1) "I, too, ..." - this phrase always makes me smile and laugh-to-self... which leads to my second one...
2) "Laugh-to-self" - people tend to use "LOL" a lot. I, too, was a person that habitually typed LOL. Then one day, as I was typing it, I realized that I wasn't laughing out loud. I really giggled to myself, hence "LTS". (Did y'all catch the "I, too"? Haha)
3) "This (insert food) is orgasmic!" - I love using the "orgasmic" to describe unbelievably delicious food! Food that God must have personally concocted and made the recipe for- like my Uncle James' Apple-Blackberry Cobbler! {Thank Ya God!!! I mean... really, You out-did Yourself :-)}
Those are the freshest on my mind right now... Felt like sharing. After all, that's what blogging is for, right?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tradition is an illusion
Traditional is an illusion.
The idea that a finite creature could create something eternal is inherently flawed. Choosing to engage in a "traditional" behavior/practice because you find it relevant to your life is one thing, but doing something "traditional" because of some unsubstantiated, socially-fabricated value is another.
Who made the tradition? Why? Is it really important to you? If you can't answer these questions, you have some meditating to do. I am not naive enough to think that I am exempt from this process. I have to assess my actions and thoughts periodically to see if I'm exercising my own agency in my personal decisions.
At times, answering those questions is easy, and other times they are not... Sometimes it's easy to make a decision based on your own values, sometimes it's difficult. Ultimately, it's usually worth it, if only for your own peace of mind.
The idea that a finite creature could create something eternal is inherently flawed. Choosing to engage in a "traditional" behavior/practice because you find it relevant to your life is one thing, but doing something "traditional" because of some unsubstantiated, socially-fabricated value is another.
Who made the tradition? Why? Is it really important to you? If you can't answer these questions, you have some meditating to do. I am not naive enough to think that I am exempt from this process. I have to assess my actions and thoughts periodically to see if I'm exercising my own agency in my personal decisions.
At times, answering those questions is easy, and other times they are not... Sometimes it's easy to make a decision based on your own values, sometimes it's difficult. Ultimately, it's usually worth it, if only for your own peace of mind.
Friday, June 26, 2009
A simple truth
People are complex creatures... we have complex desires, complex behaviors, and complex feelings. The simplest thing about human beings is that we all want to give and receive love, and I believe that we all deserve to do both.
Coming to Grips
Today, I was working on a song that people would probably (and conventionally) classify as a rock-&-roll song. At the same time, I have been working on treatments for a video and I've had this really cool concept for a long time that I thought was perfect for this song. So, I'm thinking of all these things... how I would be the lead male actor in the video, what type of actress I wanted to be in it, wardrobe for the video, special effects... the whole nine. And then, I started thinking of recording this song and performing it and how this would work. I thought of the songs I'd written and how unique my portfolio is now and diverse my interests are as an artist.
Being that I'm a black male singer from Memphis with a background in soul and voice that many people compare to other R&B singers... I figured this was the category that people would try to lump me in. But I am so multi-faceted as an artist and my music has so many influences. I think R&B music is great and the genre definitely has a rich history, as it is represented by some of my favorite musicians and some of the best songs in modern history. However, I don't want to be grouped into any one category because all of them are limiting in some way. I want to transgress the boundaries of genre and blur the lines of them all.
I want to be a rock star. And not only do I want to be a rock star, but I also want to be a balladeer... and a choral singer... and even incorporate foreign languages into my music. I want to do it all! It's all feels natural to me.
When stores ask what area to put my CDs in, my gut response would be all of them! I don't want to just be put on MTV or BET or vH1... I want to be on all of them because in addition to relating to my individual fans, I want to relate them to one another. I want my black fans who haven't been exposed to rock-and-roll music to fall in love with the lead guitar... I want my white fans who haven't been exposed to soul music to be stirred by gospel-inspired, gut-wrenching vocals... I want my young fans who haven't been exposed to classical music to be captivated by dissonant SATB harmonies... I want my older fans to hear remnants of their favorite bands reincarnated... I want my music to relate and educate.
One of the hardest things to do is accept yourself... and this already difficult task is only made more difficult when you are a lot of person. I'm a lot of person. I have so many ideas, so many thoughts, so many dreams, and the craziest thing is...I am actually crazy, stubborn, and faithful enough to make them all happen.
