music in my life (long) (460 hits)
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Submitted by <theonlyfactor.at.yahoo.com> (View user info) at 2005-02-28 06:13:48 EST
In early '94, much like a lot of us, I wasn't allowed to watch MTV for whatever reasons my parents deemed fit. I was allowed to watch wrestling. I was allowed to watch married with children, but, for some reason, MTV was deemed evil.
So naturally I would watch it when I could when they weren't home.
I never really seemed to find anything of interest on there until one day, before school, I flipped it on, and there was this band on there. The music was loud and distorted. There was feedback. The singer was screaming. He looked filthy, angry, almost lost. The images of the video were dark and eerie. I didn't understand what I was seeing, but I knew I liked it. Nay...I LOVED it!!!
The video was of course "Heart Shaped Box" by Nirvana.
That video and song hung out in my head all fucking day. I knew absolutely nothing about the band, the music, anything. But I knew that what I had heard had changed me a bit.
All the kids around me were still into that horrible late 80's early 90's dance crap. Awful, awful stuff. And I hear this nirvana band, that only a few of my friends were into along side me. That helped us form a bond of sorts, and the first clique of our lives was formed.
I found it weird how I could love a band so much, since this was WELL before I understood the power that music could have on you. I begged my mom to let me get their tape and she absolutely refused. She said it was terrible music and I didn't need to be listening to that garbage. I would later ask her...
"Was your mom cool with you liking the Beatles and Elvis?"
"Of course...she liked them too."
"then why the fuck did you give me such shit when I was starting to develop a taste for music???"
She couldn't give me an answer.
She did start allowing me to watch Mtv and all that though at this point because she realized that it wasn't the end of the world and the invocation of evil. That and my dad was in the hospital and not there to flip out over it.
Sadly though it wasn't until after both Kurt and my father were dead that I was allowed to start getting tapes of bands I liked. "In Utero", "Smash" by The Offspring, and even Green Day's "Dookie" (yeah I know...but I think we all liked them at one point...)
1994 was a really good year for music too. A lot of bands put out their best albums that year. The Offspring, Dreen Day, Hell, even Hole's best C.D. (and I use the term loosely) came out that year.
Pantera's "Far beyond Driven" actually came out #1 on the Billboard charts that year. AMAZING for a metal band of their stature. Even Korn's first album, and coincidentally their best, came out in '94. I picked up an album by Henry Rollins that year as well, and that C.D. is actually still one of my favorites to this day. Then at the advice of one of my older friends, I went out and bought my first Ozzy C.D. "Speak of the Devil." It was pretty much over for other music at that point. Ozzy was where it was at for me.
Around this time is when the decision was made that we would move to Florida.
I'll admit a combination of my dad being dead less than a year, and the notably darker music I was listening to, along with the fact that I was seriously just starting to make REAL friends at the time, led me to do some stupid things in response to this decision. Things like, carving "NIRVANA" into my arm with a piece of broken glass.
Despite all these life altering events, there was always music for me to hold onto
The aggression in the music I listened to is what drew me to it. With Nirvana it was the blood curdling emotion...Ozzy was just...Ozzy...I can't describe it. Henry Rollins seemed to capture the solitude and contempt for all that is that, at the time, I was feeling perfectly. That C.D. has helped me get through some shitty times in my life. Oddly though when I listen to it, I can't pick out a single one. I only listen to that C.D. when times are hard. Thanks Henry.
95 was filled with mostly just buying albums and seeing what was good. Maiden, Kiss, Metallica, more Ozzy, Black Sabbath, oh how I love Black Sabbath...I could go on and on. Aside from Black Sabbath and Ozzy, nothing really struck me as hard as Nirvana did. There were bands I loved but none that I really FELT.
Marilyn Manson... I hated him until well into 10th grade. Then I got way too into him and started buying into what he was selling. I was also a fool at this point. I can't even really say that he was like Nirvana/Sabbath. He was just the flavor of the month really. "Antichrist Superstar" is still a really good C.D. though.
