Year: 2008

The most powerful voices in rock

| Chris

… in my unbiased opinion, anyway. And no, I’m not talking about the cookie monster variety either.

Though I may have deep respect and appreciation for the following, they aren’t necessarily my absolute favorites. Except for one, maybe. Actually, a lot of my personal favorites aren’t even on this list, at all. I only thought these singers, in particular, were unquestionably successful in penetrating through, not only the massive walls of their band’s sound, but more importantly, the hearts and souls of their listeners. Their voices are, without a doubt, distinctively melodic yet forceful.

This list is by no means exhaustive, just what’s coming through my mind, at this very moment. So, in no particular order, I give you my choices… for the most powerful voices in rock music.

  • Chris Cornell – I can’t decide whether his voice is classic or unique. Maybe, both.
  • Freddie Mercury –  As Stevie Riks would say, he’s the queen of rock and roll. I agree.
  • Pat Benatar – She sounds like a rebellious operatic singer who broke out of the mold.
  • Ronnie James Dio – When Ronnie sings, don’t look in his eyes or you’ll turn into a pillar of salt.
  • Steve Perry – Could anyone possibly sing this good? I didn’t believe it, until recently.
  • Jim Morrison, Bono, Eddie Vedder – Could they be related?
  • Roger Daltrey – Do you watch CSI: Miami? Enough said.
  • Lou Gramm – He’s got pipes of a Jukebox Hero, that’s for sure.
  • Ann Wilson – Aretha Franklin’s sistah… from another mutha.
  • Melissa Etheridge – My back feels like it’s gonna break when listening to her songs. She’s that powerful.
  • Lane Staley – This guy’s voice can make a cobra dance like a snake charmer’s flute.
  • Kurt Cobain – I prefer Lane but I can’t deny the hypnotic draw of his voice either. Definitely, heir to the throne of Lennon.

Ummm… did I miss anyone? Of course, I did. Ya?

The devil on my shoulder

| Chris

Oooh… that 56-inch plasma sure looked mighty fine, didn’t it?

Oh, shut up!

As I walked out the wide open door of our local electronics store here in town – empty handed – I pondered, on the way back to my car, about the subtle dangers of having some form of power. In this case, a little buying power. After all, I have been debt-free since June! Can you imagine what I can do with the money I used to pay my creditors with, now? In fact, I just realized I have since been putting almost twice the amount of my entire monthly budget in my savings account. That’s how much I used to shove down the drain. For years! Surely, I can now reward myself and splurge a little here and a little there, right? Right?

The past year or so has seen me ruthlessly glued on personal finance blogs, more and more. I would go through my del.icio.us bookmarks and religiously read at least a few postings or articles a day. For some reason, I seem to have developed a hunger, not for financial success in particular, but simply for basic wisdom in handling everyday money matters. Any wisdom, really. Even when I’ve heard them a million times before, I’d still be all ears. That’s how seriously I take it.

Twice in my adult life, I had driven myself down a steep road to financial hell. All in the name of helping others, if you will. And by the grace of God, twice I had gotten out alive, as well. Albeit each time taking at least five agonizing years to do so. That’s a lot of time wasted paying for my foolish mistakes when I could’ve just smartened up a bit and advanced on to other things instead. But what did I know, then?

I am no financial pundit, by any means. That’s now quite obvious, I think, by what I have been through in the past. But experience is a teacher whose lessons are worth heeding. The first time around, in fact. Because, the faster we learn, the healthier our future might look. I say “look” because I believe no one will ever know what the future will be like, for sure. We can only foresee, predict or speculate. And as it is, curve-balls are being thrown in all angles, all the time.

Now, vigilantly watching for curve-balls. For what it’s worth, this is what I am consumed with on a daily basis. I know it’s not a lot of fun. It’s just what I’m used to doing now, having been forever spooked by experience. I live today as if I’m about to be broke and homeless within the next 24 hours. That’s right. There are times when fear, as a motivator, isn’t such a bad thing, at all. I allow fear to sober me up, not to stun me. It may not be ideal in all situations, but it can be a possible expressway to freedom and confidence. A shortcut to a dream come true. A ticket to a peace of mind. But the road to the promised land is paved with sacrifices. Mile after mile. Day after day. At least for me, it is. And if one would dare claim a dream, I believe the way of sacrifice must be given absolute respect, first and foremost!