Being that I'm a black male singer from Memphis with a background in soul and voice that many people compare to other R&B singers... I figured this was the category that people would try to lump me in. But I am so multi-faceted as an artist and my music has so many influences. I think R&B music is great and the genre definitely has a rich history, as it is represented by some of my favorite musicians and some of the best songs in modern history. However, I don't want to be grouped into any one category because all of them are limiting in some way. I want to transgress the boundaries of genre and blur the lines of them all.
I want to be a rock star. And not only do I want to be a rock star, but I also want to be a balladeer... and a choral singer... and even incorporate foreign languages into my music. I want to do it all! It's all feels natural to me.
When stores ask what area to put my CDs in, my gut response would be all of them! I don't want to just be put on MTV or BET or vH1... I want to be on all of them because in addition to relating to my individual fans, I want to relate them to one another. I want my black fans who haven't been exposed to rock-and-roll music to fall in love with the lead guitar... I want my white fans who haven't been exposed to soul music to be stirred by gospel-inspired, gut-wrenching vocals... I want my young fans who haven't been exposed to classical music to be captivated by dissonant SATB harmonies... I want my older fans to hear remnants of their favorite bands reincarnated... I want my music to relate and educate.
One of the hardest things to do is accept yourself... and this already difficult task is only made more difficult when you are a lot of person. I'm a lot of person. I have so many ideas, so many thoughts, so many dreams, and the craziest thing is...I am actually crazy, stubborn, and faithful enough to make them all happen.
Monday, June 22, 2009
From Versace Show during Fashion Week in Milan
I could rock this!
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD8wvroHzqeWQRUVq6ZMtcJiFGsW7ly-WRvV3Q9v7yY51Bo2WogZUfMLvzbr9TgJGi12wOf9o68NlmX0kye2uTIegOzpkU7xPmrJCOxbj0F_ZThh8THmTuDeAVvevPqEFpTOtBGeG4Og/s1600-h/00050m.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD8wvroHzqeWQRUVq6ZMtcJiFGsW7ly-WRvV3Q9v7yY51Bo2WogZUfMLvzbr9TgJGi12wOf9o68NlmX0kye2uTIegOzpkU7xPmrJCOxbj0F_ZThh8THmTuDeAVvevPqEFpTOtBGeG4Og/s1600-h/00050m.jpg
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Change of Face
I decided to grow my hair long!!! It is part of my spiritual experience as a "Nazarite." Should be very exciting!!!!
3 Types of Artists
I believe that there are 3 types of artists in this industry.
The first type is the “One-Hit Wonder.” These artists release one, two, or maybe three-songs that have ephemeral success- songs that are like poorly-heated leftovers…hot for a second, and then cold. These artists may create a lot of hype and get a lot of airplay for a little while, suddenly, and then disappear just as quickly and sharply as they appeared. I would name a few examples, but you probably wouldn’t know who they were. :-)
Now, the next two types are really at the crux of my point.
The second type is a “Staple.” Staples are those artists who have released music that is congruent with the experience and voice of a whole generation and becomes associated with that time or era in a history for a people or culture. Many of the greatest musicians around are staples, so this classification is not to be taken lightly. It is truly one to be revered!!!
Artists who are staples have created music that is revered across generations, often with an endearing sense of nostalgia and affection. These artists have managed to capture the voice of a time or generation and their careers always seem to parallel some significant event or time in history. They also have enduring success because of a loyal following in a generation, although this success may not translate across multiple generations. Due to the cyclical nature of art, Staples are always relevant because, since all new things are inspired by things of the past, we eventually always look to classic artists to inspire us.
The third type of artist is the “Timeless” artist. These artists have a chain of hits that span multiple generations and a quality to their music that speaks to some universal part of the human experience. They have managed to have success that spans decades and transgresses generational boundaries. Timeless artists are those who have managed to become staples of multiple generations through their consistent presence in the music scene and the cultural relevance of their music to multiple generations.
Timeless artists tend to be associated with multiple cultural and generational landmarks. Whether it be a movement, a movie, book, or other historical work, or another historical event, the music that these artists create or the artists themselves come to represent something that is greater than their contemporary life or career. Some timeless artists are Whitney Houston, U2, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Prince, Alejandro Fernandez, Billie Holiday, and Michael Jackson.
These artists have released, wrote, and performed works of art that span genres and transgresses the many bounds that pervade our societies, appealing to our collective experiences- speaking to humanity. This is the type of artist that I am striving to become.
