There's a Hindu story about Vishnu drinking a poison. As long as the poison stays in his throat, it is not toxic. However, if it descends into his heart, which is the source of his emotions, it becomes fatal. Even gurus criticize, but if the criticism stays in the throat, and is constructive, then it is not harmful. If it descends to the heart, and is meant to hurt, both the giver and the recipient are harmed.
"But one thing puzzles me. Why don’t musicians get into song battles more often?
As Drake and Kendrick Lamar prove, this generates clicks round-the-clock. All those TV singing contests tell the same story. Or consider those old battles-of-the-bands at dance halls.
The audience wants musician to go to war against each other.
Prediction: If two mediocre B-level pop stars started attacking each other in their songs, they would rise to superstar status within 12 months. This is a surefire way to revive a declining career."
In the UK, it was common for musicians to slag each other off in the music press--Oasis vs. Blur, The Cure vs. The Smiths, Morrissey vs. everyone, etc. The was back when releasing tunes was too expensive to throw away with battles--that was handled by the press.
Think of Fleetwood Mac writing anti-love songs within the band from coke-fueled affairs…or even Taylor Swift’s well-oiled machine of break-up songs. Henley had it right with ‘Dirty Laundry’. They’re all a battle cry of sorts 🥁 rhythm of the war drums ⚔️.
I like this. I like reading your long form stuff, but it tends to take the same discursive tone in each post, and runs on usually far too long. This is more informal, more approachable, more endearing. It reminds me why I started reading you in the first place -- actually, I watched you speak on video about something first, which is relevant somehow, not sure how. I started reading you because you are one of those rare guys who knows a lot about a lot and you have a refreshing cut-through-the-bullshit approach. Which is, as we all know, much easier to take in little nuggets. A selection of little nuggets written originally for your own consumption strikes me as the perfect way for consumers to consume Gioia. Anyway, thank you for all you do!
The thought process of some minds, and really not many, help illuminate the path of humanity (vs the technological society that is trying to take over) as we extend ourselves far beyond our humble origins. Ted's is one of them. He keeps reminding people what's important and that's quite a gift to give.
“After all, every instrument in the orchestra originated either as a weapon or body part of prey.” Fascinating. I can’t wait to research more about this…
Btw, only one of the coolest guys on earth, Hideo Kojima, could make a fabulous VG adaptation of Hamlet. Hire Mads Mikkelsen & Guillermo again for character likeness, Low Roar & indie vibes for music, Ophelia as final boss kicking his emo ass 🦇…
I find it kinda funny. I find it kinda sad (the AI slop jokes). I second more private journals. Creative & fun to read!!
Edit: I truly don’t understand protestors that think destroying other’s private property gets a message across. Poor attention-seeking behavior & bad karma into the world.
On a subliminal level I think you do pick up the Buddhist implications from HBO's The White lotus. Even those not hypersensitive would have to if they're following the story.
Either way Ted I like that you clarified it in this essay.
I saw on Reddit that the Erewhon tote bag one of the friends was carrying during the ridiculous water gun street fight is from a super expensive LA grocery store and that the word Ewewhon is also a 19th century satirical book by Samuel Butler (Butler was also part of the dialogue during this scene in the show) that takes jabs at Victorian society and wealth. I don’t know really what to make of this but I found the connections intriguing.
It's a good and intriguing book but Butler himself was a most unpleasant character. After a promising start he went nowhere and got embittered abc spent the rest of his life waiting for his Dad to die so he I'm could inherit the money, and the Dad to be uncopoerativ the just did not die,but went robustly on and on! Butler was like those Hippy types you might know who are always telling you how money means nothing to them then touching you for a loan.
Same and you can’t edit on the phone. Interesting bit of history about butler. I wonder why the writers chose this topic? Pretty random I feel and most of it would have gone over my head had I not read that post.
Ted, I enjoyed seeing these observations and learnings that have come to you. It occurred to me that next I would like to find out what you used to believe, that you no longer do, and why. What ideas have you abandoned? Things that you have concluded are untrue?
How does wisdom arise?
