I AM a Rocker Chick

So last night I went to see Rock of Ages which was offensively trashy and I don't recommend anyone to see it (and you know that's a big deal coming from me). But I also went to see Def Leppard, Poison, and Scorpions in concert this month. And I have come to this conclusion: classic rock music ignites my soul. Not just my body. Not just my spirit. My soul.

There were a few good things about the movie which I will use to illustrate why rock music is so wonderful.

• Rock tells stories. 

The lyrics to rock songs may not tell stories over a plot arch the way that country and rap tend to do. It's much more subtle, but thereby more relatable and  intrepretable by a wider audience. The stories rock tells are about the every day lives of ordinary people. Take for example, the song "Let's Get Rocked" by Def Leppard. First verse is about an "average ordinary everyday kid" and the second is about an "average ordinary everyday dude," both who just want to live life their own way without anyone telling them how. Or "The Zoo" by Scorpions. About a couple who spend a fun night on the town. People do these things in real life. Everyone can relate to this. Then there is also the many, many rock songs that address the issues of humanity as a whole, such as "Humanity" by Scorpions, or "Bicycle" by Queen. Or "Bohemian Rhapsody."

One of my favorite Scorpions songs.

• Rock is emotional.

 Anyone who knows me knows that there is little I love more in this life than passion. I'm in favor of anything that is done with passion. And rock is always done with passion. And it's not stuck in one passion or another. It's not always about sex, it's not always about drugs, and it's not always about rock and roll (although it is sometimes each of these). I've actually come to realize that a huge portion of rock songs are about trying to get through the mundane parts of life and feel alive once in a while. "Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world. She took the midnight train going anywhere..." - Don't Stop Believing: Journey. "When the bombs and the devils and the kids keep on comin', no way to breathe easy no time to be young" - Crazy on You: Heart. And another huge portion is about figuring love out (of course, this is the eternal question for all artists, and could be considered a sub-category to the previous). "I would try to change the things that killed our love" - Still Loving You: Scorpions. "I've been waiting for a girl like you, a love that will survive" - Waiting for a Girl Like You: Foreigner. Again, these are emotions that everyone can relate to: growing up, figuring life out, regret, infatuation/falling in love/giddiness depending on the intention. And my personal favorite thing about these rock concerts is that the passion comes through on the band's faces - all the members - and ignites the crowd.

C.C. DeVille of Poison killing it.

• Rock just rocks.

To anyone who listens, there is a hinge that started in the 90s, where rock music changed. I think a lot of music changed, but rock was pretty drastic. Some people blame this change on Nirvana, but that's another blog post. So the rock that I am talking about in this post is not alternative, or heavy metal, or "soft rock" (whatever that is). It is Grade A, Premium, Extra Large ROCK. I'm talking electric guitars with solos in every song. I'm talking the drummer goes crazy and rips his shirt off every other song. I'm talking the stuff that takes incredible skill to play and blasting vocals to sing. The stuff that sounds different in every song (yes, that is possible!). This is why it imbues my soul with fire. It is not average, it is not humdrum in the background. It commands your attention. It is bright, edgy, glamourous. It is meant to be heard!

Scorpions rocking my face off.

So for those of you who might believe that rock is devilish, to you I say: if it is wrong for humanity to try to understand and then express itself, what is the point of living? I love rock and roll, so put another dime in the juke box, baby.

Quoties

Gotta get some of these out so I can remember them forever!!

1. Take chances. When rowing forward, the boat may rock. - Chinese Proverb
2. Like anyone else, there are days I feel beautiful and days I don't, and when I don't, I do something about it. - Cheryl Tiegs
3. Never to suffer would be never to have been blessed. - Edgar Allen Poe
4. Nothing is so wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What maddness it is to be expecting evil before it comes. - Seneca
5. The time is always right to do what is right. - Martin Luther King Jr.
6. When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends. - Japanese Proverb
7. No one has ever achieved anything form the smallest to the greatest unless the dream was dreamed first. - Laura Ingalls Wilder
8. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained. - Marie Curie
9. It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
10. I never see what has been done. I only see what remains to be done. - Marie Curie
11. A professional is someone who can do his best when he doesn't feel like it. - Alistair Cooke
12. Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun. - Pablo Picasso
13. There would be nothing to frighten you if you refused to be afraid. - Gandhi
14. The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. - Ralph Nader
15. What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
16. It is not good enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well. - Rene Descartes
17. Concentrate all you thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus. - Alexander Graham
18. Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, and acquaintance, or a stranger. - Franklin Jones
19. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself. - Charlie Chaplin
20. It is common sense to make a method and try it; if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. - Franklin Roosevelt
21. They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. - Andy Warhol
22. Know when to tune out. If you listen to too much advice, you may wind up making other people's mistakes. - Ann Landers
23. The only thing money gives you is the freedom of not worrying about money. - Johnny Carson
24. Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads. - Erica Jong
25. Gray skies are just clouds passing over. - Duke Ellington
26. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb if, go through it, or work around it. - Michael Jordan
27. The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. - Mark Twain
28. Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. - Anais Nin
29. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. It is the only thing thta ever has. - Margaret Mead
30. You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there. - Yogi Berra
31. Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens. - JRR Tolkien
32. Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one. - Eleanor Roosevelt
33. Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else. - Judy Garland
34. Don't be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed. - Lily Tomlin
35. A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do. - Bob Dylan
36. Winning is important to me, but what brings me real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever I'm doing. - Phil Jackson
37. Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the name. - George Washington
38. That's the secret to life...replace one worry with another... - Charles M Schulz
39. Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. - Will Rogers
40. In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different. - Coco Chanel
41. You are educated when you have the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self-confidence. - Robert Frost
42. How much trouble he avoids who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks. - Marcus Aurelis