We can say that there is a deep yearning for the truth that is part of our nature. It is recognition that life is not what we thought it was, and we are not what we thought we were. In some of its forms it is what we sometimes call a crisis. In a way, our whole culture may be passing through that now, in the sense that our modern world has been increasingly motivated to give people what they want physically, socially, and materially. We are waking up to the fact that physical and social satisfaction does not really bring happiness, well-being, or answers to the great questions of life. It never will, it never can. We need meaning, not only physical pleasure, or security or anything of that kind.
We need time. Time to sit. Time to take it all in. Time to feel the beat of silence.
image by jeneyepher via Flickr used under Creative Common license
Recently my girlfriends and I went to see Adele (Adele Laurie Blue Adkins) in concert on a whim during a “girl’s night out.” I have to admit that I was a doubter. My snobbish self had not deigned to lower myself to actually listen to this artist on “principle” I honestly believed that her work was relegated to the sea of tweens hankering for soft serve musical fare. I was convinced that next year, her hits would end up as ambient music in Starbucks.
My arrogant self was pleasantly surprised. Her band took the stage first, and then she magically appeared without fanfare holding a cup of Earl Grey tea after informing the audience that she had been fighting a cold. Adele, a former BRIT school student, giddy with excitement expressed comments of embarrassment at the sold out show at Dallas’ Granada Theater while waving at the adoring crowds as if she were spotting old friends at the pub.
The twentysomething British singer-songwriter-guitarist was an old soul filled with an overarching sweetness that permeated her entire show. Her big voice was coy and playful and clear as a bell and the real star of the show. She exhibited a range and depth well past her age as she sang tunes that were sophisticated, soulful. poppy, jazz filled and bluesy.
Her intimate performance made the whole venue an up close and personal experience, rendering the audience members best friends for life! She shared tales both personal and passionate through an array thoughtful songs and led the audience through a well crafted evening of music. She told humorous stories and explained the backdrop of her well written and intelligent songs. She even persuaded fans to raise their arms in the air so she could take pictures for her MySpace page. It was as if your little sister was singing for her entire family at the annual reunion.
Adele hypnotized us with a languid, daydreamy, luxurious soul vibe. Her music was soothing…a veritable a cocktail hour martini. She sprinkled the set with covers of her idol Etta James “Melt My Heart to Stone” and “Fool that I am” and Ranconteurs “Many Shades of Black.” Like other performers her age, she didn’t need to dilute her voice with choreography. Adele performed with sincerity and assurance and at the end of her performance she thanked the attentive, cheering enthusiastic audience of 500 for grooving to her music as well as buying tickets and CD. She said that she was “living the dream” and that she literally played to “2 people in a pub’.
At the concert’s end she told everyone to come by her tour bus “for cake.” I noticed there were throngs of adoring fans sticking around the stage hoping some techie would have pity on them and turn over a pick or the ever coveted set list. As I exited the venue, I longingly looked at the merch table but noticed it was picked clean, so I was left to return home and bask in the glory of the night.
Considering the whole slightly-out-of-synch-with-re ality vibe of Cirque du Soleil performance troupe, it is no surprise that it is staged in the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada. For folks unaware of Cirque, this troupe blends acrobatics, interpretive dance, outlandish costumes, and theatrical orchestration with a European flair.
Shunning their tradition of building their performances around music written specifically for the show, Cirque du Soleil based music from the Beatles' catalogue, for their newest show, Love. Twenty-six tracks mixed together under George Martin's supervision combining various elements from more than one hundred thirty Beatles songs, blended seamlessly into recordings from the band's different eras. The results are at once immediately familiar and surprisingly new due to some very innovative edits and layering of songs.
The show opens with a cast of familiar characters marchng around the stage in a stylized, slow-motion parade. Sergeant Pepper, the Fool on the Hill, Lady Madonna, Mr. Kite, Father Mckenzie, the Walrus, Her Majesty, the Nowhere Man, Mean Mr. Mustard, Lovely Rita, Dr. Robert, the Sun King. None of them are ever addressed by name, considering that there's no dialogue at all from any of the performers, but between the highly detailed costumes and the fact that the song lyrics have become a solid part of our collective consciousness over the years, the characters are all instantly recognizable.
A handful of the songs are staged as historical interpretations of the forties, fifties, and sixties from the bombing of London in World War Two to the rise of rock 'n roll to the peace-and-love hippie movements - but these scenes are few and far between, scattered throughout the show. The show comes across as a tribute dedicated to John, Paul, George, and Ringo themselves, with video footage of the fab four projected on curtains flown in from above and archived recordings of in-studio banter, but there's no mention of the band itself, focusing instead on the choreography.
The acrobats and dancers put on a top-notch show. Although I was a little put off by the cheesiness of the main character meandering around the set holding a bouquet of flowers “looking for love” and being turned down during every act, you don't have to be a die-hard Beatles fan to appreciate the show. The performers’ artistry and athleticism were second-to-none.
When children discover the excitement of uncovering and happening upon an idea, a feeling, an event, or a circumstance it is a magical moment. They are brought inside a community of their own curiousity. Imagining is the possibility which turns their whole body around from where it might be standing.
Recently, I read that Six Flags Over Texas will be able to start beer sales for the 2009 season after a judge issued his ruling the park should be allowed to sell alcohol. This gave me some cause for pause. Having worked at this amusement park industry in the late seventies and early eighties, I was reminded of all the teenaged "hijinks" that ensued and am wondering if adding alcohol is such a good idea....
Here are some random memories of employee or guest shenigans that support my concern
Cult bands by definition have uniquely strong and loyal fan bases and are not necessarily well known. They seem to be just below the mainstream radar that people either love or hate with a passion. Many of these band's catalogues have songs that are serious, silly, or experimental with a fan network of people trading live tapes of shows; and a palpably deep love for their band's music and performances. Many of these bands enjoy a steady turn out for record sales that may have never broke out into the mainstream.
Fathers have a profound impact on their daughters, shaping their abilities to love and ultimately to venture forth, physically and emotionally. At the same time, daughters both inadvertently and purposefully break down the artificial walls of masculinity that men sometimes build with a purity and power that mothers, wives, and girlfriends cannot.
Regardless of their age, daughters who have meaningful, comfortable relationships with their fathers are generally more self-confident and independent, have better relationships with men, are less depressed, have fewer eating disorders and drug or alcohol problems and achieve more in school and at work. And the easier it is for a daughter to communicate with her father, the more she enjoys being with him and the more she gets out of their relationship
MNG
We certainly live in exciting times. Who would have thunk it? I have read a lot about this and think this is a great opportunity for creative minds.
My camera pooped out a year ago and I still haven't replaced it. When I come to your site, I miss it even more. With the economic downturn, I will be waiting a little longer...
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Comment by Miswanderlust
on What’s Your Breakfast Grades?
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Mis