We need that wisdom now, badly. Things are breaking down all around us!
The saying about us Americans just came to mind: "You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing...after they have tried everything else."
This is the America we are living in: doing the "trying everything else" part, like an addict that hasn't hit bottom.
Maybe Jonathan Edwards correctly intuited that we are "Sinners in the hands of an angry God."
“You're the greatest fool I've ever known, Kane. If it was anybody else, I'd say what's going to happen to you would be a lesson to you. Only you're going to need more than one lesson. And you're going to get more than one lesson.”
This is a fascinating column. Permit me to comment on three thoughts:
(1) << But, of course, viewers didn’t latch on to that—because that kind of message never shows up in a TV series. >>
I was reminded of the old *Kung Fu* TV series of the 1970s. Though watered down for the level of its audience, the program nevertheless interpolated and developed some pearls of wisdom.
(2) << I wish they still taught these skills at music school— divination could be a new income source for their graduates. >>
Amen to that. Despite a doctorate and remarkable credentials as a pianist (and later a composer) I found my skills left me qualified either to become a ward of the state or to "look elsewhere."
(3) << If two mediocre B-level pop stars started attacking each other in their songs, they would rise to superstar status within 12 months. This is a surefire way to revive a declining career. >>
Another variant of my theme of "musical duels" (posted last August):
I saw an interview with the actor that did the rap battle with Eminem in 8 mile and he said that Eminem actually used real info about him as a person to insult the character during the rap battle (like you were raised in a upper middle class family and you went to private school etc) and this hit him so hard during filming that what we see are his sincere reactions to it. I think that’s what made the battle so powerful during the film.
> We have certainly come a long, long way from Matthew Arnold, who actually believed that art conveyed “sweetness and light.”
I find myself more and more in exile from the cultural zeitgeist that Ted so carefully watches. If it weren't for the occasional recommendations he throws at us from new artists (thanks!), I would just keep listening to older or niche stuff. Zeitgeist be damned, if it doesn't convey "sweetness and light", I lose interest quickly.
Elitist? Whatever! It's never a bad time to listen to the Art of the Fugue again. Or to ensemble Constantinople's Il Ponte di Leonardo, or to Hadouk, or some Tigran Hamasyan, or the Barcelona Gypsy Balkan Orchestra, or a good raga, or so many other things. It's not for a lack of choices!!
Have no interest in The White Lotus shtick ,but isn't just a "more Adult ,"Modern" version of the old Love Boat premise ? New guests / Stories every week/season ?
We are getting what we asked for, arent we? Everybody wanted an excess of cheap products(and damn the consequences to other people), everybody wanted to be entertained(with no effort on their part), everybody wanted "the easy life". Everybody wanted to consume, anything and everything.
Well we got all that, and then some, in abundance.
Its like the people on substack talking about how great life would be if they could only manage to not spend all their time on their phones/social media/etc. I suppose it never occurs to them to just stop using the shit(i cant! I NEED it!). Its a sham. They just want attention, the only thing left(for them) to want. Im sure theyll get that too.
People build their brand on here writing about how to get motivated to write lol, and other people lap that shit up! Hilarity!
I may have wandered off the point.. which is, yes, we all get what we ask for. WE created this shit. So why all the complaining? Im sure no one wants to go back to doing things for themselves, including thinking, having to use things they have instead of buying new ones, or put effort into their own contentment. So... enjoy the shit sandwich!
Brilliant and often laugh-out-loud funny at the same time! More "Private Journal" please!
As with most of my favorite artists -- and these entries are art, without a doubt -- I just really love watching you think.
There's a Hindu story about Vishnu drinking a poison. As long as the poison stays in his throat, it is not toxic. However, if it descends into his heart, which is the source of his emotions, it becomes fatal. Even gurus criticize, but if the criticism stays in the throat, and is constructive, then it is not harmful. If it descends to the heart, and is meant to hurt, both the giver and the recipient are harmed.
"But one thing puzzles me. Why don’t musicians get into song battles more often?
