I love music. I am pretty sure that I’ve made that quite clear over time on here.
I believe that EVERY song written has something to say to somebody and that no matter who you are or what your belief system is you should listen to it to see what it says to you even if all it says to you is that you shouldn’t listen to it. There is nothing that ticks me off more than over zealous religious (and non-religious types) who say “Well I don’t listen to that type of music because it’s bad.” Shut up! There is no such thing as bad music only music that you don’t prefer to listen to - get your story straight. I don’t listen to goth rock or “screamo” mainly because it gives me a headache. Not because of my moral system or what I believe. If someone introduces me to new music that is in that genre I still listen to it but, most of the time I find that I just don’t like it. Anyway, if you’re not open to hearing new music even if it’s outside your “norm” you’re close-minded and not getting the big picture. I would encourage you to reconsider.
The point of this is not to ramble so I digress.

One song that I am really digging right now is Live your life by T.I. featuring Rihanna. I’ve been listening to it over and over for days and it speaks something new every time.
First of all, T.I. and Rihanna are on top of their “game” right now. They have both been putting out some insane joints lately and live your life is no exception.

Check out Live your life by T.I. featuring Rihanna then read some of my observations below.

Obviously the song is an anthem for all those out there doing their thing and being successful yet there are still folks out there who want to hate on them simply because of their success. Outside of that underlying theme the song is demonstrating that if you align yourself in a manner that is going to lead to success you will enjoy the fringe benefits of that success.

The first few verses say:
“Never mind what haters say, ignore them ’til they fade away.
Amazing they ungrateful after all the game I gave away.
Safe to say I paved the way, for you cats to get paid today.
You still be wasting days away, now had I never saved the day.
Consider them my protege, how much I think they should pay.
Instead of being gracious, they violated and made you wait.
I never been a hater still I love them, in a crazy way.”

I think that is demonstrative of the world we live in now. There are a lot of folks out there who are consistently paving the way for the rest of us to be successful and to achieve incredible things yet, we are always forgetting that fact. We are selfish and love to attribute all of our successes to ourselves and not the folks who helped get us there. The funny thing is the folks who helped us get there continue to love us.

The next verse is one that I could listen to on repeat for hours and still get something new out of it. One particular strand of the verse that is incredible says:

“The hootin’ and the hollerin’, back and forth with the arguing.
Where you from, who you know, what you make and what kind of car you in.
Seems as though you lost sight of whats important with the positive.
And checks until your bank account, and you’re about poverted.
Your values is a disarrayed, prioritized are horribly.
Unhappy with the riches cause you piss poor morally.
Ignoring all prior advice and fore warning.
And we mighty full of ourselves all of a sudden, aren’t we?”

Obviously that verse is wrote in the context of the “rap game” but, it can be applied to life in general especially on the eve of our recent presidential election. Most days during the election I was sick to my stomach. There was so much hate mongering and nasty things being said that it was unreal. The continual arguing was absolutely disgusting and sometimes it really felt like we were all forgetting what was important. We lost touch with our values because our priorities weren’t straight. Our ridiculously selfish nature caused us to be so full of ourselves that we were not getting anything positive accomplished and worse we really became quite piss poor morally. Folks on every side of the spectrum were spewing so much hate filled words it was unreal. I can’t begin to count how many friends said some hateful and downright hurtful things. The sad part is most of them were Christians, or so they claim. It’s funny how one things can divide folks so quickly.

In the end though the underlying message of the song is to:

Just live your life
No telling where it’ll take ya,
Just live your life

I am a radio geek.

I have wanted to work in radio for about as long as I can remember. I don’t care what position, I’ve just wanted to be in radio. Think about it…everywhere you go there is radio. Well at least for me, I wake up, boom alarm clock is playing whats on the radio, I get ready for work I’ve got the radio on, I get in the car radio playing, I go to work, leave work get in the car radio is on, come home and unless I go straight to bed I usually have the radio on. I am a bit of a radio fanatic. Number one, I love music. Number two, I love the dynamic that is a good (or heck even sometimes a poor) radio station.

I’ve taken many steps to work towards achieving that “dream” even my current job is somehow backhandedly a way for me to hone my “skills.”
Sadly though, I am watching my hopes and ambitions go down with just about every other part of the world right now.

