All Revved Up With No Place To Go

“I was a varsity tackle and a hell of a block
When I played my guitar
I made the canyons rock, but
Every Saturday Night
I felt the fever grow
Do ya know what it's like
All revved up with no place to go”

All Revved Up With No Place To Go – Meatloaf

This week is the two year anniversary since I saw Meatloaf play at Vector Arena. My friend Zena, with whom I get up to the most mischief alongside, ranks this man as one of her favourite music artists and bought two (second row) tickets to his show. I took the spare one and we headed out to see the legend himself. It was a fantastic night, despite Meatloaf not being as young and energetic as I assume he once was on stage, and it was the night which reminded me how much I love seeing artists perform live.

In the gap between the opening act playing and Meatloaf coming out Zena and I got talking to the couple next to us, and they said “aren’t you two a bit young for Meatloaf?” I do believe they meant it in the most polite way; merely as a comment that in Meatloaf’s prime he appealed to people twenty years older than we were at the time, and we were more likely to be caught up in whatever the Top 40 music stations were playing, rather than an older man on one of his last world tours.

But their comment made me wonder why we think music should have an age limit on it. As we grow up certain music influences us and it is usually what is current at the time, until we become older and these songs turn into classic hits. My musical taste, however, spans many decades. I have music from The Beatles, The Clash, Foo Fighters and Imagine Dragons on my iPod; I will play Simon and Garfunkel then play One Republic. I have been asked a lot recently if I am too old to listen to One Direction and go to their concert, but I think not. I like their music and appreciate their place in the industry, and there is no way anyone is going to stop me from watching them perform live.

I think letting your age restrict you is a bit like being all revved up … with no place to go. Being 20 shouldn’t stop you from playing on swings and being 40 doesn’t suddenly mean you are too old for Disney films. As long as you are acting above any legal age limits I don’t see the problem with having a bit of fun and doing what you like to do. If I had listened to what people had said about being too young for Meatloaf, I would have not only not seen a musical legend, but also never discovered the opening act Luger Boa and consequently many other Kiwi rock bands which Luger Boa led us to. Because really, an age is just a number, and your likes and wants define you much more than a digit.  

Heartbreak Girl

“I dedicate this song to you,
The one who never sees the truth,
That I can take away your hurt, heartbreak girl.
Hold you tight straight through the day light,
I'm right here. When you gonna realise
That I'm your cure, heartbreak girl?”

Heartbreak Girl – 5 Seconds of Summer

Just over a week ago I went to see One Direction sing at Vector Arena and, like most other concerts, they had an opening act. I had heard of 5 Seconds of Summer before but did not know any of their music. Nevertheless, I encouraged my friend (and her little sister, making being at a One Direction a lot less creepy) to go early so we could see them open. They were a terrific live act and I was quite into them from my seat at the rear end of the arena.

A funny thing happened when they were playing though. I found myself singing along. This in itself is not unusual; the crowd is nearly always singing along with the band as they play. What was odd was how I was singing, or trying to sing, to a song which I didn’t actually know the lyrics too. I had never heard these songs before, bar Heartbreak Girl which was played in Vector Arena shortly before the band went on. I pride myself on knowing a lot of lyrics to a lot of songs, but surely I shouldn’t know them to songs I’d never listened to before.

It was a fearful moment in my mind, because I realised I was at complete control of the band. While it was at the hands of music and quite often I surrender to the songs, this particular time it was done without my will and it was a disconcerting experience. It wasn’t bad or scary as such, but there was definitely something odd about it which made me think. I have never questioned how much a band is in power at concerts but with ease they can make a crowd scream or stay quiet, force them to sing along and with simple instructions they can light up a whole arena. I have attended many concerts and I guarantee that at every single one the artist has been instructing the crowd what to do. And bands can control emotions: at concerts I have laughed, I have cried, and I have walked away feeling satisfied and euphoric.

I do wonder what the artists who are thinking when they are on stage with the crowd at their control. Did 5 Seconds of Summer know they had me singing along without knowing any words, and that they made me want to go and buy their music and find out more about them? Or were they just on stage, playing their music and having a good time with a crowd who obviously loved them? Probably the latter and we should be grateful these artists are not taking advantage of our weaknesses much more than encouraging us to buy albums and merchandise (which I have done post shows), and putting on a performance which makes someone like me fall in love with their music. 

Beth

“Beth, I hear you callin' 
But I can't come home right now 
Me and the boys are playin' 
And we just can't find the sound 
Just a few more hours 
And I'll be right home to you 
I think I hear them callin' 
Oh, Beth what can I do 
Beth what can I do”

Beth – Kiss

The idea of selling out and mass music production is talked about in today’s music industry like the smell of a rate dying behind a radiator. Many a young, old, and hipster never hesitate to discuss how artists should only be about the music and not the money or the marketing. The idea of the good old rock and roll days where it was more about the chords and crowds and less about sales is idealised.

