carpediem

lilchick, To say U2 does not have a unique voice. Care to share who he sounds like. Because his voice is very unique in my opinion and I think many U2 fans would tell you the same. And you don't have to be a U2 fan to know that his voice is not sounding like anyone else's. Sometimes a unique voice gets allot of negative attention. Or should I say many people who will say they can't stand their music. That happens with singers who have unique voices. They know very well they are not going to amuse everyone in the world. Isn't it funny how Bono, Chris and Dylan all get that same attention. People who can't stand their music, and those same people who say they can't sing. What I notice about Bono's voice is the fact he changes pitches allot more then Chris Martin. Not to mention Bono and The Edge who sometimes sing together, blow away any duet in Coldplay. I mean I'm just speaking facts here. Based on status in the music industry. Coldplay will have their turn someday I'm sure. And there will be another Coldplay coming up behind them trying to claim their spot. That's just the way it goes. NOW to be very honest. I think having the conversation of which band is better, should not really be relevant. Both bands exist and their pleasing an audience. Their doing what they love. We all know who we like and who we don't. Some like both bands, some just like the one. I'm a fan of both. I mostly only think in terms as who is best when people start asking the question. Let's just like what we like, listen to what we like and don't argue if someone doesn't. It is pointless. :-) Just LOVE the MUSIC. How would we evolved without it, right? ;) Kevin

Ra-d, Thanks for the response. As for my favorite U2 album, it would have to be Joshua Tree. That album is amazing. And I think Bono and his band are just genius. Same as Coldplay their newest album is in my own personal opinion their best. Kevin

Bands like U2 or Coldplay would not exist as they do if it wasn't for must artist before them. Maybe they would exist with a different style from a different influence, which would give us a different sound and lyrics. But if you look deeply into music before them. They are very much a link in a chain that started back with Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and other folk and country singers. Some of you may be to young and won't recall much of the music before U2 and Coldplay. But some of you older people out there may recall Woody Guthrie or Bob Dylan. The link I clearly see is Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, U2 and now Coldplay being the new part of that chain. Interesting enough some of U2 albums were produced by the same producer as some of Bob Dylan's albums. A Canadian music producer out of Montreal by the name of Daniel Lanois. Every U2 fan or Coldplay fan has to face the fact that they were influenced by music before their fame. And if they take the time to listen and learn about those old artist that influenced them. You will learn allot about life and why you are interested in these bands in the first place. Kevin

Bono and Chris Martin have both admited that Bob Dylan was an influence in their music. Which is very obvious when you hear the similarities of "changes in voice" and how sound goes along with the lyrics. Also poetry is used. Music history is showing that this style of sound and lyrics all come from Woody Guthrie and other folk and country singers. Maybe some people will say they like Coldplay but not U2, or say they don't like Bob Dylan or U2, but they like Coldplay. That is expected. The sound may be different, however, there is a similarity in how sound is used with lyrics. Read Woody Guthrie's quote down below. I find this quote to be very interesting. "I hate a song that makes you think that you are no good … I am out to fight those songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood. I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it’s hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter how hard it’s run you down, and rolled over you, no matter what colour, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to sing the songs that will make you take pride in yourself and your work.---Woody Guthrie"

Yah same here :-) Kevin

Bob Dylan - No Direction Home Does anyone have an article, or source of where I could find where Chris Martin admits his music was influenced by Bob Dylan. I'm almost sure that I read it somewhere before. May have been The Rolling Stone, but could be wrong. If he did influence him. And you believe it did. I recommend you watch "Bob Dylan - No Direction Home". I think even Bono had also admited that Bob Dylan influenced their music. For Bono it was especially the voice, but its clear his lyrics have to be influenced by Bob Dylan. What a documentary. Kevin

Where would that be?

sure go ahead. I thought this was it. but sure.