As Drake and Kendrick Lamar prove, this generates clicks round-the-clock. All those TV singing contests tell the same story. Or consider those old battles-of-the-bands at dance halls.
The audience wants musician to go to war against each other.
Prediction: If two mediocre B-level pop stars started attacking each other in their songs, they would rise to superstar status within 12 months. This is a surefire way to revive a declining career."
In the UK, it was common for musicians to slag each other off in the music press--Oasis vs. Blur, The Cure vs. The Smiths, Morrissey vs. everyone, etc. The was back when releasing tunes was too expensive to throw away with battles--that was handled by the press.
Think of Fleetwood Mac writing anti-love songs within the band from coke-fueled affairs…or even Taylor Swift’s well-oiled machine of break-up songs. Henley had it right with ‘Dirty Laundry’. They’re all a battle cry of sorts 🥁 rhythm of the war drums ⚔️.
Best diss tracks of all time were Lindsay and Stevie going at it on Rumours.
Fleetwood Mac FTW!
I like this. I like reading your long form stuff, but it tends to take the same discursive tone in each post, and runs on usually far too long. This is more informal, more approachable, more endearing. It reminds me why I started reading you in the first place -- actually, I watched you speak on video about something first, which is relevant somehow, not sure how. I started reading you because you are one of those rare guys who knows a lot about a lot and you have a refreshing cut-through-the-bullshit approach. Which is, as we all know, much easier to take in little nuggets. A selection of little nuggets written originally for your own consumption strikes me as the perfect way for consumers to consume Gioia. Anyway, thank you for all you do!
I disagree that the usual posts are too long, but I also enjoyed this post. Plenty of food for thought.
I also like reading these sporadic random thoughts
B-level stars feuding might get famous…then end up like Tupac and Biggie…..
The thought process of some minds, and really not many, help illuminate the path of humanity (vs the technological society that is trying to take over) as we extend ourselves far beyond our humble origins. Ted's is one of them. He keeps reminding people what's important and that's quite a gift to give.
“After all, every instrument in the orchestra originated either as a weapon or body part of prey.” Fascinating. I can’t wait to research more about this…
Btw, only one of the coolest guys on earth, Hideo Kojima, could make a fabulous VG adaptation of Hamlet. Hire Mads Mikkelsen & Guillermo again for character likeness, Low Roar & indie vibes for music, Ophelia as final boss kicking his emo ass 🦇…
I find it kinda funny. I find it kinda sad (the AI slop jokes). I second more private journals. Creative & fun to read!!
Edit: I truly don’t understand protestors that think destroying other’s private property gets a message across. Poor attention-seeking behavior & bad karma into the world.
On a subliminal level I think you do pick up the Buddhist implications from HBO's The White lotus. Even those not hypersensitive would have to if they're following the story.
Either way Ted I like that you clarified it in this essay.
I saw on Reddit that the Erewhon tote bag one of the friends was carrying during the ridiculous water gun street fight is from a super expensive LA grocery store and that the word Ewewhon is also a 19th century satirical book by Samuel Butler (Butler was also part of the dialogue during this scene in the show) that takes jabs at Victorian society and wealth. I don’t know really what to make of this but I found the connections intriguing.
An Easter egg for the very well read to say the least and fashion forward.
This series always feature books. I love that
It's a good and intriguing book but Butler himself was a most unpleasant character. After a promising start he went nowhere and got embittered abc spent the rest of his life waiting for his Dad to die so he I'm could inherit the money, and the Dad to be uncopoerativ the just did not die,but went robustly on and on! Butler was like those Hippy types you might know who are always telling you how money means nothing to them then touching you for a loan.
I must do a check before I post. Spell check has done a lot of misspelling here
Do yourself the favor of turning spell check off.
Same and you can’t edit on the phone. Interesting bit of history about butler. I wonder why the writers chose this topic? Pretty random I feel and most of it would have gone over my head had I not read that post.
Ted, I enjoyed seeing these observations and learnings that have come to you. It occurred to me that next I would like to find out what you used to believe, that you no longer do, and why. What ideas have you abandoned? Things that you have concluded are untrue?
How does wisdom arise?