There was such a lull in good music being put out between 1999 and 2002. Mediocrity reigned supreme!! Bands like Limp Bizkit, Korn, Deftones, and the like, killed good music. Luckily there were the old friends to hang on to. The Nirvanas, the Sabbaths, and there were newer friends too. Pantera, Type O Negative, Fear Factory, Rammstein...and this new discovery I made called Death Metal. That was more of a shock value "look at this band Deicide I listen to...they hate God and so do I!!!" type thing. Nothing new coming out was even worth listening to for the most part. There were a few shining stars in a very long, dark night for music. All of which have fizzled out by now.
As I grew older I started to open myself to different kinds of music. Rap, Classical, a small dose of drum and bass, Motown, blues...I don't actually listen to all of these on a regular basis, but if it's on, I won't turn it off. I appreciate all music as long as it's good these days.
Old school hip-hop from ...guess when...back in 94 is the shit. Snoop, Dre, N.W.A., Iice Cube, Ice T. They're all pioneers and that usually means the best at it. I love it. It's on the same level as metal for the most part. It's true and it's from the heart...even if it's about different things, than what me and my friends are into. It's pure.
And then there's Tori Amos. I love her...I hate her...I love her again. I started getting into her back in the day because I was exposed to it so much from my girlfriend. Then when I was Mr. depressed-sad-boy, I couldn't listen to her. For the longest time, it reminded me of that whole "I broke up with my first love please let me die" time. Therefore I hated her. Lately, I've rediscovered her and I have to say...I love it again. Her music is so calming and beautiful that I can't describe how it makes me feel, other than calm. Her passion for what she does, and the amount of emotion she puts into her music is mesmerizing.
I've developed love affairs with albums, with bands, songs, you name it. Most of the time they just fade away after a little while passes. Sometimes they don't. sometimes they're like Nirvana or Black Sabbath, and 10 years into me listening to them, I can still listen to them and enjoy the C.D.
Since I've started listening to music I've found that it is a driving force in my life. When no one was there...I had music to keep me company. When I was surrounded with people...I had someone to share my music with. I've made some of the best friends I'll ever have because of music, and it has brought me closer to some of my other friends.
There has always been that one band, or song, that makes you want to cry. One that makes you want to kill. One that makes you want to go on with life and forget everything that's wrong, and one that takes you back to a place you may or may not want to be.
When I first started listening to music, I liked what sounded good to me. The Offspring, Nirvana, Green Day, Aerosmith, Ozzy, Rollins Band, Kiss, Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, The Doors, Soundgarden... most of it was heavy, or aggressive, or whatever, but I did not discriminate... I loved music.
Even in my EARLY exposure to music, which was a tape that had Richie Vallens and Bobby Vinton, and Steppenwolf on it. I loved that whole tape. because the songs were amazing. Then you start hanging out with people and your mind SNAPS shut because you and your friends figure that you listen to a majority of one kind of music so that's all it should be. We chose metal.
Now as I get older I realize that there is A LOT of music out there that's great, but I never had a chance to discover it because it wasn't on Ozzfest or in the Heavy Metal section at the record store. I want it to be like it was back in 94. Back when there was innocence to it.
I love music, and when I see these commercials that say "save the music" it kind of depresses me because why would you want to take away something as powerful and influential and special as music.
Music is my life and I'll forever thank the people who have made the music that has shaped my life into what it is and me into who I am. Without it, I'd be dead by now.
User Reviews
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-02-28 10:06:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Green Day is just a ripoff of The Clash. Christ, can Green Day's singer possibly imitate Joe Strummer any closer? Same hair...same vocal style...holds the guitar the same way...he even bears a slight resemblance. I can't believe that nobody EVER picked up on that.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2005-02-28 09:49:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Don't rip on Greenday, dude. They rock.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-02-28 09:35:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Sadly, most of "your" music is just over-produced, corporate cess that is just a poor rehashing of older music.
EMI
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-02-28 09:26:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Goo shit.