Radio needs one thing to survive: Advertiser dollars. Unfortunately, like everything else that requires dollars those are hard to come by right now. The majority of advertising dollars for most radio stations comes from car dealers and well, we know how car dealers are doing right now. Think about 10 months ago the amount of car dealers you heard advertising on the radio compared to now there is probably a significant difference.

With a loss of advertising dollars comes cutbacks, or station owners/managers/program directors coming up with creative and not-so-creative ways to cut costs. Our smooth jazz station here in Tampa recently went completely automated, there is only one live and local talent and frankly I fear that her days are numbered. Our alternative rock station essentially programs and provides the talent and who knows what else they share for our 80’s and 90’s hit station. Checking out the boards this morning I found out that one cluster of stations has now combined their entire promotions departments into one department which will inevitably end up in layoff’s. The state of radio right now is sad and it’s not because of the music, or the talent (or lack thereof). It’s not because of executives trying to raise their profits. It’s because station owners/managers/program directors are faced with challenges they haven’t faced in years.

Those of us who are die hard radio geeks, who know whats going on in every station in our market who have been looking for our “big break” for years are seeing our dreams float away with voice tracked DJ’s from Washington DC, L.A., and other large markets. We’re seeing quality local talent who has been on air for YEARS replaced by the likes of Ryan Seacrest and John Tesh who, are both GREAT talents. I just wish more of radio was local and not tracked from all over the country. Many of you don’t realize this but the vast majority of the talent you hear, especially those of you in smaller markets, is piped in from other markets. Technology is so amazing now that you’d probably never realize it.

Support local radio. Support what live, local talent still exists. Call in, tell them how much you love their station. Go to remotes and live broadcasts not just for a free shirt or bumper sticker but, because you support their station.

We have a crap load of radio stations in Tampa and I am dedicated to only a few. One station to me demonstrates everything that radio should be and I wish more stations would follow their lead. Their program director/morning show host is one of radio’s best. The rest of their crew, for the most part, has been with the station since it’s incarnation 10 or so years ago. I jam out as much as I can to their station and while I am certainly not the type of person you’d expect to be listening to their station I do so because I love the wild community they have created.

Show your support for your local station today.

I thoroughly enjoy when people use their talent to make a difference in the world. One thing that Senator Obama has managed, whether intentionally or not, to do during his campaign is inspire people. Folks are coming out of the word work using their talents, resources, funds and much more to get the Senator elected and I absolutely love it! This is how politics is suppose to work…THIS is what it’s all about. The American people rallying together to make a difference and (no pun intended) change the world.

Check this video out from West Phillidelphia rapper Nish Gaveer and enjoy. (I’ve disabled comments, simply because this video is for educational, informative and entertainment purposes and nothing more. If you absolutely insist on spewing some type of negativity or attempting to convince me of why I’m going to hell for supporting Barack Obama, feel free to e-mail me

(RSS Readers: Video attached, go to http://www.willyoungband.com/2008/10/barack-obama-change-the-worldbarack-obama-change-the-world/ to see it)

(Barack Obama) Change the World from Change the World on Vimeo.

Messing around on you tube, and browsing through some of the blogs I read I found a couple of videos I figured I’d share.

I’m a bit of a music geek, so you may not enjoy these as much as I did. Take a gander anyway, it just goes to show why music is so versatile like I shared below!

This guy is good:

I’d buy what this guy is selling:

I wish I could do what Travis does. (Praying for a quick recovery for him and DJ AM)

For some reason I didn’t put 2 and 2 together at last years superbowl:

**NOTE** “What I’ve Learned” is part series here at UI. It dives into a myriad of different subjects, and what I’ve learned about them during my short time on earth. I write these “What I’ve Learned” entries in an attempt to hopefully it create conversation and allow me to learn even more about the subject. To read more from the “What I’ve Learned” series simply click on one of the entries linked at the bottom of this one. Also, feel free to comment letting me know what you’ve learned about music…and be sure to elaborate!

First and foremost I’ve learned that the ability to express a feeling, a dream, a concept, and idea, a cry, or any sort of thought is more easily done in music. It doesn’t even have to be lyrical. Music is so incredibly expressive that it is almost impossible NOT to allow your music to express one of those things. I think that is the reason why I’m so drawn to all (well most) forms of music. The freedom of expression is almost overpowering.

I’ve also learned that most people limit themselves to one or two genres of music. They seem to never step outside the boundaries set by those genres and as a result they have a very limited scope of anything truly musical. There are so many forms of music out there that I couldn’t quite possibly limit myself to one or two genres. Now grant it, there are genres out there that I am not a fan of, but that doesn’t mean I don’t or won’t listen to them. It simply means I don’t listen to them as regularly as I would the genres that I am a fan of.

