I'm a Slut
Go Ahead read it ALL. I DARE you.
"Ben, you’re a music slut"
Now, for the most part, no one wants to be called a slut. But this phrase hit home for me in a very strange way. After this comment, it got me thinking about what exactly justified my musically promiscuous lifestyle.
First of all, I have many friends that are musicians. That being said, you’ll find the reason why I would be jamming a lot. When we hang out, we make sweet music all night long, much like that of the conventional slut, just under different circumstances. Taking a different approach, I thought about the variety of music that I make with others. Making music is like making love, the intensity, as well as decibel level tend to vary quite drastically. I’ve made loud hardcore music, soft and sweet music, fast and upbeat music, and not to mention extremely boring and uninteresting music. I’m sure a slut would say the same about their hobby.
Like a slut, I don’t give a damn who my companion is. The more options, the better. I only judge a musician on how well they do what they do. I don’t base our "jam" session on who they are, only on how good our music is. You wouldn’t see a whore on Michigan Ave. picking and choosing their business. They take what they can get, cuz it’s all about one thing for them. Sex. It’s all about one thing for me. Music. I’d like to hope that when we rock out we would rock each other’s world, so to speak. So when my partner asks,
"Was it good for you?"
My responses could easily vary from, "I’ve had better" to " That was totally amazing"
When I jam with someone for the first time, we set the standard for the music. Much like sex, or anything for that matter, the more you do it, the better you know it, making it easier to determine if your partner’s performance is up to par. My first band The Van Ermans was by far one of the most exciting experiences in playing music. We started out not having the slightest idea of how it all works. I’d think we were all a little scared. We were after all, virgins to the whole situation of making music. I remember it quite distinctly, the parents were out of town for the weekend…primary time to pop the musical cherry. The lights were low, the time was right, Man oh man, sparks flew that night. It was the BEST music I had ever made, simply because I had never had the pleasure of making music with another up to that point. I had been playing guitar by myself for quite some time before this experience, but it doesn’t compare to getting down and dirty with another. When "pleasing" yourself with music, imagination is half the batttle. Doing anything by your self requires extreme use of fantasy. Imagination is important, but it’s just nice to actually "play" with REAL people. Miss Michigan never fails to do the trick….but a metronome always comes in handy.
Since the first time, my knowledge and ability have increased, making my new music even better than the last. As they say, practice makes perfect. A slut would say the same. There is a quote from a song that says...
"I try everything in life, the things I like, I try twice"
My first experience gave me a reason to try it twice, three times, four times, a hundred times. It became part of me, and something I truly loved to do…making music that is. Duh.
Being a music slut has its benefits and its flaws. I’ve always been told, "Use protection," and I do as often as I can…because we all know how much damage can be done without a proper barrier or wall of protection. Many people argue that protection hinders the full experience, like chewing bubble gum with the wrapper. It just doesn’t feel right. Despite the warnings and facts about unprotected encounters, I simply choose not to wear earplugs sometimes, for that very reason. Not to mention, they are not always readily available when you need them. As you might guess, earplugs can’t be purchased at the local gas station bathroom. I’m wont be surprised if end up an old Deaf man with the bulging hearing aid. That’s just what I’ll get for the lifestyle I lived. A slut won’t be losing anything, but I’d imagine they will be gaining a few nasty diagnoses. It all comes with the territory.
Money is the key in both the sex and music market. Anyone can be a slut, indulging themselves in self-pleasure, but only the ones that are really good at what they do get money for it. Much like musicians, only the good musicians make money. It is some of the best money you can make, simply because I’m getting it from something that pleasures me greatly. A slut would say the same.
So now you see why I gained the title of music slut. A lot of similarities can be made in sex and music. If "getting around" with many different musicians makes me a slut for music, well then, I’m a proud to be a slut.
If you got read to this point...I owe you $2. remind me next time I see you.
By the way...that was a paper I wrote for a writing class. I figured I'd bust it out essay style. damn straight.
bye.
