hi my name is Nick Williams and was mentioned I am currently a student at oh
mentioned I am currently a student at oh
mentioned I am currently a student at oh you law and I’m also a musician and so
you law and I’m also a musician and so
you law and I’m also a musician and so whenever people ask me what it is that I
whenever people ask me what it is that I
whenever people ask me what it is that I do I usually like to color in the answer
do I usually like to color in the answer
do I usually like to color in the answer by saying I live a pretty Bruce
by saying I live a pretty Bruce
by saying I live a pretty Bruce wayne/batman lifestyle law student by
wayne/batman lifestyle law student by
wayne/batman lifestyle law student by day musician by night and it may seem
day musician by night and it may seem
day musician by night and it may seem like these two worlds really don’t have
like these two worlds really don’t have
like these two worlds really don’t have much to do with each other but it’s
much to do with each other but it’s
much to do with each other but it’s actually the blending of them that gave
actually the blending of them that gave
actually the blending of them that gave rise to the idea that led me to this
rise to the idea that led me to this
rise to the idea that led me to this stage today
stage today
stage today you see studying the law in its
you see studying the law in its
you see studying the law in its development is basically a constant
development is basically a constant
development is basically a constant assessment of perspectives different
assessment of perspectives different
assessment of perspectives different from your own you’re only able to really
from your own you’re only able to really
from your own you’re only able to really understand what you think and what you
understand what you think and what you
understand what you think and what you believe on certain issues when you
believe on certain issues when you
believe on certain issues when you analyze them from different perspectives
analyze them from different perspectives
analyze them from different perspectives when you realize where you’re not and
when you realize where you’re not and
when you realize where you’re not and you’re only able to understand the
you’re only able to understand the
you’re only able to understand the strengths in the substance of your
strengths in the substance of your
strengths in the substance of your beliefs when you place them alongside
beliefs when you place them alongside
beliefs when you place them alongside others and music actually offers a
others and music actually offers a
others and music actually offers a pretty similar opportunity in a lot of
pretty similar opportunity in a lot of
pretty similar opportunity in a lot of ways musics been called the one
ways musics been called the one
ways musics been called the one universal language that we have the one
universal language that we have the one
universal language that we have the one form of communication that we just
form of communication that we just
form of communication that we just inherently know simply by being human
inherently know simply by being human
inherently know simply by being human and I started thinking about that in
and I started thinking about that in
and I started thinking about that in regards to the context of all these
regards to the context of all these
regards to the context of all these perspectives that the law tries to
perspectives that the law tries to
perspectives that the law tries to incorporate and I started wondering
incorporate and I started wondering
incorporate and I started wondering whether music given its inherent
whether music given its inherent
whether music given its inherent universal thread between all of us
universal thread between all of us
universal thread between all of us whether it offers the opportunity for
whether it offers the opportunity for
whether it offers the opportunity for our shrinking and diversifying world the
our shrinking and diversifying world the
our shrinking and diversifying world the best live in harmony with itself because
best live in harmony with itself because
best live in harmony with itself because it seems like finding a harmony between
it seems like finding a harmony between
it seems like finding a harmony between different people in different groups is
different people in different groups is
different people in different groups is more imperative today than ever today
more imperative today than ever today
more imperative today than ever today when agreeing on a set of facts seems to
when agreeing on a set of facts seems to
when agreeing on a set of facts seems to be more difficult than what finding them
be more difficult than what finding them
be more difficult than what finding them out in the first place used to be
out in the first place used to be
out in the first place used to be centuries ago and it all reminds me of
centuries ago and it all reminds me of
centuries ago and it all reminds me of this statement that Krista Tippett the
this statement that Krista Tippett the
this statement that Krista Tippett the radio broadcaster once said in an
radio broadcaster once said in an
radio broadcaster once said in an interview she said that I can disagree
interview she said that I can disagree
interview she said that I can disagree with your opinion but it turns out that
with your opinion but it turns out that
