The Feels
Part one--rules of the game
The Feels…..shivers, goosebumps up the arm. The working concept here is that I will explore post-by-post songs that, for one reason or another, produce this feeling. This Substack is my attempt to figure it all out.
Especially now we listen to songs in the background–as we clatter away, dine, as we socialize, as we attempt to fall asleep. Streamed albums, I-Tunes, Spotify, Pandora, Youtube. We unspool music constantly, but are we listening? Really listening?
I grew up in the era of vinyl and radio and then cassettes and cds. Digital listening has come to me slowly–I prefer the physical object. The liner notes, the history of the musical object. But who can deny the ease of typing in a search word and five seconds later listening to that same exact song. Flashing back to the early 80’s, we all wish we had such digital jukeboxes.
The rules of the game: I will not explore more than one song by any given artist–that way I have a chance to traverse the wide variety of songs and musicians out there. These are writings about unearthing and personal connection and music and meaning. I will not usually delve into analysis of the technical aspects of the given song, nor am I equipped to do so. I am not a musician, or even a musical theorist. This is more along the lines of a mix tape with commentary. I am interested in what these songs mean, or at least mean to me.
Music is similar to murals or public art…they are there for everyone. We are fortunate to live in an era when any song we want to hear is at our fingertips. And yet perhaps as a result of this we are overwhelmed, sometimes slipping back into the comfort of the music of our youth, the well-worn musical shoe. Fine to do that, but fine also to turn over stones. With this newsletter I attempt to discover what I know and understand.
Caveat: to steal a modified line from Cracker–what the world needs now is another Substacker. But I hope to offer something unique here. And if you like it, keep reading. There is always another tune to check out.
