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”