Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Dreamer" (Supertramp)

Hi there!  Welcome to Tuesday, the best day of the week!!!  This is the place where we take the 3rd day of the week and make it just a bit more special by featuring a song that we love and partner it with some wisdom we have come to surmise.  

Why Tuesday?  I'm glad you asked.  You see, back in the 'ol days, prior to June 11, 2015, (Global Release Day - wikipedia.org), most music and home video releases (remember prior to 2015... aw, the days before streaming, when you could hold a tangible item in your hand that you bought with your hard earned money...but I digress) were released on, you guessed it, Tuesday!  I was a retail store manager from 1988 to 2002 and for the vast majority of that time the focal point of what we sold were entertainment items that usually came out on, you guessed it again (you're so good at this!!!), Tuesday.  As you might imagine, Tuesday's were important days for the stores I was privileged to lead.  Some Tuesday's we had folks lining up at the door for the hottest product making for very memorable times.  But most Tuesday's were pretty normal as we would have our usual crowd come in wanting to see what was new. 

When we started Tuesday's Musical Notes on May 31, 2012 (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm Alright"), Tuesday was still heralded as the day for New Release music and video.  With our past experience of New Release day, we decided that Tuesday would be the perfect day to have a blog about music and musings!  Thus the affinity for Tuesday. "...and now you know, the rest of the story..." 

Thousands of people have come to Notesland and become friends!!! And today dear friend, we welcome YOU to the most recent edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes where all kinds of folks stop by...especially Dreamers!!!

"Dreamer" from the September 13, 1974 album Crime of the Century by Supertramp  

Six years in the music industry is a long time.  But not for this band of dreamers from the UK.  The studio version of "Dreamers" was released in 1974 and charted in England, but didn't find success in the US or on the global stage.  It would be 1980, before a live version of "Dreamer" by Supertramp (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Give a Little Bit" (Supertramp) would chart in the US.  This live recording of the song peaked at #15 after it was released on the album Paris 

Supertramp had gained a good deal of traction as a musical act as Paris went to #8 as opposed to Crime of the Century peaking at #38 on Billboard's Album Chart. In its defense, Crime of the Century was critically acclaimed.  So much so that it was listed on Rolling Stone Magazine's "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time" 

"Dreamer" was the sixth top 40 single by the band and would serve well as the bridge into the 80s to Supertramp's three remaining top 40 singles, the #11 hit "It's Raining Again", "My Kind of Lady" (#31), and the #28 "Cannonball".  

This body of work would serve well for this group of dreamers from London who started in 1969 and whose last recording would be 2002's Slow Motion.  33 years in the music business makes Supertramp one of those bands who left an indelible mark on the music industry.  

If you do a search of the archives at the left hand side of the screen using "dreams" as the topic (go ahead, give it a try...you know you want to), you soon find that dreams and their impact in the Bible is a popular topic in Tuesday's Musical Notes' universe.  Specifically, if you do a search on Genesis 37, today's next stop in our journey through the great stories of the Bible, you find 4 different Musical Notes referencing the passage.  (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Right Place, Wrong Time" (Dr. John), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Anticipation" (Carly Simon),  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "A Million Dreams" (Ziv Zaifman, Michelle Williams, Hugh Jackman), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Little Lies" (Fleetwood Mac))  

While we have referenced the life of Israel's son Joseph on several occasions, we've never taken the time to unpack his story in a way that only Tuesday's Musical Notes can do.  Here for your consideration is our first attempt at said unpacking of the story of an early dreamer in the Bible.

Isaac has died, Esau and Jacob (now Israel) have mourned their mutual loss and gone their separate ways.  Israel settled in what would become known as the promised land, Canaan, where Isaac had resided since Israel's departure to escape Esau's hatred and find a wife.  

While all of Israel's sons will play an important role in forming the nation that we now know as Israel, we step to the side for a time to focus on Joseph, Israel's son with his beloved wife, Rachel.  Let's pick up his story here:

Genesis 37:1-11 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

At this time Joseph, was the youngest son and the most treasured by Israel.  It must have been pretty obvious to the entire family that Joseph was the more cherished son as the Bible says that this most favored status causes the rest of the brothers to be jealous. They were so jealous in fact that Moses' account (yup, 40 years in a wilderness gives you time to jot down quite a bit of history...) in Genesis says that they hated him and wouldn't speak to him if they didn't have to.   And you thought your family had some dysfunction!  

To make matters worse, Joseph starts having dreams.  And boy were these dreams doozies!.  

