Presentation & the singer-songwriter

These days I tend to think that musical performance has as much in common with presentation as the advice found in literature from the field of speech and communications. That is, we can learn a lot about storytelling and conveying meaning through engagement and emotional connections from studying what makes the great musical performers so special (beyond just their ability to play their instruments exceptionally well). And there is a lot we can learn from new-media artists as well as they continue to work closely with musicians and other performers to help them tell their stories visually.

You will love this song (and its message)
Thanks to Digg I discovered today a wonderful artist and an amazing, simple song. This song is called Chinese Translation and is performed by M. Ward. The animated video below is a great example of how simple illustrations can fit harmoniously with the music and enhance the song and the singer’s message. Not all of you will like it, and for some it will take a few takes before you come around. Others will instantly fall in love with the simple song and simple animation. (Link to higher-rez version on Joel Trussell's blog).

Afraid to do the things we know we have to do
I don’t mean to analyze the song — and clearly it will have different meanings for different people — but I love the three simple questions posed in the song:

“What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart?”
“How can a man like me remain in the light?”
“If life is really as short as they say, then why is the night so long?”

We ask ourselves variations of these three fundamental questions almost daily, do we not? We often go to great lengths to find the answers, even though the answers may already be right there in front of us, if only we could see. Seeing is indeed the hardest part, and for that we may need a helpful reminder of what we already know but have forgotten from someone wiser than us.

If you have ever loved (and lost), then I don’t know how you can hear those lyrics — What do you do with the pieces of a broken heart? — and not be moved, at least a bit. They say that it’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. If this is so, we all ask, then why does loss hurt so much and cut so deep? The animation of the pieces of a broken heart in combination with the smooth lyrics and haunting melody convey a powerful message indeed.

Below is another video of an M. Ward song called Requiem. This video too is a good example of the visual enhancing the story being told by the singer and storyteller.

Comments

[ck]

Love this post, I also draw presentation inspiration from musicians and especially their live performances. And M. Ward is fantastic.

[Sasha]

Beautiful! Thanks.

[jasmine]

Great post - M. Ward's music deserves to have such gorgeous, evocative videos. The Requiem video, in particular, is just about as perfect an example of the music video format as I've ever seen.

[Jay R]

It's not just in matters of the heart that we go through great lengths to find the answers that are right there in front of us. It is part of being human. As George Orwell put it, "To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant stuggle."

Now enter the blogosphere. Some people are experts in their own fields and communicate directly to anyone and everyone. They provide the wisdom to cut through the mess and focus on the crucial issue. What a wonderful thing! Wise sages in every field, available to anyone who takes the slightest initiative to look, who will focus us on the right path.

Many bloggers even take this as the central point of their work. For example: Political blogger Andrew Sullivan uses the George Orwell quote above as his tagline. Economics blogger Barry Ritholtz calls his blog "The Big Picture"- it's an intent to focus on the large-scale economic and financial issues that compose the scene but tend to be forgotten in the day-to-day hubbub.

Insight into to the essence of a field seems to regarded by bloggers as the best sort of insight and something to pursue diligently.

Or to put it another way: The Zen is everywhere.

[Dropshippers]

Nice blog and nice thoughts in the comments, thanks

[Dino Dogan]

A new look at the M. Ward's meaning-of-life questions http://dogandogs.com/if-life-is-really-as-short-as-they-say-then-w-0

[sildenafil citrate]

singer is a person who sings. Anyone who is singing is a singer. Some people do it as a job (professional singer), others may sing without being paid (amateur singer). Singers may sing anything: songs, opera etc. They may be accompanied by an instrument or an orchestra. Some singers also play a musical instrument such as piano, guitar or harp while they sing (they accompany themselves). Singing is important in movies and in the theatre.

[Sterling silver belly rings]

Nice blog and nice thoughts in the comments, thanks

[Verify CNA License]

Interesting theory - but it would be worthwhile expanding the effects of high oil prices in the neighbouring countries. Venezuela for one has fascinating internal eonomic and social issues with or without high oil prices - though the higher they go, the more extreme they go. Unless they have reached the point of no return where strife caused by lower oil prices equals oil financed strife.

[neverfull gm]

I also draw presentation inspiration from musicians and especially their live performances.