Ice cream, music, and the modern man...

As I stood peering over the plethora of ice cream flavors we carry at Coldstone, I began to ponder how these related to our journey in music. A far stretch, some will inevitably say, but I found it intriguing... or at least something to pass the time with. To my left was sweet cream. This is the base flavor we use for every other flavor we carry. We start with the mix, and add various liquids, dry mixes, and other various ingredients to it to create the rest of our flavor selection. Even with these simple additions, there are still over forty mix-ins that we can add in order to create other tasty treats. Behind me and to my right there were signs posted that listed our "Signature Creations", which are the combinations that the corporate office has come up with in order to eliminate some of the guess work in making up something original. While these are pre-selected, they have order to them; all of them follow some pre-conceived dessert idea or concept. You can also create your own combination, which yields some tasty results as well. Them comes the presentation of this creation. You can put it in a waffle cone, a chocolate dipped waffle cone, a chocolate dipped waffle cone with nuts, various candies, etc etc... You could also just leave it in the cup. The boring, mundane, paper cup. Or so some might think...
I've been working at Coldstone for over two years, and just now realized how all of these possibilities and techniques related nicely to music. We have the basis of music: twelve pitches (or more, depending on what country you're from, or what slightly psycho twentieth century composer you ask), and a myriad of rhythmic values. When you combine these twelve pitches into melodies, chords, and so forth, and these rhythmic values, you create something that has some musical weight. Granted, there are dynamics, articulations, words, and so on and so forth, but the basic idea is still the same. You start with a basic idea, then add things to it to create you own "music dessert"... It's late, more to come later.

Part the Second...
I have updated a few things in the previous portion, so please take a moment to look over it again. Some things are more complete, better worded, or just changed entirely. Now, for a more specific comparison. Let us take my least favorite flavor, cotton candy. It is, simply put, neon blue. The color itself is offensive. This is not to mention the odor, staining capability, and repulsive flavor that this selection possesses. The combination of these elements creates an ice cream that is truly unbearable for me to stomach. The "Signature Creation" that goes along with this ice cream is "Beary Beary Blue" (cotton candy ice cream with gummy bears). The mixin and the cliche name combine to create an aesthetic which is appropriate for no other demographic than small children. The color is simple and immediately gratifying, and the gummy bears are "comfy" and carry with them a certain level of juvenile interest. When I consider this creation and all (albeit, the very few) of it's facets, my mind immediately compares it with pop music, not to mention the various "teeny bopper" pop music icons. Their music consists of a few basic musical elements, such as I IV V I chord progressions, with a few vi's, V7's and, dare it be done, fully diminished vii's along the way, just for good measure. The music is simple, entirely void of any substance and pith. However, it's flashy, loud, and "sweet." These are the same characteristics that kids often are attracted to in this ice cream. Most of the time, they come into the store, screaming, "I want BLUE!!", without really considering what they are asking for. In fact, often times after they taste it, they don't even like it. How often do we do the same thing with our music? We see something that is attractive on the surface, yet has no depth and no value, and later realize that we have spent our time and efforts on something that was simply not worth it. We want instant gratification, and don't take the time to look at what is being said, the musical value, or how it is being presented, all of which tend to be juvenile and eventually detrimental to our spirits and our intellects. Now, let us take the Coldstone creation "Germanchocolatekake" (it's not spelled correctly, but corporate uses this for effect. There are even a few umlauts that I can't put in here with this application). This concoction starts with chocolate ice cream, and adds coconut, caramel, brownie, and pecans. The very components of this ice cream scream out "variety" and combine to make something quite tasty. First of all, the chocolate ice cream is brown: the color of the earth. Then you have the pecans: salty, crunchy, with just a subtle nutty sweetness. Third, the brownie: chewy, slightly crunchy around the edges, and just slightly sweet. Next, we have toasted coconut: the real "black sheep" of this combination. It is crispy, with a slightly toasty, completely unique flavor, which has to be focused on to really comprehend. Lastly, the caramel comes in with is sweet, gooey swirls, but you really have to search to find it in the crevices. Just the number of different elements in this creation put it in a class of it's own when compared to a lot of the other ice creams. When you consider the way these flavors compliment one another, and contemplate the ways in which they combine to create others, the result is fascinating. My tendency is to compare it with the music of, well, I'll have to think on that one... more to come later...

So, as of late, my life has taken some turns for the better, as well as some for the worse. I have been "navel-gazing" as one wise man once said, which translates into looking inward without creating a solution for the problem, or something like that. I've been examining my problems and feeling sorry for myself and never taking action. I'm done. Officially done with abdicating my responsibility and remaining stagnant. I shudder at what I observe my peers are taking part in, yet have my own flaws which look remarkably similar to their own... Talk about the pot calling the kettle black... This first blog is something of an introduction, although nothing complete... There's much more there, but nothing more really needs to be said. I intend to post thoughts, questions, and general ponderings. Hopefully this will become an outlet for something greater, as well as a blessing for others.