If it’s good music, it’s good music

My neighbor was washing and waxing his car last weekend when I walked over to his driveway. He had music playing a bit loudly, and he assumed I was coming over to complain. He was surprised when I offered my electric car buffer, if he needed it.

That’s how neighbors are supposed to roll.

He was playing Earth, Wind & Fire, which I would never complain about. In fact, if he had asked me if he should turn it down, I would have suggested turning it up.

That’s how neighbors are supposed to roll.

Our conversation stayed on music. He asked me about my favorite songs. I don’t think he was prepared for my answer. I don’t know if anyone would have been.

I answered immediately, which really threw him off guard.

“Fire and Rain” by James Taylor. It has been my favorite song even before I knew the first verse was about a friend committing suicide, the second was about Taylor’s heroin addiction and the third verse was about a mental hospital. I didn’t know it for 30 years, but I still like the song.

My other favorite songs are “The Last Rebel” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, "Blue Jeans Blues" by ZZ Top, “Purple Rain” by Prince, “The Rain Song” by Led Zeppelin, “Stormy Monday” by the Allman Brothers Band, “Racing in the Street” by Bruce Springsteen” and “On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful” by Kenny Chesney.

I just realized I apparently like a lot of songs about rain and storms.

Black, white, men, women, Americans, foreigners, short, tall, skinny, not-so-skinny— it doesn’t matter. If it’s good music, it’s good music. That’s how we should make all of our choices.

No matter how hard Corporate America and Mainstream Media attempt to inflict its indoctrination, the product should be judged by the final product. There’s no room for categories. The music industry has been divided, then sub-divided and cataloged into so many subsets that it’s challenging to determine if a band comes from rock, country, pop or rap. My question is, why do they have to represent any group? Just play the music and let the fans decide with their credit cards.

Racing is doing the same thing. NASCAR has a diversity program. Why? Isn’t racing about showing up with the fastest car and crossing the finish line first? Isn't first place more important than your nationality or the color of your skin?

If you want a real lesson in diversity, go to an NHRA drag race. It’s no big deal because the garage is filled with Black, Hispanic and women racers. When they win, they don’t throw a parade or march them onto the “Good Morning America” set. One reason is they win a lot. The NHRA doesn’t talk about diversity. They live it. Good for them.

Until we stop making diversity a big deal, it won’t stop being a big deal. I mean that in a constructive way. There will be a divide as long as we keep talking about being in a divide. 

Chapel Hart is coming to the Clay County Agricultural Fair on Friday, April 5. They are immensely talented and have a broad spectrum of musical abilities.

The two sisters and first cousin in the group are Black.

I hesitate to say that because it shouldn’t be important. Good music is good music, regardless of how it's made. Having said that, I invite you to attend the concert and prove me right. I hope to see you there.

And I will invite my neighbor because that’s how neighbors are supposed to roll.