Chris Moss Online

OK, so Gallop posted this game on his blog, who stole the game from somebody, who stole the game from someone else. So I’m stealing it, too.

The rules are easy. Take your favorite band or artist (or just an appropriate one) and answer the following questions using only the titles of their songs as answers, as I have done below:

1. Name of band/artist: Jimmy Buffett

2. Are you male or female?: Jolly Mon

3. Describe yourself: My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink and I Don’t Love Jesus

4. How do you feel about yourself?: King of Somewhere Hot

5. Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: I Can’t Be Your Hero Today

6. Describe current girlfriend/boyfriend: Bigger Than the Both of Us

7. Describe where you want to be: Back to the Island

8. Describe how you live: Havana Daydreamin’

This entry details the genesis of my torrid love affair with Jimmy Buffett. It started off as a post about interpreting lyrics, but it took a different direction.

Songs can be a lot like poetry, and their meanings can differ widely among people. In fact, the popular interpretation of some songs can be remarkably different from what it meant to the lyricist. One of the things I really love about music is how it can be incredibly personal. You can latch on to just a particular part of a song, a line or even just a few words. Whether it was the words themselves or the expressive manner in which the words are vocalized, certain songs have the ability evoke sharp feelings and emotions. Or, it can evoke a memory (or the feelings related to the memory) of a place where you were, what you were doing or who you were with when you heard a song. I find that entirely appropriate and absolutely wonderful.

This week in 1996, Jamaican authorities opened fire on Jimmy Buffett’s seaplane, the Hemisphere Dancer, mistaking it for a drug trafficker’s plane. U-2 singer Bono was with Buffett, but neither one was hurt. Buffett wrote a song about the incident, entitled “Jamaica Mistaica,” that can be found on the album Banana Wind.

So I finally saw the Rolling Stones on Tuesday. Layton wrote a really excellent summary and I won’t try to post a sorry, half-assed excuse of something similar. Great show, loved it.

Got to thinking about the shows I’ve been to, so here’s a list of who I’ve seen perform live. The number in parenthesis is the number of times I’ve seen them if it’s more than once:

Jimmy Buffett (12)
The Black Crowes (4)
The Tragically Hip (3)
R.E.M. (2)
Counting Crows (2)
The Neville Brothers (2)
Hootie & The Blowfish (2)
Crosby, Stills & Nash (2)
Ian Moore (2)
Elton John
Pink Floyd
The Rolling Stones
U2
Pearl Jam
Van Halen

Layton and I are on our way in a few minutes to see The Rolling Stones.

This article appeared in the Dallas Morning News and made me feel good about having tickets. Unfortunately, the election and too many things at work recently have prevented me from relishing the anticipation as much as I otherwise would have. I’ll have fun tonight anyway, unless someone offers me $400 for my ticket on the way inside, in which case I’ll have $400. I want to see the Stones but I’m not stupid.

Mood: Excited
Music: Mixed Emotions – The Rolling Stones (really!)

I stumbled across this article today which explains how a computer spyware expert learned that Sony had planted a little stealth program onto his PC via a CD he bought published by Sony Music.

His explanation of how he found it was remarkably clear and simple for a civilian like myself. So, not only is the story notable simply for the revelation about Sony’s heinous actions (which are likely to get them sued) but it’s a good tech article as well.

It may be about time (again) to hose down my hard drive and spray it with bleach. As far as Sony’s spyware – I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.