with your opinion but it turns out that I can’t disagree with your experience
I can’t disagree with your experience
I can’t disagree with your experience and so I think music offers a really
and so I think music offers a really
and so I think music offers a really promising opportunity in a lot of ways
promising opportunity in a lot of ways
promising opportunity in a lot of ways in this respect and this is because of
in this respect and this is because of
in this respect and this is because of three main patterns that I saw through
three main patterns that I saw through
three main patterns that I saw through looking deeper on the subject and the
looking deeper on the subject and the
looking deeper on the subject and the first is that music offers an expression
first is that music offers an expression
first is that music offers an expression of a feeling and experience for people
of a feeling and experience for people
of a feeling and experience for people and also an ability within the listener
and also an ability within the listener
and also an ability within the listener to understand that music has developed
to understand that music has developed
to understand that music has developed to be a means of communication between
to be a means of communication between
to be a means of communication between people that much has always been
people that much has always been
people that much has always been understood but what’s even more
understood but what’s even more
understood but what’s even more interesting is that
interesting is that
interesting is that there’s actually a lot of scientific
there’s actually a lot of scientific
there’s actually a lot of scientific research that explains why that is
research that explains why that is
research that explains why that is psychologists have recently been able to
psychologists have recently been able to
psychologists have recently been able to document via cerebral scans how music
document via cerebral scans how music
document via cerebral scans how music triggers parts of the brain that are
triggers parts of the brain that are
triggers parts of the brain that are most responsible for empathy and
most responsible for empathy and
most responsible for empathy and understanding the motives behind people
understanding the motives behind people
understanding the motives behind people and also music has been documented to
and also music has been documented to
and also music has been documented to release oxytocin in the brain which is a
release oxytocin in the brain which is a
release oxytocin in the brain which is a chemical that plays a vital role in the
chemical that plays a vital role in the
chemical that plays a vital role in the bonding and trusting processes between
bonding and trusting processes between
bonding and trusting processes between people so with this in mind I started
people so with this in mind I started
people so with this in mind I started wondering whether there were certain
wondering whether there were certain
wondering whether there were certain kinds of songs that best represent this
kinds of songs that best represent this
kinds of songs that best represent this expressing and understanding between
expressing and understanding between
expressing and understanding between people and this is one of the first ones
people and this is one of the first ones
people and this is one of the first ones that I came across
how many roads must a man walk down
how many roads must a man walk down before you call him man but how many see
before you call him man but how many see
before you call him man but how many see this must the white touch soon before
this must the white touch soon before
this must the white touch soon before she sleeps in the same
and how many rows and balls fly before
and how many rows and balls fly before the dead forever dance he answer my
the dead forever dance he answer my
the dead forever dance he answer my friend is blowing
friend is blowing
friend is blowing yes sir this blows
yes sir this blows
yes sir this blows [Music]
[Music]
[Music] a blowin in the wind was written by Bob
a blowin in the wind was written by Bob
a blowin in the wind was written by Bob Dylan and is perhaps the most emblematic
Dylan and is perhaps the most emblematic
Dylan and is perhaps the most emblematic song of the folk movement this movement
song of the folk movement this movement
song of the folk movement this movement that put the concerns and the feelings
that put the concerns and the feelings
that put the concerns and the feelings of many rural Americans on the forefront
of many rural Americans on the forefront
of many rural Americans on the forefront of the nation’s consciousness for one of
of the nation’s consciousness for one of
of the nation’s consciousness for one of the first times an interesting fact
the first times an interesting fact
the first times an interesting fact about Bob Dylan is that he was most
about Bob Dylan is that he was most
about Bob Dylan is that he was most influenced and most idolized in Oklahoma
influenced and most idolized in Oklahoma
influenced and most idolized in Oklahoma native a man by the name of Woody
native a man by the name of Woody
native a man by the name of Woody Guthrie and Woody Guthrie was a man who
Guthrie and Woody Guthrie was a man who
Guthrie and Woody Guthrie was a man who lived through both the Great Depression
lived through both the Great Depression
