Colin Bear

My friend Jason introduced me to the original version of Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Marley early last December. Even more so, he introduced me to the scene from the movie Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid which the song was written for (Bob acted and made the soundtrack for the film). This scene is one of the greatest pieces of film I've ever seen and I think that this has a lot to do with the music. Bob's genius is clearly shown in the way the music makes a haunting scene even more haunting. I can't do enough to do it justice, so I'll go ahead and let you watch it yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MgubwywhiU

I know. I recently saw this scene again (I finally got around to buying the song and I just needed to see it again) and doing so reminded me of a poem I wrote about it when I first saw it. I think I'm gonna name it after the sheriff.

With blood dripping
And vision blurred
We drag ourselves to the water
Flowing, brimming
With life
With hope
And as the sun begins to fade
On the days
The months
The years
Reality dawns
But there is nothing we can do

Madness

On the train I met a woman
I never did catch her name
She'd got on at Reno
Had seen all there was to see
Knew the crew by name
She had an odd magazine
An Italian one named "Colors"
But it wasn't about color
This issue was entitled "madness"
And she showed me the stories
Of people who lived in a slightly
Ever so slightly different
Dimension

Yes, I am getting taller.

I delivered cookies today
To neighbors on my street
Enjoyed some small talk
About the weather
The future
About how much I've grown
Despite the fact
I haven't grown taller
For at least two years
But I don't have the heart
To tell them they are shrinking
So I agree and laugh
And wonder when my prime will peak...

Oddly Inspiring

I have recently been thinking about the odd phenomenon of being inspired by commercials. This is an odd concept because as a whole I am put off by commercialism, and thus the idea of an advertisement for something having any true value to me is foreign. But I recently saw a couple ads that I find more inspiring and worthy of attention than advertisements normally are.

First up: The latest Adidas commercial for their "Originals" collection.
The ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT3Jj9OGMA0
Now, this is a piece of art. Granted, it was directed by Spike Jones. Yeah, he's apparently now directing Adidas commercials. This ad is a dream come true: take all the creative crazy people out there and throw them into a big house party. GENIUS! Another reason I like this is the music - commercial music is the new soundtrack music and I'm not ashamed to admit that's where I found a lot of my favorite artists: Iron & Wine for example. I am also in love with this commercial because Spike Jones appears to be the best dancer ever (I exaggerate, but still, he looks cool). Lastly, I think Mark Gonzales should be available at every party EVER just so that he can powerslide amongst the dancers.

Next up: An Apple advert titled "Here's to the Crazy Ones"
The ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvn_Ied9t4M
I read this quote online and thought it was the work of some great thinkers of our time: Einstein, Vonnegut, etc. Turns out, it is an ad for Apple computers. It is narrated by Richard Dreyfuss, whose voice at first surprised me because he doesn't sound like the normal "inspiring quote" voice (you know the one from the movie trailers and such) but the more I watched, the more perfect I thought it was. If this doesn't inspire you to go protest something or make some art, I don't know what will.

Lastly: A Discovery Channel ad titled "Let's All Discover"
The ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQxrolGUdk8
OK, this ad literally gives me chills. I think the overarching reason for that is that I absolutely ADORE the toy piano. Is this because I had one as a young child and the sound of one gives me a sense of childhood innocence and safety? Perhaps. But more importantly I love this ad because it strikes at the core of my humanity: my desire to push the boundaries.

Am I exaggerating the value and/or meaning behind what some may say are simple advertisements? Again, perhaps. But I dare you to watch those three videos (totaling no more than 3 minutes) and not feel inspired. On a side note, I have a Macbook, I wear Adidas shoes and though I don't watch a lot of TV, when I do it is usually the Discovery channel... so I guess it worked.

Pink Moon

http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Moon/dp/B000W1W9EW/

This is perhaps the most beautiful album I have ever heard. In October 1971 Nick Drake spent two nights making this 28 minute album with himself, the sound engineer and a couple guitars. He left the tapes on the front desk in the lobby of Island Records and then retired from the music business. Three years later he was dead.

With literally just a guitar, I think Nick Drake is just as moving and elegant as a full fledged orchestra.

Intentional Mistakes

I didn't write this with the intention of it becoming a limerick, but that's pretty much how it turned out.

I know the consequences and I don't give a damn
Lead me to the slaughter like a righteous lamb
When the feeling's gone and the pain's in sight
I'll probably look back with a curse for tonight
But right now I just don't care.

Supply and Demand

This poem was actually inspired by a Mitch Hedberg joke, though I thought it out with darker implications.

The rows of bleachers lie unclaimed
As silence rules the hardwood floors
While miles away children stare
As the cement courts are stained crimson
And gunfire fills the night skies
On the highway two lumber trucks pass
But no one stops to wonder why