So, I'm taking a little time out of my busy work day to run downstairs and have a heater when, pleasantly suprisingly, Rain Song shuffles in on the iPod.
The only reason it has any significance at all is that, to me, this song represents some of the finest work Led Zeppelin ever did, and its completely out of character. It strikes me as odd that one of the best songs the band ever did turns out to be something that in no way, shape or form rocks. Odd, that.
But the question that it begs is this: Do we do our best work when we step out of character and go with something? Are we, at times, bound too tightly by expectations, ours and others? I haven't thought it out enough to even have an opinion yet. The initial reaction is that it could be, but then what does that say about our characters (those that we play in the real world)? Or rather, if its true, what does it say about us as individuals that we rely on characters?
It's a bit too deep for me on a Friday.
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I'm gonna have to come back to this. You just tripped a couple of my breakers there, Moe.
Happens alot in rock I guess. Look at Journey, their biggest hits were the ballads, out of character with early work.
Boundaries, although safe and secure, confine creativity and limit our percieved abilities.
Characters are played for others imo. If you truly want unbridled innovation, stop playing for others and play yourself.
What? I only have a minute before meetings.
Boundaries, although safe and secure, confine creativity and limit our percieved abilities.
Characters are played for others imo. If you truly want unbridled innovation, stop playing for others and play yourself.
What? I only have a minute before meetings.
hmm...
must concur with TStephens.. this one will require a bit more than an off the cuff response...
may come back to it later.. but an interesting question that's for certain.
must concur with TStephens.. this one will require a bit more than an off the cuff response...
may come back to it later.. but an interesting question that's for certain.
His Excellency MoebiusLord wrote:
But the question that it begs is this: Do we do our best work when we step out of character and go with something? Are we, at times, bound too tightly by expectations, ours and others? I haven't thought it out enough to even have an opinion yet. The initial reaction is that it could be, but then what does that say about our characters (those that we play in the real world)? Or rather, if its true, what does it say about us as individuals that we rely on characters?
Hey, it worked pretty well for Stephen King and Thad Beaumont (until the out-of-character comes to life and tries to kill you).
publiusvarus wrote:
we all know liberals are well adjusted american citizens who only want what's best for society. While conservatives are evil money grubbing scum who only want to sh*t on the little man and rob the world of its resources.
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Do we do our best work when we step out of character and go with something?
Every great poet, singer, artist, anything really, have pretty much all thier life felt out of the "norm". What they think, what they say, have been percieved by people to be "strange".
What defines stepping "out of character"? Is it the same as showing your "true colors"? I believe it is. Marked by a society that will either loathe/love your ideas, we all tend to manipulate and mold our personalities and/or views (somewhat)to the likes of others.
Many great artists (musicians, poets, actors, etc) have dealt with this for most of the career. Striving towards excellency, fame, maybe even unconditional love?
I have felt bound by expectactions of myself and others. However, I came to realize that it is only because I let these expectations be put upon me. All I need is to make me happy.
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Or rather, if its true, what does it say about us as individuals that we rely on characters?
This question is tough. As individuals we choose our own path. That seems like a fine statement but on the contrary..
I believe that we all step into characters to co-exist amongst each other. Cliques are formed and the desire to fit-in exceeds anything else. For the most part this is true, this to me is in character.
Only when the boundary is crossed it is then those expectations are lifted. Many have followed this suit. Spoken from what is inside them and bye society viewed as something quite "out of character". Loathed then, loved now.
To have an effect, deeply, on someone and to be remembered is something that we all want to do and whether we know it or not have all accomplished.
I may never be known as the greatest actress, poet, singer, mucisian and that is ok. That's not my character. Sometimes the greatest work isn't done in the spot light, it is just done. Period.
Some songs make me step outside the box into a dreamlike state as well. It happens at different times with different songs, but quite often. As a musician, I feel the emotion and technicalities put into the song or a part of the song that put me instantly in a good mood and give me a adrenaline rush. Even bands you would think that wouldn't have this capability do. Norweigen Black Metalists Dimmu Borgir have a few songs that can do this. Even European Black Metalists Cradle of Filth or Progressive Death Metal bands like Death or Children of Bodom. If you've never heard of these guys or don't understand the music then of course, you wouldn't understand the feeling. Like I mentioned, being a musician really opens your eyes and mind to music you listen to and if you are a experienced musician with technical detail on your side, technicalities in songs are more appreciated and enjoyed.
Maybe you should lay off the shrooms, Moe.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
Jophiel wrote:
I managed to be both retarded and entertaining.
Look how well Michael Jordan performed during his foray into Baseball!
Actually, the finest work Zepplin ever did was the Song "Rivendell". If you've ever really read the books ( LOTR 1-3, Hobbit, and Sillmarillion) instead of just seeing the movies, then you understand why this song is so poingiant. When you add in Misty Mountain Hop, Battle of Evermore, and follow it with Ramble On, you can see that the members of Zepplin truly had brains, unlike roughly 80% of today's music makers. For a band that nobody ever thought would go anywhere, they are still among my top 10 all time favorite groups. Sure, a lot of thier stuff was directed at the masses (Black Dog, Gallows Pole, Stairway to heavan, etc) but the ones they did from the heart ( Not just the ones from LOTR, but many others, including the Immigrant song) showed that this was one of histories best and brightest bands.
The only other group that has ever come close to Led in pure soulfulsess of music is Rush. If you don't get it, sit down and listen to 2112, Moving Pictures, or Fly By Night. Even Pink Floyd, while they produced some awesome and telling tunes, didn't come close to the solid, heart-stabbing, mind-grabbing "Funk" of these 2 groups.