lived through both the Great Depression as well as the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma it
as well as the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma it
as well as the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma it was probably the first known focusing or
was probably the first known focusing or
was probably the first known focusing or songwriter that gave an expression to
songwriter that gave an expression to
songwriter that gave an expression to rural Americans uniquely their own and
rural Americans uniquely their own and
rural Americans uniquely their own and so when I sit down and listen to Bob
so when I sit down and listen to Bob
so when I sit down and listen to Bob Dylan’s music especially as folk tunes I
Dylan’s music especially as folk tunes I
Dylan’s music especially as folk tunes I can hear the dusty roots and the
can hear the dusty roots and the
can hear the dusty roots and the struggles of the earlier man that gave
struggles of the earlier man that gave
struggles of the earlier man that gave this form of expression to experiences
this form of expression to experiences
this form of expression to experiences that I myself never have endured but can
that I myself never have endured but can
that I myself never have endured but can nonetheless understand through his songs
nonetheless understand through his songs
nonetheless understand through his songs that he wrote and also inspired another
that he wrote and also inspired another
that he wrote and also inspired another artist and other songs that represent
artist and other songs that represent
artist and other songs that represent this expressing and understanding
this expressing and understanding
this expressing and understanding between people include white Christmas
between people include white Christmas
between people include white Christmas the classic Bing Crosby tune that really
the classic Bing Crosby tune that really
the classic Bing Crosby tune that really resonated with American World War two
resonated with American World War two
resonated with American World War two soldiers these men and women who were
soldiers these men and women who were
soldiers these men and women who were dispersed across the globe who were
dispersed across the globe who were
dispersed across the globe who were longing for home and longing for a more
longing for home and longing for a more
longing for home and longing for a more peaceful world that they were fighting
peaceful world that they were fighting
peaceful world that they were fighting for as well as what’s going on by Marvin
for as well as what’s going on by Marvin
for as well as what’s going on by Marvin Gaye which is this tune that gave a new
Gaye which is this tune that gave a new
Gaye which is this tune that gave a new accessible voice to many inner-city
accessible voice to many inner-city
accessible voice to many inner-city Americans who had felt marginalized
Americans who had felt marginalized
Americans who had felt marginalized leading up to the civil rights era in
leading up to the civil rights era in
leading up to the civil rights era in which the tune came out now the second
which the tune came out now the second
which the tune came out now the second pattern that I found within looking
pattern that I found within looking
pattern that I found within looking deeper on musics ability to connect
deeper on musics ability to connect
deeper on musics ability to connect people is how music naturally blends
people is how music naturally blends
people is how music naturally blends cultures this guitar itself is a
cultures this guitar itself is a
cultures this guitar itself is a representation of that with its wood and
representation of that with its wood and
representation of that with its wood and steel string from different parts of the
steel string from different parts of the
steel string from different parts of the world as well as a few cracks that the
world as well as a few cracks that the
world as well as a few cracks that the rushed lifestyle of a millennial like
rushed lifestyle of a millennial like
rushed lifestyle of a millennial like myself can inflict upon it but artists
myself can inflict upon it but artists
myself can inflict upon it but artists have taken this kind of instrument and
have taken this kind of instrument and
have taken this kind of instrument and which has typically been identified with
which has typically been identified with
which has typically been identified with Western society but utilized it to give
Western society but utilized it to give
Western society but utilized it to give voice to experiences and stories from
voice to experiences and stories from
voice to experiences and stories from all across the globe and on the topic of
all across the globe and on the topic of
all across the globe and on the topic of different parts of the globe perhaps no
different parts of the globe perhaps no
different parts of the globe perhaps no band is better known than knitting
band is better known than knitting
band is better known than knitting together diverse cultures than the act
together diverse cultures than the act
together diverse cultures than the act behind this next song
words are flowy love flag can this rain
words are flowy love flag can this rain into a paper cup they see the wow they
into a paper cup they see the wow they
into a paper cup they see the wow they pass they slip away across the universe
