Jack Johnson : The magic of subtleties of words and music

 

I first came of know of Jack Johnson through a documentary I was watching called the Hawaii: Message in the waves, that tells us about how the current generation is departing from the deep knowledge of our ancestors about conserving and harvesting nature and the plastic pollution from the mainland that is killing the Albatross that breeds on the Hawaiian islands. Jack Johnson born and brought up in the paradise that is Hawaii, grew up admiring nature and is in the forefront on conservation activities at Hawaii. In the documentary in question he is singing a song 'reduce, Reuse, Recycle' at schools. How many of the rock starts really have concerns about nature and conservation? Hats off to JJ.

Now coming to his music, I will not bias my views taking his environmentalist activities in mind. ... I love his music, Yep, not only is his voice really good, he writes deeply meaningful songs and his band makes some amazing music.  I am listening to 'Only the ocean' from the album 'to the sea' in a loop and going totally high. The way he has expressed the ocean, huge , mighty not always loving but always by you, pulling you in.

 I love his views, his magic of words and the accompanying sweet music. There are many favorites of mine from his albums, like 'At or with me', is just a jolly song, 'Better Together' a very romantic song, "banana pancakes' just the right for a lazy morning. I even made banana pancakes one day learning them from the internet on one lazy morning which brought rains, and bunked office. :) and listened to this song.. Bubble toes, a cute song, sitting waiting wishing a very touching song,  Enemy (Worst Friends Remix) , breakdown,  dreams be dreams,  actually I'll stop here or i might end up listing all his songs.

Johnson's band is composed of:
   * Jack Johnson – Vocals, guitar
   * Adam Topol – Drums, percussion
   * Merlo Podlewski – Bass
   * Zach Gill – Piano, percussion

The music is soothing, acoustic, soft rock.. to kind of folksy.. I simply love his songs on mother nature.. a friend of my pointed to the this number from Brushfire fairytales, inaudible melodies a line that says, "yellow-bellied given names" suggesting that may be he does birding too.. great many connections.. I am yet to check out all his songs, and very excited too!

A look at his website and wiki page will give you all the info on this great albeit humble man - http://jackjohnsonmusic.com/home

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_%28musician%29

review of 'to the sea' - http://www.parcbench.com/2010/06/03/jack-johnson-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%9Cto-the-sea%E2%80%9D-music-review/ .. love this line "Did I mention that he is likely to enter this week’s Billboard charts at number one? You see, Jack Johnson is kind of a big deal. But he’s done it all in a quiet manner; he’s made a pop career for himself even without the help of American Idol."

Into the wild

Two years he walks the earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no  cigarettes. Ultimate freedom. An extremist. An aesthetic voyager  whose home is the road. Escaped from Atlanta. Thou shalt not  return, 'cause "the West is the best." And now after two rambling  years comes the final and greatest adventure. The climactic battle  to kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the  spiritual pilgrimage. Ten days and nights of freight trains and  hitchhiking bring him to the Great White North. No longer to be  poisoned by civilization he flees, and walks alone upon the land  to become lost in the wild. - Alexander Supertramp May 1992

Sometimes a movie leaves you spell bound, sometimes they arouse in  you a feeling that rings true with your soul, sometimes they  enthuse you to do something, and sometimes just make you happy.  Into the wild does them all. The visuals, direction and acting is  flawless. Narrative fantastic. Though the movie tends to oscillate  more and more between the present moment and past, you still are  gripped until the end. And for those who love wild and philosophy,  this is just the right blend for you. Eddie Vedder's songs flow in the movie at every occasion. My personal favourite is 'Long Nights' that suits Chris's temperament just fine.

Going beyond the movie, Into the wild is a real life story of  Christopher McCandless, a young boy fresh out of college who  decides to set himself free from the bonds of society, family and  responsibilities. What follows is an amazing journey of a mind  seeking freedom, to taste the wild as it ought to be. He hitch  hikes his way across US to reach his destination, Alaska, where he  has decided to survive with the least dependence on the outside  world. He meets, along the way, some really amazing people who  lead him through this new life. Trampling on the road with  literally no money and working small time  to earn little to buy  stuff he might need at Alaska, Chris experiences moments, a kind  of new awakening.

What Chris did, is what all of us dream to do someday, but  breaking away, to live a life away from the family and friends,  luxuries that money can buy, all the daily things familiar to you,  all the mundane responsibilities and commitments that tie you down  is nearly impossible. We all want to backpack, a run away into  wilderness amidst the sparkling stream water , chirping birds and  dewy grass, but nature is not just beautiful, it can be  unmerciful, which Chris found out at his life's stake.

Some of the quotes that I love are:
Happiness is real only when shared

The sea's only gifts are harsh blows, and occasionally the chance  to feel strong. Now I don't know much about the sea, but I do know  that that's the way it is here. And I also know how important it  is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To  measure yourself at least once. To find yourself at least once in  the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone  alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head.
— Bear Meat by Primo Levi

The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences.

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods;
There is a rapture on the lonely shore;
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar;
I love not man the less, but Nature more...
             - Lord Byron

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not  take the initiative to change their situation because they are  conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism,  all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality  nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man  than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit  is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our  encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy  than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a  new and different sun."
— Chris McCandless

"If we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all  possibility of life is destroyed."
— Chris McCandless

"Rather than Love, than Money, than Fame, give me Truth."
— Henry David Thoreau