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By Debbie Berrett Years ago, the one person with whom I had dared to share some of my poetry (the person who encouraged me to take up writing again after a verrrrry long dry spell) told me I should consider publishing it; that lots of people would relate to it; they would "get it." In my mind, it was too personal; it only had meaning for me-in the context of my life. It took a long time to realize that he was right-my experience was the human experience. While no one else might visualize the same thing I did reading it, they would recognize the feelings and paint their own pictures. My friend was right. People relate. The same thing applies to the music and lyrics that come "streaming, laughing, dancing" and sometimes sorrowing, from the pen and tongue of James F. Wright. Listening to Jim's music, I have laughed and cried; I have stopped to ponder. I have drawn parallels in my own life, and occasionally, arrived at a new understanding that had seemed inaccessible from other directions. My response to Jim's music comes from my own life experience; the actual events from which Jim's songs were derived are light years away; and still it’s easy to relate to what he sings. There's magic in the music and the message. While I'm no music critic (except if you ask my kids), I dearly love music. From Handel, Vivaldi and Strauss (not exactly sing-along types), to oldies, rock and pop; yes, even Barry Manilow-l love music. And I love Jim's music. lnterviewing Jim for this artide, we talked about what drives lyrics, poetry and music. For Jim, and many other artists, the very best material usually comes from the intensely emotional-and often painful-experiences inherent to this life. Jim's first two albums, Legacy of Harmony and Familiar Strangers, cover a lot of emotional ground-finding and losing love; estrangement from a parent; the turmoil of hard decisions that have to be made, and dealing with the consequences of those decisions; feeling totally alone; examining the "what-if" side of life. If I had to choose one word to describe Jim's lyrics, it would be poignant (per Webster: emotionally touching or moving). The music, on the other hand, runs the gamut: sometimes haunting, sometimes ebullient, sometimes pensive, sometimes clearly born of loneliness; Jim speaks on some level to everyone who has dealt with the ups and downs of life. The music selections I got to sneak preview from Jim's third, The Captain, are something of a departure from his earlier releases. The music is broader; more expansive. The lyrics make it clear that Jim's life course has taken him through experiences that have produced personal growth, taking on a new level of maturity, both in content, and in the way they're presented. For this album, Jim will also be tapping into the musical ability that runs in his family, including songs written by his sister, Karolyn Kay Gaines. Looking at the evolution of Jim's recorded music, you could almost say that the first two albums depict the process of working through life's disappointments, shattered expectations, and an occasional fleeting dance with joy. The latest album reveals more of a man who is coming to terms with life-it may not be exactly the way he'd pictured it years ago, and that its starting to be OK; its all experience on which to grow. One of the indicators of growing maturity in the new album is the shift from in-your-face personal experiences, moving beyond personal, and reading outward; the new songs demonstrate a recognition that at some point, we need to change our focus to outside ourselves. When we do, not only do we realize that we're really not alone; we also come to see that in reaching out to lift and comfort others, we learn to fly. What the Lovin' Spoonful* said back in the '60s could be Jim's mantra today, "The magic's in the music, and the music's in me. Ahh so do you believe in magic?" I do. Do You Believe in Magic? 1965,
Kama Sutra Debbie Berrett |
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