It's Tuesday and it's time for the "we're one week closer to being done with this thing" edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! Thank you for choosing to read this week's blog about music and our musings that come alongside it. It's Tuesday and the topic is time so we better get started utilizing it the best we can!!!
Welcome to the first Tuesday in June!!! We made it!!! How have things been in your part of the world? Some days around here have been almost back to a regular routine where other days, well... let's just say that on those days we sound like an echo from October of 1970...(...and we're a go for the horns...I promise the trumpet solo is coming!!!)
"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" was the first song recorded by the band Chicago for their debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, which spent a record 171 weeks on the Billboard 200 Album Charts. The album would also garner the band Chicago a 1969 Grammy Award for "Best New Artist of the Year". Even though it was a critical success, sales on CTA were surprisingly slow so no single was initially released from the album.
With the release of Chicago (aka Chicago II) in 1970, singles began to be demanded by the public and released by the label. "Make Me Smile" (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Make Me Smile" (Chicago)) and "25 or 6 to 4" were the first two singles released by the band from the windy city. On the strength of these 2 hits, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" was rediscovered and released as a single. It soared up the charts peaking at #7 in the US and hitting the top ten in many other countries.
The question of time seems to be a recurring theme surrounding the song. The original CTA album track is 4:35 in length. The first single that was released was 3:20 long and was recorded in mono. The re-edit of that single was in stereo and was the same length as the mono version but wasn't released until the Only the Beginning greatest hits package. The radio edit, (yet another length at 2:54) was included in the vinyl version of Chicago IX, Chicago's Greatest Hits, but was not included on the cd version of the album. A promotional single, which found its way onto The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition, came in at 2:46 in length. And for the Chicago at Carnegie Hall release, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" comes in at a whopping 10:07 spread out over 2 tracks.
The length of the song isn't the only time-related quirk. In music notation time signature is the indicator in a song of how many beats per measure, and which kind of note is considered 1 beat. It is usually found at the beginning of any piece. The time signature of "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" is very unique. At the moment the horn intro happens is a very unique mixture. The time signatures right before Lee Loughnane's trumpet solo are tricky for even skilled players. It consists of an 8/8 measure, followed by a 7/8 measure, a 9/8 measure, another 7/8 measure, an 8/8 measure which transitions to 5/8 for 6 measures, then Loghnane's solo begins and the 4/4 or "common" time signature takes over for the remainder of the song.
For you musicians out there who would be hesitant to play in such a time signature convoluted piece, a conductor of mine provided this encouragement to his symphonic band regarding a piece that had changing time signatures..."You don't speak in 4/4, why should you expect to play in it?" Thanks, Dr. Bristow!!!
For more Tuesday's Musical Notes based on songs of Chicago, click away:
Ok, so we're a little biased...
"Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care? (About time) And so I can't imagine why...."
The topic of time is prevalent in the Bible. The wise King Solomon even wrote an entire chapter about it in Ecclesiastes. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Turn, Turn, Turn" (The Byrds)) Another instance where time and the urgency in using it are of import occurs in Exodus 3:10-22 New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel.
As a shepherd, Moses had spent a lot of time with sheep as his only companionship. Moses was 40 when he left Egypt. One would imagine that after 40 years Moses would have passed by a particular bush a few times, perhaps even seeing it grow to maturity. After spending all of that time as a nomadic shepherd, he has an encounter with God. Imagine his response upon hearing a voice coming out of that bush while it was on fire, but not consumed. The message that comes from the bush was not really something Moses wanted to hear either. In essence, God, who was speaking, says "I Am God, and I'm telling you that it's time for you to get on with it!" (yup...another outstanding paraphrase from yours truly...) God instructs Moses that it is time for Israel's deliverance from slavery and that Moses would be the earthly facilitator of that deliverance.
Moses reaction? "But God, why me?"..."But God, what if the people do not listen?"... "But God, what if I say the wrong thing?"..."But God, I don't know anything about leading a small group!"..."But God, I haven't touched an instrument in a very long time!"..."But God, those folks aren't anything like me!"...(sorry, I got distracted...we now return you back to Moses from my soapbox...)
But God would have none of it. Moses was the plan for the redemption of God's people. God reassures Moses that He will be there as Moses explains to the Israelite leadership what is about to take place. God relays to Moses what to say that will resonate with the nation of Israel to accept his leadership. "I AM," said "It's time for you to go back" and "Now be on your way"...the God of time had appointed that moment for Moses to be a shepherd in a much larger fashion. What were the results? Was Moses always obedient to God's urging to quit wasting time and get on with it?
What about you, friend? Do you really know what time it is? Do you care?
Many churches are resuming gathering together in large groups. Is it time for you to go back? As a believer, how can you make a larger impact for the Kingdom by participating in that which God has led you? What urging from the Lord have you felt in this "worship at home" time? Is God instructing you to now be on your way to the work in which He has called and gifted you? What have you learned during this "wilderness" experience that will make you a more effective believer in your church and community?
"Does anybody really know what time it is (I don't)
Does anybody really care (care about time)
If so I can't imagine why (no, no)
We've all got time enough to die"
Does anybody really care (care about time)
If so I can't imagine why (no, no)
We've all got time enough to die"
Dear friend, if you haven't a relationship with the God who created you, He is telling you that it is time for you to get on with it. It is time for you to surrender all that you are to the One who can make you new. It is time to believe that Jesus is the only way to have restoration with God and a home with Him in eternity future. You need only spend a little time asking God to forgive you (forgiveness), turning away from who you are and turning to Him (repentance), and trusting that Jesus is the only way to be with God in heaven forever (belief). That dear friend is what time it is, and yes...I do care about your time and I can't imagine why you'd waste your time before you die... Hit it, Mr. Pankow!
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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