Music that Cheers or Centers You

[GregK]

Ok, we have been over all types of genres and questions- what type of music you are into at this moment- etc. My question is simply this-
When you are feeling down or at a low point or maybe not quite yourself- what recording (be it cd, mp3, album, cassette, 8-track- what have you)
WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO THAT CHEERS YOU UP, OR "CENTERS" YOU OR TO GET YOU BACK ON TRACK- AND WHY??

Ok- for me- when I'm usually feeling a bit down or need a pick me up- I find that the recording that tends to cheer me up and get me back on track is some old- Live J. Geils Band. Preferably the "Blow Your Face Out" CD. Why?? Well- there is something about it- just 6 guys churning out some energetic rhythm and blues rock. No smoke bombs, no laser shows, no elaborate ANYTHING- most of the songs are simple progressions and the lyrics are about love or having fun- no political crap or woe-is-me crap, no intense production- just STRAIGHT UP FEEL GOOD PARTY ROCK. One look at the back of the cd explains it- dudes on harmonica, guitar, drums, bass, keyboards and the lead vocalist doing this insane backwards-jump thing while leaning on the mic stand. Don't get me wrong- I Love my KISS Alive and Alive II albums- for all the pomp and insanity- but when I REALLY need to get back and "Center" myself- I find this cd does it for me.
So-what about YOU? What does it for you? Are you the type to put on soft rock and get mellow? Or Scream your lungs out with King Diamond or Slayer blasting in the car? Or maybe you put on some Floyd and get all deep in thought (this never seems to cheer me- but you might be different)- WHAT DOES IT? -GregK
PS- If you put on Barney songs or Raffi to cheer you up- well.. that's your thing.. but you might wanna consider getting some help.

[GregK]

Ok- so I just found out that I can ONLY edit this during the first 10 minutes- HEY-WHEN DID THAT CHANGE?? Meaning that I cannot retract or change what I have said. So, my deepest apologies to the Barney people and the Raffi people for the aforementioned joke about your music. Your music has no doubt helped shape an entire generation. The "I Love You" song and "Wheels on the Bus" have delighted many children. When I bring the "wheels on MY bus" to the tire store- they know what to do and well, I have to thank YOU for that. When the stoned-out kid behind the counter at the coffee shop spits in my french-roast, I'll try to remember that somewhere in the kid's rotted hypothalamus, a purple dinosaur is singing that he really loves me.

And now- back to MUSIC THAT CHEERS YOU UP OR CENTERS YOU!!

[mobilehomeboy]

KISS!!!! That's ALL you need:

KISS, "Shout it Out LOUD"

"If you don't feel good, there's a way you could, don't sit there broken-hearted, call all your friends in the neighborhood, and GET YOUR PARTY STARTED!!!!"

"Don't let them tell you that there's too much noise, they're too old to really understand. Just go get rowdy with the girls and boys, because it's time for you to make your stand!"

The four runners' up:

Limp Bizkit, "Smash Things" (sup Fred?)

KORN, "POLITICS", or anything from "ADIDAS"

SEVENDUST, "BLACK" or "Licking Cream"

DISTURBED, "Prayer"



Usually after pounding my head to all of these jams, all the "bad" energy is gone.

Or, I just watch either "Office Space" or "The Spongebob Squarepants" movie. The "Goofy Goober" version of "I Wanna Rock" (again, Twisted Sister") is HILARIOUS.

[mobilehomeboy]

Oops, at the end of the KISS quote, I almost forgot the best part of the lyric, where Gene and Paul (together) go:

"Yaya YA-HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!"

In FALSETTO and it rocks......... Geniuses, man, I'm telling ya.

[Reconsiderate]

[GregK]

Hey MHB- don't forget the line "You've Got To Have A Party"..
KISS is definitely in my list of "Music to cheer you"- and it's really amazing how these recordings stand the test of time. The "Destroyer" album (or cd) is just as awesome today as it was when it first hit the shelves.
Another thing..of similar context- MHB, exactly WHAT is the Kiss tune "Nothing to Lose" about?? Hmmm.

Reconsiderate: I'm not sure that when I want to find music to cheer me or center me that experimenting with new or abstract music would do it for me- MAYBE, but I've found sometimes it's best to go back to music you know and love.

[GregK]

PS- if you want cool banjo-driven stuff, try Bela Fleck.