pass they slip away across the universe
pass they slip away across the universe [Music]
[Music]
[Music] that song across the universe was
that song across the universe was
that song across the universe was written by probably the biggest act in
written by probably the biggest act in
written by probably the biggest act in Western society the Beatles and the
Western society the Beatles and the
Western society the Beatles and the chorus line there Jack Gurudeva is
chorus line there Jack Gurudeva is
chorus line there Jack Gurudeva is actually a Sanskrit phrase that means
actually a Sanskrit phrase that means
actually a Sanskrit phrase that means glory to the shining remover of darkness
glory to the shining remover of darkness
glory to the shining remover of darkness which really helps me understand the
which really helps me understand the
which really helps me understand the chorus line the next line nothing’s
chorus line the next line nothing’s
chorus line the next line nothing’s gonna change my world because the first
gonna change my world because the first
gonna change my world because the first time that I listened to that song
time that I listened to that song
time that I listened to that song especially coming from a Western mindset
especially coming from a Western mindset
especially coming from a Western mindset it gave me this feeling of powerlessness
it gave me this feeling of powerlessness
it gave me this feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness but actually taking
and hopelessness but actually taking
and hopelessness but actually taking that line into consideration with the
that line into consideration with the
that line into consideration with the other songs lyrics in context I think
other songs lyrics in context I think
other songs lyrics in context I think what John Lennon was referencing was
what John Lennon was referencing was
what John Lennon was referencing was that unchangeable unending light that
that unchangeable unending light that
that unchangeable unending light that dwells within him
dwells within him
dwells within him and that dwells within each of us now
and that dwells within each of us now
and that dwells within each of us now the Beatles released that song during
the Beatles released that song during
the Beatles released that song during their experiences of Asian and Indian
their experiences of Asian and Indian
their experiences of Asian and Indian culture which played a part in the
culture which played a part in the
culture which played a part in the influx of those cultures within our own
influx of those cultures within our own
influx of those cultures within our own American way of being and just looking
American way of being and just looking
American way of being and just looking around the heartland of America here you
around the heartland of America here you
around the heartland of America here you can find yoga centers and lessons
can find yoga centers and lessons
can find yoga centers and lessons sprinkled throughout and actually
sprinkled throughout and actually
sprinkled throughout and actually Oklahoma may be the one place so you’ll
Oklahoma may be the one place so you’ll
Oklahoma may be the one place so you’ll find a guy with a trucker hat walking
find a guy with a trucker hat walking
find a guy with a trucker hat walking outside of a yoga Center but an another
outside of a yoga Center but an another
outside of a yoga Center but an another interesting dinner-party fact about that
interesting dinner-party fact about that
interesting dinner-party fact about that song is that it was actually broadcast
song is that it was actually broadcast
song is that it was actually broadcast into space on the coinciding anniversary
into space on the coinciding anniversary
into space on the coinciding anniversary of NASA’s founding as well as the songs
of NASA’s founding as well as the songs
of NASA’s founding as well as the songs recording I guess broadcast in the space
recording I guess broadcast in the space
recording I guess broadcast in the space just in case we may encounter a
just in case we may encounter a
just in case we may encounter a different group of beings that we need
different group of beings that we need
different group of beings that we need the forms
the forms
the forms a sort of social connection with but
a sort of social connection with but
a sort of social connection with but other artists that have been doing this
other artists that have been doing this
other artists that have been doing this weaving of diverse cultures together
weaving of diverse cultures together
weaving of diverse cultures together include Coldplay the massive band that’s
include Coldplay the massive band that’s
include Coldplay the massive band that’s been known to incorporate healthy doses
been known to incorporate healthy doses
been known to incorporate healthy doses of Japanese and Indian culture within
of Japanese and Indian culture within
of Japanese and Indian culture within their songs like lovers in Japan or
their songs like lovers in Japan or
their songs like lovers in Japan or Charlie Brown and another artist that’s
Charlie Brown and another artist that’s
Charlie Brown and another artist that’s recently intrigued me is a man by the
recently intrigued me is a man by the
recently intrigued me is a man by the name of Ibrahim Maloof who’s a jazz
name of Ibrahim Maloof who’s a jazz
