music and politics two completely different things
different things
different things music that’s something we all enjoy we
music that’s something we all enjoy we
music that’s something we all enjoy we love to hear it sometimes we sing along
love to hear it sometimes we sing along
love to hear it sometimes we sing along to it it makes us feel like dancing and
to it it makes us feel like dancing and
to it it makes us feel like dancing and many of us love to make music politics
many of us love to make music politics
many of us love to make music politics well that’s a different story
well that’s a different story
well that’s a different story nobody wants to hear it who sings it in
nobody wants to hear it who sings it in
nobody wants to hear it who sings it in the shower you certainly can’t dance to
the shower you certainly can’t dance to
the shower you certainly can’t dance to it and most of us want nothing to do
it and most of us want nothing to do
it and most of us want nothing to do with it
with it
with it so two completely different things music
so two completely different things music
so two completely different things music whether it’s rock or hip-hop or
whether it’s rock or hip-hop or
whether it’s rock or hip-hop or classical or jazz
classical or jazz
classical or jazz it’s got melody it’s got harmony it’s
it’s got melody it’s got harmony it’s
it’s got melody it’s got harmony it’s got rhythm and just sounds and feels so
got rhythm and just sounds and feels so
got rhythm and just sounds and feels so good to us
good to us
good to us well politics the debate discussion and
well politics the debate discussion and
well politics the debate discussion and process that which we make policy
process that which we make policy
process that which we make policy decisions and govern ourselves as the
decisions and govern ourselves as the
decisions and govern ourselves as the people well we don’t want that in our
people well we don’t want that in our
people well we don’t want that in our earbuds aside from the fact that both
earbuds aside from the fact that both
earbuds aside from the fact that both music and politics permeate and affect
music and politics permeate and affect
music and politics permeate and affect our lives every single day they seem to
our lives every single day they seem to
our lives every single day they seem to have little in common however I believe
have little in common however I believe
have little in common however I believe that actually are intriguing
that actually are intriguing
that actually are intriguing similarities between music and politics
similarities between music and politics
similarities between music and politics and by tuning in to those similarities
and by tuning in to those similarities
and by tuning in to those similarities we could compose a better politics and
we could compose a better politics and
we could compose a better politics and brighten our world with the music of
brighten our world with the music of
brighten our world with the music of dialogue now I came up with this idea
dialogue now I came up with this idea
dialogue now I came up with this idea because I’m a composer in a former
because I’m a composer in a former
because I’m a composer in a former Chicago punk rocker who was elected
Chicago punk rocker who was elected
Chicago punk rocker who was elected mayor of a Utah town that was bitterly
mayor of a Utah town that was bitterly
mayor of a Utah town that was bitterly divided and polarized by its politics
divided and polarized by its politics
divided and polarized by its politics Springdale Utah the Gateway to Zion
Springdale Utah the Gateway to Zion
Springdale Utah the Gateway to Zion National Park a beautiful town picture
National Park a beautiful town picture
National Park a beautiful town picture it the virgin river flowing through a
it the virgin river flowing through a
it the virgin river flowing through a magnificent Red Rock Canyon 3,000 feet
magnificent Red Rock Canyon 3,000 feet
magnificent Red Rock Canyon 3,000 feet high decline of a red-tailed hawk
high decline of a red-tailed hawk
high decline of a red-tailed hawk the sweet song of the canyon Wren quiet
the sweet song of the canyon Wren quiet
the sweet song of the canyon Wren quiet peaceful paradise
peaceful paradise
peaceful paradise but when I moved there the County
but when I moved there the County
but when I moved there the County Sheriff came to town meetings to keep
Sheriff came to town meetings to keep
Sheriff came to town meetings to keep fistfights from breaking out the mayor
fistfights from breaking out the mayor
fistfights from breaking out the mayor and the council sued each other nearly
and the council sued each other nearly
and the council sued each other nearly bankrupting the town somebody got so mad
bankrupting the town somebody got so mad
bankrupting the town somebody got so mad at the mayor they threw a dead chicken
at the mayor they threw a dead chicken
at the mayor they threw a dead chicken onto his lawn so I did what any punk
onto his lawn so I did what any punk
onto his lawn so I did what any punk rocker would do
rocker would do
rocker would do I drove headfirst into that mosh pit and
I drove headfirst into that mosh pit and
I drove headfirst into that mosh pit and ran for mayor but the surprising thing
ran for mayor but the surprising thing
ran for mayor but the surprising thing was that over the next eight years the
was that over the next eight years the
was that over the next eight years the things I loved about music helped me
things I loved about music helped me
things I loved about music helped me tune in to the controversies I faced as
tune in to the controversies I faced as