The first one insinuated that his brothers would one day bow down to him as servants.  As one would imagine, the relationship structure of the brothers declined even further as Joseph related his dreams to them.  Can you see this picture, this precocious 17 year old is telling all of his older siblings that he would one day be their boss.  You can almost feel the tension rising in the scene...

To make matters worse, Joseph has a second dream which gets dear 'ol dad mixed in with the retelling of the dream.  Joseph dreamed that even the sun and moon would bow down to him evoking his authority over the entirety of the world, including Israel who exclaimed, "What’s with all this dreaming? Am I and your mother and your brothers all supposed to bow down to you?"  

That'll make for a "special" Sunday dinner...Blue Bloods - Reagan Family Dinner

The Bible says that these dreams caused friction among the brothers, but Israel kept Joseph and his dreams in his mind.  The Message paraphrase goes so far as to suggest that Israel "brooded over the whole business" (v.11) 

Joseph's special place in Israel's heart protected him for a time, but it did nothing to stem the tide of bad feelings Joseph's siblings had for him.  

In reading this story, we must remember a couple of things.  

1) God was the giver of the dreams.  I don't know about you, but it seems that I have never been able to control the things in which I dream about.  Joseph was fortunate in the fact that the dreams we read about in Genesis 37 are straight from God and have a purpose that only God is able to see.

2) Joseph's dreams caused friction that would propel God's plan.  As we follow the story of Joseph, we see that God is also in control of the future.  He allows, He doesn't cause, the dysfunction of Israel's family to further His desire to save everyone.  

We may very well have unhealthy relationships with folks.  We can make an impact by the love we have for people, but sometimes we must understand that God is ultimately in control and He may very well be allowing a soured situation to propel His plan for our lives.  We do not have the omniscience and omnipresence of God to understand how things will work out for the ultimate good, that's where our trust in Him must be placed at the foreground of our lives.  What lesson's are we to be learning during this tumultuous time?  What plan of God's are we being allowed to play a part?  How can we learn to have a stronger love of folks as we go through a time where they may not even be talking to us?  

3) The end result is God's plan and His will, which are always good, are achieved.  This is a matter we must leave to faith.  You know, that thing that Paul's letter to Hebrew Christians describes as "... the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see..." Hebrews 11:1-2 NASB/The Message/KJV

Since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, we live in a world that is working against us.  It has as its ringleader an enemy who is bent on our destruction with him for eternity in a place that was not created for man.  

Bad things in this life are going to happen.  Because we live in a fallen world, those bad things aren't going to be nullified because we put our faith in Jesus for our eternity.  What allows us to get through those moments are the hope and faith that God has the overall control over everything.  This assurance gives us the freedom to not be afraid as we make folks mad by being...dreamers.

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" (Jim Croce)

Welcome to Tuesday the best day of the week!!!  It's time for your blog about music and The Message (not the paraphrase of the Bible, the Actual Message, the Good News about Jesus), Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Here each week we take a moment and pause from the busyness of life and just enjoy a great song and a theme that you may have never considered before.  Like your favorite blended beverage (do you use kale?), Tuesday's Musical Notes is your favorite balance of musical flavors with Message themed fun!  So let's get started with this classic from the 70s, brought to you by a singer/songwriter whose life ended way too soon. 

Follow the advice in this song, especially the wind one!!!

"You Don't Mess Around with Jim" - title track from the April 1972 album by Jim Croce 

Like so many Jim Croce songs, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" came from a place that many listeners, especially those in the pool rooms and billiards parlors of downtown areas, could relate.  Even if those were not establishments frequented, everyone knew of a hustler like Jim and the crew of folks that surrounded him, calling him "boss".  The overwhelming theme of the song comes from Willie McCoy's (Slim) desire for revenge.  (remember that theme, we are going somewhere with it later)

Instantly likable, the debut single by Croce soared up the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at #8.   It finished the year at #68 for 1972 in the Billboard Charts end of the year countdown.  It would be the first of 12 singles that would be released by Croce with the last 5 being released posthumously.  Of the 12 singles, 8 would make the top 40 and 2 ("Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" and "Time in a Bottle") would make it all the way to the top spot on the charts.  If you have about 45 minutes, take the time to learn more about the musical legacy of Jim Croce in the following clip. 

VH1's Behind the Music - Jim Croce

(And now back to the previously hinted at promised theme)

According to dictionary.com the word revenge is defined: to exact punishment or expiation for a wrong on behalf of, especially in a resentful or vindictive spirit.  We confess at being geeky enough to love the following reference to revenge...

