I intend to start a thread for each Chapter, with a summary and some discussion questions.
The only rule for participation is don't post spoilers for chapters ahead.
The next message will be for that which comes before Chapter 1.
"What is soul, It's like electricity -- we don't really know what it is, but it's a force that can light a room." -- RAY CHARLES
This is the opening quote. Food for discussion in itself I think.
Do you agree that we don't really know what soul is?
omg, are you kidding ? the Ray Charles quote ? well holy _ _ _ _ !
have you ever noticed my top siggy line I've been using since registering here ?
have always loved the elegant simplicity of RC's description ever since seeing it a long time ago in a discussion of Taylor's musical roots - on GC probably - and may have been in connection with Taylor's long interview in 2006
even made a small sign with it for the wall by my desk - - and used it on boogie when went there in 2006 for a while but someone else who posted a Lot more was using it too back then so I took mine off
have some thoughts on what constitutes soul but since have been working on mine for a long time would rather see what everyone else has to say - - plus my mind is a bit blown away that something I latched onto so long ago obviously means something to Taylor as well - -
My soul is a lot shinier since Taylor's light came into it.
My theory... Soul (like electricity but less deadly) is a pure clean energy that runs through the entire universe... short version of my theory is that all the souls of all the people in the universe (yup, I believe in aliens) are what make up "God". And the reason we're here is to learn about our universe, and rejoin the great big Soul in the sky.
Know what else is a pure clean energy? Music.
Sometimes I get to imagining that when an artist makes a recording, a bit of the music energy from the artist gets captured in the recording, and is released when the music is played.
If it's heartfelt soulful energy, then it spreads good energy every time it's played.
If the song is just commercial crap, then there's either no energy, or negative energy..
It is known that singing unleashes all kinds of powerful good energy stuff. That's why it's so much fun. Dancing too.
still had these stashed from a conversation sometime in the past year and thought I'd toss them into the pot
http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/p/p0633000.html
noun
1. The vital principle or animating force within living beings: breath, divine spark, élan vital, life force, soul, spirit, vital force, vitality. See body
2. The thought processes characteristic of an individual or group: ethos, mentality, mind, mindset, psychology. Idiom: what makes someone tick. See thoughts
source not noted
The Psyche was the Greek concept of the self, encompassing the modern ideas of soul, self, and mind. The Greeks believed that the soul or "psyche" was responsible for behaviour.
"The vital principle or animating force within living beings: breath, divine spark, élan vital, life force, soul, spirit, vital force, vitality."
Could it be said that if music activates any of the above entities, then it has soul?
Margaux, I agree with your theory that the musician's energy comes along with certain music and creates an effect/energy. I feel this especially with Taylor, more so than any other musician I've related to in the past. TALT is the song I think I feel it the most, but also The
Fall, and Heart and Soul feel like a direct connection to Taylor's mind
or something.
I noticed this bartending a lot. Certain songs would have an effect on
the whole room when the DJ played them. They could liven it up, and
had the same effect on almost everyone. I used to use this for crowd
control even with our jukebox. It would be a stagnant boring room,
and if you chose a certain mix the whole mood would change and
lighten. LOL we also did this in reverse towards closing.
" A force that can light a room "and carry us along with it ! If it stirs an emotion in the listener it's soul.If it can transcend one to another place it's soul.It can lift you up and it can bring you down,but if you feel it it's soul !! Taylor sings with an intensity that can only be described as coming from the soul ,and when I hear him I can experience every single emotion that we are capable of feeling ! There are only a handfull of artists who have ever had the same impact on me as Taylor does !