In my previous blog entry I began explaining why it is that I love rock music so much, the reasons for doing so and where it all started. We are now going to delve a little further.
Imagine…
The big sister is out, a curious eight year old boy tip toes into her dark room, everything alien to him, the posters on the wall, the candles, the tapes and CD’s stacked high. Climbing as if through an Amazon, through thick barricades of sixteen year old clothes and boxes full of only God knows what. Finally, reaching his forbidden destination, he crouches down next to the CD player laid in front of him. But for this is not what intrigues him, oh no. It is the pieces of plastic containing such adventures that for some magical reason scare yet tantalize this young boys mind, sends it racing, racing on a journey. Apprehensive where this journey will take him, but all the more excited for it.
He places his little fingers over a stack of CD’s that is clearly too big for him to pick up all at once, thus sending a fountain of cases through the air and on to the floor. He looks straight to the door, terrified that someone has heard him. He listens closely… nothing. Good. Breathing slowly he continues.
A CD captures his attention midway through the pile. It is of a baby chasing a dollar bill. He picks it up, looking closely, and giggles. The feeling of anticipation and fascination rise within him. He takes the CD out of its case, very carefully. Making sure not to damage it in any way, not wanting to leave any proof of his presence within this room.
The CD is placed into the tray and it is swiftly swiped back, vanished as if by magic. Next, he places on a pair of HUGE headphones that seem far too big for his small head, his wispy hair protruding out from the brackets. Contradicting his apprehensive nature just a moment or so ago, he now feels safe. But my dear friend, that feeling won’t last long, for this little boy has no idea what is about to happen.
One last look around the room and at the door, making sure no one is near. All clear.
He presses PLAY
As the intro riff to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ kicks in his is both scared and excited. The drums begin to follow the guitar, this strange guitar, all muddy sounding and pleasant. This little boy has never heard such a sound, he is both scared and anxious but for some strange reason he continues to listen.
Then
He hears this mental riff, from out of know where. Repeating and repeating itself, deafening his tiny little ears.
Then a screaming…(the little boy can’t quite tell if it’s a man or women, or neither) this voice shrieks at him from both sides, along with that same addictive riff, blasting into his ears so loud he thinks his eardrums are going to burst.
Sat there as the song engulfs him, taking him on an immense journey, albeit a loud one, he closes his eyes and tries to understand what he is hearing. It’s like nothing he has heard before, something scary but for some reason something so compelling and powerful.
As the song begins to close he opens his eyes, suddenly aware of his surroundings.
For this little boy doesn’t yet know what has just happened, not yet aware of the importance this moment holds.
For he has just been converted…
