Music. The calm in the eye of the hurricane.

Music created a ground beneath our feet and a place for us to find hope for our dreams. In the late 1960's and the early 1970's when the Vietnam War was tearing our country apart. When free speech was rising up, when institutions were being questioned. Music had the hand hold on the run away train. In the midst of it all the song "My generation", "We're not going to take it." And "Give Peace A Chance" answered all the riddles and confusion around us. The Who. John Lennon. Joni Mitchell. Crosby, Stills and Nash. The names go on and on. My best friend in the 9th grade, Mike Wagner and I used to sit in his room and listen to Morrison Hotel by the Doors. Just deeply pondering discussing what the lyrics meant. Friends used to come over and bring the latest record album they had bought at a record store called Hauschild's in my hometown. "My God you have to hear this..." Again while the world seemed to be spinning out of control we could find the balance in music from Woodstock. It took all the anxiety and spun out a song like Country Joe McDonald singing
And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Where is that music today? Well maybe there's a need for some new protest music. Yet there are some incredible new voices. There is no lack for talent when you hear Ben Folds and Regina Spector singing "You don't know me." Or Bruce Springsteen's song of inciteful longing with "Radio Nowhere".

Look around there's an opening again for music to help us see what's beyond all this political noise drumming on TV. Go find a music store if you can and ask about the bands. There's some new stuff playing and sure a lot of its fluff. But there's some melodies by some new kids that will amaze you.
Like "Hello Bonjour" from Michael Franti, History of Lovers by Calexico, the orchestral theatrics of Dommin with "My heart, Your hands. An incredibly honest piece of world music by Vusi Mahlasela of "Heaven in my heart." So turn off the TV news. Get some music in your veins and you will see the world a lot clearer again. Music will take you to the calm and vanquish the hurricane. Think about feeling the thrill again. And don't stay in that nostalgic zone, stretch yourself and listen to something new. Turn your world like that old 33 1/3 , spin your world and fresh up your senses again.