It's meant to be.

Here's a question for my non artistic (and also non autistic) people out there. Do you ever stop to admire art and beauty all around you? I admit lately that feels impossible to find. Where there used to be beauty,  it's now just darkness. But I meant more appreciating random small moments of beauty. What is art essentially? I like to look at it more fluidly than just a statue, or a painting. A person can be art, don't you think? I found myself at an airport just watching people, observing that small moment of their lives, where for that tiny fraction of time your lives collide and you exist at the same time in the same space. Have you ever noticed too, how a hug goodbye and a hug hello are completely different? That was art to me, I got an overwhelming desire to sketch these random moments in time, before they pass me by. The times we live in are so dark and so overwhelming, we really should learn to appreciate even the tiniest rays of love, hope, sun, beauty, art...

But then again, what do I know about beauty, what does any one of us know? In the words of my dearest Mr. Poe ''There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in the proportion''. 

I'm writing this offline, I needed a little breather, to step away from the internet. All the darkness on there is absolutely destroying me. Bit by bit. I have a hard time watching Palestine, I mean it's not like our news or any news is covering it, but I see enough from brave young reporters, and it is absolutely killing me. I am embarrassed to be in the so called sophisticated free world, in Europe that is supposedly evolved and god knows what else, and it doesn't lift a finger to help those people, but as soon as Yemen poses a tiny economical threath they get bombed. Okay. I see how it is. But at least I can be proud of my country today, unlike Germany who is on the fast track back into 1938, we are joining South Africa as the first (possibly only?) EU country. And that, that I am proud of. 

I actually came here to do a quick album review, I didn't have enought time to read, lousy excuse I know, but the time I had, I spent drawing, and playing this album on my iPod. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Bob Seger is such an underrated artist. And I know, I know many of you will say ''you just love him because of that Risky Business'' scene. No. I don't. I actually never watched Risky Business (gasp! the horror I know!) so I didn't even know what songs are in it, I loved Bob since forever, because he always reminded me of Bruce Springsteen, which is kinda funny if you think about the fact that Bruce actually inspired the song ''Night moves''. And I always loved the way his songs are whole movies, and his voice is so velvety smooth...

Against the wind is actually Bobs 11th studio album and I believe the fourth to feature the Silver bullet band (e street band vibes much?). It is unfortunally also the only number one album which spent six weeks on the American album charts. This is my underated artist issue. All of his albums deserve to be number ones. Not to mention that his career started in the early 60's, but he only really gained fame and success with ''Night moves'' which came out in 1976. Did y'all even know that the super famous Kenny Rogers song ''We've got tonight''? Is actually Bobs? Just saying.

Now this album is interesting, it kinda jumps back and forth from upbeat rock n roll kinda songs, to powerful, deep, meaningful ballads. I always loved that about an album, some variety, some diversity, listening to an album where all 13 to 15 songs sound absolutely the same is boring. It starts of with ''The Horizontal Bop'' my mind goes straight to Poison and ''Unskinny bop'' and they're nothing alike of course but what'cha gonna do...Horizontal bop is kinda heavy, bluesy with this extended musical part at the end. I mean I love that I can hear Chuck Berry in this song, and lets be serious we all know this song is about sex right? And that sells, but on the other hand the negative critique also amuses me, the critics that went after him saying this song will have negative ramifications for women such as unwanted pregnancy....ha.ha.hahaha.hahahahaha. Y'all for real? First thing first, is a pregnancy just a womans problem / fault? And also...I mean I don't know what the hell went down in the 80's, but I can't imagine blaming a song for stupid mistakes. It would have to be November Rain and Axl Rose himself singing it to me in the shower, and even then I can't imagine banging someone just because of a good song that implys sex. Ridiculous. Does that mean Prince is responsible for half of todays population then? Just asking. For a friend. 

