling of insolent audacity that you can’t help but feel a tad let down by the sentimentality the record seems to lean towards from there on out.

Following the great opening track, the album tends to vary between sounds inspired by The Beatles (not really shocking), The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and even Jerry Lee Lewis. Clearly influenced by the 1960s, the album teeters on greatness, but yet seems to fall short as a result of a couple of forgettable tracks like “Millionaire” and “Kill For A Dream”.  Also, marred by some unmemorable lyricism from the song writing team, the album does seem to lack that Noel Gallagher expertise of infusing meaningful lyrics with a particular poignancy.

But one must remember that this is not Oasis, and the album should be treated as an entirely separate entity. With this in mind, the ex-members of the aforementioned group (Liam Gallagher-Vocals, Andy Bell and Gem Archer-Guitars, and Chris Sharrock-Drums) still do achieve something special. Through its simplistic approach in presentation, the album incorporates a very back-to-basics sort of rock n’ roll, which is defined through the incorporation of rudimentary drum patterns and basic guitar riffs. And for a group as legendary as Oasis, this return to the basic modes of musicality is definitely the most logical step for the new band.

Different Gear, Still Speeding is not without its flaws, but Liam and the boys do prove that they have the ability to step out onto their own and craft an enjoyable listening experience.  And in the long run, isn’t that the most important thing?

a99e
Music Reviews,

Jeff Martin 777-The Ground Cries Out

by June 6, 2012

Album: The Ground Cries Out

Label: Riverland Records

Rating:   4/5

 

With over 20 years of experience in the music business, many of those years highlighted as frontman for The Tea Party, one would assume that Jeff Martin understands what he wants when constructing an album.  With his latest endeavour, a three-piece band entitled Jeff Martin 777, Martin and company conjure up (at most times successfully) a vivid and alluring musical landscape that permeates across the eleven song track list of The Ground Cries Out.

Some of the tracks, like “The Cobra” and “The Pyre”, seductively entwine the listener’s ear with a hypnotic, murky eeriness, while songs like “The Ground Cries Out” (First Single) and  “1916” incorporate a boot stomping, heady grooviness that strikes the cochlea instantaneously.

If you know anything of Martin’s previous works, he has typically been quite fixated on lyrical inspiration from occult themes and Pagan influenced literature, but Jeff Martin 777 manages to keep it light on “Queen of Spades” and “Riverland Rambler”, and even finds the time to include two relatively short but nonetheless mesmerizing musical interlude pieces on tracks six and eight.

But as much as it is admirable to applaud the band’s incorporation of diverse sounds and thematic issues, it’s also very difficult to ignore the simple fact that some of the more easy going songs, especially “Riverland Rambler”, don’t seem to quite gel with the overall sound of the album.  Yes, they are having fun with them, but the jovial light-heartedness the band is highlighting slightly undermines the overall effectiveness of the darker themes featured on the album. At times, the listener is pulled in many conflicting directions by the wide array of variety.

With this being said, it’s hard to fault the rejuvenated sounds emanating from Martin’s voice. He is definitely excited about this album, and his enthusiasm elevates The Ground Cries Out to a level he hasn’t ascended to since his time with The Tea Party.  This is an album that truly grows on you with each additional listen.

Scary
Fiction,

Fear the Night

by June 5, 2012

…As I lay cowering beneath the window sill of my bedroom, my mind races relentlessly. Did IT see me? No…it’s impossible…but then suddenly it arises. An unearthly howl so terrifying that, like wind through a keyhole, it penetrates my very sanity. IT is coming for me…it is only a matter of time.

I remain as still as possible, fearful that any movement will alert the presence lurking just steps away. But my rigid determination is all for not. In a matter of seconds the front screen door situated beside my bedroom, normally a solid protector from the forceful elements of the outside, is ripped from its hinges with the unholy grace of evil unleashed.

I frantically scan the room for any possible instrument useful in a confrontation against an abomination, but nothing is my revelation. As the sweat pours from my brow, the front door gives away as if it were a weightless feather rather than a guardian protector.

Again the howls arise. The hair on my arms defies gravity as my eyes bulge from their sockets. There are footsteps now. Many footsteps! Loud crashes from the hallway as vases, picture frames and mirrors are thrown to the ground with relentless force.

IT knows I am here…THEY know I am here.

