Thursday, February 14, 2008

L-O-V-E



It's Valentines Day. All thoughts turn to love. Those of us that feel they have their full and those who feel they are lacking...we all think of it today, either running to CVS for cards or grumbling about this as a manufactured holiday... I ofcourse love my hubby and my daughter, but I was thinking as I sketched today about other types of love.

I have had 2 lifelong love affairs: Art and music. I write here all of the time about art. So, I'm thinking to day about music. Music that takes you through the moments of your life and that you return to time and time again, winds it way into your heart. And when you hit the play button, it washes over you in a flood of emotions, memories and experiences.
I have been so busy since the BNL cruise that I haven't really reflected on it. To spend thousands of dollars to have 3-4 days with a band, is a form of love.

The cruise was great. But I came off of that boat with musical whiplash. It was sensory overload. Guster was sing along fun as usual but I most enjoyed hiding inside the quiet moments of Joe Pisapia's set. Barenaked Ladies consistently make me fall in love with them again and again.

I have not stopped thinking about Steven Page, the lead singer of BNL since. I have always favored him a little, tho I don't want to have his baby or want to lick his sweat off of his body(yuck-did I write that?) I got that out of my system with Simon Le Bon. But I admired his singing. I dug his "John Lennon-ish" sardonic wit and seemingly tempermental, literate, artistic countenance. His retro tinged clothes and clean cut appearance perhaps suggested he was a safe version of a rock star. The funny guy you want to hang out with.

So, on this years' cruise- the dude was different. He looked different, dressed different... was different. And then there was "Bartles". His musical alter ego. Richard Simmons meets Mike Reno. He wore a wrestling unitard and green socks with a red satin jacket and headband. And candy cane sunglasses. He did a hip shaking boogy-down dance with manic intensity. His smile was euphoric. He sang so hard his voice broke all over the place. He was transformed. He seemed - free.

I was transfixed watching him. I know he's had big changes in his personal life. I really shouldn't know or care about it, since I don't really know him. But after all of these years of following this band around, I do care. Plus, when someone brings you joy and makes the music you turn to often to help navigate the twists and turns of life-- you want them to be happy too.

In analyzing my bizarre fixation on the "Bartles" - and indeed, I do need to get over it- It forces me to analyze myself. I've figured out it's about age. I'm 37 too. Mid- Life. How did I get here? Staring down the barrel of 40 forces one to ask those questions like.."What am I doing with my life?" "Am I happy" "Where do I go from here?" - maybe in our late 30's; We all should put on some spandex and satin and shake our hips and sing til our voice breaks. Feeling a little free, maybe you can figure it all out a little easier. I hope he does. I hope I do.

So for Valentine's Day, I'll put on some great music tonight with the hubby and make some memories.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

way to much information.

Kelly Light said...

My blog. Go get your own.

froggie is... said...

GUSTER? YOU LIKE GUSTER?

(get ------OUT!) ok, that was elaine, pushing jerry seinfeld really hard across the room.

woah. i so dig them. maybe it's the lead's voice...little boy, slacker scratchy. wow...i'm um, similarly taken with this um, rockette-like sexy socks dude, too. dunno why...must be the tylenol cold & sinus liqui gels. something about the red.

hilllarious! hope you had a smashing heart night! :)) froggie

Kelly Light said...

Please Anonymous, don't come and be snarky in my space. If you do, at least have the balls to not be anonymous.

Anonymous said...

I just love the way you describe Steve/Bartles. As an almost 36 year old woman, I'm all for doing all the things you said. Maybe if we do, we can have some of that Bartles magic as well.

nvcatgut said...

I had a root canal on Valentines day.
Just a thrill a minute here at the Tacky Tourist household.... :)

Anonymous said...

Why do I act like a giddy schoolgirl whenever I'm face to face with any of these guys... jeez, even Kevin! It's just so darned exciting to meet people you admire! (I laughed at your Simon LeBon comment. My guy was Roger, the quiet brooding one.) I met John Taylor last year at Neiman Marcus hawking his wife's Juicy Couture stuff. He looks the same. I don't lust after the guy. I just wanted to tell him "Thanks!" That's about all I could stammer out on the cruise: "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!"
I love the Bartles drawings. HIGH-larious. Didn't you get to see him in the red briefs? That was something else! My face still hurts from smiling so hard.

Jules