The above ways are the ways that I love listening to music most. Obviously the last one is the way that I love to hear music best. Unfortunately, in 2020, we can’t do gigs LIVE, unless we, fortunately, in all of this mess, are blessed by some wonderful artists who are going LIVE on Facebook.
I have been alive long enough to enjoy many forms or recorded music and still one of my most favourite ways of listening to music – the radio. Having spent a great part of my life around musicians, I just want to do everything that I can do to support them and give a little something back for all the joy that they have given me.
I buy 90 percent of the music that I review. The generosity of many musicians has allowed me to become a small part of their lives. They do give me more than material stuff and quite frankly, their music has helped me through some of my darkest hours and enhanced my happiest moments.
It is the least that I can do to buy a recording, go to a gig, buy a hat or a shirt or even a scarf! I like to help.
I do, on occasion, buy an album from iTunes, and I mean buy an album, I do not just stream or just get a single or two off a future album, I buy the whole thing. This is usually because I can’t get my faves at a music shop or I can’t get to a gig. I usually end up buying the hard copy somewhere down the line.
This post, this blog, are not about me. This post is about the artists who I try to support. Streaming is not for me. I would rather save up and buy an album or go to a show than provide money to those who are ripping off my favourite artists.
I understand that at the moment, artists are having a struggle to produce more than a single or two, and that an album is a fair way into the future. I am happy to pay the 1.60 or whatever for each song and then buy the album when it comes out.
As an amateur reviewer, I prefer an album, it tells the whole story, not just parts of it, and I like the hard copy as it gives me all the information – lyrics, songwriters, musicians, producers, and sometimes some very cool and descriptive liner notes.
Music is a very personal thing. It is a passion and it can also be a major way of life. It is a big part of mine, even though I can’t sing and I can’t dance and I can’t play a note.
Streaming doesn’t do it for me. It is ripping off those that I care about. It was stated recently that musicians don’t work hard enough. I come from a working class background and I paid my own way through university 3 times and TAFE twice and I have worked hard for what little that I have and I know hard working people when I see them.
Musicians are not only passionate people, they are hard working folks who spend a lot of time away from home (usually), away from their loved ones and their homes. They drive for hours, sometimes sleep in their cars or some pretty rough places. They play to crowds that amount to a handful who aren’t always respectful. It takes a lot of time, being in the right place at the right moment and a lot of sacrifices and practice to become a good musician. Mainly, it takes passion and hard work. It is not always glamourous, though there are probably some moments that make the whole thing worthwhile. If you love something enough and persist, then dreams can come true.
It is sad when all of this hard work and passion is not rewarded how it should be. I want to thank my music family from the bottom of my heart for making my life richer. It is not about money or fame, it is about talent and passion and credit for a job well done and admired. It is not about a cheque for 79c for an album that was made from blood, sweat and tears…..and love.
So for all of those who doubt it, I am proof of the pudding. I am one of millions who still appreciate the work and talent of a musician and all that goes into it producing the perfect song or at least a bloody good one. I will never stream music. I will always buy an album, preferably one that I can place on my stereo. There’s nothing quite like the scratch of vinyl in the morning……or evening, for that matter.
N.B. An important footnote. 2 points that I forgot to mention which are important. Most of the musos that I follow are independent artists. They either work at ‘real’ jobs so that they can make their music or complement it and/or have worked for a very long time and can now try and go into producing/playing their music with perhaps a supportive partner or savings. On top of this, they often write/produce/record their own music and the music of others. There are many advantages to being an Independent artist, creatively and for future avenues, but if this is not displaying hard work, then I don’t know what is.
