mika...you show such beauty and sensitivity, not to mention honesty in your post... I think many of us came to this place with similar but specific stories ...I certainly did. For now, i just wanted to add a little beauty to this lovely place.
The article says that for the first time since Nielsen/Soundscan has been monitoring album sales (21 years), catalog albums are outselling new records. The big sellers include Guns n Roses, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Prince.
No one seems to agree on exactly why. Me, I don't know how they can even start to guess at it. If the statistics are right about illegal downloading, then labels have no way of tracking what the majority of people are grooving to or why.
When reading this story I happened to run across another I wanted to share as well:
This story is about the hip-hop artist Nas, who says:
This is music that I just put together, I’m praying will be the inspiration for my brothers that’s in the rap game. I think a lot of us are confused about who we are. It’s important that we stay ten toes down at all time.F*ck pop, f*ck all that shit. We don’t imitate pop, pop imitates us! So that’s why we go back to the gutter. We’re number one in about 5 or 6 countries around the world. And none of this is pop. Stick to your guns, do what you do support the real sh*t."
The blogger goes on to say:
But artists in all different genres can't sell their souls. Some have to "stick to their guns" and protect their music with their lives.
If some these artists could protect their music like they protect their homes or protect their pride, maybe, just maybe, music across all genres would be in a better place.
The bombast aside, I thought it was interesting to realize how much some of these issues about seeking mainstream success affect other artists, not just Adam.
“People are really trying their best. Just like being happy and sad, you will find yourself on both sides of the equation many times over your lifetime, either saying or hearing the wrong thing. Let's all give each other a pass, shall we?” ― David Rakoff, Half Empty
From a birder and a seeker - thanks, Alison - for this video of a very common species seen as a wonderment of beauty. As a birder I've seen this phenomenon among blackbirds as they mass together right before dusk and then descend down into their roosting places for the night. Once I saw a similar large spectacular gathering in West Texas, Junie - and I just stood there mesmerized.
Off the subject, but here's a small quickie note - Yesterday I had to pick up a few groceries at Safeway, and immediately upon entering the store, there was NCOE playing. I wandered the aisles with a sly grin on my face (I'm sure), but had to pause when Adam belted out "never close our eyeess!" First time I've ever heard Adam at Safeway!
Annala, it's so much fun to hear Adam's songs in unexpected places. The sly grin seems to be a universal reaction among us. It's like we are in on the best secret. My daughter texts me every time she hears his songs in public places, but so far we have only heard BTIKM this era.
My daughter is involved in cheer and her friend's competitive team has used Adam songs in two of their routines recently. NCOE in one and Trespassing in the other. They sampled "wait til ya get a load of me" part. The guy who does their music must really like Adam
“People are really trying their best. Just like being happy and sad, you will find yourself on both sides of the equation many times over your lifetime, either saying or hearing the wrong thing. Let's all give each other a pass, shall we?” ― David Rakoff, Half Empty
Mika, I thought of you when some girlfriends of mine were reading it for their book club. They kept telling me how wonderful it was and loaned me a copy. I couldn't get through more than 20 pages. The writing was SO bad. I felt like a snob when I told my friend why I didn't read it. I am not the reader that most moonies are, and I am usually over my head. But the offerings here are so beautiful that my tastes have been elevated. I love what I learn here.
lol :D I'm glad you felt the same way I did. I'm really not a snob - I read everything - lots of paperback genre fiction - but I leafed (gingerly ) through that book and it was just so badly written I couldn't stop - and felt sad for the scores of romance writers out there who are so much better. Have you seen this - it made me chuckle. The lip biting was esp spot on... Good for Selena Gomez.
ETA: Of course, there have been a few examples of bad books that become good movies, but it's hard to see that happening here...
OMG.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
I'm so sorry, my first foray into this beautiful thread and all I can do is snort and guffaw... And hold my sides... Selena!!!!
I tried to read the book. I really tried. I love good porn. But god, it was crap.
The starlings were fantastic. I sent it to my birder friend and she loved it also. I would love to see that. annala, Texas is a big bird watching state but for some reason Central Texas is not the best place to find them; birders have to travel to see much variety. Something I would like to do someday!
People take the common birds for granted sometimes but I like watching them in my back yard. When I've traveled I've marveled over birds like magpies and Canada geese only to find out they were huge pests to the locals, so why not appreciate the common birds here, like the grackles? I used to hate grackles but lately I decided to take a second look at them and just try to accept them as they are. They're actually quite interesting and comical to watch in a psychotic, Hitchcockian sort of way. ;D
Here is a great video someone shared with me that features illustrator and author Maira Kalman. Wonderful artwork is blended in with wry and compassionate words about work, love, identity, life, death, THE POINT OF IT ALL.
This little gem of hers reminded me of Adam:
How are we so optimistic, so careful not to trip and yet do trip, and then get up and say, Okay.
Last Edit: Aug 1, 2012 10:23:33 GMT -5 by juniemoon
Kind of getting off the topic of Adam, but Juniemoon, I've made several trips to different areas in Texas for birding but most memorable to me have been places in West Texas - Big Bend NP and the Davis Mountains - something truly magical and special about the ambience of both areas - and it's not just the birds. Hope you can get out there sometime - I think there may be an Atoper who lives near Alpine, not sure though.
