Tunesmith

No matter what your age, most of us have a favorite song, group or genre of music. It may be a song that was popular in our youth. They call them ‘oldies’ or ‘golden oldies’ and that can make their listeners feel old and out of touch with music popular today. Maybe it’s a song that is played on the top 40 list of a local radio station or on MTV or VH1. This reference may also make you feel like you’re a little out of touch with ‘modern music’ because you’re still shopping for CDs (I won’t even mention records here because it makes you feel like your grandparents when they talk about their 78’s. If I’ve totally lost you, just Google ‘78s’ on your iPhone or Droid to get educated!) If you’re really hip (sigh, another dated reference…), you probably have some kind of MP3 player or iPod that you have downloaded your cassettes and CDs to listen to while you walk or bike on the Greenbelt. But today’s avant-garde cyber media junkies hold entire libraries of audio and video in the hands disguised as a regular looking cell phone. Today’s audiophile doesn’t even listen to the radio, (see Pandora or even more emergent… see Jango).

Music is all around us… we hear it in the stores when we shop and if you listen carefully, even in elevators when we ride them at St. Luke’s. Patients bring in their media players to listen to their own style of music or to watch movies. Music can be used to motivate us when we are exercising or settle us down when we want to relax. Walk through downtown Boise or in the mall and you’re bound to see all ages of people with ear buds (miniature earphones) hanging out of their ears. Music is ubiquitous (meaning it is everywhere we look!) in our culture and culture wars have been waged over differing styles (and volumes) of music.

Depending on your age and musical interests, your perspective on music varies. If you think of Alice Cooper and Ted Nugent as heavy-duty metal rockers, you’ll be interested to know that Alice is now 62 years old and plays more golf than music and Ted (also 62) is a right-wing survivalist and 2nd amendment advocate. No matter who you pick from the past, today’s emergent music scene continues to drastically evolve by its inherent creativity as well as its innate fear of being seen as ‘your father’s Oldsmobile’.

Does any music really last forever? Is there such a thing as a classic for all time? Music that endures from generation to generation? Maybe a Christmas Carol or Happy Birthday??? Songs, bands and styles of music seem to fade as quickly as the next fad appears, only to be kept alive by its aficionados. But one songwriter has written songs that are definitely oldies but may also be considered classics and he’s not yet been parodied like Burt Bacharach in all three Austin Powers movies. Jimmy Webb is best known for his songs about cities. Cities you may say, how can these be considered even popular, much less classics? He didn’t write that overused ‘New York, New York’ song you hear after every Yankees' win, did he? No, but I’ll wager that even the most ardent, emergent, music consumer has heard the following classics. ‘By the Time I get to Phoenix’ was made famous by Glen Campbell’s version in 1967. Likewise, ‘Wichita Lineman’ became another hit in 1968. Campbell had a trifecta with the 1969 hit written by Webb, called, ‘Galveston’. Haven’t heard them? Well you’re one of the few (they’re on YouTube, if you’re interested). Jimmy Webb also wrote ‘Up, Up and Away’ (you know the rest… in my beautiful balloon) for the 5th Dimension.

In my opinion, these songs by Jimmy Webb have stood the test of time and will continue to be covered by artists who appreciate his unique blend of melody and lyrics. Jimmy Webb credits divine inspiration for his song writing abilities. “Sure,” he says, “I could write out hackneyed phrases and clichés, but to write anything meaningful, I have to be in tune with God¹.” The Psalmist used these words to describe the music popular in his day…

Play for Him with the horn section, play for Him with guitars, mandolins and flutes, play for Him with tambourines and dance your pants off! Have the bass player provide a groovy bass line and let the drummer provide a beat with loud, reverberating, cymbals. Everybody that breaths should sing out loud with joy.
(…look it up in Psalm 150 – NHV²)
No matter who or what you like to listen to (Lady Gaga or the Doobie Brothers) and whether you’re high tech (Jango, iPod or Droid), or old school (CD, Vinyl or 8 Track), music punctuates our lives with energy and variety – enjoy His creation of music on your favorite listening device this week.

1. Nigel Bovey’s interview w/ Jimmy Webb in ‘The War Cry’
2. NHV – New Hip Version by BKS