 "Revenge is a dish best served cold" - from the June 4th, 1982 motion picture Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan

The overwhelming theme of the Bible is love.  Revenge is placed in its proper perspective in passages like Leviticus 19:18 - New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel and the even more well known "turn the other cheek" passage of The Gospel of Jesus according to the apostle Matthew, chapter 5, verses 38-42 NASB/The Message/KJV  As you can see, the Old Testament and the New Testament have the same opinion when it comes to seeking revenge on your enemies.  However, that doesn't mean that folks, even God's chosen folks, were immune to the desire to be vindicated by the wrong others did to them.  Here is one example: (Caution:  This passage has some physical procedures that should be better explained to those who are under 18 in the confines and safety of one's home)

Genesis 34 NASB/The Message/KJV   

As Israel, formerly Jacob, was beginning to build a life for his family in Shechem, his daughter Dinah decided to go seek out some friends.  She soon caught the eye of one of the princes of the land whose name just happens to be the name of the land, Shechem.  His actions toward Dinah were not honorable, but he fell in love with her.  He sent his father to seek out Israel with the desire to persuade him to give Dinah to him as a wife.  Israel's sons had been working in the fields.  Upon their return, they were informed of the defilement of their sister.  As you would imagine, they were angry.  Not only had the prince raped Dinah, but he was not part of Israel's kinsman.  Remember, they had been instructed all of their lives in the ways of Abraham, Issac and their father regarding whom they could take as wives and husbands.  The brothers devised a way to get revenge on the entire community.  

Israel's sons were deceitful in their promise to give Dinah to Shechem (the prince, not the land) if every male in the area would be circumcised (again, explain in a safe place, preferably NOT in mixed company), Shechem could have Dinah as his wife.  Women at that time, while loved and cherished, were considered a commodity that could be traded or exchanged to the benefit of both parties.  Three days after all of the men of the town had been circumcised, at the height of their pain, Israel's sons, Simeon and Levi, raided the town, rescued Dinah, killed all of the men and looted the town.  

When Israel found out about Simeon and Levi's revenge, he realized the stench that would fall upon his family and was very afraid that relatives of the slain would seek him out and destroy his family.  The only defense the sons could muster, "no one treats our sister that way and gets by with it" (Randy paraphrase of verse 31).

We don't hear of Israel, Simeon, or Levi consulting with God in the process of Dinah's disgrace.  We see a group of men taking things in their own hands and the results being calamitous.  While God does bless Israel in the future, the reputation of the clan would follow them as they traveled and few alliances were able to be made with the people of the land.  

Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, would put revenge in its proper perspective.  Romans 12:17-21 NASB/The Message/KJV

We must remember, that the vengeance in which Paul quotes about being written is God's revenge on sin and the enemy.  Ultimately, each and everyone of us will be counted among those who receive God's mercy and grace, or God's revenge and destruction.  We make this choice, by either submitting to the leadership of Holy Spirit in our lives and believing Jesus was who He said He was, did what the Bible says He did, and WILL DO what the Bible promises He will do at the end of all times.  This is the most important decision you will make.  Will you believe today? His love is waiting for you.

But remember, if you choose to reject His love...  The warning has been given.  "You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind.  You don't pull the mask of the 'ol Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with HIM..."

'Til Tuesday

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Roundabout" (Yes)

 Hi there!  Were you looking for something specific?  If your answer was a resounding "YES!", you've come to, tripped in, or just found a blog that deals with the specifics!  It's what we do! This is Tuesday's Musical Notes. (imagine James Earl Jones saying that with great authority...)   Each week we take a look at a song, some popular, some a bit more obscure, but all liked by somebody and find out a few specifics about the song and the artists who perform those songs.  In the process we discover that most music eludes to an even grander specific that what we might realize.  Welcome!  We're glad you're here!

This is a blog that released on May 31, 2012, since that time, every Tuesday, we have explored the specifics about music and some of the specific, yet mysterious aspects about life.  Today is no exception as we feature one of Tuesday's Musical Notes favorite bands.  (I really do say that a lot don't I?  Check out the archives at the left to see who some of those favorite bands might be)  Are you ready to get started?  That was the cue for another resounding...wait for it..."YES!!!"

"Roundabout" from the November 1971 album Fragile by Yes 

(Full disclosure.  Tuesday's Musical Notes loves the song, we despise the nuisance of traversing said intersections of streets.  And we only have a handful that we even have to utilize as we travel!!   I suspect that makes me somehow less cosmopolitan... There, I've said it.  Rant over. We now return you to the positiveness that is your typical Notes...)