tune in to the controversies I faced as mayor it started when I went house to
mayor it started when I went house to
mayor it started when I went house to house knocking on doors for my first
house knocking on doors for my first
house knocking on doors for my first election folks invited me into their
election folks invited me into their
election folks invited me into their living room soon we sat down together
living room soon we sat down together
living room soon we sat down together but I didn’t really talk so much as
but I didn’t really talk so much as
but I didn’t really talk so much as listen I asked what are your concerns
listen I asked what are your concerns
listen I asked what are your concerns how do you feel about the town what do
how do you feel about the town what do
how do you feel about the town what do you think the town needs right now and I
you think the town needs right now and I
you think the town needs right now and I listened because I felt if I was elected
listened because I felt if I was elected
listened because I felt if I was elected I would know my town much better and
I would know my town much better and
I would know my town much better and could serve it better well this is the
could serve it better well this is the
could serve it better well this is the same approach the same way of engaging
same approach the same way of engaging
same approach the same way of engaging that I take with every band I’m in
that I take with every band I’m in
that I take with every band I’m in whether it’s rock folk classical
whether it’s rock folk classical
whether it’s rock folk classical especially if I’m the bandleader
especially if I’m the bandleader
especially if I’m the bandleader because music is all about collaboration
because music is all about collaboration
because music is all about collaboration and collaboration is all about listening
and collaboration is all about listening
and collaboration is all about listening do you know the one thing that never
do you know the one thing that never
do you know the one thing that never happens at a public hearing you never
happens at a public hearing you never
happens at a public hearing you never have a public that’s hearing I got that
have a public that’s hearing I got that
have a public that’s hearing I got that from a book by Daniel chemists who
from a book by Daniel chemists who
from a book by Daniel chemists who inspired my political thinking we come
inspired my political thinking we come
inspired my political thinking we come to advocate our point of view we don’t
to advocate our point of view we don’t
to advocate our point of view we don’t put the same effort into hearing the
put the same effort into hearing the
put the same effort into hearing the other points of view so we don’t take
other points of view so we don’t take
other points of view so we don’t take responsibility for coming to an
responsibility for coming to an
responsibility for coming to an agreement to solve our problems we need
agreement to solve our problems we need
agreement to solve our problems we need to turn toward each other and listen
to turn toward each other and listen
to turn toward each other and listen like musicians do like we all do and we
like musicians do like we all do and we
like musicians do like we all do and we listen to music we hear the different
listen to music we hear the different
listen to music we hear the different voices
voices
voices the baseline the drums the guitar the
the baseline the drums the guitar the
the baseline the drums the guitar the harmony the counterpoint whether it’s
harmony the counterpoint whether it’s
harmony the counterpoint whether it’s music or politics when we actively
music or politics when we actively
music or politics when we actively listen we stay together and we have
listen we stay together and we have
listen we stay together and we have better ideas like jazz musicians they’re
better ideas like jazz musicians they’re
better ideas like jazz musicians they’re a great example of this why they’re up
a great example of this why they’re up
a great example of this why they’re up there having a musical conversation in
there having a musical conversation in
there having a musical conversation in real time and they improvise their ideas
real time and they improvise their ideas
real time and they improvise their ideas on the spot but they don’t do that in a
on the spot but they don’t do that in a
on the spot but they don’t do that in a vacuum they know that to play a great
vacuum they know that to play a great
vacuum they know that to play a great solo you’ve got to listen to the whole
solo you’ve got to listen to the whole
solo you’ve got to listen to the whole band if you ever expect to say something
band if you ever expect to say something
band if you ever expect to say something that’s from a book by Ingrid Monson a
that’s from a book by Ingrid Monson a
that’s from a book by Ingrid Monson a jazz scholar and we could take that
jazz scholar and we could take that
jazz scholar and we could take that advice when we go to a public hearing or
advice when we go to a public hearing or
advice when we go to a public hearing or any kind of meeting we could say to
any kind of meeting we could say to
any kind of meeting we could say to ourselves
ourselves
ourselves I’m gonna listen to the whole band
I’m gonna listen to the whole band
I’m gonna listen to the whole band before I say something because when we
before I say something because when we
before I say something because when we speak from a foundation based upon true
speak from a foundation based upon true
speak from a foundation based upon true listening when we really get what’s
listening when we really get what’s
