I'm listening to some bootlegs of Linford and Karin in my headphones, and maybe it's because they're Christmas songs, or maybe it's because it's been far too long since I've done this, but I'm feeling very warm and floaty and there are chills all over my body as Karin's voice so beautifully and and fragiley rises and falls.

I've written this at least five times, and started over each time more determined to put as much beauty on my side of the equation as I'm hearing in these headphones from the other. Sadly, I'm struggling to even make sense at this point.

This is fragmented and hard to follow, I realize, but I'm going to publish it anyway. I guess I'm just glad that there is so much beauty that exists in the world, and that I have a place to put something like this when I get the urge.

I feel certain that if more people listened to Over the Rhine, we'd have fewer problems in the world today. Now if only we could get the copies to the world leaders and make them slow down and just listen.


"And every mother's child is gonna spy
to see if reindeer really know how to fly."

Cheers,
Mark

unfortunately mark, it seems that the leaders of our country are more of the toby keith mentality than OtR's.

You realize our country elected a leader who thought "Born In The U.S.A." would make a good campaign song.

[rant]

Really I think the only thing that would bring about world peace, at least from an American standpoint, would be having there be actual consequences for our leaders' actions that bring us farther and farther away from peace. Unfortunately, not only do they themselves suffer no personal loss, they even got re-elected...I'm sure if our leaders and legislators' own kids were on the ground fighting our wars, we might see some different ideas coming out of washington.

[/rant over]

Mark, I totally agree with you about the effect some of those songs can have on people...if only everyone in the world was as into music as we are. I don't think music is as an essential part of your culture growing up here as it is in other countries...I've had several friends who maybe owned a dozen CD's in their life and were barely moved by anything musical, and it was always really sad to watch. (although on the flipside, I know people who are equally passionate about photography, film, art, literature, etc in ways that I could never be, so I suppose it all evens out)

Guys, do you ever think there will come a time when there is not someone trying to impose their will on someone else? I will never stop doing my part in the world pushing peace and respect for others but I'm not to hopeful in that ending all war or the threat of war. I believe if everyone listened to OTR and it effected them like it has us the world would at least be alot more tolerant. Unfortunately it seems that those who are passive and peaceful usually become someones slave or at least become a voice that cries from the ground for justice........just thinking out load.

Kent

I see it totally I to I with you!!! I believe OTR's words would do more for world peace, etc. much more than any Live Aid or Live 8 crap out there!!!!!

Rob

Stop trying to impose your OTR beliefs on me.

But seriously, what about all those people that can't stand their music? And get violent when subjected to it? Wouldn't that just cause more needless suffering?

those people should be killed....
(in the name of world peace, of course)

It'd be like the Quiet Earth then, we'd be walking around alone, not another soul for miles.

I mean, seriously - have you tried to introduce people to OTRs music? I honestly have taken over 100 "new blood" to OTR shows, maybe had 7 converts at best. To some, it's like torture. Obviously they are missing out, but what can you do? Force Islam - oops - I mean - Christianity - oops - I mean - OTR down their throats?

My point being Marq's assertion that everyone listening to OTR in some ecstatic haze is no more likely than the world's peoples deciding that one religion is the *right* one for all.

Hey, it works for me, so it must be right for the world. If a little is good, then a lot is bettah!!

I do not throw pearls before swine. I introduce Over the Rhine to people who I have a good reason to believe would like them. My gangsta-rap lovin' coworkers are naturally exluded from such evangalism.
the people I convert to OtR generally do enter that ecstatic haze soon enough. and the people who don't like them... well, as I said, you can learn a lot about how to deal with "certain people" from watching the Sopranos. good educational programming, that.

In the short year and a half I have been listening to OTR, I have never had so many people ask me what I am listening to. I took 4 friends with me to my first live show at the Duck Room in St. Louis and they are all fans now. I have had at least 6 clients in the past year hear them while I listened to them and then went out and bought CDs. They might not bring about world peace but they have brought a little peace to my world.

Kent