The Mastery of Neil Young
Neil Young’s music is impressive to me mostly because of the wide span of genres it encompasses, and as such, the large amount of emotions it conjures. What’s interesting to me is how he’s viewed so differently from person-to-person; some may think of him as a country-rock star, complete with cowboy hat and toothpick, while others think of him as a hard rock icon complete with ripped jeans and a raggedy shirt. It all likely depends on how your own musical journey developed; “Heart of Gold” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” are two of his better-known songs, yet each one is played on very different radio stations than the other. I remember diving deeper into his body of work and being amazed at how much ground it covered; there are songs that are the epitome of despair and desperation, and there are also songs that make you giddy with excitement. How can one man be such a jack-of-all-trades with his music and sound completely genuine and inspired every time? Logic would seem to dictate that such a person would only manage to be merely good at everything he tries, not great. Neil Young, however, is an exception to that thought process, always searching for his muse, thankfully documenting the journey for all to hear.
Neil Young, who grew up in Ontario, Canada, was drawn into music at a very early age, and throughout his teens he played in several bands and was a mainstay at local folk clubs (Macnie, 2001). He started to build a respectable enough reputation, but didn’t hit upon any commercial recognition until he joined Buffalo Springfield, a band that also featured Stephen Stills, who would become a well-known singer-songwriter in his own right. While perhaps not attaining the success they deserved in term...
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...ship was borne out of his own struggles, both in trying to find his voice in Buffalo Springfield (and also in the band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) and the feeling-out process of his early solo career. Young used this time to hone his own musical persona and voice that seemed exclusive to him and not an imitation of others before him, much as Coltrane spent time playing for Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis (Greene, 2012) in order to find the confidence within himself to reveal his own vision (p. 207). It is easy for listeners to determine whether someone is being genuine to who they are; it is a sensation that is hard to put into words, but it’s the difference, for instance, between listening to Nirvana and then the countless bands that tried to imitate them. The basic elements might be there, but not the passion. That is something that Neil Young never had to fake.
“It was the best, worst thing to happen to me.” claims Ian Keith Tyson of his military career. Mr. Tyson is a veteran Marine who served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom (later renamed Operation New Dawn) and the war in Afghanistan from the years 2009-2011. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 31st,1985, he eventually enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 24. After interviewing with each individual branch, he decided that the Marines simply fit. This was a decision that would permanently alter his life, for the better.
During the War for American Independence, 78 men were commissioned as general officers into the Continental Army by the Continental Congress. Many of these generals commanded troops with differing levels of competence and success. George Washington is typically seen as most important general, however throughout the war a number of his subordinates were able to distinguish themselves amongst their peers. One such general was Nathanael Greene. At the end of the Revolutionary War, Greene would become Washington’s most important subordinate, as demonstrated by Edward Lengel’s assessment of Greene as “the youngest and most capable of Washington’s generals.” Washington and Greene developed a strong, positive and close relationship between themselves. Greene began his life in the military after having been raised a Quaker. With limited access to literature and knowledge in his younger years, Greene became an avid reader which equipped him with the knowledge necessary to excel as a general during the war. Through his devoted study of military operations, firsthand experience and natural abilities as a soldier, Greene became an excellent military commander. He would become known for his successful southern campaign, during which, he loosened British control of the South and helped lead the war to its climax at Yorktown. Throughout the war, he was involved in a number high profile battles where he built a reputation of being an elite strategist who also understood unconventional warfare, logistics, and the importance of military-civil affairs and had a natural political/social acumen. The thesis of this paper is that Greene’s proven reputation of being a soldier, strategist and statesman would cause him to become the second greates...
Robert Johnson I went down to the crossroads fell down on my knees. Robert Johnson went to the crossroads and his life was never the same again. The purpose of this essay is to tell you about the life of Robert Johnson. He is the root of much of the music of today. If he didn't influence the musicians of today directly, he influenced the bands that influenced today's music.
