The Long Way Up

Art, in and of itself, already has an alluring appeal to the human senses if we give it time to penetrate and permeate our sight, hearing, sentiments, and sensibilities. Words written on several pages of paper captivate a reader’s imagination; paints splattered and combined on canvas pique an onlooker’s curiosity; a musical instrument utilized by a vivacious virtuoso ignites the passion of a listener’s heart. Something else entirely different happens when two art forms are combined: the impact on the human senses are exponentially increased. We see this in the amalgamation of photography (the art of taking pictures) and the performing arts (dancing, singing, acting), which together have given us the magic of movies and filmmaking. The concepts that one art form conveys seem to be made more crystal clear when expressed in concert with another artistic expression. To be specific, when the art of writing is mixed with the art of music, it creates a means for a songwriter to exp...

Songs have a way of eloquently and elegantly expressing thoughts, emotions, truths and experiences that no other medium of art possesses. Somehow when beautifully crafted words are set to carefully concocted melodies, certain sentiments -- from the most mundane to the highly controversial -- become tolerable, easier to accept and more believable. Such is the talent and skill of singer-songwriters . These gifted wordsmiths have such an impeccable knack for conveying their ideas through song that those of us who take time to listen and ponder on the lyrical content of their work would instantly or eventually find them relatable. It almost seems like these songwriters have taken a peek into our hearts and minds and proceeded to write songs based on our thoughts and experiences. I totally have great admiration (and partial envy) for musicians who write exceptionally well, encapsulate their thoughts into words proficiently, and combine it with music skillfully. I love how ...