name of Ibrahim Maloof who’s a jazz artist from Beirut who interestingly
artist from Beirut who interestingly
artist from Beirut who interestingly enough utilizes classical Western
enough utilizes classical Western
enough utilizes classical Western instruments to give voice to distinctly
instruments to give voice to distinctly
instruments to give voice to distinctly Middle Eastern sounding music that he
Middle Eastern sounding music that he
Middle Eastern sounding music that he grew up with and also just in her was
grew up with and also just in her was
grew up with and also just in her was who was the composer for the blockbuster
who was the composer for the blockbuster
who was the composer for the blockbuster hit and 3-second oscar-winning best film
hit and 3-second oscar-winning best film
hit and 3-second oscar-winning best film la-la-land he really invigorated and
la-la-land he really invigorated and
la-la-land he really invigorated and brought some new life and the old jazz
brought some new life and the old jazz
brought some new life and the old jazz tunes that my grandparents grew up with
tunes that my grandparents grew up with
tunes that my grandparents grew up with and fell in love listening to and
and fell in love listening to and
and fell in love listening to and dancing with which leads me to my last
dancing with which leads me to my last
dancing with which leads me to my last pattern that I found within looking
pattern that I found within looking
pattern that I found within looking deeper into this and it’s how music
deeper into this and it’s how music
deeper into this and it’s how music offers itself for a narrative and moving
offers itself for a narrative and moving
offers itself for a narrative and moving a narrative and story forward that
a narrative and story forward that
a narrative and story forward that brings people together music was
brings people together music was
brings people together music was designed not solely to be a singular
designed not solely to be a singular
designed not solely to be a singular experience but also to be an engagement
experience but also to be an engagement
experience but also to be an engagement of people and between people and no
of people and between people and no
of people and between people and no genre really exemplifies this in my
genre really exemplifies this in my
genre really exemplifies this in my opinion better than a genre that’s
opinion better than a genre that’s
opinion better than a genre that’s typically been most loved of older
typically been most loved of older
typically been most loved of older generations like my parents and my
generations like my parents and my
generations like my parents and my grandparents until recently as it’s seen
grandparents until recently as it’s seen
grandparents until recently as it’s seen this resurgence of interest in my
this resurgence of interest in my
this resurgence of interest in my generation and younger generations and
generation and younger generations and
generation and younger generations and that’s the genre of musicals and songs
that’s the genre of musicals and songs
that’s the genre of musicals and songs within musicals are explicitly made to
within musicals are explicitly made to
within musicals are explicitly made to move a story forward which gives them
move a story forward which gives them
move a story forward which gives them this really interesting explanatory and
this really interesting explanatory and
this really interesting explanatory and descriptive lyrical structure and new
descriptive lyrical structure and new
descriptive lyrical structure and new works like Hamilton which paints a
works like Hamilton which paints a
works like Hamilton which paints a portrait of one of our founding fathers
portrait of one of our founding fathers
portrait of one of our founding fathers and waitress which tells the story of a
and waitress which tells the story of a
and waitress which tells the story of a struggling waitress fighting for meaning
struggling waitress fighting for meaning
struggling waitress fighting for meaning in her life they’re really doing this
in her life they’re really doing this
in her life they’re really doing this interesting bridging of the gap
interesting bridging of the gap
interesting bridging of the gap generation wise between the older and
generation wise between the older and
generation wise between the older and the newer and the next song that I’m
the newer and the next song that I’m
the newer and the next song that I’m gonna play comes from one of the more
gonna play comes from one of the more
gonna play comes from one of the more recent hits on Broadway that tells the
recent hits on Broadway that tells the
recent hits on Broadway that tells the story of just a young kid struggling
story of just a young kid struggling
story of just a young kid struggling through anxiety and the other trials
through anxiety and the other trials
through anxiety and the other trials that many of our younger teenagers are
that many of our younger teenagers are
that many of our younger teenagers are dealing with growing up in today’s
dealing with growing up in today’s
dealing with growing up in today’s society
I’ve learned the slam on the brake
I’ve learned the slam on the brake before I even turn the key before I make
before I even turn the key before I make
before I even turn the key before I make the mistake before I lead with the worst
