1 Topic by Peatle Jville (edited by Peatle Jville 2018-03-21 06:23:19)

  • Registered: 2015-07-31
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Topic: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

Like But Wouldn't Buy.
A young looking man playing Billy Jean on Guitar in Cuba Mall.
When he stops I tell him his playing is brilliant.
"Man did you like Michael Jackson"? He questions me.
"I dont know I replied".
"Come on" he says to me," you just told me you like that tune".
"You got a problem with him".?
"No man", I reply," he could dance and I like some of his music".
"When your into music if you live long enough."
"You will eventually find your style of music will feel like its from a differant time."
"My style of music that reflects something about me,  is from a previous era not his.",
  "Come on man", he bleats at me. "I bet you thought  he was a freak"?.
"I bet you judged him by the press coverage"?.
"Are you remembering him because of his music or what he was."?
The intensity of his questioning gets my old head thinking.
While searching back in  my mind these words come out of my mouth, " Dude I was going to say I dont really care  much about Jackson."
"I always thought having Quincy Jones  on Thriller and a production budget of $750,000 made it work".
"But now you have challenged me here is some of my thoughts."
"We live in a world of tabloid culture."
"With fame many are hounded by the tabloid press feeding mindless culture."
"Tabloid articles are fuel feeding rumour and building on insunations some true some false."
"I guess Michael became a freak show followed by millions".
"Now when I hear his music in a bar or a radio or whatever."
"I think dance".
"That guy could move".
  "I think joy,  moonwalking."
" The big kid inside me wants to try moonwalking."
  "A little boy whose charisma and voice on stage was bigger that of the Jackson Five".
"I dont really care much about his private life".
"I thought his lifestyle and world was on another planet not mine ".
"I am still human enough to hope his kids turn out alright"
"More important things fill my mind."
"His life and death almost seem separate from the music"
"If Michael is important to you I would never condem."
My new busker friend looks at me and  tells me" Michael music started me on a good road which I am still travelling".
We part with a warm handshake.
Me not sure what our common  bond to each other is apart from one song..
If it's that way of thinking that makes this young busker play a tune beautifully.
Man that is all good with me.
Later on at home on youtube I enter the words  Michael Jackson, Billy Jean
Watch him doing it live in front of screaming fans.
Yeah he did a great show and made many people happy.
Maybe I am a fan of his music a secret within me that I don't want to admit to
More than likely his music is just another piece of happiness that I like but wouldn't buy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCA3qQkqso

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

Cool story, Peatle ...

It's taken me many years to mentally / emotionally differentiate between who a person is, and what they do. I don't have to like someone to respect what they do, and I don't have to like what someone does to respect who they are. Fact is, we all have parts of ourselves which are appealing / not appealing to everyone else. That doesn't mean I must write someone off because everything doesn't align with my expectations.

I'll say it again, Peatle, you really know how to capture such things very well in verse, and provoke further thought. Thumbs up, dude!

  • From: The Land Of Song
  • Registered: 2007-12-10
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Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

You've captured the essence of busking and conversation with this piece. Back in the 60s I read a piece in the Melody Maker about a guy calling himself Englebert Humperdinck....hippy times! So I thought what a cool name must be good! Not to my ears though, cos I judged him before hearing him. His only song I liked was 10 Guitars but the rest of his music....no!

I like the sound of a Les Paul but I wouldn't buy one. I like an Aston Martin, but I wouldn't buy one...unless I won the lottery...dream on.

I like the Mammas and the Pappas but I've never bought one of their records. As for Michael Jackson....I like some but not all his stuff. That's me. This busker may have made you think but in the end he was bullying you into his opinion.

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Phill Williams's Website

  • From: Perth
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Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

Never did get into Michael Jackson much - I remember one band I was in, they were surprised when I hadn't heard of him; that was back when "Thriller" was released, and the drummer had his poster up in the room ... he played some tunes and I was like "meh ..." ....

But your story reminds me of another story I have - I used to listen to my records and casettes back in the day, and always like The Cure, before they became big (or, as I think, sold out), anyway my step-sister bought me this poster of them, and I'd never seen them before. Hieronymus Bosch was the only poster I had in my room ... I was surprised when I saw what they looked like - that poster never went up ...

