Liner Notes Controversy
Posted by Matt
There are so many moving parts in this discussion about liner notes. In general, people love to read them. But John has a point that saying too much about a song may have the side effect of bringing it down to earth, killing some of its magical power.
I think the best way to understand this whole dynamic system of musicians, songs and liner notes is to think of the whole thing as a fleet of blimps. Imagine, John, that each song on our album is a huge lighter-than-air flying craft. Each one has its own majestic color. They are slowly dancing on the horizon. They are having fun, and they are beautiful. Those are our blimps, John. And we love them.
Now the theory is that when I write liner notes and reveal some of the mundane details associated with the creation of one of the songs, I am tethering a bag of rocks to that blimp. I am weighing it down so it can’t fly as high. Are you with me so far? We agree that all this yacking that I am doing is probably making one of our colorful crafts fly a little lower.
But wait, John. I see another blimp. Over there. Flying way down near the trees. This blimp is not as light and puffy as the other ones. It is wrinkly and under-inflated. That is a sad blimp. Oh, no! Now I see why. That blimp has been tied to a tree!
That blimp is me, John!
That blimp wants to fly, too! He wants to puff himself up and tell everyone all the stuff he’s thinking about. He wants to float around with the other blimps and bump up against them in randy blimp-play. He wants to dance with them and talk trash about them. He wants to be free and have some fun with the colorful airships. He longs to fly!
Oh, look, John. I see another blimp. A very impressive blimp over there. My, but that is a grand and handsome blimp. And look, he has a crown! That blimp must be the awesome king of all the blimps. A ruler of the skies. Listen to his thundering engine. It emits not a drone, but a low, beautiful melody that fills the sky with wonder and dread.
I think you know who that blimp is, John. It is you!
I would imagine that a blimp of this magnitude would be the happiest one of all. He is the Grand Captain of a large and lovely blimp harem. But no. This blimp is not happy. His crown weighs heavy on his brow. His concern for the other blimps is so heartfelt and grave that he cannot enjoy himself! He, too, is tied to a tree.
An invisible tree in his mind.
John, it is me, the wrinkly flesh-colored blimp over here. Your friend. The one who is shackled to a tree right next to you. I am looking into your worried eyes, one proud blimp to another. Look at me, because I am about to tell you something very important: If we choose, we can unlock these mind-forged manacles, and fly free. The chains are not real! If we believe together, we can release our bonds in an instant.
Fly with me now, John! Let’s go up among the colorful balloons and soar together. Let’s write liner notes about our songs, telling every stupid thing we know without a care! Soar with me! We are The Twilight Hours and we fly where we want to fly!
13 Comments
Matt
You need a publisher. I see a grand children’s book in the making.
-psh
Posted by psh
A woman friend called this morning to let me know that you called me a blimp and that I shouldn’t talk to you anymore.
Posted by John
...giggle….John, you are not just a blimp…you are the King of Blimps…I can’t believe you are keeping the wrinkly flesh-covered blimp shackled…
Posted by Kara
“Blimp harem” is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!
Posted by Dan Hutt
“randy blimp-play” did it for me personally. :)
Eric
Posted by Eric
Is imagining randy blimp-play during a Twilight Hours Show our destiny?
Posted by Kara
For the record, Matt.
Years ago when you told me what “Searchers” was about, it was somewhat enlightening and made me enjoy the song all that much more.
Of course, you told me not to tell anyone else because you didn’t want to ruin anyone’s illusion…but that’s beside the point.
Posted by drneau
Here’s the bio I have in my head regarding our flesh-covered wrinkly-blimp- based on all the songs he’s written so far….
Matt had a really serious relationship that went really bad…devastatingly so…he was dumped and left in the dust….he had a severe mental breakdown…but then he met someone who saved him for a short-period…but it didn’t last either because he was still broken, luckily there was a surprise package from that relationship who really did save him..he found the shoe that fits and future songs will be about love and happiness…:)
Posted by Kara
When did he drive the four wheeler?
Posted by drneau
....well, who knows for sure, but he had a ton of really low-paying jobs and got fired from almost all of them…
...yesterday as I was placing butter in my cart a woman next to me says “thanks for buying butter, I’m a dairy farmer”...and I just said “hey, I always buy butter, “....it was nice to be thanked for buying butter!
Posted by Kara
Maybe she was just buttering you up!
Posted by Fran
She did butter me up and I’m still feeling good about it!....as long as I don’t see her next time I’m in the store hovering by the dairy case…that would be a little creepy…
Posted by Kara
“The chains are not real! If we believe together, we can release our bonds in an instant.”
Or, as some wise person once wrote: “Understand that the chains are magical/and they strain to keep you where you are.”
Resist the magic, King Blimp!
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