We need that wisdom now, badly. Things are breaking down all around us!
The saying about us Americans just came to mind: "You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing...after they have tried everything else."
This is the America we are living in: doing the "trying everything else" part, like an addict that hasn't hit bottom.
Maybe Jonathan Edwards correctly intuited that we are "Sinners in the hands of an angry God."
“You're the greatest fool I've ever known, Kane. If it was anybody else, I'd say what's going to happen to you would be a lesson to you. Only you're going to need more than one lesson. And you're going to get more than one lesson.”
Watch it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4XiKFvQ1rM
This is a fascinating column. Permit me to comment on three thoughts:
(1) << But, of course, viewers didn’t latch on to that—because that kind of message never shows up in a TV series. >>
I was reminded of the old *Kung Fu* TV series of the 1970s. Though watered down for the level of its audience, the program nevertheless interpolated and developed some pearls of wisdom.
(2) << I wish they still taught these skills at music school— divination could be a new income source for their graduates. >>
Amen to that. Despite a doctorate and remarkable credentials as a pianist (and later a composer) I found my skills left me qualified either to become a ward of the state or to "look elsewhere."
(3) << If two mediocre B-level pop stars started attacking each other in their songs, they would rise to superstar status within 12 months. This is a surefire way to revive a declining career. >>
Another variant of my theme of "musical duels" (posted last August):
https://lennycavallaro.substack.com/p/musical-duels.
Thanks again for a delightful post.
I saw an interview with the actor that did the rap battle with Eminem in 8 mile and he said that Eminem actually used real info about him as a person to insult the character during the rap battle (like you were raised in a upper middle class family and you went to private school etc) and this hit him so hard during filming that what we see are his sincere reactions to it. I think that’s what made the battle so powerful during the film.
> We have certainly come a long, long way from Matthew Arnold, who actually believed that art conveyed “sweetness and light.”
I find myself more and more in exile from the cultural zeitgeist that Ted so carefully watches. If it weren't for the occasional recommendations he throws at us from new artists (thanks!), I would just keep listening to older or niche stuff. Zeitgeist be damned, if it doesn't convey "sweetness and light", I lose interest quickly.
Elitist? Whatever! It's never a bad time to listen to the Art of the Fugue again. Or to ensemble Constantinople's Il Ponte di Leonardo, or to Hadouk, or some Tigran Hamasyan, or the Barcelona Gypsy Balkan Orchestra, or a good raga, or so many other things. It's not for a lack of choices!!
I've never watched "White Lotus," but I want to now. Thank you for your insightful journal. More please.
Have no interest in The White Lotus shtick ,but isn't just a "more Adult ,"Modern" version of the old Love Boat premise ? New guests / Stories every week/season ?
Yes, but a satire
I’d like to share with you people a secret song i wrote called deathbloom (This is what it feels like to die)
https://soundcloud.com/xkaroot/sets/sleep-dragons/s-s6P5oCXDKNa?si=3ac1850e9f084b15add0d170934b912d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Woaah, I loved the experience of it! Thanks for sharing it here! I am glad that I found your music. Rich and soothing, enjoyed them both!
We are getting what we asked for, arent we? Everybody wanted an excess of cheap products(and damn the consequences to other people), everybody wanted to be entertained(with no effort on their part), everybody wanted "the easy life". Everybody wanted to consume, anything and everything.
Well we got all that, and then some, in abundance.
Its like the people on substack talking about how great life would be if they could only manage to not spend all their time on their phones/social media/etc. I suppose it never occurs to them to just stop using the shit(i cant! I NEED it!). Its a sham. They just want attention, the only thing left(for them) to want. Im sure theyll get that too.
People build their brand on here writing about how to get motivated to write lol, and other people lap that shit up! Hilarity!
I may have wandered off the point.. which is, yes, we all get what we ask for. WE created this shit. So why all the complaining? Im sure no one wants to go back to doing things for themselves, including thinking, having to use things they have instead of buying new ones, or put effort into their own contentment. So... enjoy the shit sandwich!
Thank you Thank You Thank You !