Just Love

3 November 2017

Music Appreciation: Ray Charles

Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930-June 10, 2004), also known as Ray Charles, Brother Ray, and The Genius, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and composer. Charles was blind from the age of seven.

He pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s by combining blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic Records and also contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues and pop music during the 1960s with ABC Records. While he was with ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company.

Charles’s influences came from Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, and Charles Brown as well as other jazz, blues, country, and rhythm and blues artists of the day. Frank Sinatra called Ray Charles “the only true genius in show business.” Rolling Stone ranked Charles number ten on its 2002 list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”, and number two on their November 2008 list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.” Billy Joel observed, “This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley”.

“Georgia on My Mind” is a 1930 song originally written and recorded by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. Willie Nelson also performed the song in 1978. It is unclear whether “Georgia” is referring to a woman or the U.S. state, which is Charles’s home state, but it works either way, and it was made Georgia state’s official song.

The beauty of “Georgia on My Mind” is the amazing melody, harmonies, and instrumentals so wonderfully blended together. The mixture of strings, bass, and drums on the surface create a soothing sound that you can’t help but get lost in. The blend of Charles’s scratchy, smooth voice and the harmonizing backup vocals allow for the song’s sweet sway that makes you want to hold that special someone close and dance with them around the living room. This is a true love song.

The lyrics suggest that it is an ode or love poem to Georgia. Charles’s sings that all day long he thinks fondly of Georgia, and though others try to get his attention, he only dreams of her. As the song says, it’s “Just an old sweet song/Keeps Georgia on my mind,” and if you listen to it, I”m sure Georgia will be on your mind too. (Man, I sure do wish I had someone think about me the way Ray Charles thinks about Georgia.)

“Georgia on My Mind” in one of Ray Charles’s many great songs that I recommend. Whether rhythm and blues is your cup of tea or not, everyone ought to have an appreciation for greats like Ray Charles who pioneered the music industry. Other hits I recommend include “None of Us Are Free,” “I Got a Woman,” “Let the Good Times Roll,” and “Hit the Road, Jack.”

For the love of music,

Big Shot

6 December 2017

Music Recommendation: “Loss for Words” by Landon McNamara

My friend introduced me to this song recently while I was trying to figure out what music to talk about next. The first time I heard it, I was immediately drawn in by the reggae-like sound. The song itself is about terrorist attacks, nonsensical violence, and other tragic events that people all over the world have experienced for decades, saying “[there are] too many situations to fit in one song.” I find it interesting how McNamara combines the serious issues of the world with such a light sounding rhythm. I suppose that by using the catchy music McNamara can keep his audience in tune with his message.

McNamara, I honestly believe, captures the feelings of many Americans and even people from other countries because the tragic events that have happened over the years and the lack of progress made to prevent these attacks. Not only does he shout out to our native Columbine, Las Vegas, San Bernardino, Miami, World Trade Centers, and Pearl Harbor but also to London, Paris, Syria, Hiroshima, Africa, Iraq, and other places still facing times of crisis. As an American myself, I know that America country is far from the perfect society it likes to think it is. Our politicians refuse to agree on common sense gun control that would prevent the mentally ill, suspected terrorists, or domestic abusers from purchasing a gun.  Companies care more about making a profit than about the care of their consumers. There are people who will discriminate against an entire group of people just because they look different, dress different, speak a different language, love different, worship different, etc., and often it’s those same people who claim to be “patriots,” “true Americans,” or “good Christian.” McNamara even calls out the president for his lack of action in the matter (although with our current president, I doubt anything will ever get done).

As McNamara mentions, this isn’t the first occasion that tragic events could’ve been prevented but wasn’t for one reason or another. Many citizens in our country can’t walk down the street without worrying about their lives because of how much hatred and bigotry there are in our society. When you hear about these events unfolding on the news, there really are no words to describe how heartbreaking it all is. McNamara’s call for love and peace is a strong one that resonates with myself and I’m sure many others around the world. Parents should not have to lose their children, and children their parents. There is no reason for the violence, and we wouldn’t have violence if we all learned to understand and accept. I, like McNamara, hope “we could all live as one” and find a way to stop this nonsensical violence.

This recommendation isn’t necessarily meant to spark controversy, but it is meant to help raise awareness to the flaws of our society and call us to actions so that we don’t have to deal with such tragedies anymore. I’m glad my friend introduced me to this song, but I hope we don’t have to hear any more like this in the future because we’ve already lost so many lives. I encourage you to listen to this song and reflect on a world that you would like to see, then act. We can’t be passive anymore. We need to do something. Otherwise, we will always be at a loss for words.

For the love of music,