I quickly leap up and bound across the room, barricading myself against the door. As I hold my breath, the first attack comes. A fist flung against the door so forceful that it flings my body across the room. Landing awkwardly against an armoire, I watch in horror as a second blow strikes the splintering door.

A ghastly hand, marked by gnarled scars and oozing sores, smashes its way through the door as I awkwardly retreat back towards the window sill. Fragmented pieces of wood fall to the ground as I look on in stark terror. From the depths of the darkness beyond, a sneering and menacing smile arises from the beast. ITS maliciousness manifested by ITS glowing crimson red pupils. ITS tongue seductively moving about as if already savouring the feast.

I watch in horror as the door is flung away. An unimaginable entity appears in the doorway…and then another appears behind IT. As IT enters the room, bowing to enable ITS ten foot frame access, I know it’s the end…but suddenly my gaze is diverted away towards the corner of the room. Something shiny has caught my attention, and my eyes remain fixated on it even as my soul embraces its impending doom.

A baseball bat, divinely propped up against the wall a mere five feet away, is my mind’s focus. In my initial frantic exploration of the room, the bat must have averted my eyes. Or did it? Without a moment of hesitation, I scramble towards the corner.  As I grab the bat and begin to grip it tightly, I hear multitudes of laughter directly behind me.

I bow my head and close my eyes.  This is not my time! This is not my time! I slowly turn around to face the evil…

 

What if zombies, werewolves and vampires actually did exist in this sort of form? As if the minds of Stephen King, Dean Koontz and George Romero actually concocted some sort of truth to our myths.

What if we did exist in a form of fiction that we normally take for granted? What if we were locked up in a house as hundreds of zombies mulled about outside? What if a vampire overtook our small town and it was up to us to stop it?

What If our general idea of normality wasn’t so normal tomorrow? How would you handle it?

adc
Blog,

What Did You Do This Weekend?

by June 5, 2012

 

^^I apologize in advance to technology, as I am currently listening to Radiohead as I write these words.

 

There is no denying the fact that our world has become consumed with itself*. We pride ourselves on highlighting everything we do, whether it be from the fantastic to the downright mundane. We feel the need to share everything with everyone. Now, before there is any doubt, I AM a fan of social media**. I have a Facebook and Twitter account, and I tend to check it at a compulsive rate. I am a curious individual who is interested in the world around him. But here’s the thing: Where did privacy go? With the emergence of social interactive sites like Facebook and Twitter, the world has begun to grow smaller while simultaneously increasing in population.

 

I once remember a life without the internet. A life where I had to actually open up a book and research material for an important school project. A time in which I had to actually (physically) go to the local cinema in order to view a movie, let alone an actual movie trailer (instead of lying on the couch and flipping open my laptop or phone).

 

I remember fondly going to the music store to purchase CD’s, as there was no other way to purchase music at this time (Although, a few years away, Napster and Limewire existed in the premonitions of James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich).

 

But perhaps the greatest loss I feel with the progression of technological achievement is the absence of one simple question: “What did you do this weekend”? Remember back in school (If you are above the age of 25) when you would say goodbye to your friends on a Friday knowing you wouldn’t see some of them again until Monday. You had no idea what they would be up to for the next two and a half days***. But I remember always looking forward to seeing them prior to first period on that Monday, and asking them, “What did you do this weekend”?

 

This question rarely circulates amongst casual, social conversations these days, and it is because of our new found obsession with interacting socially through the use of technological devices.

 

Don’t get me wrong. I am well aware that the citizens of society still do vacate their homes, at times. And Facebook is great at helping to coordinate events ranging from weddings to birthday parties. But what I am attempting to verbalize is that we, at all times of the day, know what our friends are doing. It is not simply just about the weekend-there is no mystery about our lives in general****.

 

For example, we know that two of our friends are going to the movies on a certain night because they have posted it on their Twitter account. We also see that they went to a party afterwards because of the pictures posted on the Facebook news feed a day later. Our friends post the pictures because they want to share those moments (that have no bearing on our lives) with US. And of course we ‘creep’ the pictures because that’s what we do as human beings. We’re curious creatures by nature*****.

 

Our world has evolved greatly since the inception of the Internet (both positively and negatively), and with it, social media and the emergence of highly advanced cellular phones. But yet, I still have no desire to return to a time once lived******. Yes I do sometimes yearn for simpler times, but I am well aware of all the advantages the present is providing for me.

