Music is AIR to me….a necessity for life. I am a rock music lover. Well, let me qualify that. I am a selective lover of rock music – mostly alt rock. Always have been. It helped that I had four older siblings who played a big role in shaping my musical tastes at an early age….I had no choice but to listen to their music – they controlled the radio and stereo. As I came into my own and was able to make my own musical decisions and was old enough to attend concerts, I discovered a whole new world – my own utopia. There are few things in life that have given me more pleasure than great, live rock and roll music.
So why “Salieri’s Line?” One of my favorite movies is “Amadeus,” not only because I adore Mozart’s music (not hardly alt rock, I know), but because it was perfectly cast, beautifully staged, and sublimely performed by Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham. And because I have always thought that Salieri was describing my own inner struggle in one of his lines as he made his confession to the priest: “He gave me that longing – then made me mute. Why? Tell me that. If He didn’t want me to serve Him with music, why implant the desire, like a lust in my body, then deny me the talent?”* Religious inference aside, I have always possessed such a deep appreciation for music – arts of all kinds, actually – but none of the talent to partake in it, other than as an adoring observer. I would have loved to have been a rock singer or musician (god knows, I fantasized about it enough!), but I simply did not have the talent or the voice. In order to live my passion, I probably should have pursued a career as a music journalist, or as an arts critic, or perhaps in arts management, but like so many of my peers in the 80’s, I got a business degree instead……
The good news is that I have been able to pursue my love of rock music as a fan. And I am proud to report that I have seen all of my rock idols perform live (with the exception of John Lennon – I was too young)!
My purpose in writing this blog at this point in my life is to express my deep appreciation to all of the artists who have provided so much enjoyment …and AIR….to me over the years.
I welcome your thoughts, comments, and shared experiences.
*Source: “Amadeus”, Screenplay by Peter Shaffer
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Salieri's Line 