That aside, the song is fun but for me it loses all meaning because of the second song. Oh my god let me tell you something I absolutely love it! No, still not enough to sleep with someone because of it, but might have it playing while sleeping with someone I already intended to sleep with. ''You'll Accomp'ny me'' is everything I love about music. It has that story, the melody, the love, the passion. The song is all about longing, longing for love, for companionship, and desire to find someone, someone you can trust to be there through all ups and downs in life. Somone who loves you for you, someone who stays when everyone else walks out. It talks about the basic human need of connection and most importantly hope, hope for a better future, hope of finding your person, hope of someone coming along and sharing all of lifes troubles and wins. The lyrics paint so much vulnerabilty and his voice paints so much emotion, that is what makes this song amazing in my book. 

''I'll take my chances babe, I'll risk it all, I'll win your love, or I'll take the fall, I've made my mind up girl, it's meant to be, someday lady you'll accomp'ny me''.

You just can't beat lyrics like this, and you can't beat the message, a man who knows despite all of the obstacles, roadblocks, other directions life may take you or fear that's stopping you, someday him and the woman of his dreams will be together, not because he decided but beacause it's meant to be. Maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic. Blame the part of me that's Italian, but this...this is everything. 

And opposed to everything we get back to the rockerish, some called it ''screechy voiced'' (I'm looking at you Bill King) song ''Her Strutt''. It's been said to be ''objectifying women'' deep sigh. I mean we went over this before with Cherry Pie didn't we? Why is saying you love watching women strut sexist though? I mean...I honestly do not get it? I might be missing some modern woke point of the story, but I can honestly say as a woman, watching a powerful woman in high heels, STRUT on her way to possibly destroy a man who done did her wrong...that's hella attractive, and at the end of the day men will always find women sexual, confident women are always attractive, and I fail to see the problem in that, problem is belitelling women and problem is lack of consent, not enjoying a nice view. In my opinion. And possibly, just maybe, anyone considered that the word strut just sounds grittier and works better in this song? I don't think ''walk'' would have the same effect. 

The other two songs on this side of the album are also ''No Mans land'' which is kinda hard to listen for me, to be fair. It was written in 1980s and honestly the lyrics (if you actually listen to them) they talk about exactly what I feel is wrong with this world today. The land is not literal land it's just a state of loneliness and uncertainty and fear, which is what I feel runs this planet and messes up all our lives. It's about fear grounding us to the same place, and essentially keeping us from real happiness. Maybe that's what we should fear the most? Fear itself. As the song says, we're constantly searching for something better, something different but we're rarely willing to take on fear and risk it all. And the last song, ''Long twin silver line'' is probably a bit of a filler song, I mean okay I like the meloday that goes in a great ascend in the verse but that's about it.

Now side two starts with ''Against the wind'' obviously, as the name of the album says. I got into an argument once with an idiot over this song. Not fully understanding how he could actually take it so literal, this song is just talking about going against the wind, like sailing, you can't sail against the wind. Sure. You can't. But that is not what this song is about. This is a song about growing up, about getting older, not old, just older, about maturing, about pushing through all of lifes bullshit, heartbreak, sadness, love, exploration, betrayal and good things too, good things that don't need pushing trough, lets call them as we Italians call them ''bonaccia'', my sea loving friends will understand. Pretty sure the idea came from his time of running track, he was a fantastic runner, I bet that came in handy with them crazy fan girls huh? Anyways he would literally run against the wind so I take it that's where the idea is from. At the end of the day what we should take away from this song it's not getting older or life changing, we should take away prioritising, what and who's important in our lives. We rarely do that, we keep rocks and throw away diamonds, we lose time on things that don't matter, we prioritise people that don't deserve it and let those that do slip away. Sometimes people love you and sometimes people use you. As Bob said. But people in this song? They survived the storm, they came out victorious and it made them stronger. And just a side note did ya know Glenn Frey sings back vocals here? Them two were literally best friends.

