Sunday, September 30, 2007

Country Music Purist?

Music, lyrics & melody. I could spend some serious money on these things. Songs and rhythms that rend the soul, lift the spirit, bring the tears and make you move.... No one in my house growing up could sing or play music (unless they had a really seriously secret hobby), but my parents appreciated all types of music and we were fortunate to share in their musical experimentation. It was great! Everyone of us loves music and we all (Dad & Mom, brothers and sister) all still love really diverse kinds of music, 'lo these many years later. I tell people all the time that in my family we have the gift of music appreciation, and all kidding aside - it really IS a gift to truly appreciate it!
Music is powerful and biblical even. Lucifer had musical instruments built into him. Amazing! King Saul depended on music to soothe his greatly disturbed psyche. Recently, a semi-retired Country music great came back on the scene with a great (in my opinion) song. "More than a Memory" is a passionate and what I call a fun song; fun to sing and it moves your heart. It is a lot of things, but, it is NOT Country! I knew when I heard it, instantly that my husband would HATE it, and he does! He is so good about knowing where the boundaries are. For him it's not a matter of not liking the music itself. If it was on a different station, sure. But, on a Country music station, forget about it! Me, I have always been of the mind - hey, I don't care, if it sounds good, let it play!
Right in the middle of listening to that song recently, I started thinking about what it does to the Country music artists - who play within the boundaries - and maybe don't release their experiments as a single - but, save them for the CDs and concerts...I thought about Allen Jackson, and Brooks & Dunn and I really started to see it from their perspective. For them, Country is true to the Websters - (I am a word person, ya'll, pls forgive me) "music derived from or imitating the folk style of the Southern United States or of the Western cowboy".
I am not sure what to do with this realization, but, it got me thinking about how we are so confused about where the boundaries are anymore. What is important to adhere to, and what wasn't ever worth worrying about. For instance - I don't think anyone cares anymore if we wear white after Labor Day, or brown after Easter. But, we should all want our clothes to cover the parts (including boxers and thongs) best left to the imagination and the marriage bedroom! A little mystery is a real good thing!
Does this mean I don't like the song? No way! I still love it, but, I wonder how it makes Garth Brooks' peers feel that he has released a Rock song in a Country Music venue. Hmmm..."dialing 6 numbers just to hang up the phone..."
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What Does it Mean Anyway? "Free to Fly"...

Well, it's like this: Here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Free: a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another2 a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself...having a scope not restricted by qualification 7 a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded ...Now, here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Fly:1 a : to move in or pass through the air with wings b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c : to float, wave, or soar in the air ... a : to take flight ...6 : to work successfully ...Examples which apply from Websters: fly high : to be elated - fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of : to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of

What does this mean in my life? This means that in life we are meant to be free. While historically mankind has not always enjoyed the opportunity to fully appreciate what that means, we are so indescribably fortunate as to live in a time of the greatest spiritual, physical, financial and political freedom ever known. Freedom doesn't come cheap, nor does it come easy. But the best things in life don't come that way do they? As I write this I am struck by how this sounds like a political statement, and for me this is much more of a spiritual thing, but, same goes for that (political that is). Freedom doesn't come easy. And it's worth whatever fight you have to make to overcome in your life in order to live a life that succeeds. Now the questions is - what is success for you? What is your standard? In my mind what is needed is a definite target - because you can't hit and maintain a moving target. A stable, rock-solid, anchor with no variable, yet multi-faceted. Something pure, just and worthy. If you look at any web page of news you can see that our society is certainly lacking in this area. What a great time to live as a rebel! Nowadays to be a rebel, all you have to do is be willing to engage in the battle of life, while anchored to Christ!