This is Your Brain On Music

Just read this book.
It's pretty interesting for those who are into music - there are certain aspects of it that I find most interesting. One was when the author talked about camping in with a certain African tribe. When the tribe asked him to sing along with them, the author declined, saying that he didn't sing. The tribesmen were puzzled and asked.. what do you mean? You do have a mouth, you speak... of course you sing!

Singing was such a fundamental part of their life, like talking that they didn't understand the need to be "good". Our society has given the privilege of singing to a select few who are deemed "good enough". The rest of us are somewhat pressured into silence, simply because we are "not good enough". Reading this really changed my mindset somewhat.

The author also goes on to tell us why 10,000 hours of practice, and not talent, makes virtuosos. I shan't delve further into this - you go read it!

This I truly believe in.. those who really become very good are those who love playing the instrument enough to spend every possible minute they can find on it.

Oh, and it also explains why your parents never get tired of listening to the same songs they listened to as teenagers.

Song of the Week - The Man Who Can't Be Moved

Video Here

Going back to the corner,
where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag,
I’m not gonna move
Got some words on cardboard
Got your picture in my hand
Saying if you see this girl can you tell her were I am
Some try to hand me money
They don’t understand,
I’m not broke I’m just a broken hearted man
I no it makes no sense
What else can i do?
How can I move on
When I’m still in love with you?

Cause’ if one day you wake up
and find that your missing me
and your heart starts to wonder
where on this earth I could be,
Thinking maybe you’d come back here
to the place that we’d meet
Then you’d see me waiting for you
on the corner of the street,
So I’m not moving
I’m not moving

Policeman says Son you cant stay here
I say there’s someone I’m waiting for if its a day, a month, a year,
Gotta stand my ground,
even if it rains or snows,
If she changes her mind,
this is the first place she will go

Cause’ if one day you wake up
and find that your missing me
and your heart starts to wonder
where on this earth I could be,
Thinking maybe you’d come back here
to the place that we’d meet
Then you’d see me waiting for you
on the corner of the street,
So I’m not moving
I’m not moving
I’m not moving
I’m not moving

People talk about the guy,
thats waiting in on a girl
Woah oh
There are no holes in his shoes,
But a big hole in his world
Ooh
Maybe I’ll get famous for the man who can’t be moved,
and maybe you wont mean to but you’ll see me on the news,
and you’d come running to the corner,
Cause’ you’ll know its just for you
I’m the man who cant be moved
I’m the man who cant be moved

Cause’ if one day you wake up,
and find that your missing me,
and your heart starts to wonder
where on this earth I could be,
Thinking maybe you’d come back here
to the place that we’d meet
and you’d see me waiting for you
on the corner of the street
so I’m not moving
I’m not moving
I’m not moving
I’m not moving

Cause’ if one day you wake up,
and find that your missing me,
and your heart starts to wonder
where on this earth I could be,
Thinking maybe you’d come back here
to the place that we’d meet
and you’d see me waiting for you
on the corner of the street

Going back to the corner were I first saw you,
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag and I’m not gonna move

New Hero Induction - John Mayer

Just got this dvd. 23 bucks at Chinatown.
If you are just aware of John Mayer the pop artist, you will be shocked by this dvd. This is obviously someone who spent many years practicing Hendrix/SRV songs and licks before he became famous. Some say that he is just derivative of his idols, but just look at him play! When's the last time you've seen guitar playing like that? Are those people even still alive? He has improved so much since the time he came out.

Somehow, he has managed to find a formula to mesh his pop sensibility, srv/hendrix licks and a breathy-sounding voice all together. And his trio plus his band really kicks ass. Definitely not your average Fender kid.

I'm going to go through a John Mayer wanna-be phase - starting now. Take apart his songs, and playing. Oh man. Really need people like these to pop uponce in a while to tell me to get off my ass and start practicing...

It's nice to see someone who really has talent make it.

Song of the Week - Jolene

Jolene - Mindy Smith

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can

Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene

He talks about you in his sleep
And there's nothing I can do to keep
From crying when he calls your name, Jolene
But I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can

You could have your choice of men
But I could never love again
He's the only one for me, Jolene
I had to have this talk with you
My happiness depends on you
And whatever you decide to do, Jolene

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him even though you can
Jolene, Jolene


A sad and haunting cover of Dolly Parton.. and dammed catchy! Love it!