the mistake before I lead with the worst
the mistake before I lead with the worst of me
of me
of me give them no reason to stand no slipping
give them no reason to stand no slipping
give them no reason to stand no slipping up if you slip away so I’ve got nothing
up if you slip away so I’ve got nothing
up if you slip away so I’ve got nothing to share
to share
to share now I’ve got nothing to say step by step
now I’ve got nothing to say step by step
now I’ve got nothing to say step by step out of the Sun if you keep it burn
step back step out of the Sun because
step back step out of the Sun because you’ve learned because you burn on the
you’ve learned because you burn on the
you’ve learned because you burn on the outside always looking in where I ever
outside always looking in where I ever
outside always looking in where I ever be more than I’ve always been cuz I’m
be more than I’ve always been cuz I’m
be more than I’ve always been cuz I’m tap tap tapping on the glass I’m waving
tap tap tapping on the glass I’m waving
tap tap tapping on the glass I’m waving through window oh wow yeah try to speak
through window oh wow yeah try to speak
through window oh wow yeah try to speak but nobody can you so I wait around for
but nobody can you so I wait around for
but nobody can you so I wait around for an answer to appear while I’m watch
an answer to appear while I’m watch
an answer to appear while I’m watch watch watching people I’m waiting
watch watching people I’m waiting
watch watching people I’m waiting through window can anybody see is
through window can anybody see is
through window can anybody see is anybody waiting
anybody waiting
anybody waiting get me that song came from the musical
get me that song came from the musical
get me that song came from the musical dear Ivan Hanson as you see in as this
dear Ivan Hanson as you see in as this
dear Ivan Hanson as you see in as this perfect example of how songs offer
perfect example of how songs offer
perfect example of how songs offer themselves up to stories stories that
themselves up to stories stories that
themselves up to stories stories that can touch anyone from any part of life
can touch anyone from any part of life
can touch anyone from any part of life at any point on the globe and so really
at any point on the globe and so really
at any point on the globe and so really my takeaway for you all today is really
my takeaway for you all today is really
my takeaway for you all today is really just to have an awareness of the music
just to have an awareness of the music
just to have an awareness of the music that you’re listening to and be aware of
that you’re listening to and be aware of
that you’re listening to and be aware of these three abilities within music that
these three abilities within music that
these three abilities within music that how they’re able to express and convey
how they’re able to express and convey
how they’re able to express and convey understanding between people and also
understanding between people and also
understanding between people and also how music naturally blends cultures and
how music naturally blends cultures and
how music naturally blends cultures and thus blends different people together
thus blends different people together
thus blends different people together and finally how music offers itself up
and finally how music offers itself up
and finally how music offers itself up to stories that as humans were
to stories that as humans were
to stories that as humans were inherently drawn to and also one final
inherently drawn to and also one final
inherently drawn to and also one final thing is really just a call to have a
thing is really just a call to have a
thing is really just a call to have a heightened awareness of the music that
heightened awareness of the music that
heightened awareness of the music that you’re listening to listen deeper to the
you’re listening to listen deeper to the
you’re listening to listen deeper to the songs that you’re listening to be more
songs that you’re listening to be more
songs that you’re listening to be more inquisitive about the tunes that you put
inquisitive about the tunes that you put
inquisitive about the tunes that you put on
on
on I wonder why those songs came to be and
I wonder why those songs came to be and
I wonder why those songs came to be and what kind of other artistic influences
what kind of other artistic influences
what kind of other artistic influences gave rise to them and followed those a
gave rise to them and followed those a
gave rise to them and followed those a little bit further put on a tune that
little bit further put on a tune that
little bit further put on a tune that you wouldn’t normally listen to it might
you wouldn’t normally listen to it might
you wouldn’t normally listen to it might not only lead to a better understanding
not only lead to a better understanding
not only lead to a better understanding of people very different from yourself
of people very different from yourself
of people very different from yourself but also give you a better understanding
but also give you a better understanding
but also give you a better understanding of who you are and where you fit
of who you are and where you fit
of who you are and where you fit alongside them thanks for listening
alongside them thanks for listening
alongside them thanks for listening [Applause]
”
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