Inspired by a trip where Yes (Tuesday's Musical Notes -"Changes" (Yes)) was travelling through Scotland in support of The Yes Album, "Roundabout" came about due to the over 40 roundabouts the band encountered between Aberdeen and Glaskow.  Writer and lead singer Jon Anderson claims to having smoked marijuana during that same trip, thus inspiring the "mountains come out of the sky and they stand there" lyric as well as some of the other songs more interestingly "artistic" language.  

The #13 hit solidified the band's legacy as Prog Rock torch bearers as it hit upon its most successful and well known lineup.  Group members included lead vocalist Jon Anderson, acoustic and electric guitar aficionado Steve Howe,  bassist (well used for this song) Chris Squire (died in 2015 as the only original Yes member to play on every studio album from 1969's Yes to 2014's Heaven and Earth), newcomer to Fragile keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and drummer Bill Bruford.  This grouping of band members would be the 5th incarnation of the band since its inception.  To date, there have been 26 dispositions of the band Yes all of which have performed "Roundabout" at a concert as it has been a staple to Yes tours since its release.    At  Band Members of Yes - wikipedia.org you find this graphic:

Based on this, maybe "Roundabout" isn't only a big hit for the band, but describes its makeup as well.  I don't know, maybe its an ok thing for our lives to be a bit of a roundabout.  We get to get off (if we can figure it out, sorry, I said it was over...), see new things, encounter new friends, and enjoy the variety that life affords.  On occasion, we choose to exit on the pathway in which we originated bringing us full circle to where we started.  The Israelite patriarch Jacob knew a little something about that.  

It seems that for many years, Jacob, now Israel, had taken every exit available on the roundabout of his life.  He entered it fleeing his brother with the excuse of going to find a wife, and exited only once before returning to it over 20 years later.  As he reenters with much trepidation, Israel wonders how he will encounter Esau after all of these years.  That's the thing about roundabouts, even your entry point will change given enough time.  Esau's attitude towards Israel is proof of that.  Let's see just how much:

 Genesis 33 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

Esau's life had also been blessed in the 20 years Israel had been gone.  No longer a brother who wanted to kill, he was a brother welcoming home a prodigal (The Gospel of Jesus according to Dr. Luke, chapter 15, verses 11-32 NASB/The Message/KJV)  Jacob had sent an offering of respect and peace to Esau in the form of a herd.  According to Genesis 32:14-15 NASB/The Message/KJV this herd consisted of,  "two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milking camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys." (That's quite the retinue to navigate this particular roundabout...but I digress)  Even folks who know little about livestock realize this was a sizable gift (just imagine how large the entirety of the Israel's entourage must have been.  God really blessed Israel in that 20 years). Esau invites Israel and his family to his home in the region of Mt. Seir.  (map coming up soon!!!) Israel, while not accepting the invitation, suggest that it would be better if his family moved at a much slower pace than what Esau had suggested.  He also remembered that what would eventually become the mountains of Edom was not the promised land that God had given to Abraham.  

Israel, not really leaving all of his Jacobic (I know, just made that one up, spell check really doesn't like it that much...) ways behind, exits this particular roundabout headed to the west for Succoth, and eventually settles in the area of Shechem where he names the land that he purchases El-Elohe-Israel (Mighty Is the God of Israel).  This is much closer if not right in the Middle of the Abrahamic promised region.  (Anticipation over...here's the map! Check out all of the regions in today's blog, no roundabouts indicated...)

Thus ends the travels of the patriarch Israel.  While there is much life that occurs to him in the future, his days of accessing roundabouts seem to be at a close.     

What about you friend?  There is nothing wrong with living a traveling life ("Posh" by Lionel Jeffries from the 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).  As you negotiate roundabout after roundabout in your life, making choices that will affect your destination, remember that regardless of where you exit, you never stop being you.  Your vagabond life will always have the foundation of who you are.  As we mature, we settle in on specific standards of character and integrity.  The best way The Notes suggest you can do that is by getting off the roundabout and taking the off ramp to Holy Spirit who is waiting in the safe place like Esau or the father of the Prodigal Son wanting to cheerfully embrace you and welcome you home.  He waits to instill in you a peace in your stormy travels, He waits to provide teaching in your educational travels, and ultimately He waits to call you His own when your last roundabout is traversed and you end your travels. Trust in Him and He will direct your paths...  Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB/The Message/KJV 

You need only say a resounding YES!!!