 

With this being said, though, there are still moments that I wish I could ask, “What did you do this weekend?” without secretly already knowing the answer.

 

 

*The fact that devices are called iPod’s, iPads, and iPhones help to highlight society’s transition into the “I” generation

 

**I truly feel that it helps to connect the world. I can talk to a friend in Australia without ever worrying about long distance charges.

 

***Cell phones were a rarity. And text messaging did not exist.

 

****For this reason, high school and college reunions have become a pointless tradition.

 

*****But it does seem to have become more rampant than ever these days.

 

******Mainly because I understand that that is impossible to achieve.

 

 

abd
Blog,

Is Modern Day Music Timeless?

by June 5, 2012

 

What makes a band timeless? I was posed this question recently, and to be honest, I was unsure of how to respond. The reason being was that I don’t exactly know why a band becomes timeless in the first place. But I couldn’t admit this as a pop culture writer, so I came up with an answer that I agree with, but don’t necessarily fully accept.

 

Here is the basis of the discussion: In my friends’ estimation, there is no band from the recent era that can be considered timeless or unforgettable. Music acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Black Sabbath are all considered timeless, influential, and legendary. Is there such a thing in the modern age?

 

My answer to this statement came down to one specific trait: Originality of the band. Back then, no one had ever heard anything like The Beatles or Zeppelin. They were building a foundation (a new set of rules) in which all other music would be compared to. Whereas bands existing within movements like Grunge and Britpop in the 90s (like Nirvana and Oasis) were a combination of preconceived genres of music. Society had witnessed music like this before, just in different forms.

 

Now granted, I understand that rock n’ roll would not exist without The Blues. So, in a sense, the rock n’ roll bands of the 60s and 70s were infusing blues with heavy guitar riffs and the sweet swagger of sensual lyricism.

 

But rock n’ roll became a defined idea as a result of this influential era of music. So, if a modern day band attempts to do something different, it becomes very difficult to divert far from the blueprint that was the classic era of rock.

 

Thus a band being timeless in this day and age is, perhaps, an insurmountable task. To break away from the original model and to create something truly innovative is a feat that is perhaps impossible. Bands from all eras will forever be memorable to a certain group of people (eg. music from the 90s will always hold a special place in my heart because it existed during my transition from adolescent to adult. It became the soundtrack to my life). But bands we loved growing up and bands that are timeless are two completely conflicting ideas.

 

Are bands like Nickelback or The Killers timeless? Will they ever be? It’s pretty difficult to answer that question now, but I honestly don’t think they are (Popularity does not always guarantee immortality).

 

In the internet age of music, bands have become prominent more for their singles than their albums. For the majority of present-day music buyers, downloading has become the norm. This, in turn, has led to an increase in sporadic, isolated song purchases rather than the purchasing of an entire album. Instead of having hit records, the band is relegated to hit singles (digital in form). The band becomes known by those songs and those songs alone.

 

In this case, the sum of the parts does not equal a whole.

 

You also need to tie in the corporate side of things. With music sales at an all time low, record labels need to do all they can to make a pretty penny. As a result, they tend to exploit a sure thing. A singer like Britney Spears* is not timeless, but rather a commodity that is packaged and sold to music listeners. She was extremely popular for a time (and still is but not to the same degree), and thus many acts arose in an attempt to cash in on her success. Remember when Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Jennifer Lopez all blew onto the scene? It was exploiting what was successful.

 

Though record labels have always been guilty of this procedure, it is more prevalent than ever in the digital age. And, as a result, when a label is solely concerned about finances, originality becomes a lost cause.

 

So have there been timeless bands over the past 20 to 30 years? Depeche Mode? Nirvana? Pearl Jam? Oasis? I can think of perhaps one-Radiohead. And the reason is because they are doing something unique and imaginative. However, on occasion, I have referred to them as the modern day Pink Floyd.

 

So it all comes back to originality, which in all honesty, is probably not the only answer. If there is an answer at all.

 

 

*Though I hate to use pop music as an example, I still think it works in this situation as she seems to be the most talked about “musician” of the past 20 years. But her “timelessness” is very difficult to assess. Is she truly influential towards other musical acts, or merely a product exploited for the purpose of economics?