The Fifth of Twenty-five

Here we are with the last of my Music Footprint. I’ve had to spend the last couple weeks getting ready to go back to work, so I’ve had to put this on the back burner.

Kentucky Pill – Johnny Flynn

This is a song about growing up. I found a quote from an interview that Johnny did years ago, which I think does a far better job explaining this song than I ever could.

It’s generally a song about a sense of growing up. It’s about finding yourself to be slightly more dangerous and effective as a human being than you thought you could be. When you’re young, you live in a state of innocence, but eventually you realize that actions have wider consequences than you thought. As you grow up, as you get a sense of time, you stop living in your immediate presence. Your emotional world grows and you can kind of start being hard.
It’s an abstract thing, but the song’s about all these situations you experience growing up that stop you from being innocent. It’s about wanting to hurt people and get hurt.
Interviewer: Marah Eakin for the avclub.com

Ain’t the the truth.

Last Goodbye – The Gufs

The Gufs are one of my favorite underrated bands that no one seems to know about. I saw Goran Kralj of the Gufs open for Caroline’s Spine back in the day. I think that might have been the first time I heard them.

This song looking back and feeling full of regret about letting someone go that you probably shouldn’t have. It may or may not have been a mistake, nevertheless, it sucks. And believe me if I had known then, that it would have been the last time and it was going to end, I would have wanted time to slow and and bottled that moment.

Here’s to Everyone – Martin Zellar and the Hardways

I’ve spoken about my admiration about The Gear Daddies a few posts ago, so it goes without saying that I’m also a fan of Martin Zellar.

Here’s to Everyone is a fairly straightforward song, celebrating life, friends, memories and everything that makes life good and worthwhile. I hear this song and it makes me think of lots of loved ones and I smile at the memories of our past adventures, our quiet moments and secrets. I love my friends and I wish them nothing but happiness for all of their days.

For My Brother – Blue October

This live version from Blue October’s Argue with a Tree is my favorite. It’s no secret that lead singer Justin Furstenfeld has had his struggles with depression and addiction. He is a absolute brilliant songwriter whose words are so much more than just lyrics. You know how people say if a song is any good it can stand on its own acoustically? Well, I feel that way about Justin’s lyrics. They don’t need the music behind them. They transcend. Below is just one of my favorite parts of this song.

Believe you can shine when you’re silver,
And I promise you gold,
I promise you gold
And whenever you’re dark inside,
Don’t let go

Remember there’s rain,
And there’s candy,
And Christmasy winter snow,
The snow, the snow

And remember I love you the same,
And I’ll strangle your pain
And he tells me to sing,
So I sing, and I sing for my brother,
Who keeps me sane,
And tells me everything will be,
Okay

I’m never alone,
No I’m never alone,
I’m not alone,
Not alone

Justin wrote this song about his brother, Jeremy. In this version Justin invites his brother Jeremy, who is the drummer in Blue October, up to sing with him. It’s very emotional and I dare you not to tear up. I do, even when this is the 987th time I’ve listened to the song this year.

I have not been through the things that Justin has, but I do have two sisters who have been with me through all our moves as kids, who also were subjected to bullying in school. My sister’s and I get each other and really, there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do to support one other. We love each other unconditionally, just as Jeremy loves his brother.

Matthew Sweet – Sick of Myself

Who hasn’t had an infatuation for another person so bad that the person literally made you sick of yourself? Surely not just myself and Matthew Sweet (I assume as he wrote this song)? Everything is catchy about this song of self-loathing; the guitar, the way he sings and the lyrics.

I don’t know if this song really meant anything to Matthew Sweet or not, but for me, this song does have its place in my past.

Question of the Day

**Note I am currently without my laptop so I am writing this on my iPad. It’s not ideal, and really weird to type on, not to mention the formatting is not user friendly.**

It may come as not surprise but I have a weak spot for journals. It’s quite dangerous for me to go into that section at Barnes and Noble because guaranteed I will find some pretty little book with a dragon or fairy on it begging for me to buy it, take it home and deface it’s pages with my chicken scratch. Then there are the journaling books that offer inspiration or suggestions on what to write. Last spring I came upon on of those entities One Question a Day. The journal poses one question per day for a year. When you finish the year, you repeat the process, same questions, for 5 years. I suppose its to see how your answers change over time. The answers are to be short and sweet. Some questions are silly and others a bit more serious. I thought it might be kind of interesting to choose 10 questions randomly and answer them here.

What colors do you wear most often?

