Opus 2025-357: Steering Wheel Music

I found myself humming a tune that goes to “King of the Road”.  From there I went to trying to remember the words.  I was only moderately successful, but it was a pleasant experience.

What gives some music and enduring quality?  There are certain things that appeal to us personally.  I like something with a catchy melody and an interesting rhythm.  As I get older and hear people say that they just like the sound and don’t listen to the words, I understand more what they mean.  When I listen to some of the words that I heard as a kid, I wonder how I survived with any moral fiber at all.  But I liked the songs.

What would be some qualities that would be required for a song to be worth remembering?  I think one of the qualities is that you need to be able to drive down the interstate without killing yourself.  I can sing King of the Road, Strawberry Fields Forever, Venus, I left My Heart in San Francisco, and so many other songs without losing control of the steering wheel.  I might sway a little bit in my seat.  I might nod my head.  I am not going to lose control of the car.

Now let’s take your typical rock star or rap artist.  I must confess I don’t listen to either one, so this is pure speculation, but based on observing middle school students imitating their favorite recording artist, I would say that it’s hard for them to walk down the hall at school let alone drive a car.  These kids may not remember to bring paper and pencil to class, and certainly can’t spell any word more than three letters, but they know every gesture and facial expression of their favorite recording artist.  Can you picture trying to copy Michael Jackson as you’re merging with traffic?  I mention him, because he’s one of the few names I know.  I think it takes both hands to imitate the hot licks of some lead guitarist in the band, whose name I probably couldn’t pronounce, or at least wouldn’t say in polite company.

Of course, that generation driving a car probably isn’t in the cards.  Most of them have smart phones that cost more relatively than cars did when I was a child.  They have the latest shoes.  They have expensive clothes that have holes torn in them.  Often they will spend more on a hairstyle than I would on a year of haircuts.  They will be walking, having mommy drive them, or taking the bus.

Thus speaks a dinosaur.

homo unius libri