Roots Report

Okee dokee folks… I usually don’t see or hear a lot of commercials because I try to stay away from platforms that present them. Unfortunately, I do get exposed to them. If I am subjected to a commercial, I make a mental note that I will never use that product – ESPECIALLY if they interrupt a YouTube video I am trying to watch! Grrr… Commercials are insulting to the intellect. They use stereotypes, sometimes that they have created – dim-witted sales pitches and annoying imagery to persuade you into parting with your hard-earned cash to possess their product. Then there is the music. Jingles used to be part of advertising. Writers made a living composing clever jingles for ads. Remember how Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) in Two and a Half Men funded his lifestyle of debauchery? Jingles! His nephew, Jake, would often sing his Maple Loops breakfast cereal song, “It’s got oats and corns and wheat, It’s the sweetest breakfast treat, It’s maple, maple, maplelicious!” Even in the sitcom, his jingle writing work dried up, and he had to write kid’s songs to get by.

Somewhere along the way, advertisers decided to start using classic rock songs to peddle their crap. This is desecrating the vibe, meaning, and pleasure of these songs. It makes them annoying to hear because the association is now with a product and not a great band or the memory that the song holds. Ultimately, it all comes down to money. Either the composer, the new owners of the artist’s catalog, the band, or representatives of the estate of the band/ composer allow for the use of a song for marketing. I have always wondered what the artist/composer thinks about that. Are they just happy counting the cash? This bothers me, especially if the parties involved in creating the music are deceased and have no say in the decision. Lately, I have been bothered by a new insult to Fleetwood Mac’s song “Everywhere.” It’s being used in a commercial for PayPal. Instead of singing “I want to BE with you everywhere,” the lyrics have been changed to “I want to PAY with you everywhere.” The late Christine McVie wrote this song and obviously has no say in its use. To be fair, I don’t know any of the legalities behind the use of her songs, or any other artist’s songs for that matter. However, I know that hearing these songs used for purposes other than the pleasure of listening or communicating the original message of the piece ruins them. I don’t want to associate the music I love with prescription drugs, cleaning products, or fast food. It’s all about money, and as Cyndi Lauper says, “Money changes everything.”

Read on… Down in Jimmytown, or Jamestown for the folks who don’t know, Victoria, BC-based guitarist Calum Graham is making his first appearance in New England on Saturday, November 16, at St. Matthews Episcopal Church. Graham is recognized as one of the World’s Top 30 Guitarists under 30 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Live, he performs original fingerstyle compositions with traces of folk, world, soul, blues, and jazz, inspired by artists Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Andy McKee, and Antoine Dufour. Graham won the Canada’s Walk of Fame nationwide “A Song for Canada” contest. His winning poem was used in the song “I’m Here (A Song for Canada).” The song was performed by Chantal Kreviazuk and co-written by Graham, Rane Maida (Our Lady Peace), and Stephen Moccio (2010 Vancouver Olympics theme song “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus). He’s recorded a half dozen CDs of original music. However, there is a lot more about this world-class fingerstyle guitarist that is refreshing and magical. Be one of the first folks in this area to experience, live, the guitar mastery of Calum Graham. For more, pick on over to calumgraham. com

Come together on Nov 1 & 2 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Tribute to George Harrison. It’s a weekend of peace and love, filled with music from the Beatles and George Harrison. The concert on November 2nd includes performances of the best Beatles cover and tribute bands. There is also custom Beatles artwork and rare memorabilia available for purchase. Performances and appearances by Emily Winter, Double Bill, Walrus Gumboot, Jeffery Dicera, The Liverbuds, By George, The Oh Nos, Chachi Loprete of Breakfast with the Beatles, and magician John Logan. Proceeds from the event go to Southcoast Visiting Nurse Assoc. Hospice Program for cancer treatment and research. To find “Something” more about the event, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” to ohnosband.com/harrifest

Ok, one more time for the folks in back who don’t get it: the future of this country is at stake. Vote for the women. It’s time for strong female energy to be in charge. White (orange) men have done enough damage. Women make things better. •

That’s it for now. You can listen to my podcasts at motifri.com/ rootsreportpodcast and find my concert photographs at motifri.com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks for reading and listening. johnfuzek.com.