November 4, 2010

None But Ourselves Can Free Our Minds

Pioneer. An individual who dares to venture from the norm and, instead, paves his or her own path while inspiring others to perhaps do the same. Someone whose mind is simply just wired differently than everyone else’s. Pioneers see things that others don’t. They hear sounds that others can’t. They do things that others won’t. This concept was once so present in music, back in the days when musicians were more than just celebrities. You see, music has changed so much within the past decades. Where are the pioneers? Where are the musicians whose influence extends past our eardrums and presses against our hearts instead? I've had enough of all these media puppets who receive far more praise than they are worth. This world needs more musicians who will stand for something greater than themselves.



Bob Marley was one of the greatest musicians to walk the face of the Earth. His music speaks to me in ways that not much music does, it is simply amazing. His lyrics have so much depth & meaning to them. There is a message in his music; a message that tells us to love one another. A message that challenges us to look at our current position in life and ask ourselves if we are truly happy. A message that encourages us to never give up. I feel that this is such an important component that is missing in most music nowadays. The majority of what you hear on the radio is not enlightening at all and the music which actually is never gets any play. And as if that isn't bad enough, they play the same 12 songs over and over. But people love it...I guess it's like eating, most people tend to gravitate towards the junk food. Going along with this theme, if music is like food and if you are what you eat, doesn't that mean you are what you listen to as well? Feed your mind well and your soul will thank you in return. 
These two songs that I chose to share with you all are my two favorite Bob Marley songs of all time. These songs move me for two different reasons. First of all, Satisfy My Soul was so exquisitely written. The lyrics are simple, but it is their simplicity that add so much meaning to this song. Secondly, why I enjoy Redemption Song is because of the moving history behind this song. When Bob Marley wrote this song, he had already been diagnosed with the cancer that would later claim his life. As Rita Marley stated "he was already secretly in a lot of pain and dealt with his own mortality, a feature that is clearly apparent in the album, particularly in this song." The pain and fear Bob Marley must have been feeling at this point in his life is so present in this song and the fact that he was able to be vulnerable and share his heart through the song makes it only more beautiful. We need to be hearing more music like this in the world today and there is some out there, deep in corners and alcoves of the music industry. I wonder if the day will come when I turn on the radio and hear music with meaning. Music with purpose. Music with a message. I don't know when that day will come but until then, you will definitely find that kind of music on That Good Good Blog. 


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19 comments:

  1. I think that you're right, musicians these days do get a lot more praise than is deserved... a lot of the music they just sing, they have no part in writing it or playing any instruments..

    http://pagesixxx.blogspot.com

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  2. Excellent writing as always! I love the analogy you made between food and music, it is so true! We are what we listen to so we should be filling ourselves with good instead of bad!

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  3. so true about radio. Junk, junk, junk! and they make you "love" it by playing the same songs in rotation. You can only find real heartfelt music underground these days.

    ~L~
    My Style Blog

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  4. Lovely way to start my morning! thanks for the post!

    Janelle

    http://naturallivingguide.blogspot.com/

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  5. I just want to crawl into your brain and take a nap! (I hope that doesn't come off as too weird lol) But seriously, that is how I feel! You are truly brilliant. This post is so on point, music nowadays is garbage. Whenever I hear people going on and on about people like Lil' Wayne and Nicki Minaj and all these other "media puppets" as you cleverly put, it makes me angry! People who actually have talent and who deserve to be put on the radio never get the chance...it really is a damn shame.

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  6. Good Shit Dami... Bob Marley is one of the all time greats..

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  7. I love Bob Marley!! Redemption Song is amazing, but I had no idea he wrote it after he found out he had cancer! You are right, that brings so much more meaning to the song.

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  8. I came across your blog after you commented mine. And i am truly impressed. I love the attention you pay to minorities in fashion. We need more like you!

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  9. I really love his songs, and I deeply respect his talent! That was such a nice article to share, thank you.

    xoxo,
    Froso from Style Nirvana

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  10. you are seriously an inspiration!
    and i'm a bob marley and the wailers fan, he is very very inspirational and keeps my spirits up.

