By Scott Coner
Nashville Recording Artist, Songwriter, Performer, and Author
It’s
pretty amazing when you think about all of the “brainiacs” who seem to have
your best interest at heart. Or, at least say they do. They will tell you
exactly what you need to hear if you care to listen. These are the people that
like to tell you how you should live. What you should do with your career. Who
you should marry, who you should divorce and why. You know whom I’m talking
about right? I’m sure you have your own version of this person on your speed
dial. What a gift it is to have a for real “know-it –all” at your fingertips! I
have a few. Heck, I think they are drawn to me like a magnet. The truth is, I
don’t have any use for them at all.
I
always let people say what they feel they need to. A few people told me not to
get a divorce twenty plus years back. I didn’t listen, and I can’t tell you how
glad I am I didn’t. Others told me never to get married again. They know who
they are, and I hope they feel foolish as they see my wonderful daughters and
my wife around town. Although, I’m sure they don’t look at things that way.
They probably assume I just got lucky. Maybe I did. I’m sure that drives them
wild too.
Lately,
I have been told how I should be doing music. Recently, I had someone tell me
how I should be writing songs if I ever wanted to do anything with the major
artists on the radio. “You have to keep it simple. Don’t take so long to get to
the chorus. Give all kinds of ear candy too. And by the way, make sure you run
over the chorus until they can’t stand it. Because people are stupid and they
need to hear nursery rhymes set to music.” (Well, this is what I heard anyway.)
Maybe it wasn’t quite like that. But I hope you get the picture.
I had another guy tell me that if he came to one of my
shows, he would walk out because my music pretty much stays the same throughout
the show. Well, maybe I didn’t show him all of my dance steps. Or maybe I
didn’t do my spoken word part. Or I didn’t show him how we were going to have
flames and blood all over the place. I don’t even understand where he was
coming from. Nearly all artists have a particular sound, don’t they? I am no
different. We blend a lot of country, a bit of Christian, a bit of mid-western rock
and that about covers it. This is what I am. This is who I am. I’m really not
all that exciting, but I am pretty good at what I do.
The thing is, we can’t be all things to all
people, can we? We are better served to try and be who we are. I believe God
made all of us different. We all have different passions, and we come at things
differently. This is what makes things like art and music interesting. We need
to pull it back just a bit I think. I don’t ever try to dictate what other
musicians or writers should be doing within their craft. And I don’t much care
for others trying to tell me how I should be doing things either. The thing
about music is that it has to be from your heart or it pretty much sucks. I
don’t want to be a part of something that isn’t from deep inside me. I don’t
want to hear fake news, I don’t want to listen to fake music, and I don’t need
people telling me what I should do all the time. I hope you feel the same.
Listen to your heart. If you have a question, ask someone that is truly your
friend. They won’t say things just to hurt to you or keep you down. On the
other hand, if you need to be told exactly what steps to take in all matters of
life, get in touch with me. I have these clown acts calling me randomly trying
to “help me out.” I’m sure they would be happy to jack your day up if you feel
the need. Let me know!