listening when we really get what’s going on in that music or that
going on in that music or that
going on in that music or that discussion then when it’s our turn to
discussion then when it’s our turn to
discussion then when it’s our turn to take a solo we can really fly like Miles
take a solo we can really fly like Miles
take a solo we can really fly like Miles Davis or John Coltrane and we will add
Davis or John Coltrane and we will add
Davis or John Coltrane and we will add something new and valuable to the
something new and valuable to the
something new and valuable to the conversation
conversation
conversation I finally remember the night before my
I finally remember the night before my
I finally remember the night before my election after walking all day going
election after walking all day going
election after walking all day going house-to-house from one end of the town
house-to-house from one end of the town
house-to-house from one end of the town to the other I was tired and I was
to the other I was tired and I was
to the other I was tired and I was hungry so I was grateful when on my very
hungry so I was grateful when on my very
hungry so I was grateful when on my very last visit a sweet elderly couple Larkin
last visit a sweet elderly couple Larkin
last visit a sweet elderly couple Larkin and Ruth gifford invited me into their
and Ruth gifford invited me into their
and Ruth gifford invited me into their home for a sandwich and a glass of milk
home for a sandwich and a glass of milk
home for a sandwich and a glass of milk the Larkin pulled out his harmonica and
the Larkin pulled out his harmonica and
the Larkin pulled out his harmonica and handed me a guitar I listened to his
handed me a guitar I listened to his
handed me a guitar I listened to his tunes figured out how to accompany him
tunes figured out how to accompany him
tunes figured out how to accompany him and we played some old-time songs
and we played some old-time songs
and we played some old-time songs together now I was still a newcomer so
together now I was still a newcomer so
together now I was still a newcomer so making music with a longtime resident of
making music with a longtime resident of
making music with a longtime resident of the town I felt so welcome so at home
the town I felt so welcome so at home
the town I felt so welcome so at home the next day I was elected and over the
the next day I was elected and over the
the next day I was elected and over the following months and years the whole
following months and years the whole
following months and years the whole town became my band we jammed together
town became my band we jammed together
town became my band we jammed together and I listened to every one of them but
and I listened to every one of them but
and I listened to every one of them but more important I asked them to listen to
more important I asked them to listen to
more important I asked them to listen to each other and they did and we
each other and they did and we
each other and they did and we collaborated like a good jazz er of
collaborated like a good jazz er of
collaborated like a good jazz er of bluegrass band and through our act of
bluegrass band and through our act of
bluegrass band and through our act of listening we solved our problems and
listening we solved our problems and
listening we solved our problems and healed the town but of course politics
healed the town but of course politics
healed the town but of course politics continued it always does
continued it always does
continued it always does we still had issues to discuss and
we still had issues to discuss and
we still had issues to discuss and resolve but you know what happened as I
resolve but you know what happened as I
resolve but you know what happened as I conducted those meetings I began to hear
conducted those meetings I began to hear
conducted those meetings I began to hear certain themes and patterns that
certain themes and patterns that
certain themes and patterns that resembled musical form one meeting could
resembled musical form one meeting could
resembled musical form one meeting could be like a blues song another like a
be like a blues song another like a
be like a blues song another like a classical Sonata
classical Sonata
classical Sonata for example I remember one town meeting
for example I remember one town meeting
for example I remember one town meeting when a developer proposed that we change
when a developer proposed that we change
when a developer proposed that we change our zoning to let him build a large
our zoning to let him build a large
our zoning to let him build a large commercial building in a quiet
commercial building in a quiet
commercial building in a quiet residential area that sounded to me like
residential area that sounded to me like
residential area that sounded to me like [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] then another citizen rose to respond and
then another citizen rose to respond and
then another citizen rose to respond and he said please don’t change that zoning
he said please don’t change that zoning
he said please don’t change that zoning keep our green space as it is that
keep our green space as it is that
keep our green space as it is that sounded like now I just played the two
sounded like now I just played the two
sounded like now I just played the two contrasting themes from Beethoven’s
contrasting themes from Beethoven’s
contrasting themes from Beethoven’s fifth where they get argued back and
fifth where they get argued back and
fifth where they get argued back and forth just like the two contrasting
forth just like the two contrasting
forth just like the two contrasting themes in our Tom meeting that’s the