I can almost hear someone saying… Live now for tomorrow may never come. Hey, I can understand, believe me. But I also believe that tomorrow always comes. It always does. It just depends on what kind of tomorrow it will be. Could be good or bad. What I’m saying is that I prefer to make some kind of preparation. To anticipate a storm that may never come. I’d much rather err on the side of safety. And I may be a tad bit more extreme here than most normal people but… that’s just me. I am in no way preaching anything at all, here.

Though, the one thing that makes it easy and painless for me to go through all this is that I am truly, just a simple person. And I purposely live the simplest life possible. Whether in plenty or in need. I’ve never been enticed by anything other than what is basic (Hey, musical instruments are basic, right? Just checking.). One might consider me the epitome of boring – but at least, I can honestly say I have total peace of mind. At least, so far, anyway. And that, I will never ever trade for anything of material value.

But who knows? Maybe tomorrow will be different. It could all come crashing down, for reasons yet unknown. And I have no control over that. Though I hope not. For I look forward to seeing the fruits of my labor one day. Soon, I hope – and still retain the simple way of life I have now. I hope to be able to look back and smile, knowing it was worth all the trouble. I hope to be able to rest assured I have done my part, whether or not things turn out okay for me. And I hope to, at the very least, feel a sense of pride for having gained some form of personal achievement, if anything. Oh yeah, and if it shouldn’t be too much to ask, I’d like to be able to retire my 20 year old Sony Trinitron already. Perhaps replace it with something a little more hip. Just a little. For once. Without feeling any guilt.

But I can only hope.

At least for now, I’m grateful that everything is in good shape. All needs are met. There’s food on the table. TV’s still working. Yes, life is peachy, as it is.

So, pardon me while I flick this little red booger off of my shoulder.

Strike a poser

| Chris

strike a poseWhen I first heard Soundgarden‘s Jesus Christ Pose, from their CD Badmotorfinger, I thought it was blasphemous. Then I learned that it was about Chris Cornell’s disdain for how magazine models are made to look like god figures. Or higher than mere humans kind of thing. He finds it distasteful, I guess. Though I think it’s safe to say, this goes along with them holier than thou characters and ego maniacs, too.

Well, what else is new in this world, huh?

But hey, the song rocks like it’s the end of days. I say, that’s righteous!!!

If only

| Chris

if only

If only

But

My face disfigured by time
Cobwebs burying my eyes with shame
The product of hate I’ve become
I nurture this pain like a family

I bow my head to the ground
For I am nothing for you to look at
Your time need not be wasted
Your concern is unnecessary

I was born in silence and stillness
No one ever needed to know why
Locked inside my own mind
Unhampered by the sun

Years of expendable existence
All will fade away soon
Forever did I ask your questions
Yet never sought my own answers

But

If only

©2008 Chris Alma Jose

U.S. Drag

| Chris

mpDoes anyone remember this song from Missing Persons? Does anyone remember Missing Persons, period? One of the few new wave bands of the 80’s that I really really dug, they combined typical 80’s pop with technical proficiency. After all, they’re remnants of Frank Zappa’s group. That alone should tell you how good these guys are. Although, their more popular tunes include Destination Unknown, Words and Give – and this is because of their obvious pop sensibilities.

However, if you want to hear (or better yet, see) them flaunt their chops, you gotta check out songs like U.S. Drag. It’s kind of like a disjointed funk. Beware of dancing to this tune – you might sprain your ankles.

Dog & Butterfly

| Chris

dnbOne of my all-time favorite songs came out of the mid 70’s. A tune by Heart called Dog & Butterfly. I’m amazed that it is not as popular as some of their other songs. But at the same time, I’m really not. It’s not as much a rocker as say, Barracuda or Magic Man.

This song is special, however, because it is deep and poetic and whimsical not only in its lyrical content but also in the feel of the music itself. When you listen to it, it feels like you’re in a garden of flowers and fountains and sunshine.

Dog & Butterfly is one of the few songs you hear today that doesn’t sound dated. Especially, if you’re hearing it for the first time ever. Ann’s voice is so mesmerizing. And Nancy singing in the background sounds like a butterfly trailing all around. Just like the album artwork.

This type of approach to music was lost in the 80’s but was kind of revived in the 90’s. It is simple, basic and poignant. A beautiful and timeless classic, I think.