The only other group that has ever come close to Led in pure soulfulsess of music is Rush. If you don't get it, sit down and listen to 2112, Moving Pictures, or Fly By Night. Even Pink Floyd, while they produced some awesome and telling tunes, didn't come close to the solid, heart-stabbing, mind-grabbing "Funk" of these 2 groups.
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The only other group that has ever come close to Led in pure soulfulsess of music is Rush.
Rush is one of the better bands of the 70s. I saw them back in 97 at the Test for Echo tour and it was one of the best shows I have ever been to. In fact, it was my first show. The venue it was at (The Gorge in George, Washington) is a perfect setting for a May day featuring Rush. The Gorge is a ampitheater outside and sits on a Gorge. Look it up if you have the chance, it's awesome.
The only band that can compete with Rush as far as perfection is Dream Theater. Of course, I will say that Dream Theater is better than Rush but that's because Dream Theater has been my favorite band since 1992 and John Petrucci, their guitarist, has been my main inspiration ever since I started listening to them. I have been playing guitar now for 13 years (since I was 8) and still love Dream Theater and Petrucci's work. Though, my musical taste and influences have widened drastically since then so my style has changed. Neil Peart is a excellent drummer but I think Mike Portnoy has him beat. Though, Neil has been playing a lot longer and his playing is very precise. I don't know if he still does, but what he used to do is take a piece of paper for each drum, tape one to each drum and draw a little dot in the middle. He would hit that dot every time to produce the best sound possible.
Rush has been doing it for years and are still going. I would love to see Dream Theater and Rush play together. I've witnessed Dream Theater and Queensryche play together and man, that was a awesome experience. But Rush and Dream Theater? They would be unstoppable.
Edited, Fri Feb 25 14:12:49 2005 by GogetaExtreme
Jeebus Moe.. brain fart today? That's some heavy philosophical stuff there. Here is my perspective. If you take the time to sit back and review life on occasion, you will be able to think freely. This free thinking is what can be the muse to allow people to reach potentials otherwise overlooked. In the case of Led Zeppelin, had they been caught up with getting that next album out, they may not have ever just tried what they felt was right, or tried to experiment in a new direction. Life without experimentation is boring. Life without self reflection is not life at all, it is a task.
His Excellency MoebiusLord wrote:
It's a bit too deep for me on a Friday.
Too deep? Back on your head Moe
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
ROCK AND ROLL YA PUKES!!!
^^y
^^y
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and if you disagree that Rain Song is LZ's finest then this is all meaningless.
Hardly. Concentrating on the music misses the point entirely(but then again, I know what kind of people post here, so I expect it). It isn't disappointing that it happens. I am able to filter the obtuse responses effectively largely by looking at who posted.
Moe wrote:
I am able to filter the obtuse responses effectively largely by looking at who posted.
I'd keep an eye out for responses from Plato, Socrates or even Jean-Jacques Rousseau if you want really good replies... but alas, I don't think they post here...
edit: I speel guud (+1 Tare)
Edited, Fri Feb 25 15:30:52 2005 by ElderonXI
ElderonXI the Wise wrote:
Playto
What's bred in the bone will not out of the flesh.
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I'd keep an eye out for responses from Plato, Socrates or even Jean-Jacques Rousseau if you want really good replies... but alas, I don't think they post here...
Bob, if only.
Tolkien had C.S. Lewis to bounce stuff off of, I get you people. I guess my lot in life is to play F. Scott Fitzgerald to Squ33t's Hemingway.
Oh, wait...
It's more along the lines of where you look at the world or do something for so long behind a filter.. That when you step outside for a moment to try something from a different approach, you apply all the things you have learned from behind that filter and apply them as well.
It's like watching a black belt martial artist try to cut vegetables or prepare sushi. The precision and focus is all the same, but applied to a new artform. The results can be impressive.
It's like watching a black belt martial artist try to cut vegetables or prepare sushi. The precision and focus is all the same, but applied to a new artform. The results can be impressive.
His Excellency MoebiusLord wrote:
[quote]Concentrating on the music misses the point entirely(but then again, I know what kind of people post here, so I expect it). It isn't disappointing that it happens. I am able to filter the obtuse responses effectively largely by looking at who posted.
Salvador Dali does a still life and it's the best painting he ever does. Does that mean that because he momentarily stepped away from surreal art, or 'stepped out of character' he was able to reach a higher level of artistry, let himself flow beyond societal expectations, blah, blah, blah, meaningless crap, blah, blah?
If you don't agree that the still life is his best work, you can just assume he was bored and trying something different.
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
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Music was your example, but use what ever you want...
If you don't agree that the still life is his best work, you can just assume he was bored and trying something different.
If you don't agree that the still life is his best work, you can just assume he was bored and trying something different.
Yes, you most certainly can simply avoid the question all together, since it had nothing to do with the example that was given. You see, the example was given in this case to frame perspective. If you're unfamiliar with the concept perhaps you should just skip the post message key on a thread out of your depth. Or, you could continue shouldering that big *** rock up the hill. Sisyphus never learned. It would be a sad commentary were you, like him, keep missing the point.
Oh haha, You didn't get it, so sorry.
Here: you askedQuite simply I said "no"
Here: you asked
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Do we do our best work when we step out of character and go with something?
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
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Quite simply I said "no"
Yeah, I'm thinking I'll be pardoned for confusing
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....and if you disagree that Rain Song is LZ's finest then this is all meaningless.
with "no".
Moe wrote:
I guess my lot in life is to play F. Scott Fitzgerald to Squ33t's Hemingway.
Or we could make Angry Hippo your "Augustine of Hippo"....
Sorry that's the best connection I could make on short notice..
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