I have learned a lot on Facebook.
Like all those tests that people post. I have learned that I am 78% right brained, which is probably why I feel a bit out-of-kilter, and why I am a little too perceptive, which makes me uncomfortable in social situations too often.
And I learned that my mental age is 28, which sounds precisely right.
And I have learned that it is futile to argue with idiots and ideologues.
But I have also learned that there is an unheralded huge talent loose in the world, in the person of one Meg Rubin.
I learned this from a FB post by her aunt, Maria Garvey O’Grady, whom I dated briefly in the early 90s. Indeed, I believe that I met Meg, who is in her mid-twenties, when she was a small child, as we had visited her family.
Meg Rubin’s father is Jewish, a convert to Catholicism, and her mother is NYC Irish, and Meg’s amazing voice, with such depth and range, is a testament to what can happen when two such gifted tribes merge.
Well, I guess the simultaneous blessing and cheese of technology prevented my first comment from being seen so I will try again. Such a humorous and sweet blog post! Thanks again for your kind words, I am lucky that there are such people who will support my production of songs that subtly and intellectually portray good messages and morals. God bless!
Haha, that was supposed to read curse not cheese, though that also seems particularly à propos at this moment.
“Cheese” is good! Better than “curse”; at least I think.
Anyway, my dear Meg, lay low on the “messages and morals” stuff. Let beauty do its work. Listen to Francis, and attract with the inherent power of your amazing gifts.
Stunning. Reminds me of another sister act, The Roches. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osZsDIEI0UQ
First, the Rubins are way better than the Roches, whom I absolutely love. Second, the sensibilities are almost polar opposites. What Meg reflects upon the Roches react to, often with heartbreaking bitterness. I thank you for reminding me of the Roches; the juxtaposition is timely. Both sets of sisters Irish (mostly; though half Jewish, Meg has the map of Eire written on her face) but children of different times and different minds. Here is one of the Roches, in a devastating song in the same vein:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3pMW4ssLrY
Beautiful. And my mental age is 57. :-). Meg, don’t give up on the messages and morals. Young women need to hear that they’re worth more than just the sum of their visual body, worth more than a boyfriend who will leave them for the next booty call.
Thanks Theodore, that’s really what I was trying to portray in the song, juxtaposing the senselessness of pining over someone who is obviously not right for you with an understanding of how painful it is to feel used and at fault.
Zeb, I watched the “Hammond Song,” very lovely harmonies and quirky lyrics, love it!
Writing songs or stories or whatever that are informed by one’s moral sense is one thing. Intentionally moralizing or writing things with “a message” is quite another. The first attracts, if beautifully done, but being preachy repels (just look at the abysmal “Christian Contemporary Music” scene, or the sad affair of “Christian fiction”). Do what you are doing, Miss Meg, but keep it mum about your intentions.
I disagree, a lot of the most compelling music is very ‘preachy’ with an explicit strident message. Look at your favorite, “Fortunate Son.” Granted it’s hard to pull off and there is a lot of dreck out there, especially on Christian radio.
Overtly preachy works better with politics than with religion or morals. Anger is a great musical powerhouse, which can illuminate songs about justice or war. Not so good with religion, where anger is poison. Meg said that she wants to “subtly” convey what she is saying. Good. Keep it subtle, and by no means set out to, in Francis’ words, proselytize. Express what you see and do it well and beautifully, which is apparently effortless in one so gifted. The response will take care of itself.
And dang, Miss Meg and her sisters are some kind of amazing. You really do not hear this sort of voice every day. Or every year. Or every decade.
Daniel, that’s what gets me about the anti-moral culture. You never grew up.
I actually like the Christian Contemporary Music Scene, and all of the best fiction includes a sense of right and wrong that seems utterly alien to America.
Daniel, Amen. Meg, beautifully done. May your gifts be blessed.
I finally had a chance to listen attentively to this at a volume where I could make out the words, as opposed to just playing it softly in the background. Very impressive indeed. And that’s especially high praise coming from me, because the basic girl+piano style is not one I usually respond to. But this really pulled me in. A very touching song, beautifully performed. I was going to ask who the other singers were but I see on the YouTube page that it’s all Meg.
Meg, if you read this, I second Daniel’s advice. In fact I think it’s so good that I’ll repeat it: “Let beauty do its work. Listen to Francis, and attract with the inherent power of your amazing gifts.” Are you familiar with the Innocence Mission? Their music is very different but they’re an excellent example of letting beauty do its work.
Haven’t heard the Roches for a long time. They’re great, but they always make me feel sad, not in a good way.
Well, I have always loved the girl + piano combination, though more along the lines of Laura Nyro and Joni Mitchell than Carol King or Tori Amos….
But Maclin, one of the more amazing things about this piece, aside from the composition and the rare gift of Meg’s voice (!) is the fact that this was done in a single, flawless take. Whew.
My single criticism, and it is a quibble, given the wonder of this recording, is that “every Tom Dick and Harry” is a weak line.
By the way, I could see my daughter Maria, who is almost 11 going on almost 30, and who has a huge voice, singing this sort of thing.
You said it, Daniel: just wow. This thing is so good I couldn’t believe the pure, radiant sound coming from the low-grade speakers attached to my computer.
I hope to be hearing more like this from Meg and her sisters. Just excellent.