themes in our Tom meeting that’s the
themes in our Tom meeting that’s the Sonata form often used by classical
Sonata form often used by classical
Sonata form often used by classical composers as a way of organizing and
composers as a way of organizing and
composers as a way of organizing and presenting their ideas first there’s a
presenting their ideas first there’s a
presenting their ideas first there’s a main theme then there’s a contrasting
main theme then there’s a contrasting
main theme then there’s a contrasting second theme then there’s this long
second theme then there’s this long
second theme then there’s this long section where those themes get explored
section where those themes get explored
section where those themes get explored in greater detail heard from different
in greater detail heard from different
in greater detail heard from different angles reconsidered rephrased sometimes
angles reconsidered rephrased sometimes
angles reconsidered rephrased sometimes transformed that’s exactly what happens
transformed that’s exactly what happens
transformed that’s exactly what happens in town meetings that’s the music of
in town meetings that’s the music of
in town meetings that’s the music of dialogue of political debate now staying
dialogue of political debate now staying
dialogue of political debate now staying with that zoning issue let’s tune into
with that zoning issue let’s tune into
with that zoning issue let’s tune into the sound of common ground there are
the sound of common ground there are
the sound of common ground there are folks in town who agreed with the
folks in town who agreed with the
folks in town who agreed with the developer and thought we should allow
developer and thought we should allow
developer and thought we should allow his building let’s take three of them
his building let’s take three of them
his building let’s take three of them and represent them with these three
and represent them with these three
and represent them with these three notes now these folks agreed with each
notes now these folks agreed with each
notes now these folks agreed with each other so when you put them together they
other so when you put them together they
other so when you put them together they harmonize like this that’s the sound of
harmonize like this that’s the sound of
harmonize like this that’s the sound of agreement of people with similar views
agreement of people with similar views
agreement of people with similar views but there are other folks who loved our
but there are other folks who loved our
but there are other folks who loved our green space and didn’t want that
green space and didn’t want that
green space and didn’t want that building let’s take three of them and
building let’s take three of them and
building let’s take three of them and give them these three notes they too
give them these three notes they too
give them these three notes they too harmonized like this that’s also the
harmonized like this that’s also the
harmonized like this that’s also the sound of agreement but what happens when
sound of agreement but what happens when
sound of agreement but what happens when we put those two groups or those two
we put those two groups or those two
we put those two groups or those two chords together
[Music]
[Music] that’s the sound of disagreement
but are there really any wrong notes
but are there really any wrong notes there does one group have to change its
there does one group have to change its
there does one group have to change its views change its tomb to coexist with
views change its tomb to coexist with
views change its tomb to coexist with the other or can we find a way to
the other or can we find a way to
the other or can we find a way to accommodate those differences in music
accommodate those differences in music
accommodate those differences in music that’s the sound of Pali tonality many
that’s the sound of Pali tonality many
that’s the sound of Pali tonality many different keys or chords all at once in
different keys or chords all at once in
different keys or chords all at once in politics that’s the sound of pluralism
politics that’s the sound of pluralism
politics that’s the sound of pluralism of people with different interests
of people with different interests
of people with different interests values and traditions living together in
values and traditions living together in
values and traditions living together in one society and there’s something very
one society and there’s something very
one society and there’s something very interesting in this / allistic card that
interesting in this / allistic card that
interesting in this / allistic card that helps us find agreement within those
helps us find agreement within those
helps us find agreement within those differences it’s this note and what’s
differences it’s this note and what’s
differences it’s this note and what’s interesting about this note is that it
interesting about this note is that it
interesting about this note is that it has a place in both chords the developer
has a place in both chords the developer
has a place in both chords the developer card
card
card the green space card and if we put that
the green space card and if we put that
the green space card and if we put that note on top we can hear even better
note on top we can hear even better
note on top we can hear even better it sings when we listen for it we can
it sings when we listen for it we can
it sings when we listen for it we can hear it
hear it
hear it now when I was mayor I really listened
now when I was mayor I really listened
now when I was mayor I really listened for notes like that notes that can
for notes like that notes that can
for notes like that notes that can smooth the differences between
