“There are good and bad newspapers…Those who play for their own little selfish ends give no true light to the world and perish of their own futility”
– Abdu’l-Bahá, New York, 1912
Abdu’l-Bahá in America
If only learning was this cool, and the music this good for children these days!
Music Legend Herbie Hancock plays Fairlight CMI, Quincy Jones watches. Great insights after the funky grooves about music and technology…
Oh, man, this is just so beyond words! So I’ll stop trying to use them. Tron Legacy:
Don’t let the Disney name distract from the fact that this is going to be the coolest thing since the Matrix. Coming to theaters 2011 in Digital 3D. Filming in Vancouver, BC!
Rumours are that electronic music duo Daft Punk is involved in the music…
My latest roller hockey bruisin looks a lot like a tattoo. I don’t even remember how I got it at the last game…
More hockey photos on Facebook if for some reason you care.
I am working on post production for a DVD for some fitness products by Zenzation and they also asked me to assist with the production, so I had Tobin Smith work on the video shoot with me and found a location on the beach for a nice background:
There was a lot more seaweed and junk that the day before when I checked the location, and all we had as this kids rake to clean it…
We used a wireless headset mic to avoid background noise and get a clean sound while the instructors were doing a lot of movement. It sounded great despite extraneous noise. At the start of the shoot the city was cutting down trees, luckily that didn’t last long enough to kill the shoot…
Today, on the inauguration of Baha’i Rights Day, most people are posting about the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. But persecution of Baha’is is certainly not limited to Iran.
Over a month ago, I posted about how we were facing discrimination in adopting a Korean baby due to our being members of the Baha’i faith.
Despite a personal visit to the Government run agency in Korea by the top administration of the Baha’i faith in Korea, which revealed significant ignorance of the faith, the agency returned our dossier (all our application papers and funds) last week and sent our local agency a letter claiming the refusal of the adoption.
The fact that they have returned all our application papers last week and have made a final decision so quickly shows they are no longer willing to discuss this case, and it is now officially closed, as nothing can be done without those papers.
This not only affects our adoption, and any Korean Baha’is that may want to adopt in that country, but people of many other faiths adopting from other countries as well. The fact that the limited resources of the international Baha’i community are focused on the possible execution of 7 Baha’is arrested in Iran for their beliefs makes our case insignificant at the moment.
All I want to see is some justice in this case, especially considering that the agency could have informed us 6 months before, and not proposed a child to us if they had issues with our beleifs. The failure on their part to do this would no doubt guarantee successful results if pursued legally.
However we live in a world where injustice prevails and is the standard. Here we are, trying to adopt a baby from 4 different countries for over 5 years now, and despite being ideal candidates and fulfilling all legal, health, psychological, financial, and social requirements one needs to adopt, nationalism of countries and the lack of value for children in our society has left us unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Mothers abort babies every day, have children that they don’t want, and abuse them at will with little consequences.
If anything, our world has little respect for children, and is becoming more complacent and less tolerant of others beliefs than ever. The only recourse is to spread information of this case, and others far and wide so that people of faith are aware and can show the world that this is actually NOT acceptable, and we won’t be complacent when discriminated against.
“All my students are really interested in hearing is how right they are and how good they are, the same mentality that basically forces Harvard to give out B’s to people that don’t deserve them out of the fear that they’ll go to other schools that will give them B’s and those schools will make the money.
We live in a country that seems to be in this massive state of delusion, where the idea of what you are is more important than you actually being that.
All they want to hear is how good they are and how talented they are, and most of them aren’t really willing to work to the degree to live up to that.
Today, Stevie Wonder would not get a shot (in the music industry)”
– Jazz legend Branford Marsalis, from the documentary film, ‘Before Music Dies’
Check out the film, it’s a great, honest look at the music industry today.
Thanks Sarah Lynn for sharing this film with me.
I’ve had no problem getting work as a music producer, even in a recession. I’m working on 6 albums and keep getting calls for more, but then I’m cheap as far as many music producers go with my experience. Most of my clients hire me because I also compose and engineer in my own studio, so I’m a one stop shop.
This regular work has in no way filled me with delusions about the importance of professionally produced music to the general public though. I have found myself asking more and more, what is the point of what I do for artists anymore? Is there a future in professionally produced music? Do the majority of people care?
Before you scoff at this question, peruse these valid issues that have partially led to it, such as:
One could argue that people are used to professionally produced music, and so they will still demand it, despite the shrinking budgets for artists and music lovers. There is no question that the world is shifting towards enjoying more music than ever before, and that music is increasing in popularity.
But my most significant argument for the rapid decline in value for the music producer is, given the above, can the average person even tell the difference between music with no producer and that which is professionally produced? Will they be disappointed with acoustic versions of songs?
Tests I’ve done have proven the answer is no. Most listeners primarily want to hear the singers voice, and the melodies sung with simple instrumentation, and everything else seems superfluous.
I think a producer contributes significantly not just to the quality of sound of the music, but to:
But of course, I’m biased! And as illustrated, these are decreasing in importance to the general listener.
In industries like film, TV, and advertising, these elements have become standard, so there is no question that they will require professionally produced music.
For music in general though, the question remains, given it is proven most people can’t hear the difference, is there a future for the professional music producer?
Will a shift in the importance of the arts and education in society affect the demand for musical perfection only an experienced producer can provide?
I’ve added my latest favorite song to the player on the right sidebar of my blog.
This song just send shivers down my spine, the ultimate sign of a great track for me.
Something about the chord progression and dreamy vocals…
For those who may not know, Canadian producer/composer Deadmau5 (‘Deadmouse’) released a song with a similar melody years ago called ‘I Forget’, possibly the inspiration for this song…