The Music Court

        Last semester at Binghamton I took a course on Postmodernism to fulfill a theory credit for my English Major. Woohoo exciting stuff right. Well, it actually was a pretty interesting course. Let me share with you faithful readers a short definition of this massively broad and extensive topic. After the modernist movement which attempted to explain why things like World War I happen, World War II came and crashed the modernist party. This, of course, led to a violent confusion and assumingly left modernist’s as confused as economists today. So, the ambiguous postmodernist movement was born and artists began forming their work around their respective views on the term. A good way to look at postmodernist art is art that does not attempt to explain anything. Art that is intentionally loose and diverse. Art that succumbs to the theory that there really “Ain’t ro reason things are this way.”

           Now let us get to the postmodernist classic, “Ain’t No Reason,” by Brett Dennen which does not attempt to explain anything. This is what makes the song so great. Dennen’s Dylan-like voice and Dylan-quality lyric puts this song in the awesome category and it has received honors and popularity because of these qualities. The song is rather simple, like most Dylan songs, and culminates in a chorus where Dennen admits that he does not know why things are this way. He, though, looks for love to be savior. Does love explain all of this craziness? Dennen seems to think so and I tend to agree but what I believe Dennen is trying to say with this song is that no one can explain any of the world. It is a diverse, crazy spinning globe with crazy people with intense emotions. Therefore, one has to look past what they cannot explain and find the ultimate happiness love to set you free.

             In case you were under a rock today, Michael Jackson passed away due to cardiac arrest at the young age of 50. It was an interesting reaction when I first heard of Michael Jackson’s untimely death at dinner tonight. I was chowing down at Applebee’s when our waiter walked by and, with a shocked reaction, told us that Michael Jackson died before quickly scurrying away back to the kitchen. I was with a few friends and we all looked at each other and exclaimed a solid what. We thought for a second he was simply joking. It is interesting how when untimely deaths occur among the rich and famous the initial reaction is complete disbelief. We are so used to hearing their name in the news and tabloids that, when hearing of their deaths, we can only shake our heads and understand that after the proper time for grieving their names will slowly, but surely, fade on. But, on to the case of Michael Jackson.

           Jackson’s name has seemingly always been in the news. Whether for the chart topping success of his numerous epic albums or the seemingly endless problems he faced in his life away from the stage, Michael Jackson could always find the front page of various publications for good and bad reasons. I want to attempt to stay away from his problems off the stage. Yes, in many respects, the man was a certified freak who could have done some very terrible things throughout his life that was shortened by drugs and the constant pressure of media life and performances since he was a kid. But, his music was special. He, with his special brand of theatrical performing mixed with a distinctive and fantastic voice, transcended race and genres of music. He was literally and figuratively a colorless musician who experimented with all different types of music from pop to rock to soul to theatre. His epic albums were only paired with his amazing videos like the one matched with the song of the day today, “Thriller.” 

           “Thriller,” which was not only an amazing song which played with hard rock and true pop, also added a video that simply changed the way music videos ran about their business. He made the first monstruous video that was shot like a movie but was for a song. An unheard of move which shot Jackson to the title of visionary. He finished his illustrious music career with 13 grammy awards, 13 number one singles, over 750 million albums sold worldwide, 2 inductions into the rock and roll hall of fame (which I thought to be pretty impossible), and a record in the Guinness Book of World Records which states that he is the most succesful entertainer of all time.

         So, while the jury will be out on his legacy as a person in this crazy world, the case is pretty simple on his legacy as a musician. An incredible career for one of music’s most influential performers. So, tonight, we lay to rest a visionary, who while certainly an undeniable nut job, still was one of music’s very best.