I love to discover new music, don’t you? It usually happens unexpectedly for me, when I’m not even looking for it. I may be just wandering around a store and hear some music playing in the background that catches my attention.
That’s how I first discovered the Goo Goo Dolls. It seemed everytime I was in a certain store I would hear their song Black Balloon and then I would have to stop whatever I was doing and just listen. Even though I couldn’t understand all the words, the music was so powerful that it completely captivated me. This set me on a mission to find out who wrote the song and how I could get a copy of their CD, which I eventually did.
The same thing happened with Cold Play. I was in a music store and heard one of their songs playing in the background. Again, it made me stop what I was doing and pay attention. The song was so good that I went over and asked the person behind the counter if they knew who the group was that we were hearing. Not long afterward I saw them in concert on a tv program. I was competely hooked. They gave a great performance and their music was sooo good. Now I own a couple of their CDs, one of which was nominated for album of the year in 2007.
One of my very favorite songs is One Last Breath by Creed. The first time I heard it, we were driving beside a railroad track on our way to a nearby town. A close friend of mine had recently committed suicide by jumping in front of a train, so you can imagine the impact this song had on me emotionally. The strange thing is, it was also very comforting and helped me work through my grief and the loss of my friend.
Sometimes my guitar students “turn me on” to new music. That’s how I learned about Glen Hansard, singer/songwriter and star of the movie Once. He is a very dynamic artist. The interesting thing about Glen is the simplicity of his lyrics. Yet he is able to deliver his songs with such power and conviction using only an old beat-up acoustic guitar. He’s a wonderful performer. Here is a video clip you can watch…
GLEN HANSARD VIDEO:
My students are discovering “new music” all the time too… Santana, Janis Joplin, Hendrix… to them, it’s new anyway! Funny how things work, eh?
So, if you want to discover some new music, always be sure to keep your ears open whenever you’re in a store, at a friends house, watching tv, or listening to the radio. You might just be in for a pleasant surprise!
Until Next Time…
Keep Practicing!
guitarcoach
