Movies and Music

To whom it may concern:

First my apologies for such a detour through reading. Never fear, it's a topic I'll return to again and again. To say I'm addicted to books, reading, and everything else to to with words would be an understatement along the lines of the man who thought the Wright brothers were just another pair of bicycle makers. But for now, let's move on to another area of interests as a part of my introduction: Movies and Music.

When I began thinking on this topic, I had produced lists of categories and definitions. Then I realized I could go thru a huge list of movies I like, breaking them up by category, genre, or actors, but this would bore you and take more time than I think the subject deserves. Truth be told, it was a chore I wasn't enjoying. In short, movies and music aren't a prime interest of mine: pure and simple. However, when I do indulge in the visual arts, I tend to enjoy movies which are very long on dialog and VERY short on action. Car chases and shoot outs bore me to tears ordinarily. While I do enjoy Star Wars type sci-fi movies, I tend more often in the direction of Driving Miss Daisy types. For decades I told people my favorite movie of all times was Dead Poets Society. I'd still be hard pressed to name a better one. Altho, when the mood strikes I might. 

The older I get, the more I enjoy the older movies. Just last night my better half and I watched Hello Dolly, a movie I'd never seen all the way thru before. Yes, it's a musical, but what a musical! I've also been known to watch a 12 hour marathon of The Twilight Zone when shown. Nevertheless, I think I like the older movies because of their lack of special effects, dialog driven content, and scripts more akin to books than to film. I'm really a book worm, what can I say?

When it comes to music, I'm pretty much in the same camp. Well, not exactly. I do enjoy singing, and whistle as a nervous habit, so obviously I enjoy music. However, like movies, there is no single genre which compels my attention all the time. No artist is on my must buy list unheard. I enjoy a sampling of everything from classical to mild hip-hop. Like Homer Simpson, I think Rock music reached it's zenith in the mid to lat 70's and would claim that it constitutes my favorite style if forced. 

At the end of the day tho, I'm a lyrics man. I'll accept a pitiful tune, no beat, and a mediocre singer (ever heard of a guy named Bob Dylan?) if the lyrics move me. Which, yes, you guessed it, are word driven rather than music driven. Even in music, I like words over sound. Just the other night I was driving home from a trip and found old radio drama on our XM satellite radio. I listened to The Jack Benny Show, The Great Gildersleeve, and others. I guess when it comes to listening, I'm just lost in the world of words too. I love the clever poetry in country music, but don't particularly like the way it's sung. I love the complexity in classical music, even without words, but hate the pretension often associated with its practitioners. 

That's not to say that I'm not moved by a good beat or a sweet tune. There are Irish and other folk tunes which can move me to tears. There are rhythmic numbers, especially from movies, which make my graceless body want to dance. But they tend to be songs which find me rather than the other way around. I can't remember the last time I bought a CD or down loaded music simply for it's own sake. 

That said, I do understand the drive of those who love movies and music for it's own sake. But, as this is my introduction, I'm just analyzing what makes me tick. I do love nothing more than relaxing with a good movie after a long day of running around. To finally sit and rest while a story washes over me and those I love makes for memories to cherish. The same occurs with music over a nice meal at the end of a hectic day. 

Anyway, thanks for reading. 

Until next time, 

Contemplate the mysteries, and remember to breathe.