I The Behrend Beacon I need summer, I need music By Ryan P. Gallagher This is it: the last time. The last time my musieal words of an indefinable "knowledge" will appear in our Beacon this spring. If you enjoyed my work, 1 appreeiate your thoughts. If not. 1 apologize for our col liding views, but 1 hope I opened your eyes to some thing new. Something other than the ordinary music that we're repeatedly exposed to in our pop culture of dimin ishing value- that was my goal. Now that my time is up. I see one thing in the near future that we can all collectively stop wishing for- it's time to start living the reoccurring dream we all share during the spring semester. It's summertime people. Summertime, where the daily work pays for our memorable and eventful nights, and the mornings start fresh, leading into the heat of the sun. Of course we all know this, so this isn’t actually a news story, but more of a charming pre view of summer bliss. And a surreal summer of fun never succeeds without the presence of music, right? I think so. and so do a couple others. Junior Joshua Miller says that it simply isn't summer without the music. "Oh, it's very important to have music in the summer. Whether it's screwin' around with your friends at night, or workin’ out in the sun during the day. it's just always better when there's music." Miller continues to elaborate on why music is more prominent in the sum- mer than any other season. “Music is important all year, but in the summer, for some reason, it just changes your mood. When you put on a ‘beach' song it just puts you in that good mood. When you think of summer, you think of the concerts and tailgating- there's always music for that." It's hard to make an argu ment that attacks a state ment like that. It's true music exists all year round, there's no rejecting that, however in the summer it plays a role nothing can supplant. Think about it hard. Common summer activities include campfires, the beach, hitting the sauce (come on, it's summertime), running, picnics, festivals (any type, really), "I could go on forever, baby”. The point this list is prov ing is that each of these Top Five Summertime Tunes by the Behrend Beacon Editing Staff Scott Muska 5. The Eagles - “Tequila Sunrise” 4. Don Henley - “Boys of Summer” 3. John Travolta feat. Olivia Newton John - “Summer Lovin’” 2. Brand New - “Soco Amaretto Lime” 1. Vega Boys - “Sex On the Beach” music editor rpgs(Xl4@psu.cdu activities is deeply enhanced through the art of music, and that's the way it has always been. According to producer Daniel J. Levitin, who wrote the book This Is Your Brain On Music, music wasn’t actually split into two separate classes until about 500 years back. Now. we have music performers and music listeners, but centuries ago proved that music was an actively essential part of each indi vidual's lives. Everyone sang. Everyone danced. No one provided excuses like “oh sorry. I can’t sing", or “no. I just can't dance". It was literally the most sig nificant aspect of each and every culture, and modem summers are very reminis cent of these times. We may not individually play the most active role when it comes down to it, but it’s constantly there- you can- not run from it. Senior business major, Brian Woodworth, doesn't quite know how to explain it, but feels that a summer can't exist without a musi- cal presence. “Hanging out, sitting by the campfire with good friends listening to music- I don't know, time just slows down so you can chill out for a while." The time doesn't slow down enough. The return of classes, or the fear of acquiring our first “real” job cripples the illumination of an ideal summer spent by a crackling fire. For some, like Woodworth, it could be considered the ultimate experience, for others maybe not so much, but whether you're conscious to it or not, music effectively underscores our daily sum mer routines in ways, that other seasons do not. If you simply aren’t into music, and cannot to relate to what I'm saying, then I have a favor to ask of you. Give music a chance. Give it a chance when you're doing anything and every thing this summer. Listen to Creedence Clearwater Revival by the fire. Listen to Bruce Springsteen on a hot. sunny day. Pop on an old Sinatra record when you’re enjoying the cool, buzz of a summer's night on the back deck. It could bring out emotions you never thought you had. Take it easy Spring, Summer's arrived and I have to go catch up. Chris Brown 5. The Isley Brothers - “Summer Breeze” 4. Eddie Cochran - “Summertime Blues” 3. The Lovin’ Spoonful - “Summer in the City” 2. The Grateful Dead - “Morning Dew” 1. The Beatles - “Here Comes the Sun” MUSIC Performers come to Behrend with high hopes of “breaking stereo- “It’s a thing. puses don’t let things go on. really sad. ” - Randi Driscoll, award win ning song writer and diversity advocate It wasn’t the free popcorn and free soda that drew me in. It wasn’t Randi Driscoll's angelic vibrato that kept me listening. And it wasn’t the clear blue sky and sunny Erie weather that led me to stay for hours. “Break stereotypes, one at a time" was the message, and each per former outside of Bruno's cafe on Thursday did their part, whether singing, speaking or dancing, in per petuating a message of hope about diversity. Driscoll, a diversity advocate and award-winning songwriter, was the first performer to take the stage. Standing behind a keyboard, Driscoll used her songs and elabo rate stories to discuss the impor tance of acceptance. She is a decorated musician, win ning the 2004 Campus Activities Magazine's “Female Performer of the Year" and “Best Small Venue Performer.” Her biggest accom plishment does not come in the form of a trophy or award, however. In 1998, she penned the song “What National Music News in Brief by Matthew Schwabenbauer - mjss3B7@psu.edu *For the first time in years, all four mem bers of Jane’s Addiction reunited in Los Angeles on Wednesday