Submitted by Jarvis (user info) at 2005-02-28 08:51:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I miss the good ol' days. It doesn't matter that I was only 7 in 1994, I still listened to Nirvana, Green Day, Alice In Chains, etc. We need another movement in the music scene and it seems that it might be indie bands this time. Modest Mouse, Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire, etc seem to be getting more popular by the second. Hell, Modest Mouse actually got some play on MTV and FUSE this year and I said "let's see more" but sadly it was drown out by Lindsay Lohan and others of that ilk.
Submitted by Calios (user info) at 2005-02-28 08:48:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by TheOnlyFactor (user info) at 2005-02-28 08:19:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
i see what you're sayin, buit i figure to each his own right?
as far as reggae...not really my thing. i give marley his props. he was the man for what he did. i'll always respect him for that
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Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-02-28 06:54:31 (#)
Ranking: 2
As a DJ I analyse everybody I meet through their music, I always worry when I hear somebody dealing with their rage and anger by listening to angry music. "It" does not work that way, angry music in my vast experience (sorry to be arrogant) makes people angry, you will tire yourself out and achieve peace eventually but then you have smoothed the path for anger to take next time.
On a side note, how many time where you happy, started humming a tune and then ended up maudlin because you were humming "love will tear us apart" by Joy Division (I know, I have been there).
Have you tried Reggae? Bob Marley obviously, then Jah Cure, Mogan Heritage, Beres Hammond, Sanchez.
Seriously this stuff cheers people up.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-02-28 07:36:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"I appreciate all music as long as it's good"
fair enough. i can't say i love thrash and death metal, but i appreciate your love of music. i'm going to linkwhore, because i did something similar a while back, but it wasn't as good. oh well, i'm a whore.
let me know what you think
http://www.ubersite.com/m/51110
Submitted by Fabit (user info) at 2005-02-28 07:17:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I was (living in britain) and indy lad, blur, the sea horses, verve, happy mondays, ocean clour scene, all these amazing british bands, singing my summers for me was intense! I never let it limit me though, fatboy slim was also a big summer hit for me, i had your 94 in about 97 and indy was the way foward, we all remember our first musical summers and in my mind it will always rock out!
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-02-28 06:54:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
As a DJ I analyse everybody I meet through their music, I always worry when I hear somebody dealing with their rage and anger by listening to angry music. "It" does not work that way, angry music in my vast experience (sorry to be arrogant) makes people angry, you will tire yourself out and achieve peace eventually but then you have smoothed the path for anger to take next time.
On a side note, how many time where you happy, started humming a tune and then ended up maudlin because you were humming "love will tear us apart" by Joy Division (I know, I have been there).
Have you tried Reggae? Bob Marley obviously, then Jah Cure, Mogan Heritage, Beres Hammond, Sanchez.
Seriously this stuff cheers people up.
Submitted by Shroom (user info) at 2005-02-28 06:49:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
WE WANT MORE OF NINETY-FOUR!
This one flows better...
Submitted by Shroom (user info) at 2005-02-28 06:48:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for Offspring, Ozzy, Sabbath, Nirvana... Oh jeez, for the whole fucking post.
The past few years, music has gone to shit. I remember when Offspring's Smash came out in '94 (My sister was born that year...Can't have great music without a demon being born, eh?). My dad bought it and played it constantly, along with many other albums he got that year (Sublime, anyone? Though I believe that may have been '92).
For those in Southern California around the LA/Orange area, 106.7 KROQ reigned supreme. They had all the good music playing with all the best DJ's. Kev & Bean in the morning, Jed the Fish in the afternoons, and Dr. Love and Jimmy Kimmel on Loveline from 10pm - midnight.
I'd give anything for music like that to be made again. Today, if a bands guitarist can repeat a power chord and the vocalist and yell incoherently, then you're a hit.
Wtf happened?
BRING BACK 1994!!
Submitted by negativesid (user info) at 2005-02-28 06:20:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because of Nirvana.