Is Bob Dylan Mystical........... I have a feeling I'm going to get some responses that are not very friendly towards Bob Dylan. I know some people can't stand his music. Some unexplained thing how one likes or dislikes a song. But anyways yah I expect some negative responses. But is there anyone who could agree with me? Or at least see maybe the possibility. Of Bob Dylan being mystical. I think Chris Martin had said similiar things about his music. Although I could be mistaken. I guess I could give you the link to an interview on CBS that aired back on December 4, 2004. Let me know what you think. I find his answers very deep. Article of interview below. Link and text. LINK: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/02/60minutes/main658799.shtml (CBS) This segment originally aired Dec. 5, 2004. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is no living musician who has been more influential than Bob Dylan. Over a 43-year career, his distinctive twang and poetic lyrics have produced some of the most memorable songs ever written. In the '60s, his songs of protest and turmoil spoke to an entire generation. While his life has been the subject of endless interpretation, Dylan has been largely silent. At 63, he wrote a memoir called "Chronicles, Volume One." Correspondent Ed Bradley got to sit down with this music legend in his first television interview in nearly 20 years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dylan is mysterious, elusive, fascinating – just like his music. Over more than four decades, Dylan has produced 500 songs and more than 40 albums. Does he ever look back at the music he's written with surprise? "I used to. I don't do that anymore. I don't know how I got to write those songs. Those early songs were almost magically written," says Dylan, who quotes from his 1964 classic, "It's Alright, Ma." "Try to sit down and write something like that. There's a magic to that, and it's not Siegfried and Roy kind of magic, you know? It's a different kind of a penetrating magic. And, you know, I did it. I did it at one time." Does he think he can do it again today? No, says Dylan. "You can't do something forever," he says. "I did it once, and I can do other things now. But, I can't do that." Dylan has been writing music since he was a teenager in the remote town of Hibbing, Minn. He was the eldest of two sons of Abraham and Beatty Zimmerman. How was his childhood? "I really didn't consider myself happy or unhappy," says Dylan. "I always knew that there was something out there that I needed to get to. And it wasn't where I was at that particular moment." In his book, Dylan writes that he came alive at 19, when he moved to Greenwich Village in New York City – which at the time was the frenetic center of the '60s counterculture. Within months, Dylan had signed a recording contract with Columbia Records. "You refer to New York as the capital of the world. But when you told your father that, he thought that it was a joke," says Bradley. "Did your parents approve of you being a singer-songwriter? Going to New York?" "No. They wouldn't have wanted that for me. But my parents never went anywhere," says Dylan. "My father probably thought the capital of the world was wherever he was at the time. It couldn't possibly be anyplace else. Where he and his wife were in their own home, that, for them, was the capital of the world." So what made Dylan different? What pushed him out there? "I listened to the radio a lot. I hung out in the record stores. And I slam-banged around on the guitar and played the piano and learned songs from a world which didn't exist around me," says Dylan. He says that he knew even then that he was destined to become a music legend. "I was heading for the fantastic lights," he writes. "Destiny was looking right at me and nobody else." What does the word "destiny" mean to Dylan? "It's a feeling you have that you know something about yourself - nobody else does - the picture you have in your mind of what you're about will come true," says Dylan. "It's kind of a thing you kind of have to keep to your own self, because it's a fragile feeling. And if you put it out there, somebody will kill it. So, it’s best to keep that all inside." When Bradley asked Dylan why he changed his name from Robert Zimmerman, he said that was destiny, too. "Some people – you're born, you know, the wrong names, wrong parents. I mean, that happens," says Dylan. "You call yourself what you want to call yourself. This is the land of the free." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dylan created a world inspired by old folk music, with piercing and poetic lyrics, in songs such as "A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall." These were songs that reflected the tension and unrest of the civil rights and anti-war movements of the '60s. It was an explosive mixture that turned Dylan, by 25, into a cultural and political icon - playing to sold-out concert halls around the world, and followed by people wherever he went. Dylan was called the voice of his generation – and was actually referred to as a prophet, a messiah. Yet Dylan says he saw himself simply as a musician: "You feel like an impostor when someone thinks you're something and you're not." What was the image that people had of him? And what was the reality? "The image of me was certainly not a songwriter or a singer," says Dylan. "It was more like some kind of a threat to society in some kind of way." What was the toughest part for him personally? "It was like being in an Edgar Allan Poe story. And you're just not that person everybody thinks you are, though they call you that all the time," says Dylan. "'You're the prophet. You're the savior.' I never wanted to be a prophet or savior. Elvis maybe. I could easily see myself becoming him. But prophet? No." He may not have seen himself as the voice of the '60s generation, but his songs were viewed as anthems that sparked a moment. "My stuff were songs, you know? They weren't sermons," says Dylan. "If you examine the songs, I don't believe you're gonna find anything in there that says that I'm a spokesman for anybody or anything really." "But they saw it," says Bradley. "They must not have heard the songs," says Dylan. "It's ironic, that the way that people viewed you was just the polar opposite of the way you viewed yourself," says Bradley. "Isn't that something," says Dylan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dylan did almost anything to shatter the lofty image many people had of him. He writes that he intentionally made bad records, and once poured whiskey over his head in public. He also writes that, as a stunt, he went to Israel and made a point of having his picture taken at the Wailing Wall wearing a skullcap. When he went to Israel, he writes that the newspapers changed him overnight into a Zionist. How did this help?