to perform at the inaugural NME (New Musical Express) Awards USA at the El Rey Theater. The group was honored as the first American band to receive the “Godlike Genius Award for Extraordinary Services to Music.” The reunion was a total surprise, due to bassist Eric Avery regularly turning down offers for a reunion. He almost declined the NME per formance as well, but changed his mind at the last minute, stating the performance was about “honoring the past instead of trying to recreate it.” *The University of California Santa Cruz Chris LaFuria 5. Don Henley - “Boys of Summer” 4. Roger Miller - “King of the Road” 3. Chuck Berry - “No Particular Place to Go” 2. The Velvet Underground - “Who Loves the Sun?” 1. John Travolta feat. Oliva Newton John - “Summer Lovin’” types one at a time” really Some By Chris LaFuria editor-in-chief cs]soo4@psu.edu Matters” in response to the tragic death of Matthew Shepard, who was brutally attacked and murdered by two men. The Matthew Shepard Foundation, formed to build aware ness of eliminating hatred, has used the song as their benefit single. The single has helped raise over $40,000 and has been featured in many doc umentaries. Driscoll spoke about maintaining racial awareness but also credited Penn State Behrend for raising awareness. “It’s a really cool thing,” she said of Behrend's aware ness. "Some campuses don’t' let these things go on. It's really sail.’'' Her music has become nationally renowned in recent years. She has played concerts with many famous musicians such as Jason Mraz and Pat Benetar. She says her favorite concert to play was in Walnut Creek which featured such artists as Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and Bruce Hornsby. Elaine Penn was the second per former of the afternoon. Penn took Andy McLachlan 5. Dave Clark Five - “Because” 4.311- “Amber” 3. Sublime - “What I Got” 2. Mungo Jerry - “In the Summertime” 1. Seals & Crofts - “Summer Breeze” cool cam- these It’s Thursda' will be receiving a gift that even the most pacifistic hippy would fight a war over: the entire archives of The Grateful Dead. In addi tion to the rock legend’s musical archives, the University will also be housing memorabilia and correspondence from the Dead that has been accumulating for decades. *After a slow 2007, Beck fans have much to look forward to in 2008. Besides the fol low-up to his last record, The Information, the pop-art rocker has announced tour dates. After playing some European festivals in June and July, Beck will be returning in August for a stretch through the US, includ ing headlining the Hollywood Bowl in September which also features appearances M. Schwabenbauer 5. Comeback Kid - “Partners in Crime” 4. Ever We Fall - “Youth Like Tigers” 3. Cassino - “American Low” 2. The Get Up Kids - “Campfire Kansas” 1. Brand New - “Soco Ameretto Lime” a completely different approach to her performance. Not only is she a singer and songwriter, but she is also a speaker, physical trainer and performer. She has had many titles over the years, including Director of Special Projects. Chief Fundraiser and Executive Producer, Director of Campus Recreation and Assistant Volleyball Coach. Five of her docu mentaries have gone on to win awards. After attaining her Bachelor’s Degree from Greensboro College, she got her Master's from UNC Wilmington. As an undergrad, she was a Very successful athlete, hav ing the honor of being elected into the Greensboro College Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. After a shocking speech about the harmful effects of stereotyping. Penn played her most touching song of the day. The song. “Make a Difference.” referred to Alex Scott, the 8-year-old neuroblastoma suf ferer and cancer advocate who turned heads with her lemonade Ryan P. Gallagher 5. Bruce Springsteen - “Thunder Road” 4. Frank Sinatra - “Summer Wind” 3. Led Zeppelin - “Going to California” 2. Modest Mouse - “The World at Large” 1. The Get Up Kids- “Campfire Friday, April 25, 2008 stand that helped raise money for cancer. Penn used Scott, who tragi cally died in mid-2004, as a song writing inspiration. While her musical performance, consisting of just her own vocals playing her acoustic guitar, was exceptional, she lost a little bit of her luster with her long explana tions. Nonetheless, everyone who attended and listened intently was forever touched by her words. The last performer was a Native American hula-hoop dancer with a direct message. Kevin Locke used his dancing and his hula-hoops to discuss the necessary harmony that is needed to live with nature. He emphasized that everyone and everything is a part of nature. While the performances didn't stand out musically, the messages are what made the day worthwhile. Although artists such as Driscoll. Locke and Penn cannot change the entire world with one song or dance, their efforts are just another way to start “breaking stereotypes one at a from Spoon and MGMT. *Boston cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls will be releasing a follow-up EP/B-side col lection to their 2006 record, Yes, Virginia... The new record, titled Vo, Virginia... contains four new songs, demos, unreleased cuts, B sides and songs originally only available on compilations. *Former frontman for the Jam and the Style Council, Paul Weller will be releasing his ninth studio album, 22 Dreams, in the US on June 24. 22 Dreams sees Weller collaborating with some of the biggest names in Brit-rock, including Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer of Oasis, and former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon. Kansas” CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Lenny Smith 5. Jimmy Buffet - “Margaritaville” 4. Kenny Chesney “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” 3. Kenny Chesney “Beer in Mexico” 2. Brad Paisley - “Mud on the Tires” 1. Kenny Chesney “Summertime”
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