zak
_"- music is a language, an ancient language, a language of Shamans, priests, and medicine men, technicians of the sacred, who knew how to use it to unfold a shadowy, unseen world"_> LHR

Too serious, probably.

Ya think?

Not to put too fine a point on it--since this was exhibit A for the prosecution of the crime of writing flowery mumbo jumbo--I can't be the only one who has seen the cover of the new Madeira CD Carpe Noctem!--and what is the image that we have there--a mystical symbol which I am sure has NOTHING to do with technicians of the sacred. No, I think that symbol was consciously chosen to represent the mysterious, magical spells contained therein. Of course, I could be mistaken...

And I am sure that PolloGuitar at least will recognize this quote:

"She was cast adrift between two worlds– one dead and one terrified of being born. Would she anesthetize herself to the burden, or rise, and bask in the illumination of life?"

Golden State--this is an expression that Shamans and Medicine Men would puzzle over? I think not.

Add the fact that a prevalent antropological theory sees language as originating in the singing of the first Shamans, and musical instruments being developed to assist them--I think my remarks had at least a tiny bit of resonance...and were not really mumbo jumbo.

Seamoor Glas
The Iterators of Rachmones

oestmann
I personally think if anyone has got this far in the thread, they should automatically recieve and Honorary Doctorate; maybe Brian can arrange something?

It looks like this thread has gone from writing a surf song to someone’s fantasy of solving life’s mysteries.

Well I've gone as far as I am going.

I'm out, waters flat mate.

Joel

zak
What I'm getting at in my characteristically undiplomatic way is that he quest for "uniqueness" and "originality" in an intellectualized and analytical manner is futile. Last time I checked surf music or guitar instrumentals were a sub-genre of rock'n'roll, and intellectualizing rock'n'roll seems kinda counterproductive to me. It's not high art, it's entertainment. Usually of the low-brow variety. People should dance to it, not contemplate the mysteries of the universe. Everybody steals and borrows from someone else, regardless of whether or not they admit it. Creativity does not exist in a vacuum, it is formed by what you hear, what you like, and even what you don't like.

I have to agree. I like my music how I like my women: Trashy and a little dumb.

The Exotics 1994-Current
The Chickenshack - www.wmse.org
www.thedoghouseflowers.com
www.uptownsavages.com

DannySnyder
So? What is the meaning of life? Anyone?

The meaning of life as I see it is to leave the world a better place than you found it by writing surf instros.

JoshHeartless
to me it all comes down to 2 types of songs.

1. emotional, beautiful, and revealing songs-i believe those are to be written like poetry, i don't think it's necessary to 'look within yourself', but that depends on how deep you want your song to be. i just think you need a clear understanding of the feeling you want to portray in the song before you write it, or you'll be lost. you either have the gift or you don't, or so i believe.
   

2. rock n roll songs-don't need to be emotional, and better if they aren't. just think up a cool melody, hook, and subject and before ya know it the song is done.

Ok, this sounds like a pretty good stab at what has been discussed in literary and art criticism since the time of the Ancient Greeks--an axis represented by two poles--at one end represented by Appollo, and at the the other, Dionysus.

Wikipedia
Apollo (Apollonian or Apollinian): the dream state or the wish to create order, principium individuationis (principle of individuation), plastic (visual) arts, beauty, clarity, stint to formed boundaries, individuality, celebration of appearance/illusion, human beings as artists (or media of art's manifestation), self-control, perfection, exhaustion of possibilities, creation.

Dionysus (Dionysian): chaos, intoxication, celebration of nature, instinctual, intuitive, pertaining to the sensation of pleasure or pain, individuality dissolved and hence destroyed, wholeness of existence, orgiastic passion, dissolution of all boundaries, excess, human being(s) as the work and glorification of art, destruction.

Apollonian and Dionysian are terms used by Nietzsche in 'The Birth of Tragedy' to designate two central principles in Greek culture. Apollonian is the basis of all analytic distinctions. Everything that is part of the unique individuality of a thing is Apollonian in character; all types of form or structure are Apollonian, since form serves to define or individualize whatis formed; sculpture is the most Apollonian of the arts, it relies entirely on form for its effect. Rational thought is also Apollonian since it is structured and makes distinctions.

from Nietzsche--last "insane" letter to Cosima Wagner
...this time however I come as the victorious Dionysus, who will turn the world into a holiday...Not that I have much time..."

Dionysian is directly opposed to Apollonian. Drunkenness and madness are Dionysian because they break down a man's individual character; all forms of enthusiasm and ecstasy are Dionysian, for in such states man gives up his individuality and submerges himself in a greater whole: music is the most Dionysian of the arts, since it appeals directly to man's instinctive, chaotic emotions and not to his formally reasoning mind.

Nietzsche considered that the true tragedy could only result from the tension between these two poles. He used the names Apollonian and Dionysian for these two forces because Apollo, as the sun-god, represents light, clarity, and form, whereas Dionysus, as the wine-god, represents drunkenness and ecstasy. Central to Nietzsche's philosophy is the idea of "life-affirmation," which involves an honest questioning of all doctrines which drain life's energies, however socially prevalent those views might be .

Long Winded Flowery Mumbo Jumbo courtesy of

Seamoor Glas
The Iterators of Rachmones

CaptainSpringfield

DannySnyder
So? What is the meaning of life?

Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a
good book every now and then, get some walking in and try and
live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds
and nations.

From - where else? - Monty Phython´s "The Meaning of Life" ;)

http://www.myspace.com/cochabambas
http://gianninisupersonic.blogspot.com

image
My brain hurts.

90

CaptainSpringfield

DannySnyder
So? What is the meaning of life?

Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a
good book every now and then, get some walking in and try and
live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds
and nations.

From - where else? - Monty Phython´s "The Meaning of Life" ;)

and go to see a few surf shows live.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Ron-Rhoades
What a bunch of CRAP this is. You guys need to go get in the water or whatever it is you do. The original guy was asking about SONGWRITING for crying out loud.
Shoots...laters.

Hey! This thread is a metaphor for the creative process.

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

CaptainSpringfield

DannySnyder
So? What is the meaning of life?

-Warren

"it would help if I knew what the question was."

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