"Ben, you’re a music slut"
Now, for the most part, no one wants to be called a slut. But this phrase hit home for me in a very strange way. After this comment, it got me thinking about what exactly justified my musically promiscuous lifestyle.
First of all, I have many friends that are musicians. That being said, you’ll find the reason why I would be jamming a lot. When we hang out, we make sweet music all night long, much like that of the conventional slut, just under different circumstances. Taking a different approach, I thought about the variety of music that I make with others. Making music is like making love, the intensity, as well as decibel level tend to vary quite drastically. I’ve made loud hardcore music, soft and sweet music, fast and upbeat music, and not to mention extremely boring and uninteresting music. I’m sure a slut would say the same about their hobby.
Like a slut, I don’t give a damn who my companion is. The more options, the better. I only judge a musician on how well they do what they do. I don’t base our "jam" session on who they are, only on how good our music is. You wouldn’t see a whore on Michigan Ave. picking and choosing their business. They take what they can get, cuz it’s all about one thing for them. Sex. It’s all about one thing for me. Music. I’d like to hope that when we rock out we would rock each other’s world, so to speak. So when my partner asks,
"Was it good for you?"
My responses could easily vary from, "I’ve had better" to " That was totally amazing"
When I jam with someone for the first time, we set the standard for the music. Much like sex, or anything for that matter, the more you do it, the better you know it, making it easier to determine if your partner’s performance is up to par. My first band The Van Ermans was by far one of the most exciting experiences in playing music. We started out not having the slightest idea of how it all works. I’d think we were all a little scared. We were after all, virgins to the whole situation of making music. I remember it quite distinctly, the parents were out of town for the weekend…primary time to pop the musical cherry. The lights were low, the time was right, Man oh man, sparks flew that night. It was the BEST music I had ever made, simply because I had never had the pleasure of making music with another up to that point. I had been playing guitar by myself for quite some time before this experience, but it doesn’t compare to getting down and dirty with another. When "pleasing" yourself with music, imagination is half the batttle. Doing anything by your self requires extreme use of fantasy. Imagination is important, but it’s just nice to actually "play" with REAL people. Miss Michigan never fails to do the trick….but a metronome always comes in handy.
Since the first time, my knowledge and ability have increased, making my new music even better than the last. As they say, practice makes perfect. A slut would say the same. There is a quote from a song that says...
"I try everything in life, the things I like, I try twice"
My first experience gave me a reason to try it twice, three times, four times, a hundred times. It became part of me, and something I truly loved to do…making music that is. Duh.
Being a music slut has its benefits and its flaws. I’ve always been told, "Use protection," and I do as often as I can…because we all know how much damage can be done without a proper barrier or wall of protection. Many people argue that protection hinders the full experience, like chewing bubble gum with the wrapper. It just doesn’t feel right. Despite the warnings and facts about unprotected encounters, I simply choose not to wear earplugs sometimes, for that very reason. Not to mention, they are not always readily available when you need them. As you might guess, earplugs can’t be purchased at the local gas station bathroom. I’m wont be surprised if end up an old Deaf man with the bulging hearing aid. That’s just what I’ll get for the lifestyle I lived. A slut won’t be losing anything, but I’d imagine they will be gaining a few nasty diagnoses. It all comes with the territory.
Money is the key in both the sex and music market. Anyone can be a slut, indulging themselves in self-pleasure, but only the ones that are really good at what they do get money for it. Much like musicians, only the good musicians make money. It is some of the best money you can make, simply because I’m getting it from something that pleasures me greatly. A slut would say the same.
So now you see why I gained the title of music slut. A lot of similarities can be made in sex and music. If "getting around" with many different musicians makes me a slut for music, well then, I’m a proud to be a slut.
If you got read to this point...I owe you $2. remind me next time I see you.
By the way...that was a paper I wrote for a writing class. I figured I'd bust it out essay style. damn straight.
bye.