Sacrifices (Music, P4)

I find that the only thing that surprises me more than how extremely diverse music can get, is the extreme diversity in the people who make it. Lots of musicians I enjoy and respect often have a single genre which they specialize in, but often find themselves playing, writing, or producing music outside of their genre (Elton John, Chris Martin, “Douchebag” – errr Kenye West). The only real common denominator I could find was that every artist in some way makes a sacrifice for what they do.

Recently I was forced into a situation where I had to take stock of the music collection I’d accumulated since I first got my iPod three years ago, by having to wipe it clean. 20+ gigs of music gone, I took the glass half full approach: I’ll start this anew with musical suggestions from my musically inclined friends – maybe listen to some music I’d otherwise never have heard. So I set up a get together at my place with a few friends and we talked shop for a number of hours. What suggestions did I get? Not a lot, really. Instead, I asked a few other friends who either stopped playing music or didn’t play at all, and I got amazing selections. But it got me to thinking even further.

Time went by and I found myself in another situation which gave my Eureka moment. I was hanging out with friend who’s in school for music. On his desk was an iPod Video, same model as my broken one. I had sort of missed it in a way. It was still wrapped in the protective sleeve everyone seems to lose after the first month of owning an iPod. I made an offhand comment about how cool it was, but my friend merely responded that it was only really for schoolwork – he’d much rather occupy the time in between things just thinking. As a professional day dreamer, I greatly appreciated the sentiment behind the words – and finally realized why I haven’t been getting much help.

It’s work for them. They love it, on some level, but still, you need a break sometime. But even when on break, you’ll notice things about music that some of us never will.  It’s like me and history, I’m immensely interested in studying it, but i find myself sometimes wanting a break. Many people are surprised that reading trash fiction is one of my favourite past-times – but it is, if only for its simplicity and happy endings. I expect nothing but silence and the company of your own thoughts at the end of some days must feel amazing in that same way. Maybe my mediocre knowledge of music is a gift in some ways. I see it in another way, as a magical, intangible thing. I look at my favourite bands with wonder, not knowing how they make such amazing songs, appreciating their talent.