Sixto's Songs Brought Back The Music

I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge
Today's letter is S
Sixto Rodriquez


I was given a wonderful gift a couple of days ago by Graciewilde from "In Search of A Title".
Her well written R post on Saturday, which was simply titled "Rodriquez", intrigued me tremendously.

The subject of her post was the academy award winning documentary called "Searching for Sugar Man".  The film is about a musician named Sixto Rodriquez, a 1970's American musician .   To add additional interest, Gracie inserted a piece of his music along with a video into her post.

After listening to the song that she had placed in her post, titled "I Wonder", I was hooked.  I wanted to hear more of his music and find out who this man was.

I won't repeat Gracie's post.  She did the best job of describing the film and enticing the reader.  Please read her post here.

Today, my post is about Sixto's songs and how they make me feel.

I have several means of listening to music.  In addition to the old stand-by radio, I also have more than one MP3 device.  I have an iPod, iPad, iPhone, desktop computer, laptop computer and I am probably leaving a device or two out.

But my iTunes library has no music.

I can't remember when I stopped listening to music.  Well, perhaps I can.  But, that's for another post.

On a recent trip to that evil, filled with too much tempting nerd stuff, Apple Store, I was forced into purchasing a new iPod.  Don't ask me how I justified such a purchase, it's too convoluted.  Let's just say my new iPod is so cute and it's red.

I think Gracie's post was a sign.  Her post re-introduced me to music.

Music that I actually could zone out to, tap my foot to and fill my new, cute, red iPod Nano with.

Rodriquez's poetic emotional lyrics move me and touch me with their familiarity.
From his song "Climb Up On My Music":

Have you ever been in darkness,

And your mind could find no peace,

When you woke up after midnight,

Found your swans have turned to geese.

  His preceptive views of how the "goings on in this world", seem to continue, without lessons learned, sadden me.   Lyrics from the song "I Wonder":

I wonder about the tears in children's eyes

And I wonder about the soldier that dies

I wonder will this hatred ever end

I wonder and worry my friend

I wonder I wonder wonder don't you?

Funny sarcastic lyrics like these taken from the song "Like Janis" make me giggle.

'Cos emotionally you're the same basic trip

And you know that I know of the times that you've slipped

So don't try to impress me, you're just pins and paint

And don't try to charm me with things that you ain't.

And don't try to enchant me with your manner of dress

'Cos a monkey in silk is a monkey no less

After hearing the music of Sixto, I realized that for me, the relatable factor was missing in the music of today. 

The current pop songs are for the young who have so much life yet to live. 

These are the song lyrics which are filled with romantic tales of hopeful love, new love, lost love, and lover's revenge.  

Yes, it's true, Rodriquez explores those subject too.  Yet, his songs are complexly simple.  The musical arrangement are soft, but powerful.  His voice is clear and his enunciation is precise.   

But most of all, the reason I want to "climb up on his music" is because of Sixto. 

The life story of this legendary man far surpassed my expectations. 

You were right, Gracie, I believe he has inspired me to re-consider life's music.