Ok I love ''Good for me''. Like the song aside for a moment, but how many times in life do we actually ask ourselves if something is ''good'' for us? I sure as hell never do or I'd not be chugging down that fourth glass of whiskey, that I know will come back to bite me in the ass later, or keep around toxic relationships that do nothing but hurt me. I sure as fuck haven't learned yet what IS good for me, given that I still despite everything let certain people walk all over me. But lets get back to the song. This is a song about that one special person that brings out the best in you. The person you know you can be you around, no judgement, no bullshit, nothing but love, just the best version of you you can be. He sings about a woman obviously, but it can be applied to a man too, a person who sucks at being phony, doesn't know how to lie, doesn't pretend or play games, a person that understands space and understands needing support. ''Always by my side, always in the right place at the right time''. A person who's presence in your life makes everything better, positive, happier. I love that this song just paints a picture of a happy balanced relationship, both sides supporting and loving towards eachother, making each others lives richer and contribute to each others growth and happiness. I used to wonder if this song is based on a myth. Do relationships like this still exist? No games, no cheating, no abuse, just love? Is that possible in this day and age? It is. Trust me. It so is. But it's fucking rare, if you got it, ever ever let it go. 

I don't think I have to disect Betty Lou's gettin' out tonight'' do I? We were all Betty Lou at some point. Young, rebellious, fed up with our small minded towns or surroundings just wishing to escape. I mean I grew out of my teen angst but the feelings remained, I still wish I could get away more often then not. Betty Betty, with friends who enjoy their mundane lives, their kinder kuche kirche routine, and her, a wild spirit that wants to explore and get away, see the world, have adventures, I get you Betty, fuck societys rules and expectations and live the life non of us could. She's fictional so who else can do it if not her? Are there songs out there btw who don't dream but do? So many small town situations that crave to escape but are there songs of people who got out and are living the best life? Send them my way if you know them, I am a sucker for happy endings. The both kinds ;) 

''Fire lake'' is sorta a sequel to Betty Lou but in a bad way, there's no happy end. It's a place to escape when everyday life is too much, when things didn't turn the way you wanted or hoped for, aka you didn't get to run away but rather got stuck in some limbo that feels like purgatory most days...and all your dreams are slowly dying (this is a song isn't it...another song...about dying dreams?)...I think this is something we all experience, we all have our own dreams, some are big, some are small, some, like children in Gaza and their dreams, make us look like ungrateful assholes, but mostly I'm learning, no matter how hard you want something, and no matter how hard you work for, some things are just so impossible to reach. I'm not here to bring you down btw, you should never ever never let go of your dreams or stop chasing them because then they really will never come true, I'm just saying that things are becoming harder and harder. But that's exactly what Fire lake is, a song about acceptance and redemption and creating a new beginning, it might not be what you hoped for but it's a start. 

The album closes with ''Shinin' brightly''. And despite me being the ''spare Addams'' and a literal dark stormy cloud...I still like the positivity that radiates from this song. It's essentially about a relationship, of course as I said above the hopeless romantic in me lives for happy endings when those that are meant to be find their way back to each other. But I like to look at it in a bigger picture too, everything is gonna be okay in life too not just love. It's essentially written about hope, a better tomorrow, a happier future for the couple, everything will be okay right? The dark clouds have disappeared and we'll feel better again. A positive message we all need to hear when we're at a low point or just having a bad day. I see it as reasurrance that it can't in fact rain forever, and all our struggles are just temporary. Like GN'R say in my fave verse ''so nevermind the darkness we still can find a way''. That. There's always light even in the darkest period in your life, there is always that light present you just have to find it, and if you can't, you have to be the light, you have to do better, we owe it to this world, that we completely devastated, to be fucking better. I know better than anyone how this is easier said than done believe me. And I know it's easy to give up, and you don't have the strength to fight everyday, and that's okay but overall we can never surrender and never stop fighting for a better tomorrow, for them ''shinin' brightly'' days. We can't let the bastards win, right Gee? 

Anyways I made this longer than I intended but then again I am incapable of making anything short. You should ask my friends and their novel length emails I write, about everything and nothing. Actually feeling blessed they're not done with me yet. 

So what do you guys think? Does the true amore, the one you'd die for still exist? Morticia and Gomez style I mean. Is Bob Seger underrated? What is art really? In your own words...how do you feel about this album? I'd love to hear your opinion for a change. Alas it's Wednesday, or as I like to call it Wineday so cheers to that and to the end of the week. We got this.