I didn't mean to get political either. But I just feel the people behind all 9/11, would love if we continue to reflect on this without asking questions. The questions have to be asked. Its 4 years and many of the same questions are never answered. And this Republican party continue to gives lies. They started with the took of labeling anyone who oppose them was anti-american, now their using this strategy that anyone who oppose them are Liberal and evil. Its basically some of the same techniques Liberals have used for decades towards them. So what do you expect. These people died because of evil. If the U.S had no connection to this evil in their business dealings. Then maybe I would not direct so many questions towards the U.S governments. If this was an attack on the U.S by let's say a country like Norway. Then maybe I would be very suspicious of the act. I mean I know that is a weird example. But anyways the point is, the attack came from a friend in economics and wealth. Does one have to be naive to think that the relationship between the two countries has to be looked at with some suspicious even today 4 years later. I guess in the end, the truth will die like all other events in American history. Heck, Assassinations never get solved either. Kevin

The strongest memory from that day for me, is screaming at the TV like I could maybe control what was happening in some way. I didn't know how else to react as I watched evil from the comfort of my home. I just didn't know. Kevin

lilchick, Where is bin ladden? Well there's one of those questions I was talking about. The type of question in a matter of a thought, I'm considered anti-american or Liberal. These people who do this, don't even take more then one thought from their narrow mind to understand what I'm asking. That's narrow minds for you. A label is easier then thinking. It's the "small mind" that is to lazy to think more then one thought when faced with a discussion. They only use the pre-set thoughts for a particular argument- Liberal, Anti-American, Evil, Communist, Anti-Christ and Witches. Why do you think its so hard to communicate. Many people from different ideologies are guilty of this though. Not just conservatives ;) I don't blame them for their responses for this first question of where Bin ladden is. That is more a conspiarcy theory type of question. But other questions I have which I could share with you. Those are all questions that I think reveal something without even having an answer. Yah check them out. Now the actual question "Where is Bin Ladden" is not exactly a high intelligent question to think of, its actually quite a simple question. Especially when your asking a question that someone may end up just saying "well if we knew where he was we would have caught him by now". Someone might have said that here. But don't worry (likchick), I beat them to it. I didn't mean it in a sarcastic way, like maybe someone would have. But the fact is the question has some weight, the weight of the truth, of whether someone in the U.S actually holds the answer to that question in his head. Holding it there for a cause. Who really knows. I'm not saying I personally believe someone does. But the question is still o.k to ask. Maybe the answer is nobody knows where he is. Oh well still have other questions like below. I think this question only brings with it additional questions. Like the media role of the Hunt for Bin Ladden. An American can blame blame the media for not asking these questions. Like why isn't Fox nor CNN in afghanistan asking these soldiers questions.See what they think about their role there. Don't just show one officers view either. Give a whole group of them a public interview. All the cameras they had for the American movie called "Iraq invastion", where are these cameras for Afghanistan now. Would you agree every American wants to see the capture of Bin Ladden? Why isn't the entertainment media picking up on that audience demand? Imagine this CNN or Fox can run a show called "The Hunt For Bin Ladden" stay tuned. Just like the movies they played "Shock and Awe" or "Project Iraq". Its ironic that these reporters took such a risk in Iraq, being in the battle. I believe some of them were also in Afghanistan for the initial invasion there. But now we still see more in Iraq (while its still a huge risk) coming from the bombings there. In Afghanistan we see little reporting, even though there is less of a risk there. Where are those reporters who should be interested in the capture of Bin Ladden. At the same time they could feel safer. Maybe these high risk reporters are getting more then a journalist wage. Could it be government bonuses LoL. But to expand on that question. I'm still confused as to why Saddam got more military might longterm then what Bin Ladden got in Afghanistan. From the reports I've read, (can't remember exact figures) they say there is still allot less military in Afghanistan then in Iraq. Allot less then what they need to really be able to find Bin Ladden. One can ask exactly how much time it would have took if they spent all their time in Afghanistan to find Bin Ladden. And if they had caught him at the same time span as when they caught Saddam. Americans and Eruopeans could have been much safer knowing they had Bin Ladden. He would have been a bigger step to security, if they caught him. Even with Saddam still in power, it is fact now they know he posed no threats to America. Unless you've been watching fox that is, you may not believe this. But even a Fox news brain could agree that they should have done more military might in the search for Bin Ladden. More troops covering quicker and faster with amazing American technology. Especially if you learnt American military capability from Fox, you probably think the U.S won vietnam and Iraq. They see something me and you can't. They see innocent lives as a win. Yah never understood that either. So yah your questions still stands, and its an intelligent question. "Where is bin ladden?" GOD BLESS ALL THOSE WHO DIED with a blessing for us all to see the dark light of the powers that surround us. Kevin

