Wednesday, December 30, 2020

I Wish You a Brave New Year

 

I wish  you a hopeful Christmas 
I wish you a brave new year 
All anguish, pain and sadness 
Leave your heart and let your road be clear

Songwriters: Greg Lake / Peter John Sinfield / Serge Prokofieff

 Well, here we are. Little did we know what 2020 would bring, and now, ironically, it is hindsight. But other than Nicole Atkins amazing new album Italian Ice, Trey's Beacon shows, and those fleeting few months at the start of the year, music was not what we are used to. While we complain incessantly about people talking and filming during shows, stepping in our own split drinks, or the cost of tickets...who wouldn't enjoy the crush of the rail, singing songs that mean 20,000 different things to 20,000 different people, and timing your bio break to a song you don't mind missing, if you're willing to give up your spot. 

And with the uncertainty of when our beloved concerts will return, we can all agree that the amount of creativity being bottled up will present us with some amazing future music. In the meantime, we can be thankful that industry professionals and venues are going to receive the emergency funding that they need to be ready for us to return. Also, don't forget to support your favorite artists by streaming shows, buying merch, and supporting other projects they offer in the meantime.

 I was explaining to people the other night, but I might've got it a bit wrong – this is just the end of something for U2. And that's what we're playing these concerts – and we're throwing a party for ourselves and you. It's no big deal, it's just – we have to go away and ... and dream it all up again. December 30, 1989 - Love Town Tour at Point Depot.

As we usher in 2021, our lives have been forever changed, and like U2 in 1989 between eras of Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, we need to dream it all up again. A new year in a very not normal time lends itself to finding new waves to appreciate music. Throughout the summer, the various streaming of backyard and living room concerts by our favorite artists. Drive in shows popped up and maybe we'll get some of those concerts that were moved to 2021. I cannot wait to dance and sing with you all.

And now something for the Gen Xers who are reading. Thirty years ago, some of our favorite albums were released. These are albums that still move us, our therapy albums, and ones that will never get old no mater how many times we listen to them.  The amount of classics that are contained in the 1991 album release category is kind of unreal. We saw then end of hair bands and ushered in grunge that was in perfect sync to our mid teen's angst. It was one of the last times I ordered an album at the stroke of midnight (GNR, Use Your Illusions, I&II) and those albums were in the very wasteful (but perfect for postering your room) CD long boxes. In no particular order, here is the magic of 1991 music. It was a special time, not to mention, it was also Lollapalooza's inaugural year. 

Nirvana  - Nevermind
U2 - Achtung Baby
REM- Out of Time
Prince and the New Power Generation - Diamonds and Pearls
Pearl Jam - Ten
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill
Hole - Pretty on the Inside
De La Soul - De La Soul is Dead
Guns N Roses - Use Your Illusion I&II
Queen - Innuendo
INXS - X
Skid Row - Slave to the Grind
Metallica - Metallica (Black Album)
Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger

2020 saw man losses in the music industry. Thirty years ago, we lost Bill Graham, a legendary music promoter, impresario, and philanthropist. This year over 150 musicians that we love were lost, some to COVID. They have left an indelible legacy to us, let us pause to remember their gifts to us through their music talent.

 
When we look back at these times, I will still say that music got us through it. For many, music is therapy and if there was ever a time that we needed therapy, 2020 was it. As we look forward to 2021, we also mark the twentieth anniversary of September 11th. It will be a year of marking the events of that day and the people who were lost. Many you encounter may be too young to remember that day. Please, keep the promise to never forget and share your stories, feelings, and memories of those lost. While collective memory is always varied, we will all remember the blue sky that morning. 
 
Sending you many wishes for a happy, safe, healthy, blessed, and brave New Year!

No comments:

Post a Comment