I don’t know if I am a natural storyteller or not. I’m not the kind of person who could sit around the campfire and share a story because I have a crappy memory and it would go something like, “You know, once upon a time there were two guys… oh wait, no … three ’cause well, anyways — three guys walk into the bar… one was a priest… er, or was he an Iman? Rabbi? Er, I don’t know… but, it’s a funny story, I swear. Just get someone else to tell you about it….”

But on the weekend, I was listening to Paul Simon and his album called, The One. The One was released after his failed Broadway show called The Capeman. Now, I didn’t see the play but the music is pretty awesome and it tells the story of some guy in New York who did some murder of some guy. (See? I told you, a crappy storyteller)

The One is also a “story” of sorts. Each of the songs tell a story… such as the lovestory of Darling Lorraine (A rocky marriage which ends in the cancer death of his wife), to Pigs, Sheeps and Wolves (wrongful convictions and injustice), The Teacher (which is I think is based on an old-testament story), and Hurricane Eye/Quiet. The last one is a bit weird but - it’s very interesting… because, it’s not what he says so much as how he makes you feel. Now, Dave (my ex) gave me a ticket to see a Paul Simon concert in Detroit in 2000. Considering we were in an amphitheatre, the sound wasn’t too bad but pretty much, the song takes you through the actions of a hurricane… the calm before the storm — then the music starts to get more intense, gradually increasing in speed and loudness until finally, the hurricane hits full-force… then you have the eye of the storm, and then it leaves again. At the end of that song, is this very hypnotic song called Quiet…. it just resonates in your mind. I love listening to this album with the headphones on because it just surrounds you…. Paul Simon is such a great artist, a great storyteller through this music.  And THAT my friends, is something I can do. Lately I’ve been thinking more and more of how I can start telling stories through my music. I have this skill and ability and I feel as though lately, it is being wasted. I can’t sing (though I’ve been told I can but I’m too chicken $hit to do so) and I can’t really write music well though I know that I could if I thought and actually tried to do it. I can perform but I’m a bit shy on stage. The problem I believe, Sherlock, is that I need to find my niche.

When I was going out with Dave, I bought a guitar. It’s a beautiful guitar which I spent quite a bit of money on (either $300 or $500) but when it comes to instruments, you can’t go cheap. For me, it’s in the sound and if you have a crappy guitar, you will have crappy music, which makes you not want to play again.

My problem? After I hurt my wrist, I could hardly play at all. In the beginning I couldn’t even hold up my guitar, let alone get my hand positioned to play. Eventually I could play 1 minute, then 2. Now I’m up to about 10 minutes. Whoopie, huh? But it’s a big deal to me! It’s 10 minutes where I can play and express myself. I can also play sax/flute but I don’t get to do that very often and it’s not the kind of music I like to play.

Posted on March 20th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Uncategorized