Today I launch 2 series on the concept on the "Portfolio" approach to song and soul, one which I'm embracing more and more as I age. I'm realizing that to achieve the most effective frame of life reference, I must cultivate a varied song/soul diet from a plethora of sources. So here's my snapshot of Portfolio Song:
1. Tori Amos - I love this lady's music. And I love her book, too. Though we would probably have some lively debates in the religion and politics arenas, I am such a fan of all her radiating passion and creativity. You MUST see her live - it defines epic. Her latest project, American Doll Posse, takes her artistry to a whole new level only glimpsed at in "Little Earthquakes".
2. Michael Crawford - He was the original Phantom onstage in "The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and in my mind, will always be the absolute best. I'll never forget going to the Jordan Creek Mall theatre with Karen and seeing the movie version, then dragging Karen over to Barnes and Noble after it was over, finding Michael C on the Broadway soundtrack, popping earphones on Karen's head and gleefully proclaiming, "Now that's the REAL phantom!" When I need soul soothing, Michael Crawford's voice will do the trick. If you aren't moved by his version of "The Music of the Night" from "Phantom of..", then yours is a stone heart indeed.
3. Amy Grant - Once again, I love this lady's music. We kind of grew up together in a way. I had the Amy LP's, the Amy 8-tracks, then I even sang Amy songs with background tracks, then I sang along with her on (gasp!) secular radio and even MTV and VH1 for a while, then on down the line to the Hymns CDs, then most recently, a fascinating trip down memory lane through her new bio called "Mosaic". In my forties I'm learning the value of an artist's whole body of work, what has transcended, what was before its time, what I didn't dig before but understand better now, etc.. Amy's body of work is a beautiful collection of honesty, no-frills forthrightness, accessibility, and endurance. And like so many former blockbuster artists whose quality has gone up as their sales have gone down, Amy's vibe these days is better than ever in my opinion, shining on as someone who really understands "the meaning of grace."
Next post--Portfolio Soul--so stay tuned and don't forget to add your portfolio choices when you reply...
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