The Music Court

What is that smell in the air? That sweet scent of leather gloves, fresh cut grass and steamed hot dogs. That optimistic smell of new uniforms, new players and a new season. Opening day is here for the New York Mets and I cannot be happier. At 1:10 p.m. the Mets season will kick off and despite all the negativity surrounding the team, I am happy and positive this morning. Opening day presents the only time during the baseball season where every team is on an equal playing ground. Each team has zero wins and zero losses. (Forget about the Red Sox and Yankees who played last night, briefly) Every team is beginning as fresh as the unsullied uniforms and packed infield dirt.

The best way to compare opening day to music is by imagining a simple guitar riff. Go ahead, imagine it. It’s chord progression is probably not so original. It is like 100 different chord progressions that you have heard before. But, it has potential. Soon it will be transformed into a dulcet song with a variety of other instruments and sounds. A vocal track may be placed on top of it. Soon enough that chord progression will be in the background. It will always be there, the original sound that inspired the rest of the song. That is what opening day is to me. It is that which inspires the rest of the complicated season. It is the opening hope and optimistic beginning.

I have been a New York Mets fan my entire life and opening day has always provided me with a wide smile. I remember my father taking me out of school early to drive to Shea stadium and watch the New York Mets open the season. The team may not be great this year. In three weeks I may be saying how much they are a waste of my time. But, at least for this one afternoon, I can sit back on my couch and tell my dad that I believe. Because, just like all other baseball fans out there, opening day gives us a chance to be optimistic. Opening day is why baseball is America’s pastime.

Here is a great article from Bleacher Report: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/373383-new-york-mets-opening-day-optimism

And for a little music how about some “Meet the Mets”

Enjoy opening day!

Crazy in two different ways.

The Steve Miller Band, after staying dormant in the CD department for 17 years, will finally release an album this year. And, like a large Volcano explosion, the band will not stop at just one album. “Bingo” will be released on June 15 and it will contain covers of some great blues hits. You can be sure that being the master Steve Miller is, the songs will be of high quality. A second, companion album will be released next spring. The album should be a success and his lack of recent fresh material should spark some sales. Here is some “Joker” to celebrate.

Former long-haired American Idol heartthrob, Jason Castro, celebrated Billboard’s Mashup Mondays with an slowed down acoustic version of “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley. Interesting version. I do enjoy his voice and the chorus gives him the opportunity to display his chops. What do you think?

Article: http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2010/03/30/is-bob-dylan-hip-hops-godfather-his-ties-to-beasties-roots-more/

Response:

Have you ever seen the hilarious viral video about Bob Dylan writing every popular song in the last 35 years. You Haven’t? Okay, watch it.

Now that you are well versed in Dylan’s ability let’s look at the Rolling Stone article which asks the question: Is Bob Dylan Hip-Hop’s godfather? Godfather may be a good term because he is certainly not directly related. He can be considered a good friend. But, he just took from the same people that Hip Hop took from.

Hip Hop has two big influences. First, we must look at New York City in the late 1960’s into the 1970’s. African and Jamaican roots were rich in a burgeoning musical climate. Block parties, where these two cultural groups combined, became popular in especially the Bronx. DJ’s during these parties started combining funk and soul, with heavy isolation of percussion. This technique became known as Dub music and the style spread. Names like Afrika Bambaataa (Kevin Donovan), Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Keith Cowboy and, of course, The Sugarhill Gang starting popping up and thriving in this new atmosphere.

But, even before this culture appeared in New York, the origins of rap/hip hop really came from true African culture. Blues music and work songs of slavery (inspired by griots of West Africa who were poets who delivered rhythmic, spoken word poems) were played by blacks (some whites) in the Mississippi Delta region around the middle of the 19th century. This was around one hundred years before Bob Dylan was born. This music, in my opinion, was rap and hip hop’s predecessor. And, it not only led to blues, but also jazz. Jazz led to beat poetry and spoken word poems from musicians like Gil Scott-Heron. Similar in style, Lost Poets formed in 1969 and performed poetry over drum beats and other instruments. The Lost Poets are considered one of Hip Hop’s first bands.

It is always a chronological list, but, with most music the roots are deep in the slave culture of the south. Because, without blues or jazz, there is no rock or hip hop or rap or even country music. And, without these genres of music, we would not have a Billboard top 200 chart. Or, better yet, we wouldn’t have this blog.

So, in summation, Bob Dylan’s brand of lyric-heavy folk could certainly be considered a godfather. Someone who blessed the baby, but didn’t have a hand in raising it. But, the father and grandfather can be found in the African and Jamaican cultures of New York, and jazz/blues inspired by ancient African culture and the Mississippi culture in the 19th century. Wow, that was a mouthful.