Thank you

| Chris

thank you

Thank you for my yummy dinner tonight
I really like the kind Josh’s mom gets
Thank you for this nice big house, as well
It’s more comfy than the cold floor I’m used to
Although I miss hanging out with my old mates
I think of them every now and then
And I pray that they would find a home as well
Or that a home would find them soon

Thank you for that comfy little doggie house
even when I sleep on Josh’s bed lots of times
Thank you that he doesn’t get mad when I do it
I just really want to be close to him
Besides I like to watch over him while he sleeps
Because he watches over me during the day
And he forgives me when I poop on the carpet
Even when his mom doesn’t

Thank you that I am a dog
I don’t have to work and pay the bills
All I do is run around, eat, sleep and poop
And I still get treats and lots of love
Thank you that I can’t possibly hold grudges
They look too heavy for me to carry anyway
Thank you that a sad face is all I have to show
And everything will be alright

Amen

Oh, and P.S.
I pray that Josh here will be done soon
’cause I really really need to go now

Amen again

Dedicated to Miss Molly

Miss Interpreted 2008

| Chris

Selma wrote a post about kindness a few days ago that made me reflect further on the subject. It is a good topic, after all. Could even be taboo, at times.

Oh, how we wish for kindness to shroud the world we live in, every single day of our lives. How nice it would be if everyone offered grace, compassion and sacrifice to each other. Even better, if we ourselves could individually manage to strip our thoughts off of doubt and suspicion, just so we’re free to offer these priceless gifts whenever a predicament calls for them.

But alas, there exist factors that make kindness a difficult stunt to pull in many a circumstance. Difficult, at least, in a sincere or blindly courageous fashion. Kindness, also, is like a familiar acquaintance. You know it, but really, you don’t. Not as much as you want to admit, anyway. And ironically, it would serve you well to be wise in your encounter with it, lest trouble comes your way.

kindnessIn this day and age, showing kindness may truly seem like an act of sacrifice. Like we’re about to lose something by committing it. Or pay for its consequences. How unfortunate this is. Yet, how many times have we read in the newspaper about a good samaritan who tried to offer help in an emergency situation only to be caught in a web of misunderstanding and sued for getting involved, to begin with? What are the chances of regret here, you think? Or say, how many times have we hesitated on an opportunity to assist in a crisis or some volatile situation, for fear of our own safety? Or, do you remember years ago, when someone sued McDonald’s for allegedly getting burned after sipping hot coffee? It’s easy to take advantage of each other. Easier than showing kindness, that’s for sure.

A couple of days ago, I wrote in a jokingly manner about the priest who had planned on staging an online beauty pageant for nuns; for those interested in vying for the title, Miss Sister 2008. Well, a news update from yesterday saw an abrupt change in plans. Rev. Rungi was met with opposition from his superiors and have now decided to suspend the event, for being misinterpreted. I could go on and joke further about how I knew it was too crazy of an idea to even consider, from the get-go. But the fact is, I totally understood the priest’s sincere intention to show kindness to the community of nuns, by doing something that may encourage them and help them build a new-found esteem for their chosen vocation. However, in a world where fear and legalism pervades a global culture, this “act of kindness” was already bound to be riddled with critical bullets, from the beginning.

Sadly, there is hardly anything we can do in this world that will not, in one way or another, meet with some form of denunciation and disapproval; even if our intention is rooted in kindness. If Jesus was killed for having kind motives, what’s our excuse, really? Human beings are judgmental in nature. We are enslaved, in one form or another, by this appalling trait. I believe, it is our moral duty to be aware of this ingrained attribute of ours and unshackle ourselves, and each other, from such evil chains that keep us from being truly free.

Now, what I have learned is that it would obviously do us good, to both be wise in all circumstances, as well as be kind in all circumstances. However, my question remains. Should being wise come before being kind? Or the other way around? For one must trigger the other.

One two three fohhh…

| Chris

heyhoBack in 1989, I had the pleasure of seeing The Ramones at the John Anson Ford Ampitheater. Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee and Marky, in all their glorious punkness, proved that no props can rock the audience as hard as sheer energy could. The only other band I can remember that delivered the same amount of brute force on stage was Motorhead. And I have seen a lot, in my day.

Anyway, it was worth the price of admission just to see the denim-clad foursome in their trademark stance – legs spread out, guitars hung so low they almost touched the floor, and Dee Dee counting off the beat at the start of every song. And standing front and center, I could feel my hair being blown back by the roaring Marshalls like an airplane turbine would.

From what I can remember, they must’ve played at least 30 songs as each one seemed to have only lasted a mere 60 seconds. Probably because they played their songs twice as fast as the recorded versions. I still have their first four albums to this day, in fact. I think they’re timeless. And if Lemmy thinks The Ramones are the only true rock and roll band, besides Motorhead, and even writes a song about them… you just gotta take notice.