This Land is yours and this can be mine!!! ok!!

In English 101 we recently watched a comparison video on youtube. Both videos were of the same song with the same lyrics as well as tune. The "context" however was totally different. The name of the video was "This Land is your land". One video was by far a more optimistic video while the other seemed to be a more pessimistic video. This was not a political exercise in class but more of a context comparison exercise.

The first video was one of optimism. The video presented itself in glorified expression of America with its waving flags, majestic buildings, and pride in patriotism. They had a majestic chorus with an ensemble of instruments that was enough to make any man take off his hat, stand, and salute. The thing was that it did not produce very many pictures of people in the video. The second video although was quite different.

The second video was the same song except sung by Bob Dylan. There were no majestic ensembles but merely Bob and his guitar. It was the way he sang it I think. He always tends to have a depressing tone to his voice but this was accompanied by pictures of depressed people with in the United States. It adds a taste of sadness and truth to our country, one that can not be ignored. The example of these contexts were extraordinary and awakened a new since of diversity with in myself, a lesson well learned.

Be Thou My Vision (3rd verse) The Eternal Perspective

Riches I heed not nor man's emptly praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven my treasure Thou art

I was actually just searching the internet for old "vintage songs" I honestly did not even type Chrisitan songs but this song came up and the third verse caught my attention as well as my heart. I have grown up in church and I had never really noticed this song before hand. The content through out the whole song is stunning and magnificent. It sums up a lifestyle of Christianity, in my point of view, to a creed to live by. The third verse, I believe, is the juicy part of the whole song though.

The verse starts of talking about how there are plenty of things to long after and pursue but God is my foundation and my longing. God is first and foremost in my life now and forever. I think this is a unique perspective which I would like to title an "Eternal Perspective". A perspective with the regards that there is a lot of things in this life (i.e money,fame,wealth,women,sex) but the things of this life have no consequence on you b.c you are focused too much on Jesus and doing his will. I am not trying to say that money is not important nor do I think sex is wrong (with in the boundaries of marriage) but I do think we can get so focused on these factors that they replace the perspective that is the most important. That is the eternal perspective

Indie vs. Major.

From day one of "major" labels there has always been an underdog in the music industry. We call these underdogs "independent" (indie) labels. Ususally in major label companys the producer of the musician tries to assert a good amount of pressure on to the artist to get a particular sound in which the label thinks the mainstream audience would like to hear. While indie labels tend to prefer to let the artist produce their own project and create their own unique sound. Indie artists are also usually focused on making music not trying to please one particular crowd.

When an artist usually switches to a major label company it does not always guarantee success. Only about 10 percent of the cds produced help the label company itself in profit. While working with an indie label company is usually on a smaller operation and can sometimes not have the resources to get the artist's project out in the world/venues desired. Often times though the labels work together. Major labels rely on indie labels to keep current with the changing music scene and help find local musical talent.

However all of these definitions I have presented to you have all been technical terms now allow me to give you my own opinion.

I have not always been an Indie fan. I went through middle school only wanting to listen to the "cool" kid music. I was part of the mainstream crowd and only cared about a good beat to the song and had no care for the lyrics. Times have changed though and I have grown mature (musically that is) to have a taste for all different forms for music. I am not trying to bash all the popular music now. I often catch myself dancing alone and in my bedroom to the snazy tunes of mtv, but my primary musical taste is indie/alternative. I promote Indie artists for their daring risks and individual sound. Their want to change the sound and bring to the table a unique perspective on music has my upmost admiration. Every time I get online it seems I am discovering a new sound as well as a few more good artists.