Being that blue is my favorite color I tend to lean towards blue clothing. Shocker. I also tend to pick up a lot of green as well.

What is your biggest fear?

I have a couple phobias but generally I can work my way around those, except pigs. They give me the creeps. As for my biggest fear is something awful happening to my daughter. An accident where she gets hurt or even worse, someone harming her. Everything else I can conquer, even nasty pigs, but harm befalling my daughter scares me.

When was the last time you cried?

Yesterday. I was driving home listening to music on shuffle and Blue October’s For My Brother, from their live album Argue With a Tree came on. Like every other time I’ve listened to the song I was wiping away the tears. I think it’s one of the most achingly beautiful songs I have ever heard. I wish I could find words to explain this song, but everything I come up with is woefully inadequate. I’ll include the YouTube link. Please give it a listen to the end and you’ll understand.

https://youtu.be/RC0tIrHjTIM

What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

There is probably lots of advice I could give my younger self. Mostly, I think I’d want to tell myself back then, to stop being afraid of what others think and take some chances. I wonder if I could just take the attitude, knowledge and experience that 48 year old me has and put it in 23 year old me what that would have been like.

What is one item on your bucket list?

There are still many things I want to see which require some travel. But experience wise? This is tough for me. I really can’t say I want to do anything daring like, sky-dive or drive a race car. I just have no desire for that kind of stuff. I might have to put some thought into this later.

What issue do you tend to rant about?

The general stupidity of humans. This can be anything from politics or terrible drivers.

What is your usual breakfast?

Hot tea, green or black varieties are my preference. Scrambled eggs and fruit, or out meal if I’m feeling not very energetic. I’m not a morning person but I do need my breakfast to be a decent human being.

Who are you surprised is still your friend?

I have many good friends and I’m blessed to have several “best” friends that have been with me for decades. I’m very lucky and I’m also quite surprised that we are still friends. No, its not that I think I’m some unlikable person but I’ve moved around a lot and its quite hard to maintain relationships long distance. There have been times, before social media and texting, where I haven’t heard from one of my friends for a very long time. Writing is hard. Phoning for a phone-a-phobic like me, and some of my best friends, is downright scary. I have discovered this weekend and the last few weeks of visiting with old friends that you pick that relationship right back up where it left off.

What is the oldest thing in your home?

I think it would be the portraits of my 3x Great-Grandparents Caroline and Heinrich Biebeshimer. They came to the United States from Germany, settled in New York for sometime before moving to Iowa. Heinrich was brewer and grocer. He also was a musician. As the story goes, he bought a wooden flute soon after getting off the boat. I don’t know too much about Caroline other than the basic biographical facts. As for the portraits, I’m not sure on the exact date, but I can deduce that they probably were painted in New York around the 1860s.

What part of your body do you like to show off?

I was tempted to pick another random question because this one is just so…bleh. Currently, nothing. Except maybe my fingernails. I recently started growing them out and they are kind of pretty. Other than that I’m really kind of self conscious about my looks. When I was younger I still had confidence issues regarding my body (who doesn’t?), but I was told I had nice lips and I felt kind of good wearing a crop top.

Influential Album Challenge Day 5 – Blue October History for Sale

Until this very moment I wasn’t sure if I was going to pick Blue October’s Foiled or History for Sale. Both albums are superb and I suppose, since History for Sale came first, I’ll go with it. I simply can’t decide which one had a bigger impact on me. (And yes, I’m feeling a torn for not choosing Foiled…seriously, Hate Me is a masterpiece of a song).

Blue came to my notice when I my friend gave me a cd with a bunch of songs of their songs. All my friends were talking about them and I wanted to know what the deal was. It was love at first listen.

I think Blue is probably one of the most under-appreciated bands out there. I have a hard time wrapping my head around why they are played ALL THE TIME on the radio. Maybe due to the brutal honesty about mental health, suicide and addiction Justin Fustenfeld writes about? I don’t know, but whatever the reason, its shameful. Justin lyrics are often dark, but are some of the most poetic words spoken. Yet, his lyrics aren’t lofty, but like a personal conversation he’s having with the listener. The music is generally on the heavier side of rock, catchy and often cheerful, creating an interesting dynamic with the often darker lyrics.

But not every song is dark on History for Sale. Calling You was written by Justin for his girlfriend. It a straightforward and beautiful song about finding love.

If you ever get a chance to see Blue live. Go. I saw them once at Milwaukee’s Summerfest. Justin had broken his leg and performed the entire 2 hours alternating between crutches and sitting on a stool, but nothing of the energy was missing. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen.