Observations (now that I've watched this particular video, maybe 40X, since it was first produced):
I still love basketball (although the present game gets uglier every year) and have memories of chemistry between players. W/out naming names, the best combos had a willingness to perform/win above any individual glory. Their every move was meant to beat you, possession by possession. No coach could design the chemistry between such combinations. The player just possessed the artistry, dedication to winning the moment, selflessness, respect for teammates abilities and the desire to extract the teammates' skills by sharing the ball and the glory. Playing vs. such spirits was frustrating and easily envied. The great musicians in history and prominent actors had the same qualities. Call it soul, spirit or chemistry. All of them blended willingly with those in the cast, all for the betterment of the art, song, or scene. Most important each of them cared more about the product of their passion than any individual merit. They cared greatly and expected others to be equally prepared.
Whenever I watch Michael & Eddie play I think about how they blend, subordinate, silently communicate and interject/highlight their personal skills at just the right time to highlight a phrase or a few chords and then regain their the flow of the song, again, by just a certain look at one another. Like the exceptional athletes, they make it look so easy and casual and it really was for them....after 54 years of daily practice, alone or together. Many times I've been teased about, 'why don't you play anything"? I always say, I worked on my jumper while they learned guitar". Seriously, I say, 'if you had any idea how much time they've spent learning you'd understand that what they do is not a conscious effort to learn. NO, it was never an effort. It was/is a passion driven by souls that simply loved music and the sounds of guitar and other instruments. Anyone can learn to shoot a basketball or play chords on a guitar. Very few people learn, or even are aware, of the miniscule details that make a finished product special, e.g., the accurate, just in time/at the right spot bounce pass, the clever timely riff that fills a gap in a song, the inflections that Michael offered so well, to tell a story and emphasize phrases of a song, or, the softness or heavy delivery of certain words. Michael and Eddie are true artists and maximized their learning individually and together thru 54 years and thousands and thousands of hours. Eddie will continue to excel because it's in his DNA, he epitomizes artistic passion. I believe in my heart, somewhere in our universe, the spirit of Michael continues to sing, laugh and perform and always will. Physically, his person died. His spirit is endless. Thinking of his talents, comedy, personality and passions makes me smile thru the tears. I suppose, in time, we stop crying. No time will we cease to appreciate the concerts we had, so frequently, in our family life, when our brothers would spontaneously give us another concert.
Thanks for reading this personal therapeutic exercise. We all get thru the 'moments' in our own ways......
How about if we have a major sporting event without Referees, Umpires, Judges or Stewards? I Love that a 65 to one shot did ...
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one of my favorites...
Observations (now that I've watched this particular video, maybe 40X, since it was first produced):
I still love basketball (although the present game gets uglier every year) and have memories of chemistry between players. W/out naming names, the best combos had a willingness to perform/win above any individual glory. Their every move was meant to beat you, possession by possession. No coach could design the chemistry between such combinations. The player just possessed the artistry, dedication to winning the moment, selflessness, respect for teammates abilities and the desire to extract the teammates' skills by sharing the ball and the glory. Playing vs. such spirits was frustrating and easily envied. The great musicians in history and prominent actors had the same qualities. Call it soul, spirit or chemistry. All of them blended willingly with those in the cast, all for the betterment of the art, song, or scene. Most important each of them cared more about the product of their passion than any individual merit. They cared greatly and expected others to be equally prepared.
Whenever I watch Michael & Eddie play I think about how they blend, subordinate, silently communicate and interject/highlight their personal skills at just the right time to highlight a phrase or a few chords and then regain their the flow of the song, again, by just a certain look at one another. Like the exceptional athletes, they make it look so easy and casual and it really was for them....after 54 years of daily practice, alone or together. Many times I've been teased about, 'why don't you play anything"? I always say, I worked on my jumper while they learned guitar". