Music to Tour By

A lot happened last week, hence the late post.

First, we had what was called SPA days. This is when the prospective OSU students for next years cohort come to interview for assistantships. They are already admitted to the program but they are interviewing for on campus, tuition paying jobs. Five students of the 15 interviewed at my area of work in the business college alone. It was an exciting weekend of getting to know potential classmates and friends from next year.

A few amusing anecdotes from SPA days:
Even though we were welcoming next year's students, it was the first time in months we hung out with so many of this years current two cohorts.
I got a ticket for parking overnight at OSU after forgetting that I was still parked on campus when Cardmaster Cider dropped me off at the bar welcome night.
Powder Climber tends to share more about himself when he's has drunk just enough to feel the alcohol but not enough for us to tell if he's buzzing or not.
Poor Tall Bear futilely tried to plan hangouts at least three times. We'll have that liter of shots soon I promise!
A new character, Cali Foodie, actually CALLED me in the bar to walk to the other side of the table to leave one candidate and talk to another. Rude. She also made me drive her to Target. It's a good thing we're friends. California Love!

This weekend, I also spent time seeing some of the Columbus sights with a dear friend. I tried out Schmidt's a German restaurant with totally amazing sausages and a shop linked to it that makes its own fudge. So good. I also found a sushi restaurant here that was on par with what I would want back home. Of course, I spent my most time lost in my favorite place in Ohio, the Book Loft. I can't walked out of there without a book or three. Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, you will be read.

I started this blog on Sunday while listening to the Grammy's through the background noise of a Skype conversation with Dungeon Daddy. Yes, that's a bit ridiculous, but so are 4 hour award ceremonies. Still, listening to the Grammy Awards was entertaining. I love listening to the radio and thus this was pretty similar since there are so many performances. Also, I really don't like music videos, so I get to skip out on the silly dances and attempts at uniqueness. I know I'm coming off as a bit of a cynic on the Grammy's. I see it more as making fun of things that don't interest me.

Anyway, music is a constant topic on this blog. So since I listened to the Grammy's by association, I figure I might as well discuss them. I overheard an acceptance speech by one of the Foo Fighers, who described how he was happy that they won because they made the music in hi garage, rather than the big market music producing machines and organizations that most artists turn to. He described teh freedom and art that music making can be and how the industry (by definition) has moved away from this. Add to that listening to the likes of Paul McCartney and the Beach Boys and I am reaffirmed in my love for Classic Rock and the artistry many musicians lack these days. Artists like LMFAO and Deadmau5 basically put catchy sounds together (or often not so catchy sounds) and many build off of prexisting music rather than create. While there is value in that kind of music for entertainment, I have trouble seeing it as true art. We still listen to classic rock 50 years after it came out. We barely listen to anymore 70s and 80s is fading too. How much of the music today will last 50 years of popularity?

Side note, normally I cite Ke$ha as an example of the industry producing and a figurehead performing. I mean, the different between Song of the Year and Record of the Year is that Song of the year refers to who wrote it, not the overall song (called an anachronistic term, Record). Anyway, Ke$ha recently surprised Spam Boa, who in turned shared with me a rendition of Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice, It's All Right. Covers and reinterpretations aren't bad and Bob Dylan is arguably the best songwriter who's a subpar performer, perfect for covers. So watch the link and be impressed and also wonder how the industry can redirect an artist to be a tool rather than an artist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNCEV7ZSNFo

Good news, for the most part the artists won Grammys. Congrats Adele, Foo Fighters, Levon Helm, Paul McCartney and Betty White (she's 90 years old and won Best Spoken Word Album which is equally awesome and insane). And congrats to other winners too. Also, Chris Brown inclusion disappoints me. That is all.

-JTY

Listening to: Adele won so much Rolling in the Deep is still stuck in my head

Reading: Not Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer like I wanted to.

Playing: League of Legends cuz its faster than TOR