[mobilehomeboy]

Duh, it's about booty-shakin' man.

Like most KISS songs. I think it's before the Sean Delaney era, as well.

[GregK]

At present, I am in SERIOUS need of music to cheer me or center me- I have been working the work of 5-6 people practically non-stop. I've been going so many hours, so much work, that excluding sick days and holidays- I have not had a day off since last JUNE. This is starting to make my music suffer- hell..this is starting to make ME suffer! (and I would be REAL surprised if the powers that be remember all of this enough to give me a decent raise- I do this because I put everything into making my day job what it is today and it's my baby..know what I mean?)
Do you ever get to the point where you are so deep into something that you almost lose touch with whatever it is deep inside that actually makes you YOU? I've gone so long, put in so much that I practically don't feel anymore- I don't sleep, lost touch with nature, I don't wonder for ONE MINUTE why I cannot seem to write any new material- considering I'm lucky to have 20 minutes to sit down and play guitar!
Ok- so what tunes are DEFINITELY GOING TO BRING ME BACK- PUT ME BACK IN TOUCH WITH MY INNER SELF, CENTER ME AND GET ME BACK ON TRACK? (also- if anything other than tunes-feel free to post here- keep in mind however that I DO wanna try and remain sober!)
any tunes, meditative ideas- etc- greatly appreciated and YES I plan on taking a day or two soon before I implode! LOL.

[mobilehomeboy]

Well, I was gonna recommend a "beer day" but you don't wanna hear that, so......

I dunno. I think once you've lost what makes you you, you never get it back. "Stone Sour" wrote a song about it, called "Silly World".

Great song, too.

"Peace is just a word today, Peace is just a word. If something takes your peace away, it's seldom ever heard. So take those two spread fingers now and shove 'em up your a** and carry on, don't try to know, 'cause Peace is gone."

Then I break something, and I'm better. Works for me.

After all, the only organ that can regenerate on it's own in the human body is the liver, definately not the mind...... so, beer for medication, I say!

[GregK]

Well, I've done the beer route- and will probably take a couple days off and I can assure you that beer and/or Maker's Mark will be on the list! I've done the play while plastered thing before too- and sometimes I found that I couldn't play a simple A major chord- let alone anything else, or my friends would say "that sounded awesome- what did you do?" and I would have to reply that I couldn't remember.
The biggest problem is really WHAT I do for the day job- I handle every possible problem for the building and grounds maintenance of one of the fastest growing counties in the country- and I got myself, a part-time temp and finally one other full-timer and more stuff coming in than I can ever work on! The odd thing is how everybody gets up with me to fix their problems and I really don't have anyplace to vent when it gets to be too much! Sure, I have my music- but when you get 20 minutes every few days, it hardly does enough justice. I have intense musical ideas in my head- just no time or inclination to make it all work. Figure that 12 or more hours each day are devoted to work- or getting ready for- driving to and from, etc- then you need 7-8 hours of sleep- leaving a whopping 4 HOURS- in which you have to eat, do dishes, pay bills, take out trash, fix stuff, etc.. welcome to the great American dream my friends- everybody wins but you (good song idea here MHB- might wanna work on something- american nightmare/american dream)

[mobilehomeboy]

Sure, I'll whip something up. Will work for beer!

But seriously, I do, every now and then have to just pull one good one to let it all go. It's the only thing that ever worked. Church, yeah, I go on Sundays, and it helps a little, but when you have a family to support, and the Pastor's lecturing you about letting the "things of the world" go, I mean, s***, here I am trying to find a job, and he's telling me not to worry about it. I mean, Jesus didn't exactly ask for my home address so he could drop off them ol' fishes..........

So then, "will work for beer" turns into a damned "will work for food" sign?

Ah, so there's my quandry, lol.

[GregK]

Bro, I'd hire ya back here in NC- I'm swamped with work! -But then again..the thought of YOU working with ME in small time Gub'ment.. isn't the world already damned ENOUGH?? LOL.
(ps- I can't hire anybody- they have a whole "panel" review the folks that will work next to me- but they don't invite ME to be on that panel- afraid I'd tell 'em the truth!)

[Reconsiderate]

[mobilehomeboy]

I come up with a quip every now and then.

Actually, the job search is becoming fruitful. I'm yet one step closer every day to having the garage full of ATVs, remote-controlled airplanes, and weird robotic toys that I've always wanted.