4 years since the event. Yet we still live in that time. 3000 people deid, but will not be forgoten. All of us see the event differently from eachother. And the truth is buried inside the politics. Sad 3000 people have to be dead because of governments and religion politicking. Always the same powers bringing evil, creating war and devastation. They repeat history, instead of learning from it. I remember where I was on 9/11. I was about to lay a dry cloth on a car, when my boss came in and told me the news. I immediately put the radio on. I remember every moment while it sunk in. My first thought was it was no mistake of pilots flying plans into the WTC. I knew there was something more to this. As I watched the footage of the plans flying into the WTC, I pulled both my fist forward, and sceamed at the TV screen. I couldn't understand the evil behind the act. It also awoken something in me. It awoken this side of me, that started asking questions. Deeper questions. Questions that now make me a Liberal every time I ask them. Even music artist have asked similiar questions. and they as well get labeled as Liberal. I'm starting to wonder if questions is evil to the people who hold power. Anyways I'm blabbing on here, my apologies. Those people died because of politicking. And those people died with no one taking blame or responsibility. Some argue and say the Republicans did admit some blame, and that they did take responsibilty. But i for one don't believe blaming the mistake on "intelligence" information, or bombing another country is what it means to admit blame, or take responsibility. They could have publicly admited they directly made mistakes while leading, and they could have resigned for those mistakes. The fundamentals of a leader, is one that will admit fault. Not blame it on other factors around them. A leader realises everything around them is their responsibility. All the organizations that may have failed on 9/11, was under the leadership of the Republican party. Kevin

The Conscience Test by Sean Landau (06 Sept, 2005) Personal morality in a time of change This year is shaping up to be what social theorists call a "vortex year," when unprecedented events jolt people out of their comfort zones and denial systems. http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4506.html .

lilchick, Your probably right there, however, being the opposition to what nick is saying. You have to ask yourself if your guilty of this 'closed mind' approach yourself. I'm sure nick believes what he is saying just as much as you. And when your having a debate, the only way a person will open up their mind to another idea. Is if you find common ground. Finding common ground is the key. I think that is why I find myself torn between being a conservative and a Liberal. Because if you actually try to understand the conservative side, beyond your emotions, beyond just what we are told, read it from a conservative perspective, and you will find they are not all nuts. If the other person your debating is not going to take the first step to finding common ground. You take the first step. If that doesn't open them up a little from their narrow mind, then just move on. Trust me when I say you will debate many different conservatives, some who will never find common ground with you. But the same could be said about Liberals. Some people are just so stuck in this world of theirs, that even denying they followed a lie is yard for them to reveal. If only people realized admiting to a mistake they did, makes them look much more human, and they get much more respect that way. In closing. Find common ground when debating. You will be surprised as to how much more you can learn, that you didn't know before, and you also then realize that the person your debating, is not much different then you in some aspects of his/her life. If your Liberal, Conservatives may be your enemy in your mind. Or the other way around. If that is the case then rule number one is understand your so called "enemy". This is a rule that was learnt from the Vietnam war. When the old U.S administration met with the Vietnamese government for the first time since the Vietnam war. They learnt that the entire war could have been prevented if they communicated better, and tried to understand what was really going on out there. Now of course just a debate is not as serious as the Vietnam war, but its still serious enough for Liberals and Conservatives to start understanding eachother. Instead of the environment Fox news is bringing on which is pinning a war between Liberal and Conservative. That isn't going to solve anything. To bad this so called educated man O'Reilly can't see beyond his own ego. Mrcool, Thanks for the kind words. I enjoy your post probably just as much. Its always nice to see post with substance. You do a good job at not steeping to the usual Conservative level I observe over the years. The ones that get so defensive, and start throwing label after label to try and win the debate. Many Liberals have this level of communicating too, so their no better. Kevin