Cheers

Richard

-[ Musician, writer, guitarist, singer ]-
Bandcamp     https://richardmortimer.bandcamp.com/follow_me
Discogs          https://www.discogs.com/release/29065579
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  • Registered: 2015-07-31
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Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

TF I find it hard to like an artist music if I don't like the person. As I get older I am getting better at not bringing the person's  personality into it.
Phill when I was younger I  loved many of my mother records in her collection but as soon as she put EnglBert Humperdink on I was out of there. The busker was a very grumpy guy and I felt he was trying to intimidate me at first. As the conversation moved on he seemed to mellow.
Neo I was involved in the printing industry for forty five years as a result I developed a love of  posters  an artform.  I find quiet often some of the best posters and album covers over the years are by bands I dont  like.

  • From: The Land Of Song
  • Registered: 2007-12-10
  • Posts: 5,707

Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

Best band and album cover artwork has to be Roger Dean and Yes....mountains come out of the sky....

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Phill Williams's Website

  • Zurf
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Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

I remember an interview Micheal Jackson did. This was long into his Neverland part of his life. He hadn't put out any new music in a while and all the press stories made him sound like the boogie man. My own opinion about Michael Jackson is that the poor guy never had a chance. Anyway, it was a time when everyone had an opinion about Michael Jackson, and it seemed like darned little had to do with his music. During the interview, he was pulling melody lines from other people's music decades before his time out of his head, he did a beat box rhythm that was down right funky, and generally demonstrated that when he's left to his own devices that he was all music all the time. I think I turned from pity or empathy for the person to respect for the musician during that interview.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude

8 Reply by Jandle (edited by Jandle 2018-03-21 22:15:32)

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Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

Ok I am just gonna say it ...... I liked his music! .... there I said it lol  I found the guy unusual, definately different in many area`s, strange even but he sure could sing, dance and was extremely creative, talented.  Didn't always like the content of some of his music but even then I found him talented.  Ok I am now gonna moonwalk outta here .....  big_smile

(edited to change not to now by Jandle)

Laugh Lots ... Forgive Much ...  Love one another     smile
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9 Reply by Peatle Jville (edited by Peatle Jville 2018-03-22 07:44:07)

  • Registered: 2015-07-31
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Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

Phill the  artwork on the Yes album cover is my all time favourite and also the artwork on the Beatles, Sergant Pepper.  .

Zurf so much has been said about the turbulent life and phenomenal career of Michael Jackson in the media,that it has become almost impossible to disentangle the man from the myth. Perhaps more than any other icon in history of popular music, Michael Jackson remains a charismatic but elusive figure of heated debate. But one fact will forever remain undisputed... his extraordinary talent for creating truly original music, loved by millions. And despite setbacks that would have ended careers of lesser men, Michael Jackson's legions of fans remain as loyal today as they have ever been.  I went to a Jackson Five concert, years back just after he had a hit with the song Ben. Michael was the star of the show, even back then his stage presence was magic.

Jandle I have just today been signed up to The Dancing Afro. I am most probably the only one  following TDA who can't do the moonwalk. Still I like to give it a shot every now and then.

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

Phill Williams wrote:

Best band and album cover artwork has to be Roger Dean and Yes....mountains come out of the sky....

Totally agree, Phill ... I think I've mentioned this before, but whenever we saw a new Roger Dean album cover, we would go over it in detail to see which elements had gravity and which ones didn't. There might be some animals running (requires gravity) on the surface of an island floating over an ocean (no gravity). Certain state-of-mind-altering substances always enhanced the experience.

11 Reply by Tenement Funster (edited by Tenement Funster 2018-03-22 11:45:53)

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Like But Wouldn't Buy.

Peatle Jville wrote:

TF I find it hard to like an artist music if I don't like the person. As I get older I am getting better at not bringing the person's  personality into it.

We're probably all affected by that to some degree, Peatle ... if we're honest with ourselves. Maybe I could give an example:

Steve Howe (formerly of Yes, Asia, etc.) is a cranky, egotistical grouch, but one of my favorite all time guitarists.

Brad Paisley is an amazing guitarist, but I'm not at all a C&W fan.

I can be a nice guy most days, but I'm not much of a guitar player. big_smile

Does this help at all? Probably not ... sad