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James "Bubba" Stewart was born December 21, 1985. Bubba Stewart was still in diapers when he first went for a motorcycle ride. His dad, James Stewart Sr., took Bubba for a dirt bike ride when he was just two days old. Bubba Stewart entered his first race when he was four and was already a sponsored rider at the age of seven. When Bubba Stewart was eight, he was a big fan of another racer named Jeff "Chicken" Matiasevich. James Bubba Stewart began calling himself "Baby Chicken," which somehow turned into Bubba. It has been his nickname ever since. At that age, James "Bubba" Stewart traveled around the country with his family so he could compete in motocross races. The Stewarts lived in a motor home and Bubba and his younger brother, Malcolm,
Spike Lee is a filmmaker who has generated numerous controversial films that unapologetically bring delicate social issuest o the media forefront. He honestly portrays life's societal obstacles. He challenges the public to cogitate on the world's glitches and disunion. Spike Lee created a name for himself with films such as Do the Right Thing (1989) and Malcolm X (1992), and with documentaries such as 4 Little Girls (1997) and When the Levees Broke (2006). Lee’s goal was to portray African Americans in a more accurate light. Even today Lee still produces films that directly address modern society's most significant historical movements and episodes. His productions analyze themes of race and discrimination. His work can be analyzed in academic studies such as Philosophy, African Studies, and literary concepts. I am interested in Spike Lee because his craft and career choice is somewhat similar to my future career endeavors. He not only exalted his skills to produce films but he broke barriers of stereotypical Hollywood movies. His works address issues in society such as political, racial, and environmental influences on African American culture. Given that society has evolved into a technology dependent culture; using this talent to visibly shed light to these concerns is an ability I hope to obtain one day.
With over 70 DOI employees, he personally oversees the operations of 10 separate sections consisting of Human Resources (HR), Acquisition and Procurement (Contracting), Budget, Information Technology (IT), Geographic Sciences, Property and Vehicles, Engineering and Maintenance, Records and Directives, Safety, and Hazardous Material functions. Some of the daily duties include: -Establishing, revising, or reviewing policies, procedures, mission objectives, and organization design for the staff Wayne Hackett: one word Wayne Hackett: bachelor's Wayne Hackett: not capitalized Wayne Hackett: awkward sentence Wayne Hackett: copy and paste from two sources (an outside source and Logan's paper). No citation. to eliminate work problems or barriers
The Voice, 'Ol' Blue Eyes', Swoonatra, La Voz, and Chairman of the Board. These were all sobriquets of the infamous Frank Sinatra. However, one of Sinatra's earliest and possibly most well-known nicknames was The Voice. A title such as The Voice is more than just a name that sounds cool and sensual. It promises something flawless about his singing style, signifying you could select one song, or perhaps even an album, as representative of Frank Sinatra. However, Sinatra had a multitude of styles over his five decade career, so to call him the voice could potentially be doing an injustice, perhaps a more accurate description would be The Voices.
Holt Renfrew, known today as Canada’s elite high end retailer started out as a simple hat and fur shop in 1837 Quebec City. Offering top quality cosmetic brands and fashion designers, both local and imported (Prada, Gucci, Armani, etc.), Holt Renfrew provides a uniquely upscale shopping experience for both Canadian men and women. Operating ten stores in Canada, Holt Renfrew offers everything from classics to the most current trends in fashion.
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He had exposure to several different genres growing up in his St. Louis, MO hometown. He heard country from the whites, rhythm & blues (R&B) from mostly blacks, even Latin music. His family environment set him up well for future success while growing up in a middle class home in the middle of the Great Depression of the 1930s. His parents sun...
Billy Joel grew up in Long Island, New York. While growing up, he studied classical music; however, when he went to a Beatles concert, he decided to become a professional musician. He later became one of the most successful artists of his generation by selling more than one hundred million records worldwide. In 1999, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In “Hold Fast Your Dreams - and Trust Your Mistakes,” Billy Joel is inspirational because he shows that he is hardworking, and he turns his mistakes and failures into great things for his career.
Wild, David. He Is-- I Say: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond.
At the young age of thirteen, he experienced several tragedies that would affect his life forever and would greatly impact his music later in life. Within a year, his father, his uncle, and his minister all died. He lost every important male influence in his life. After graduating from high school in High Point, he moved to Philadelphia in 1943, where he lived in a small one-room apartment and worked as a laborer in a s...