smooth the differences between
smooth the differences between conflicting opinions and on this zoning
conflicting opinions and on this zoning
conflicting opinions and on this zoning issue
issue
issue I heard that note its name was Stephen
I heard that note its name was Stephen
I heard that note its name was Stephen Ross Stephen was a builder in town so he
Ross Stephen was a builder in town so he
Ross Stephen was a builder in town so he had a place in the development card
had a place in the development card
had a place in the development card [Music]
[Music]
[Music] there’s Stephen he harmonized with their
there’s Stephen he harmonized with their
there’s Stephen he harmonized with their dues but Stephen was also an artist so
dues but Stephen was also an artist so
dues but Stephen was also an artist so he shared some perspectives with the
he shared some perspectives with the
he shared some perspectives with the green space card there he is again
green space card there he is again
green space card there he is again he harmonized with those groups when we
he harmonized with those groups when we
he harmonized with those groups when we listened for it we can easily hear it
[Music]
[Music] and we can hear that note even better if
and we can hear that note even better if
and we can hear that note even better if you put it at the bottom underneath
you put it at the bottom underneath
you put it at the bottom underneath those cords
it provides a foundation
it provides a foundation a home for different people different
a home for different people different
a home for different people different opinions
opinions
opinions that’s the sound
that’s the sound
that’s the sound of common ground thanks thank you
that’s what I tried to do is there find
that’s what I tried to do is there find that sound
that sound
that sound turn it up until everyone could hear it
turn it up until everyone could hear it
turn it up until everyone could hear it then whenever we needed to we could tune
then whenever we needed to we could tune
then whenever we needed to we could tune back into it and no matter how far we
back into it and no matter how far we
back into it and no matter how far we may have strayed we could come back home
may have strayed we could come back home
may have strayed we could come back home to our common ground so those are three
to our common ground so those are three
to our common ground so those are three ways we could think about politics
ways we could think about politics
ways we could think about politics musically listen to the whole band hear
musically listen to the whole band hear
musically listen to the whole band hear the music of dialogue tune into the
the music of dialogue tune into the
the music of dialogue tune into the sound of common ground music is a lens
sound of common ground music is a lens
sound of common ground music is a lens to which I see the world each of you has
to which I see the world each of you has
to which I see the world each of you has your own lens your own unique
your own lens your own unique
your own lens your own unique perspective that the world needs to hear
perspective that the world needs to hear
perspective that the world needs to hear when I came to Utah I heard a wonderful
when I came to Utah I heard a wonderful
when I came to Utah I heard a wonderful story about a wonderful Navajo story
story about a wonderful Navajo story
story about a wonderful Navajo story about the song dog the song dog a coyote
about the song dog the song dog a coyote
about the song dog the song dog a coyote who sang the whole world into existence
who sang the whole world into existence
who sang the whole world into existence just like that just found its voice and
just like that just found its voice and
just like that just found its voice and sang I love that story
sang I love that story
sang I love that story we all have that power and capability be
we all have that power and capability be
we all have that power and capability be that coyote find your voice and sing
that coyote find your voice and sing
that coyote find your voice and sing compose your own song and together we
compose your own song and together we
compose your own song and together we can sing a politics of possibility and
can sing a politics of possibility and
can sing a politics of possibility and create a brighter future we’re not only
create a brighter future we’re not only
create a brighter future we’re not only citizens of this world
citizens of this world
citizens of this world we’re composers of it I’m fascinated by
we’re composers of it I’m fascinated by
we’re composers of it I’m fascinated by how we compose our lives and our
how we compose our lives and our
how we compose our lives and our communities when we come home to our
communities when we come home to our
communities when we come home to our common ground when we hear the music of
common ground when we hear the music of
common ground when we hear the music of our shared dialogue when we listen to
our shared dialogue when we listen to
our shared dialogue when we listen to each other’s songs and sing our own then
each other’s songs and sing our own then
each other’s songs and sing our own then we are collaboratively composing a
we are collaboratively composing a
we are collaboratively composing a better world and to that brave new
better world and to that brave new
better world and to that brave new musical world then we sing and to exist
musical world then we sing and to exist
musical world then we sing and to exist in
in
in together we can rightly say Bravo thank
together we can rightly say Bravo thank
together we can rightly say Bravo thank you thank you
”
Be First to Comment