98% of the human genome is noncoding DNA. Termed junk DNA, this vast majority of all human DNA has no known biological function. Why would we have so much nonfunctional genetic material? Are these the instructions for superpowers that are waiting to be tapped or are they really just junk left over from millions of years of modification? I don't know about you, but I'm hoping for superpowers.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Keep On Rockin' In The Free World
I heard a song on the radio in the car this morning and it made me think about some of the music I used to listen to in high school and college. Like a lot of people, music was very important to me back in the day. I would regularly sit down and listen to an entire cd while reading the lyrics to each song in the liner notes. I also loved making mix tapes. I don't spend near the amount of time listening to music these days. Maybe I should work on that a little. Here are the 3 musicians that influenced me the most back in the day. Leave a comment and tell me your musical influences past or present.
1. Tori Amos - She's pretty much amazing - the perfect mix of provocative lyrics and beautiful melodies. Sometimes I have dreams that Tori and I are buddies.
2. Neil Young - I think Neil is an acquired taste. What I like about him is that he embodies the phrase "Keep it simple, Stupid." His lyrics are simple. His melodies are simple. But together, they make up some of the most powerful and beautiful songs that I know of.
3. Stevie Nicks - I learned guitar so that I could play and sing Landslide. End of story.
Ok, I'm about to leave a Waddie-length comment here, but indulge me...
While my musical influences are completely different than yours, I was the EXACT same way as a teenager when it came to really experiencing music to the fullest. I would buy a new CD (ok, let's be real...a cassette), pop in in my boom box (yes, I'm OLD) and just be absorbed in it for hours.
I listened to every musical nuance...turned up the volume as a song faded to hear every last note possible, and I read each liner note in the booklet-- all the musicians, thanks yous, etc. It was a spiritual experience, and sadly I don't approach my listening sessions with quite the same devotion these days.
That said, I'm really learning to lose myself in music once again and I'm so thankful that I'm taking more time for it these days. I've worked in the music industry for 12 years and, sadly, took it for granted being around it everyday... but no longer.
So, E-- thank you for this post. I was transported back my bedroom listening outpost, circa 1990, when I read it. I know my passionate love of music as a kid is why it became my career. Oh, and every once in a while, my own name shows up in the liner notes these days... I've never taken that for granted! :-)
Ha! I'm really old. I had about 250 record albums in vinyl when I was in high school. CD's didn't come out until I was in college. My favorite bands were The Who, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, etc. I really don't listen to those bands anymore. Although I get the occasional hankering for an Eddie Van Halen guitar solo and AC/DC is still an occasional guilty pleasure. Their lyrics (AC/DC) are so misogynistic I can hardly stand it but they still kick ass musically! I mostly listen to Christian rock now because I just want to hear positive, encouraging (K-Love!) music at this point in my life.
Growing up I was a huge fan of what I remember being called "teeny-bop" stuff...mainly NKOTB. It's embarrassing now! But it's true. I also loved any love song, and remember very vividly pining away for (fill in the blank with some boy's name) while listening to Open Arms, You're the Meaning in My Life, or Glory of Love. I also loved Glass Tiger...what a weird combo. Today my tastes are a little different! U2 got me through the first months after my first child was born...we danced a lot to the album All That You Can't Leave Behind. I fell in love with Emmylou Harris thanks to my husband. We now listen to quite a bit of classical with the kids (they love it), and for some reason a Bruce Springsteen is in the player and they play that all the time. I need to replace it with a Michael W. Smith and stick another praise CD in there so they are listening to something a little more God-honoring! Ooh, hopefully this info doesn't taint any opinion that may have been forming! What can I say? When I was 13, cute boys who could hop from one foot to the other was all it took! Ha, ha. It was a fun trip down memory lane, Elaine!
5 comments:
check these kids out...awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2p5augniQA
OK here is the link
Ok, I'm about to leave a Waddie-length comment here, but indulge me...
While my musical influences are completely different than yours, I was the EXACT same way as a teenager when it came to really experiencing music to the fullest. I would buy a new CD (ok, let's be real...a cassette), pop in in my boom box (yes, I'm OLD) and just be absorbed in it for hours.
I listened to every musical nuance...turned up the volume as a song faded to hear every last note possible, and I read each liner note in the booklet-- all the musicians, thanks yous, etc. It was a spiritual experience, and sadly I don't approach my listening sessions with quite the same devotion these days.
That said, I'm really learning to lose myself in music once again and I'm so thankful that I'm taking more time for it these days. I've worked in the music industry for 12 years and, sadly, took it for granted being around it everyday... but no longer.
So, E-- thank you for this post. I was transported back my bedroom listening outpost, circa 1990, when I read it. I know my passionate love of music as a kid is why it became my career. Oh, and every once in a while, my own name shows up in the liner notes these days... I've never taken that for granted! :-)
Ha! I'm really old. I had about 250 record albums in vinyl when I was in high school. CD's didn't come out until I was in college. My favorite bands were The Who, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, etc. I really don't listen to those bands anymore. Although I get the occasional hankering for an Eddie Van Halen guitar solo and AC/DC is still an occasional guilty pleasure. Their lyrics (AC/DC) are so misogynistic I can hardly stand it but they still kick ass musically! I mostly listen to Christian rock now because I just want to hear positive, encouraging (K-Love!) music at this point in my life.
Growing up I was a huge fan of what I remember being called "teeny-bop" stuff...mainly NKOTB. It's embarrassing now! But it's true. I also loved any love song, and remember very vividly pining away for (fill in the blank with some boy's name) while listening to Open Arms, You're the Meaning in My Life, or Glory of Love. I also loved Glass Tiger...what a weird combo.
Today my tastes are a little different! U2 got me through the first months after my first child was born...we danced a lot to the album All That You Can't Leave Behind. I fell in love with Emmylou Harris thanks to my husband. We now listen to quite a bit of classical with the kids (they love it), and for some reason a Bruce Springsteen is in the player and they play that all the time. I need to replace it with a Michael W. Smith and stick another praise CD in there so they are listening to something a little more God-honoring! Ooh, hopefully this info doesn't taint any opinion that may have been forming! What can I say? When I was 13, cute boys who could hop from one foot to the other was all it took! Ha, ha. It was a fun trip down memory lane, Elaine!
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