Music = Life = Obsession

Music = Life.  Life without music would not be worth living for me.  It can change a person, shape a nation, define a decade.

For me, music isn't about a particular genre, its what the song says to ME.  It has to speak to me, whisper in my ear, smack me in the head or best of all, embrace my soul.  Most people dont really listen to what the song says, they are listening to a beat or a favorite artist, but do your really LISTEN?  Can you FEEL it?

The majority of musicians regardless of genre are poets, speakers of faith, hope, emotion and life experiences.  And though they may not know it at the time, sometimes they can say some VERY powerful things.  When people hear the name Jimi Hendrix, they typically think '60's, hippies, drugs, hard rock.  All true, but to me? His greatest statement (which I still use now) was this "When the Power of Love Overcomes the Love of Power, only then will we know Peace"  WOW.... yep, his words and truer words were never spoken.

So many inspirations come from music.  I never really knew what "Rap" was, other than to hear people talk about cop killing songs and such, and I remember thinking, ohhh... BAD..  Tupac, Biggie, all the hate, all the violence.  Not my thing.  I am and have ALWAYS been about peace and love.  But at some point, something changed.  For example: Tupac or 2Pac.  Wow... from cop killing/gang banging hating to "Unconditional Love" and "Dear Mama", and my personal favorite "Better Days".  Gotta say it, I owned a ridiculous amount of Tupac now.  My mother at 72, bless her heart even loved him.  Course, she also loved Eminem and his song "Cleaning out my Closet".  Yes, my mother was a true gift.  Again, lyrics.... what it says, where they take you.

It's hard to be me now.  I live in the country, population 63 and all my friends, and by that I  mean ALL dont listen to anything other than country. EVER.  Dont get me wrong, country is great and I love most of it (Hank Sr. is an all time fav of mine) and own tons of it, but there IS more.  Really.  I will listen to it all, and love most of it, not like some of it, but will ALWAYS respect it.  

Powerful stuff music.