The Clueless Clairvoyant

Being a clairvoyant as George Stephenson was, he was more perceptive of many things going on around him.  Unfortunately, George's perception was entirely superficial.  He could look at a person and tell them if they forgot to lock their door, but absolutely nothing to placate their fear of death. He was an exemplary parlor trick magician, but could not see anything potent.  One day, a man came to George seeking his placid approach to psychic readings.  This man quickly spoke to George, alluding to great danger in the future for George and his family.  When George concentrated, trying to fathom the meaning of this mans warnings all he could muster to see was what he and his family would have for dinner that night.  The tension among these two men was palpable, a stark contrast to the contents of George's vision. George tried again to determine the meaning of this mans warnings, unfortunately he could see nothing conclusive.  The one thing that George could see was that he and his family were going to go out for a nice dinner at a new Italian restaurant that had just opened, as he and his family pulled out of their drive-way their car was smashed by a run-away semi-truck.

A Change of Heart

Perhaps it is uncouth for me to speak in 1st person for this assignment, perhaps it is reprehensible to mention this assignment within itself.  Frankly, I could care less, I have a point to make, and I intend to make it as succinctly as I can.  For many years now, I have believed that true music was comprised of explicitly specific aspects, and certain styles.  In my mind, any music bereft of these aspects was entirely superfluous, and utterly horrible.  I must now rescind my earlier statements about music, and accede to the much wiser, masters of music, such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Wycliffe Gordon.  Good music is always a relative of soul, and feeling, any music is good if the performer truly feels what he is saying whether through voice, or instrument.  The aspect of Armstrong that makes his music so enjoyable, and what makes it stand the test of time is his vivacity, and love of music.  For a very long time I have thought the modern music scene to be running rampant with bad music, and while that may or not be true, I know now that if it truly is bad, it is because the artist does not believe in what they are performing.  If an artist is in the music business for anything but the ability to entertain, or the ability to make good music, then their music will always be bad.  Music nowadays is certainly corrupt with its horrible messages for the younger audiences, affiliations with drugs, and its obsession with becoming rich, and famous.  This venal state of music, does not inherently create bad music, unless coupled with a lack of passion, true passion, that is.  I will never submit, though, that the greats of generations past were better musicians, than the "greats" of today.  I will forever implore my peers to give jazz a try, to give the deft touch of Basie's fingers, the stately wailing of Armstrong's high notes, or the expert phrasing of Sinatra at the pinnacle of his career, just one honest listen.  I will implore my peers, knowing that deep down in their hearts they will instantly fall in love.   I will forever believe that I was born at an incredibly inopportune time, I would give absolutely anything, and everything, to have been alive to hear Armstrong in person, to be able to shake hands with Basie, or to simply meet Sinatra, just once.  I can take solace, however, in the fact that I am still able to hear these musicians in some capacity through their wonderful recordings, although, somehow it just is not the same.  I only hope that I will forever remember this change of heart, closing yourself off to music you have never experienced will only lead to the lost chance to find a new favorite artist, and forever change your life.