Improvisational Harmonies - Sneak Peek #4

Come and Save Me Tonight

One of the recurring themes in my writing is the redemptive power of love. For it has the power to save us – from life's sorrows, from the consequences of misdeeds, even from our own inner damnation.

It is no surprise that the power ballads of the late '80s and early '90s hold a special place in my heart. For a few years, love songs became in-vogue for the previously asskicking-, sex- and decadence-obsessed hard rock and metal bands, as they sought to spin off into a much greater audience by showing their more sensitive side.

True, the corporate formula of rock song, power ballad, rock song, power ballad became predictable, and an oft-derided component of the hair band era. The recording houses saw that there was a large, undersold-to audience that ate up the power ballads like candy. Correspondingly, every band, new or old, in the scene, had to record them to sell albums.

It was only a matter of time before the market became oversaturated, and the backlash against the record studios began. And that spelled the doom of the hair band.

Fortunately, Aerosmith recorded a few gems during this era – including a song about how the love of a good woman could even save a raunchy old rocker like Steven Tyler.

Of course, I was inspired by it. What self-respecting reformed buttrocker wouldn't have been?

Angel

Drowning,

in my tears,

that's where

you found me.

Without hesitation

you dove in

after me.

I was lost

without a prayer

until that fateful moment

you intervened.

Now,

you're my Angel.

Come and save me

tonight.

Inspired by “Angel” by Aerosmith

(c) Tortured Cyclone 2015, 2017

The End Is Not Near... Yet

After twenty hectic years, it is easy to look at the state of the Union I live in, and feel that the Great Experiment is failing. After all, partisan gridlock has turned our bipartite political system into a morass where it is nearly impossible to accomplish anything of substantive good. Racial tensions are growing, and are now nearly as volatile as they were in the late 80's, or even the 60's. A Nationalist movement is actively seeking to blame racial and cultural elements for our national problems, instead of merely being symptoms of the problems that America faces.

The President of the United States is a polarizing figure that has an even worse public image than most of the politicians he defeated in the ugliest presidential race in living memory. Words like narcissistic and amoral and criminal get thrown around to describe him, and the very outsider persona that helped him win the election now is one of his primary flaws - because he appears to not have any conception of how to parlay majorities in both houses of the U.S. Legislature into a mandate that would allow him to vigorously push his political agenda through.

That is when I take a step back and look around me. Right now, in defiance of the backlash of political and social conservatism, American citizens largely have the right to live their lives as they seek to live. A generation ago, open identification as being homosexual would lead to most communities shunning the individuals so tainted. Now, it is not an unusual thing, to see same-sex couples able to be together in public, sharing their lives in a manner similar to their heterosexual counterparts.

Even with the rioting caused by violence between law enforcement and African-Americans, there is a loud voice in our national fabric that acknowledges that BOTH Black and Police lives matter - that solutions to the ongoing racial issues we face will require both sides to own their actions, both good and bad, instead of demonizing one side of the conflict.

We actively teach our children to take stands against social ills that we used to turn a blind eye towards, even as adults. Bullying is given little tolerance in our children's lives. If only we, as adults, would follow the same advice we give our kids...

The very gridlock that grips our government is also the main obstacle to the President making any truly significant blunders. President Trump may be what so many people say he is, but his ability to make policy unilaterally is severely limited by our system of checks and balances. This system has allowed our country to withstand the mistakes of other leaders, and go on, picking up the pieces afterwards.

Logically, as long as America remains a representative democracy, our country will outlive President Trump's term in office.

I'm not saying that there are not things that are wrong. I'm just saying that I have hope that we will still be around when these issues pass us by...

(c) 2017 Tortured Cyclone

Improvisational Harmonies - Sneak Peek #3

The Romantic's Dream:

The Rose and a Poet's Genesis

For my money, the poignant yearning for love in Bette Midler's voice when she sings “The Rose” is one of the most powerful musical moments in '70s movies. It serves as a counterpoint to the tragic story of the rock star she plays in the film, loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.

It is a powerful statement of how a larger-than-life figure like a rock star, can feel so isolated and alone, in the middle of their superstardom. As a young singer, of course I added the song to my repertoire as a teenager, and adopted its emotional message as my own. As I grew older, the song's message became a mantra, even as I abandoned the performing arts in the name of subsistence.

It came as no surprise to me that the song eventually inspired my poetry, once I began writing more and more. What did come as a surprise was the desire to attempt writing a new verse for this ballad – having the temerity to put my writing alongside the heart-rending simplicity of Amanda McBroom's original song.

It is up to you to judge how well I did.