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  11. "I guess it's like eating, most people tend to gravitate towards the junk food". WOW. You pretty much summed up everything in that one statement! I never even thought of it like that :)

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  12. Another great post as usual Dee.

    A mind revolution definitely needs to take place as far as the current state of music is concerned. What we allow into our hearts and minds consumes us. I like the junk food comparison you made because, trash music consumption is definitely endangering our minds.

    Bob Marley was a crusader, a warrior for freedom, his music was an intoxicating blend of carribean rhythms, socio-politics and mythical musings. I've had the pleasure of visiting his birth place twice in Nine Miles on visits to Jamaica and I saw the people, places and things mentioned in his music, it was a magical experience.

    Everybody should have some Bob Marley on their Ipod, it is required listening!

    Bless

    J

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  13. @jamie-lee, I know! So many musicians have so little involvement in the actual creative process, it's ridiculous! That why I feel they are puppets, they are told what to wear, what to sing, how to sing it, who to associate with, etc...it's so sad.

    @Tayo.O., thank you so much! And yes, what we fill our minds with has an impact on us, whether we want to believe that or not. So we should fill ourselves with good instead of bad :)

    @~L~ of Avid Accents, seriously, I agree 200%! The majority of that good good music in the world can only be found underground :( It's a dang shame, those are the people who deserve the shine!

    @Janelle, you are so welcome! Thank you for stopping by :)

    @M1dn1tE.STunN3R, lmao! No that wasn't weird at all! Actually, it sounds like something I would say myself :) Thank you so much!!! And I am so with you on the 2 artists you mentioned..lol I'm not a big fan of either those individuals. Radio stations are too busy playing their music and people with actual talent never get the chance to showcase it. It really isn't fair at all..

    @Philz, thank you for stopping by Philly :) And yes, Bob Marley is mos definitely one of the greats!

    @Sade Jaye, I know! It is truly amazing, I have found a whole new love of that song having found that out as well! I feel like I should have known though lol..but I didn't

    @nianicole, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm so glad you appreciate that lol, I am so happy you like my blog :)

    @Froso, thank you! And you are so welcome, thank you so much for stopping by!

    @sandraaa_xo, aww thank you so much! I'm glad you feel inspired :) I love Bob Marley & the Wailers too...they created some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard in my life.

    @Alicia, thank you lol! I'm always talking in simile and metaphor lmao :)

    @Jason, thank you so much Jason! And I completely agree with everything you said...we are in DIRE need of a mind revolution. Bob Marley is certainly required listening! His music is EXACTLY how you described it, I love your way with words btw!

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  14. Anonymous11/06/2010

    So true, everything you said. I also feel that there are not many pioneers in the music industry, all these people worry about more than anything these days are their image and the rest of us "normal people" buy into all that crap. It's a shame really.

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  15. WOW
    As a Jamaican I'm just happy to read this...cool

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  16. my goodness I needed to read that ...it is SO true.

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  17. Now that was one succinct analogy! As for "Redemption Song", there was always an intense air to the song in my mind contemplating the lyrics for so so long and u just made it make sense. In the spirit of the food-music analogy, Bob Marley I would reckon is a "staple" on so many a good good music collection! He did pure genius justice! Thanks for sharing.

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  18. @Anonymous, exactly. It's the "fans" who consume it and perpetuate it! Oh well, that is the music industry for you :/

    @Corve DaCosta, I'm glad it made you happy!!! Thank you for commenting :)

    @Maggie ☮, thank you for commenting! I'm glad it spoke to you in some way!

    @ThYme, thank you so much! I'm so happy I was able to point that out to you, I was feeling the exact same way before I found that out myself. That song always just felt so HEAVY to me so I knew there had to be some type of deeper emotion or meaning to it :) Bob Marley surely is a staple in a good good music collection!!! :D

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  19. you know you're pretty smart, smarter than i thought :-)

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