19th June 2005
Creating A Difference
I was thinking about reading verses popular culture recently, there was a UK-based hip-hop site I came across that seemed very well set up, organised and presented. It had, has, an air of authenticity about it, with the news seeming to come from those who were close to those making the news, and the on-site writers and contributors seeming to know their stuff. This must be a popular site, I thought, at least, it appeared very popular. And, if I were into hip hop, I’d certainly be checking it out. I wrote in, seeking a link to unheardwords.com and the owner confirmed that the site was doing well, though he couldn’t understand what his site had to do with new creative writing. This made me think.
In moments of madness, I often have them (smile), I’d thought that those who were interested in an urban music genre (hip-hop), might find unheardwords of some interest. I’ll tell you why.
It’s often the lyrics that people like and remember in music – the beat is, of course, what moves your feet – but it’s the lines that get into your head and oft you repeat. The words. Take a track (‘So High’) from
John Legend’s album (Get Lifted) –
‘let’s go, to a place only lovers go,
To a spot that we’ve never known,
to the top of the clouds,
we’re floa- ting away’.
Or a line from
Jill Scott’s ‘Still Here’ (album, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol.2); a track in which she sets out a list of gloriously rich impressions, ‘I am a writer’s thinking’, and follows this up with the line,
‘and if you do-n’t,
recognise me…
I AM Here’.
I found the connection between the lyrics of songs and the creative words without songs (prose, poems, stories...); and for a little time, it made a lot of sense to equate the two. So in my vision, lovers of the hip hop scene would chance upon unheardwords, and unleash a lyrical flow upon the space. And, who knows this may well happen over time, hip hope (sorry) springing eternal.
My moment of madness was short lived. How is a read in the park the same as a rave in the park. Ask yourself, which would you rather attend? No, reading and raving aren’t the same. Like, radio and television aren’t the same. And, books that become films are seldom the same. Though I dream of writing that’s so fresh, vibrant and creative, it stirs the spirits of new readers. I love the thought of new creative writing knowing no bounds, being unconstrained and freed to roam, criss-crossing forms, and styles and genres. Maybe it’s in us all or maybe it’s in YOU especially.
Can you create a difference?
© editor@unheardwords.com, 2005 (all rights reserved)
And in case your wondering, the hip hop site in question is
ukhh.com
And, on a sort of related note; came across this 'thought for the day' broadcast on UK's BBC Radio 4 on 2nd July 05 - and linking the themes of 'make poverty history' and 'the lyrics of some very popular music'.
Good morning, good morning, good morning,
London Calling, to the far away town...
It was twenty years ago today,
And we've still got something to say
Not talking about London, Paris, New York, Munich.
Talking about my generation
There's a feeling I get when I look to the West. And it makes me wonder.
Where is my beautiful car? Where is my beautiful house.
I want it now; I want it all. I want money.
Get back. I'm all right jack, keep your hands off my stack.
Money, it's a crime. Share it fairly but don't take a slice of my pie.
I read the news today, oh boy,
Mother, Mother, there's too many of you crying,
Brother, Brother, Brother there's far too many of you dying.
Help I need somebody
I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me...
Them belly full but them hungry.
You never give me your money, you only give me your funny paper…
Help me get my feet back on the ground - won't you please, please help me,
Don't leave me here all alone. Helpless. Helpless. Helpless
Don't walk on by
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day,
Fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way.
There are still many rivers to cross and I still can't find my way over
Sometimes you can't make it on your own.
Don't give up, 'cos you have friends...
Imagine
Life is bigger; it's bigger than you
Consider this, the hint of the century
The world is full of refuges, a lot like you and a lot like me.
War is not the answer. You don't have to escalate. Only love can conquer hate.
It's easy if you try.
Come on everybody. Mr President. Come on. Come on. Let's go.
Jesus loves you more than you will know.
But it's a hard road to follow and rough tough way to go.
What you going to do about it, what you going to do?
Nothing to do, it's up to you
You can't always get what you want,
But if you try sometimes, you get what you need.
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights.
With or without you
Give a little bit. Give a little bit of my life for you.
While you see your chance, take it.
Are you such a dreamer, to put the world to rights.
Dry your eyes mate. We can be heroes just for one day.
Today is gonna to be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you.
by now you should have found out you realise what you gotta do.
Time to make the change, come on you rock and rollers.
Look at the stars see how they shine for you
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne...
All the people, so many people, and they all go hand in hand, hand in hand
Nothing to say but what a day
It's going to be a glorious day.
A beautiful day
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, O Lord...
Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom
Redemption songs
Right here right now
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some loving here today.
And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.
By Rhidian Brook, copyright 2005 BBC
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