International image

That last post was from Beth. She just got back from Spain. Dave is now in Italy. The dollar is so weak that essentials cost more than you want to know. I have not traveled to Europe for nearly thirty years. The response to us has obviously changed. There are guidelines for travelers to not "look American". It looks like this view of Americans has really shifted in the last ten years.

At least they are still addicted to our music. But they are producing their own music more and more. It is more fun to make and produce music than to "import" it.

Don

What does it take to be American?

Traveling abroad is the best way to confirm your sense of self and heritage. Home becomes a powerful concept when you are 9 hours ahead and eating nothing but Iberian Ham morning, noon and night (Yes, its novelty wore off after the second breakfast).

The unnerving part for me was everyone’s ability to peg me as “American” on first glance. Granted I am 5’11, fair skinned with light brown hair and blue eyes, but still. Couldn’t I be German? Austrian? Scandinavian? English? Australian? Heck, even if they heard me speak couldn’t I be mistaken for Canadian?

No. Apparently not.

Bugger.

So what is it about me that makes me so identifiably American. I wasn’t wearing white tennis shoes, my wool coat was conservatively fashionable, I am relatively fit and thin, and I wasn’t draped in red, white and blue. What was it? My un-dyed hair? My lack of multiple facial piercings (I do have my nose pierced)? My posture? My facial expressions? My non-descript suitcase? What? What?!?

I guess I am just not Euro-Chic enough.

And, the reaction was always the same, a mixture of apathy regarding our presence and a sort of “I figured as much” kind of look. We had to acknowledge the fact that being two twenty something, American girls was going to get us nowhere. Being American was going to get us less than nowhere. Face it. The American dream and the American dollar just aren’t what they used to be in Europe.

Sing with me: Oh Ca-na-da!

From one Millennial to another: Go. Do. Be.

As one of the Millennials. . .

I was born on the cusp, just inside the millennial generation (you can do the math). And, I am teaching in essence my own generation at the college level. This both gives me insight into the student perspective and poses an interesting challenge for me, because I am at times trapped by the same conditioning.

First of all, who are the Millennials? We are a generally highly motivated, optimistic group of people who find learning and success relatively easily. However, because we are born of the digital era we have one folly, a disassociated sense of physical self.

(A beautiful example of this is the fact that even as a dance teacher I am sitting here blogging, perpetuating an identity that is unrelated to my physical presence— oh the irony).

Although I teach dance (at least that is what my course numbers say), my primary goal is not dance related at all. It is a process of self-discovery and self-empowerment, a reconnecting to one’s identity through action.

In my classes I aspire to teach others to how redefine themselves through movement. And, trust me there is nothing harder to change than physical habits; neuromuscular connections that have been subconsciously driven home day after day are hard to let go.

Dance allows movers to reinvent themselves through posturing and physical action. You can actually change who you are by how you move. But, be warned, it is a little more challenging than changing the default image on your homepage. Check your posture and what it says about you. Is that who you think you are? Is that who you want to be?

We have the choice to change our mental and emotional landscape through our physical make up. The millennial generation suffers from a shifting identity, a sense of self that is extracted from one’s physical make up and has been siphoned into cyber-identities. You become your projected avatar, but what of the physical body behind the screen?

Dance is an opportunity for one to reconnect with the physicality of identity and actually BE one’s desired identity. It takes Olivia Newton-John’s “Let’s Get Physical” to a whole new level.

So if you are a millennial like me. . . my advice for you is:

Go.
Do.
Be.

Dance.

Beth

Political Music redux

I can see it now. I have pols to match everyone in Spinal Tap:

Nigel -- Bush (mine goes to 11)
Drummers that spontaneously combust -- Gonzales
Interfering girlfriend -- Hillary
Bass players with cucumbers in their pants -- Cheny
Incompetent manager -- Pelosi

Just another dysfunctional band.

Dave

Political Music?

We are in the middle of a political season. The Dems are all attacking Hillary and the Reps are trying to deal with the popularity of Ron Paul. It is great entertainment but where is the music? No one has a theme song. There is no melodic motive associated with anyone? Remember the power of Jaws? and that was only two notes.

This shows that there are no creatives in this race. At least Gore got a Nobel Prize for doing a MOVIE and he isn't even running. Now that proves he is a smart man.

I think I might just start pumping out motives for each candidate. How about the powerful motive from Beethoven's 5th? Da Da Da Dum. Hillary? Giuliani? Nah, too profound for either of them.

This might be hard.

I'll get back to you.

Don

Talk about un-singable!

As someone currently in the twenty something generation, I can say that "rock" tends not to be in heavy rotation on my ipod, instead my music is commonly typified as alternative, electronic or R&B. But, these songs tend to be even less singable than rock! Try emulating the exact descants of any R&B singer-- now try it in a group. You will quickly come to realize that it is a soloist's art form.

No group singing here.

So we are caught in an even worse state because our music is often not about the melody at all, but rather about the rhythm guitar's lick, an laid back electronic environment or a cool drum and bass hook.

Minutes of a song can go by without words at all.

Plus, the drive to find hip, new unheard of artists keeps the unifying power of our generational music to a minimum. Avid music listeners pride themselves on having deep cuts from the most obscure, indie bands possible. (It's a hobby like collecting and trading baseball cards). But, when you go to a piano bar, guess what? . . . no one else knows the songs.

So what should we be singing in our generation? Well, all I know is that Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback" is hardly piano bar friendly. So we opt to sing "Sweet Caroline" or "Sweet Home Alabama" instead. You bet we know the words.

Man are we a mixed us generation.

Can you imagine? "Does anyone know any Goldfrapp?. . . I thought not, well onto the Beatles, Let it Be."

Is Rock now old people's music?

I was with Don on the Alaskan cruise and he pointed out the disjuncture between the young players and the music they were required to play. I also wondered if rock was more appropriate for those listening. When I looked around the room I would have to say that rock was certainly the music of those who now populated the cruise line (hence the popularity of the piano bar guy). They had a club bar on the ship but it didn't seem to claim the interest I would think it should have had but then realized there probably weren't many on the ship there to dance to the DJs.

So in my career it seems I started (with Don) to play music for the generation older than I was and now see young players doing the same for my generation. For those who think their music is for all time -- think again.

Dave