Kind of getting off the topic of Adam, but Juniemoon, I've made several trips to different areas in Texas for birding but most memorable to me have been places in West Texas - Big Bend NP and the Davis Mountains - something truly magical and special about the ambience of both areas - and it's not just the birds. Hope you can get out there sometime - I think there may be an Atoper who lives near Alpine, not sure though.
Yes -- where is mahailia anyway? I think she lives near Marathon.
I want to go out to Big Bend and the Davis Mountains so much. It's almost 500 miles and I haven't been. I just need to set aside the time and do it. One of my friends has gone every fall for decades and loves it.
Have you guys seen this? I'd love to know what you think.
This article says that Jack White recently banned the use of Twitter and Facebook at his shows and asks people to keep their phones put away. Most of the article focuses on how filming is changing/damaging the concert experience for audience members and performers. The comments are pretty interesting too for a change. One of them mentions the thrill of watching YouTubes for those who couldn't attend.
Another interesting observation in the article is this:
After all, it only takes one disgruntled fan to influence the opinions of those who didn't experience the event first-hand.
Sorry guys, I have really meant to be present here, but RL and family have consumed me for ---well, all summer, really. Yes annala, I live near the BBNP, 70 miles from Panther Junction, in fact. We call it God's country. I have some really beautiful pics that we took of the mountains around our ranch, will have to upload them to photobucket and post here. Give me a few days.................... We have some amazing birds that come through here every year.
mika:Your "Big Year" story was so amazing, thanks so much for sharing. You are able to express yourself brilliantly!
Last Edit: Aug 1, 2012 18:24:07 GMT -5 by mahailia
Gonna take you to the top, to the brink of what you believe
You do not have to shout but if you want to chat....
crazylady: login" again and then I will get the "redirecting" message at the top. Weird, huh
May 14, 2013 12:58:36 GMT -5
butterfly: I also have to login twice, such as crazylady.
May 14, 2013 13:43:48 GMT -5
crazylady: Sorry you are having the same login problem, butterfly, but at least I am in good company! At least we can log in! I'd panic if I couldn't! LOL
May 14, 2013 16:50:29 GMT -5
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maitospf: crazyladym...happening to me too!
May 15, 2013 19:42:49 GMT -5
ayleim: Just checking - so there were NO Adam-sightings in the performance show right? Then I don't have to worry about being near the TV later tonight, I can just listen from the kitchen. :D
May 15, 2013 22:25:54 GMT -5
Q3: The second log-in is part of the security system to protect the site from hackers. If you want to avoid it, select the option to keep me logged in.
May 16, 2013 11:18:07 GMT -5
vivlite: Good to know about the log-in option..I kept wondering if I was imagining things when I had to log on twice..whew..
May 16, 2013 13:59:55 GMT -5
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vivlite: Gotta stop down here more often..
May 16, 2013 14:01:03 GMT -5
crazylady: Q3, thanks for the update on the login process! Really appreciate it!
May 16, 2013 18:20:10 GMT -5
maitospf: Yes thank you Q3. Thought I was jinked there for a minute
May 16, 2013 21:11:10 GMT -5
maitospf: Woops - sorry! jinxed (the ghosts of my english teachers would haunt me for not proofreading, so there you you go) ... 8-|
May 16, 2013 21:13:49 GMT -5
minnie12: this is great, Sauli deserves the support. There's no negativity here and that's nice.
May 17, 2013 23:57:11 GMT -5
daffywak: http://distilleryimage1.s3.amazonaws.com/49986864befe11e29d7122000a1f97c6_7.jpg
May 18, 2013 0:48:25 GMT -5
minnie12: Nice to see all the pics of Sauli and his friends. Has a lot of female friends. Goes out a lot with Ade?
May 18, 2013 23:48:39 GMT -5
blueberry: A tech question. When I post, I'm stuck in BB Code, can't get back to Preview. Any ideas? I have Preview as default in my profile, but that doesn't help.
May 18, 2013 23:56:59 GMT -5
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Q3: blueberry. there should be a two labels on tabs at the bottom of the REPLY box -- one labeled Preview and one labeled BBCode. Can you see these or are they gone?
May 19, 2013 2:08:40 GMT -5
blueberry: Q3, I can still see the labels, but when I click on the Preview label, nothing happens. And every time I start a new post, it automatically takes me to BB Code. Otherwise it doesn't matter, but posting pictures would be easier in Preview (copy+paste).
May 19, 2013 2:14:12 GMT -5
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JazzRocks: Q3 - I forgot where I click to make a contribution to Atop.
May 19, 2013 10:30:45 GMT -5
Q3: Oh in the site conversion the link to support ATop went away. I will restore it.
May 20, 2013 9:30:25 GMT -5
JazzRocks: Thanks Q3.
May 20, 2013 16:09:32 GMT -5
) through that book and it was just so badly written I couldn't stop - and felt sad for the scores of romance writers out there who are so much better. Have you seen this - it made me chuckle. The lip biting was esp spot on... Good for Selena Gomez.