"Traveling Light" by Joel Hanson and Sara Groves from the 2002 Various Artist album Traveling Light: Songs From the 23rd Psalm  

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy

Tuesday’s Musical Notes - “Changes” (David Bowie)

Welcome to the first Tuesday in February!!!  Don't forget that this February is unique in that we are in a leap year!  That's right!!! 29 days of February in 2020!!!  Welcome to an extra day of the year and welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!

Every four years the calendar adjusts to fit in one extra day.  I'm not sure why it's called a leap year, it seems like it would be given the moniker of "supplementary" year as we are adding to the year and not leaping over a day.  But further research shows that we do indeed leap over a day.  The Oxford dictionary explains the origins of Leap Year like this:  

"Late Middle English probably from the fact that feast days after February in such a year fell two days later than in the previous year, rather than one day later as in other years, and could be said to have ‘leaped’ a day."

So in reality, we do actually skip a day, thus we call it Leap Year.  Today's point is that this is a different year, a unique year, a year that many will see more than their calendar experience...ch-ch-changes...

"Changes" by David Bowie from the December 17, 1971 album Hunky Dory  

Some consider the single "Changes" as David Bowie's (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" (David Bowie and Bing Crosby) and  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Modern Love" (David Bowie))  North American debut even though he had released "The Man Who Sold the World" two years prior.   "Changes"  released on January 7, 1972 when some sweeping changes were occurring for Bowie, the world and more specifically the music industry as Disco and Heavy Metal were on the threshold of being introduced to the listening public. While "Changes" never hit the Top 40, it has been named #128 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.  It is also one of 4 David Bowie Songs that are counted among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll listing.  "Changes" was the last song Bowie would perform live before retiring from touring in 2006.  

The band that recorded "Changes" included David Bowie's standard musicians and veterans of his Spiders from Mars backing band.  Mick Ronson (string arrangement, mellotron), Trevor Bolder (Bass Guitar), Rick Woodmansey (drums), added to Bowie who played the saxophone.  "Changes" and its album Hunky Dory, however, included a session musician at the keyboard position who never became a member of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.  The keyboardist on the track is none other than Rick Wakeman.  He would later go on to record another song about change... (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Changes" (Yes)) with one of Tuesday's Musical Notes' favorite bands Yes.  

As we've written many times before, change is inevitable.  You don't have to wait for it for very long either.  Sometimes you dig it, other times...not so much.  In  Genesis 32:24-32 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel we see that massive changes are happening to Jacob.  He has left a land he had lived in for 20 years on his way back to meet a brother who wanted to kill him for his deceit.  His traveling companions are 2 wives, their maidservants, and all the children that come along with that, as well as a goodly amount of livestock and servants who assist in attending, said livestock.  The biggest change was yet to come.

Our focal passage for the day is a familiar Bible story to many.  It is a go-to story for Children's Bibles, Sunday School Curriculum, and Children's Churches.  The wrestling with the "angel"  part is the portion that seems to get the most attention (we don't really know which angel it was, supposition abounds depending on the theologian or commentary).  I suppose it is the action sequence in the narrative that draws everyone's regard.  But this isn't the MMA that we know today.  This was hand-to-hand combat that Jacob was not anticipating.  He did, however, hold his own, against an angel no less, so let's give him his props.  When the wrestling match came to a draw, the angel through a sucker punch, well sucker touch, by dislocating Jacob's hip.  Talk about your "agony of defeat" moment.  Even with his injury, Jacob held on and wasn't about to rescind his hold until he got something out of the battle.  Remember Jacob the schemer from previous Notes?  Well, that schemer returns at this point of our story to get his due.  I think he got more than expected. 

Jacob soon finds out that you cannot encounter God and be the same.  Not only did the heavenly being provide Jacob a blessing on his life, but he also changed his name.  Jacob was now to be called Israel (God-wrestler).  But as we go forward in Jacob's story, we also see a change in his personality.  Very few times, if any, does he try to get the upper hand on anyone he encounters.  His only goal seemingly from this point is to serve God and provide for his family.  Jacob does not become perfect, but he does mellow out so to speak. He has a "turned myself to face me" moment and decides he just needs to be a different man.  

I suspect that you won't be putting a chokehold on any angelic beings anytime soon.  But the same God who changed Jacob waits to change you.  You need only seek Him and ask for His blessing.  You may think that you have turned to face the strange, and your new life could be significantly different.  But for you to be complete, you must be restored to God.  He may not change your name, but it is a guarantee that you will see ch-ch-changes in your life...similar to this:  Paul's letter to the Church in Rome, Chapter 12 NASB/The Message/KJV

Oh look out all you rock'n rollers...

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

randy