Well, I hate to break it to you, but those worshipped old school bands were just as into the money and marketing as any mass produced pop act playing on Juice TV right now. Yes, behind Kiss, one of the most influential bands in world, is a man who thought of nothing more than that dreaded word: branding.

It was with great interest I read Gene Simmons’ autobiography Kiss and Make Up a few months ago. While now a little outdated, given that it was released in early 2000’s, it holds some very interesting observations about Kiss and the music industry as a whole. The book details how Simmons envisioned much more than a band from the beginning; rather he wanted to create a brand which people could buy into. For me the book cemented the idea that when we listen to music we are buying into a product and contributing to a business. I read about how far Kiss took their branding and marketing, with the obvious albums and tours, but they were the forefront for merchandise, from t-shirts to lunchboxes and comic books to conventions.

It seems people forget music is a business and they deliver products, and bands and singers make music as their job. I don’t really believe any band who says they are in the music industry purely for the music; not only is this not a substantial way to earn a living, but these bands are saying they will never create products to take them further into the business (whether it be the band themselves or a producer behind the marketing). There is definitely a way to create music which inspires people and become a successful brand; it’s been more than thirty years since Kiss started and they are still going strong with numerous singles and album sales.

Therefore people, please let’s stop saying some music acts are little more than marketing rubbish. Everyone in the industry creates their music a little differently but want the same goal: to buy into their products. And you should buy in to it. After all, what’s better than some musical retail therapy? 

Demons

“When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide
Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide”

Demons – Imagine Dragons

I love writing this music blog. The idea for it came to me late in 2011 when I thought about writing for my student magazine and wondered what I could possibly talk about on a regular basis. I thought it would be cool to take a song and write what I feel and think about it and muse through how music impacts society. One day while at work I was talking with two girls who also have blogs and they encouraged me start one, and were enthused when I mentioned the idea which is now the basis for my blog. And thus I come to you every week or so with a new song and a new topic.

For the past twenty months I have covered many topics, but most of all I have bought up the flaws within people and encouraged you to look past them. Indeed the most recent weeks I have told you to speak your mind, consider yourself beautiful, have faith in your own being and smile as much as you can. As I write them I hope I can encourage and inspire you to better your life.

But it is time to be very honest. Most times I write about these topics I am doing it to try make myself to feel better.

Yes, there are times in my life when I doubt myself and I am not the strong person I may appear to be when writing. I fear I will never meet the right man, sometimes I get lonely and sad, and I doubt if I will have in my professional and personal life. Does this make me liar? Or a hypocrite for telling you to feel one way while I cannot?

I like to think not. Rather, I like to think it makes me human. I appreciate Demons as I think it sums up what a lot of us feel: we fear letting other people get too close to us both physically and emotionally because we fear other people knowing what is happening inside our heads. As I said above I have these little demons which inhabit me. They are fear, doubt, unhappiness, weakness. They are that little voice which throws darkness over the light and casts a shadow over what could be good. But I know in my heart that I am a good person and these demons which I sometimes feel are the thoughts many of us have, and I am lucky my demons are only little ones and not big ones I know other people have.

Writing this blog has helped immensely and has been a very therapeutic process for me. I will not stop writing until I feel I have no more to say. It has made me fall in love music more than ever; I truly believe the words and messages of the songs I write about. You, my readers, write comments and agree with statements, which makes me know I am never going through anything alone, and that knowledge could be the greatest thing about my blog.  

Bonfire Heart

“Everybody wants a flame, but they don’t want to get burnt
And today is our turn

Days like these lead to
Nights like this leads to
Love like ours
You light the spark in my bonfire heart
People like us, we don’t need that much
Just someone that starts, starts the spark in our bonfire hearts”

Bonfire Heart – James Blunt

While we are growing up we are often told we can do anything we want to and we easily believe our parents or teachers who encourage us to dream of doing great things. It’s not uncommon to think about a life for ourselves where people across New Zealand and indeed across the world will know our name. Whether we dream of being singers or actors, politicians or humanitarians, we dream of a world in which we made a significant change in the public’s eye and impacted the lives of many, many people.

Of course, as we grow older it becomes apparent only a handful of people can ever become those who everyone knows. As a young twenty something I know there are still many years ahead of me in which I could become part of that small handful. I doubt I’d break through as a singer or actor (mostly due to a lack of talent in those areas), but maybe I’ll be a famous writer one day, or perhaps by chance fall in love with someone famous (like Ryan Gosling).  As I think about this world in which I could be a part of, I wonder if I need such a complication in my life. You constantly read about how difficult it can be to live in the public eye where everyone wants a piece of you.