I’ve learned that judging a person by the music they listen to is absolutely foolish. For instance on any given day you can usually hear me jamming out to urban music or hip hop. You’ll also hear classic rock, reggae, spanish (even though I have no idea what they’re saying), pop, punk, grunge, alternative, and even classical. Sometimes I wonder what people think when they hear the music I listen to. I’ve only had a few folks say anything to me. One time someone said they had me penned as a underachieving stoner when they heard me listening to grunge, but they changed their mind when I rolled in the next day jamming out to some Gregorian chants. I’ve realized that while you’re able to tell something about a person by the music they listen to, more often than not you don’t learn anything terribly important about the person based on their music choice.

I’ve learned that the only way to listen to music is loudly. I have a love/hate relationship with car rides. I don’t like driving, but I LOVE jamming out when I’m in my car. I know that others are often irriatated by the fact that they can hear my music, and I try to jam out as respectfully as possible but, sometimes I can’t help myself. Music HAS to be listened to loudly so you can take in the full effect of the sounds, the words, the melodies, the beats and everything else associated with the piece.

I’ve learned that music is powerful. This sort of relates to my first statement. Think about it, how many forms of artistic expression exist that allow you to do the things music lets you do? I mean, I’ve known many artists who have released a disc with one sound then their next disc is a completely different sound. Sure a fiction author can write non-fiction. A blogger can be a poet. A canvas artist can create sculptures. All those other forms of artistic expression are limited to just a few other alternatives whereas, music is limitless.

Most importantly I’ve learned that there is a song for every feeling, every emotions, every season, every year, month, day, hour, minute, second. There is always a piece of music for you at any given time. I’m not sure about you, but that is pretty damn cool to me.

What about you? What have you learned about music. Feel free to comment below.

Other entries from the “What I’ve Learned” series:
What I’ve learned about friends

Ok, so I interact with young people on a regular basis or, at least attempt to. When I’m out I try to get an idea of what it is they’re in to and have even braved conversation once or twice.

Miley Cyrus seems to be rather popular amongst young teenage girls, and the age group referred to as the ‘tweens’. I’d say she’s fairly popular from the age group of 3rd grade to about 7th grade. That is a wide age span there. So without little trepidation I feel like I can safely say that she is a leader amongst this age group and a significant one at that. With that said watch this video:

That was 7 Things by Miley Cyrus. Now understand this folks, I have a great deal of respect for this young girl and it pisses me off to no end that the media and specifically the tabloids spend a large amount of time finding ways to smear her. She has a talent, and even though it comes off as slightly ‘canned’ and in my opinion she is no different than a majority of the teen/tween poppers that have come onto the scene in the last 10 years she is good at what she does.

I don’t have a problem with Miley or this song.

Quite the contrary actually, this song helps me to realize that times have changed. When I was in the 3rd to 7th grade age group, and fortunately I’m young enough to vaguely remember that age group still, the feelings expressed in this song were not the type of feelings we dealt with. I’m talking male or females. Our world has changed drastically, even in that short time. We need to learn to embrace this change and make adjustments to how we raise our children. We need to ensure that their priorities in life are straight and help them achieve the most maximized balance between all of those priorities. I’m not saying that it’s wrong from children at this young age to have feelings like the ones expressed in this song. Actually, I am a firm believer in the power of that love feeling and I whole-heartedly believe that it’s quite possible to experience that feeling at a young age. I just think that at such a young age, an age where there is little you can do to act on that feeling, our children’s priorities should be different. I know a lot of youth pastors, children’s pastors, teachers and other folks who work with this particular age group and it seems to me like they are trying to shelter them from this feeling. The reality is it exists and rather than shelter or try to suppress it you should be doing all you can to aide in the balance of that feeling and the various other feelings and issues that this age group deals with.

I think once we get to a point where as adults we accept the reality that our children are living in a vastly different world than we did/are, only then will we find a peaceful co-existence with them.

