Tag Archives: Music

May 6, 2014 · 10:13 am

Turn The Page

English: Picture of Bob Seger. Cropped version...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Happy Birthday Bob Seger!

One of Michigan’s favorite sons turns 69 today and I thought we’d get a quick business lesson from his 1973 song “Turn The Page“  for our subject this TunesDay.  It may be one of the best “road” songs ever written.  As is our custom, a quick listen and then a business point:

You might be familiar with Metallica’s version in which the road-weary musician is transformed into a stripper/prostitute.  The song’s been covered by many other musicians as well, probably because its message of the hours of boredom, bone-crushing travel in between performances resonates with anyone who’s ever lived that life.  Then again, you don’t have to be a musician – the 100,000 miles I used to travel a year (fortunately when air travel was much less painful) had me singing this song to myself more than once.

You hear the weariness in the sax line – it sounds like a late night after a long day.  You also hear the challenges of dealing with people who judge you for how you look and not who you are.  It’s a song about putting up with “all the other stuff” for this:

Out there in the spotlight you’re a million miles away
Every ounce of energy, you try to give away
As the sweat pours out your body like the music that you play

The moment when you can do what you love and bring joy to everyone involved.  Isn’t that a little of what we all live with each day?  It may be the slog through traffic or a stuck train.  It might be working on a the parts of a project – footnotes, cleaning up a presentation – that are really drudgery.  It’s knowing that even though it’s raining at the moment, there will be a glorious day of sunshine.

Happy Birthday, Bob.  Thanks for reminding us that we need to keep turning the page and looking ahead to the good stuff.

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April 29, 2014 · 9:10 am

Crossroads

This TunesDay, let’s start with a question. Who wrote “Crossroads?”

Robert Johnson

If your immediate answer was “Eric Clapton” or even “Cream,” you fail. If you know your music, you know it was Robert Johnson, a legendary bluesman who died at the ripe old age of 27 (along with Brian Jones, Alan Wilson, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison – quite a club).  This is the original:

It was recorded by Cream (along with one of the greatest rock guitar solos in history) live in March of 1968, some 32 years after Johnson.  It’s been recorded many times since by many people including The Doors, Rush, The Allmans, and Phish.  Most of them followed Cream’s interpretation – their version of history.  Their version became our version and that’s the business point made by the song.

You probably have had the experience in your work life of having someone get the credit for another’s hard work.  Sometimes, as in the case of Crossroads, the person getting the credit (Clapton) took a great idea (Johnson’s) and made it better.  The problem with that is it’s rare that the person getting the credit did much of anything other than to present the idea as their own.  In some cases, this version of the big lie gets that person promoted or hired into a job for which they’re totally unqualified while the originator gets barely a nod.  You can count on them having received the blame, however, had things not worked out very well.

I’m hardly ever surprised any more when I read a piece in the press and realize it’s just a regurgitated press release.  That’s fine – I even do it to a certain extent here on the screed.  I try, however, to state it as a quote and I always link to the original.  I like to think I make the press release better by providing context and interpretation.  I certainly don’t take credit for the original research if that’s what’s in the release.

There is nothing wrong with taking a good idea and making it great – just as Amazon, eBay, or Apple.  Clapton always gave credit to Robert Johnson.  It just disturbs me when I see how often I hear reports of someone getting credit for ideas I know first-hand were developed by others.  It would be nice if the reporters would do a little digging and not regurgitate everything they’re given.  What do you think?

 

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April 22, 2014 · 9:56 am

Nothing But Flowers

I had intended to write on a totally different song (and topic) this morning but sometimes what you write finds you instead of the other way ’round, I guess.

Horseshoe tavern, Toronto, May 13, 1978

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

My original thought – which might just show up in this space next TunesDay – had to do with hiring and the future. As I was searching for an appropriate song about the future with which to make my point, a number of choices filled my head.  Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Queen, and others have all written about the topic but I think The Talking Heads describe it – and make my point – the best of all:

 

 

I love that video!  It also makes a couple of great business points which, of course, are our topic today.  The song is about a post-apocalyptic world in which everything has fallen apart.  No more malls, 7-11’s, or Pizza Huts.  It’s a bright, upbeat, dance tune which is in direct contrast to the dark vision the lyrics paint and the singer’s statement that “if this is paradise/I wish I had a lawnmower.”  That’s the first business point.

Too often we don’t listen to what people are saying and get way too focused on how they’re saying it.  A simple example is the person in a negotiation who comes to you with an issue and expresses himself in an inappropriately angry manner.  It could be the young person who weeps while talking about their salary.   In any case, one needs to listen to the words and ignore their “music” lest we receive a different message.

The other point this song makes is the we need to be careful about the long-term implications for what we’re doing.  “And as things fell apart/Nobody paid much attention”.   Not only do we need to pay attention, we need to take action.  In this case, the singer once wanted the world in which he find himself.  Be careful what you wish for, and take the time to think about the longer term.

You got it, you got it!

 

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