I wonder if all I need is someone, or a small group of people who make me feel happy and accepted in the world. This is what Bonfire Heart makes me think about; whether I need everyone to know my name, or just one person who can light a spark in my life. While it would be nice to have money, expensive assets and famous friend, but I wonder whether I need it. The line “people like us, we don’t need that much” stood out for me as I quite like the idea of a more simple life where I don’t need much apart from a bit of love.

Don’t think I am discouraging people from following dreams to become famous or be a person who makes a change, nor saying being successful and having a spark in your life are mutually exclusive. Rather, I encourage some thinking from you, and especially those around my age who are embarking on the big bad world, to find their flame without getting too burnt. 

Bones

“And all I've ever wanted was for your damn arms
To wrap themselves around me and say

Hey, girl you're the prettiest thing my eyes have ever seen
Come and lay your bones down with me
Come and lay your bones down with me”

Bones – Ginny Blackmore

Last week Ginny Blackmore tweeted “Bones def might be a SMIDGE needy. And place heaps of value on ur man fainting at the sight of ur beauty. But seriously, please faint”. Despite the high radio play and many YouTube views this song has had a fair bit of criticism from reviewers. Blogs and articles call it cringy, charmless and lacking self-respect. I get why these kind of responses are coming out – in a nutshell, women shouldn’t place so much value on a man thinking she is beautiful, because that is not what a 21^st century female should be wanting. This kind of thinking is feminism, and feminism drives me quite mad.

Before I go any further let me make a disclaimer: the rest of this blog is all my thoughts. I’m not going to reference anything as that would be a long and complicated process which I cannot be bothered going through. But hear me out: I am all for gender equality. I think men and women should be offered the same working opportunities at equal pay rates. But not because of different body parts, but rather as human beings neither gender should be more or less capable then the other.

It is the hatred against the focus on physical looks which feminists have which annoys me. In this day and age women are expected to put brains and career ambition first, and focus less on which men think of us. We are meant to get outraged at videos which show females as sexual objects and be against apps such as Tinder which base females simply on who is hot.

But what is a better feeling - being outraged or the feeling of a male saying you look beautiful? Ladies reading this take a minute and think about this: how often do you dress up and make yourself pretty? Do you or do you not, want a man to look at you’re and think you are beautiful and take you home and, quite frankly, have sex with you?  You probably do, because that is normal. I have put on my cute outfit, done my hair and make-up, and gone out to have a good time. And a guy decided I was the one he wanted to take home, and I felt a little bit of pride that I was the he took home.

We women are made out of so many amazing parts; we can be strong, smart and sexy, and I think it is okay to show each part of us. We should be proud of showing off our looks and the time it takes to create them. Ginny Blackmore got it right: it would be nice if men got light headed over the sight of our beauty, but not because we are shallow and needy, but rather because we are proud and self-confident. 

Loved You First

“Because I've been waiting
All this time to finally say it
But now I see your heart's been taken
And nothing could be worse.
Baby, I loved you first.
Had my chances,
Could have been where he is standing.
That's what hurts the most.
Girl, I came so close
But now you'll never know,
Baby, I loved you first.”

Loved You First – One Direction

Five good looking young British boys crooning about a female makes for typical boy band behaviour. I shamelessly have both One Direction albums and I can vouch that every song on it is about a girl. Much like their predecessors Backstreet Boys and *Nsync, these 1D boys thrive, and let’s be honest, survive, by taking turns to sing lyrics about girls they saw / loved / lost.

But, as I typically do with most music, I saw beyond this simplistic idea. Of all the songs on both One Direction albums Loved You First stood out for me. The concept of this song is nothing new; you meet someone you take fancy to but before you can tell them you love them they slip away. 

As a society we have developed more than what could have been imaginable say, fifty years ago. We have seen the first African American be elected President of the United States. In New Zealand we now allow gay and lesbian couples to get married. And technology advances must go well beyond what our grandparents must have thought: we can communicate in an instance without having to see the other person and we can not only travel across our wonderful world, but we have the ability to send people into space. We have developed immunisation against diseases which once wiped out hundreds of people. We have the fastest runners in history, and never before have we seen our athletes jump so high and throw so far. Yes, if we take an overarching look at our society we have it pretty good.

And yet, we struggle to tell someone we love them.

It seems while we are developing our technology and socio status we haven’t managed to develop our emotional side. It is hard to tell other people our feelings as we still fear rejection and failure. We put more trust into technology and infrastructure and medicine then we put into our own feelings. It’s a bit ironic really, because without love and the special someone half our advances would be redundant. There are obviously people who have risked their feelings as happy marriage photos constantly pop up on Facebook feeds, but I can’t help but feel if boy bands are still singing about lost love then it is a problem. I just question this: amidst all our other developments and achievements will we ever be able to move past our own emotional restraints?