One of my favorite things to do is surf Myspace looking at up and coming music acts. Myspace has made it so easy for an artist or band to “make their break.” Sometimes I wonder if I should pursue a career as a music director. I often hear a track for the very first time and instantly I think of 2 or 3 scenes in movies or television shows that the song would fit in nearly seamlessly. I guess music director is just another “dream career” I can add to my list, which as of late as started to dwindle some, so perhaps I am actually starting to make progress in figuring out exactly what it is I’m suppose to be doing with life. Then again, do we ever really know? Actually, I was inspired a few years back by Joe Fischer the music director of The OC and Andrea von Foerster one of the music coordinators for the show. During The OC’s run those two compiled some incredible soundtracks and undoubtedly launched the careers of a multitude of artists. Think about it, everyone had heard, or vaguely heard of the song “California,” but the song and the band that performed it (Phantom Planet) exploded once The OC picked it up as their theme song.

There is a song for every season, every action, even the equal and opposite reactions (some nerdy science talk for you…though I never really fully understood that concept). Here are a few songs by some bands I’ve found on myspace that I think are about to make their break. Well, actually some of them have made some sort of break, though not necessarily mainstream. So, I suppose you could say that the following are some artists I think you should definetely show some iTunes love to. Also, so I don’t get too many comments and e-mails, yes, some of these songs are older, however they are still artists/bands you need to check out! Check out the song, then head over and check out the band’s myspace page, and if they have one their official websites.

Enjoy.

Teitur - Louis Louis (pronounced tie-tor)

Official Webpage
Myspace

Schuyler Fisk - From Where I’m Standing (pronounced sky ler)

Official Webpage
Myspace

Friends for Hire - Danger Us

Myspace

The Thermals - How We Know

Official Webpage
Myspace

Secret Secret Dino Club - Girlfriend Application

Official Webpage
Myspace

Thirteen Senses - Thru the Glass

Official Webpage
Myspace

That’s enough for now. Time for bed.

So apparently WiLD 98.7 disabled the Put On (Bay to the Bottom Remix) mp3 link that I had in my previous post. So for your listening pleasure here is the you tube version:

Look, if you’re from Tampa or Miami you can’t help but be proud of this track. It represents something big and I’m glad to see the Tampa/South Florida scene sparking off like it is.

Sorry, I’ve been quiet this week. I started a new job and I am trying to get used to the new schedule.

I’ve got some posts in the work for this weekend. Until then I’d like you to listen to this song and watch the video. It’s no secret that I LOVE music. I especially love a piece that says something to the listener. Listen to this cut by Mathangi “M.I.A.” Arulpragasam. You may have to listen several times to try to figure out what she is speaking to, but it’s an EXCELLENT piece of social commentary. Too bad she’s not from America, while we have several American artists who can speak out on issues, most artists that do are from other countries.

Enjoy the song, the tune is pretty catchy. (BTW…this is NOT a terrorist threat…which many people have thought for some odd reason)

It’s no secret that I am a bit of a hip-hop nut.

Yeah..yeah…shut up…I’m a redneck, white boy from the country who is in to hip-hop. GET OVER IT.

Anyway, Tampa has been quite lucky to be home to some insane talent in the hip-hop world. We’re also home to one of the number one hip-hop radio stations in the COUNTRY (WLLD 98.7 FM “WiLD 98.7″) no lie folks WILD is home to some of the biggest names in the industry, Orlando (the program director) being one of them and DJ CHRISTION being another. The two of them just released a mix tape called “Voice of the City: Volume 1.” I have not personally got my hands on it…yet, I will be though.

The last track on the mix tape is a remix of Put On by Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West. Which is one of Jeezy’s best singles yet. The Bay to the Bottom remix, features Orlando (from WiLD), DJ Christion, DJ Khaled, Plies, 2 Pistols, Acafool, Ace Hood, & Tom G all of which are from the 813 (Tampa) and the 305 (Miami) - hints the whole Bay to the Bottom thing.

I’ve got to say, every time I hear this cut I have no choice but to push my piece of crap stereo system to it’s limit and blaze it like nothing I’ve ever blazed before. It also sends chills down my spine every time I hear it. Tampa is coming up in the world of hip-hop and this track proves it. Plus, truthfully, it’s probably one of the best remixes I’ve ever heard…and that’s real.

Head over to WiLD to hear Put On - The Bay to the Bottom Remix. (Look, if you are the type of person who hears hip-hop and says “That music is runing our children.” Please don’t listen to this track so you can send me an e-mail or leave a comment about why hip-hop is ruining the world, because you’re wrong, and quite frankly I don’t feel like hearing your ridiculous explanations. :-)) Otherwise…ENJOY!