The first type is the “One-Hit Wonder.” These artists release one, two, or maybe three-songs that have ephemeral success- songs that are like poorly-heated leftovers…hot for a second, and then cold. These artists may create a lot of hype and get a lot of airplay for a little while, suddenly, and then disappear just as quickly and sharply as they appeared. I would name a few examples, but you probably wouldn’t know who they were. :-)
Now, the next two types are really at the crux of my point.
The second type is a “Staple.” Staples are those artists who have released music that is congruent with the experience and voice of a whole generation and becomes associated with that time or era in a history for a people or culture. Many of the greatest musicians around are staples, so this classification is not to be taken lightly. It is truly one to be revered!!!
Artists who are staples have created music that is revered across generations, often with an endearing sense of nostalgia and affection. These artists have managed to capture the voice of a time or generation and their careers always seem to parallel some significant event or time in history. They also have enduring success because of a loyal following in a generation, although this success may not translate across multiple generations. Due to the cyclical nature of art, Staples are always relevant because, since all new things are inspired by things of the past, we eventually always look to classic artists to inspire us.
The third type of artist is the “Timeless” artist. These artists have a chain of hits that span multiple generations and a quality to their music that speaks to some universal part of the human experience. They have managed to have success that spans decades and transgresses generational boundaries. Timeless artists are those who have managed to become staples of multiple generations through their consistent presence in the music scene and the cultural relevance of their music to multiple generations.
Timeless artists tend to be associated with multiple cultural and generational landmarks. Whether it be a movement, a movie, book, or other historical work, or another historical event, the music that these artists create or the artists themselves come to represent something that is greater than their contemporary life or career. Some timeless artists are Whitney Houston, U2, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Prince, Alejandro Fernandez, Billie Holiday, and Michael Jackson.
These artists have released, wrote, and performed works of art that span genres and transgresses the many bounds that pervade our societies, appealing to our collective experiences- speaking to humanity. This is the type of artist that I am striving to become.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Birth of “Sonny Alexander”
The story behind the name Sonny Alexander is pretty straight-forward.
Sonny was my Grandfather’s name and Alexander is my actual middle name, which my father chose for me. So, the name Sonny Alexander for me represents the power, strength, courage, and character of the two most influential men in my life. These men embody all of the qualities that have made me the man I am today.
Also, this name is distinctive and consistent with my musical vision- to create music that is multigenerational, cross-cultural, and multi-faceted. To me, the name Sonny has an old-school vibe to it that reminds me of a time when full bands dominated the air waves and everyone sang songs about love and the heart. It’s a name that is endearing and unassuming like the lyrics and melodies I write and sing.
The name Alexander has been ascribed to some of the most powerful men in history, commanding respect and attention. Alexander is a name that is epic and engaging- effects that I try to emulate in my arrangements and vocals. Meaning “Leader of People” or “Protector of Men”, the name resonates with purpose and destiny which guide my life and my musical expression.
The name Sonny Alexander reminds me of the legacy from which my life extends, my commitment to creating timeless music with integrity, and my own power and right to be who I am, unapologetically…
Sonny was my Grandfather’s name and Alexander is my actual middle name, which my father chose for me. So, the name Sonny Alexander for me represents the power, strength, courage, and character of the two most influential men in my life. These men embody all of the qualities that have made me the man I am today.
Also, this name is distinctive and consistent with my musical vision- to create music that is multigenerational, cross-cultural, and multi-faceted. To me, the name Sonny has an old-school vibe to it that reminds me of a time when full bands dominated the air waves and everyone sang songs about love and the heart. It’s a name that is endearing and unassuming like the lyrics and melodies I write and sing.
The name Alexander has been ascribed to some of the most powerful men in history, commanding respect and attention. Alexander is a name that is epic and engaging- effects that I try to emulate in my arrangements and vocals. Meaning “Leader of People” or “Protector of Men”, the name resonates with purpose and destiny which guide my life and my musical expression.
The name Sonny Alexander reminds me of the legacy from which my life extends, my commitment to creating timeless music with integrity, and my own power and right to be who I am, unapologetically…
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Premiere of "Be There"
This is the link to my first song, Be There. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzr6jrHGgxY
I know...a little "John Legend"esque... not intentional, I promise!!! :-)
I tried to embed the video but had a few issues :-) Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzr6jrHGgxY
I know...a little "John Legend"esque... not intentional, I promise!!! :-)
I tried to embed the video but had a few issues :-) Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!
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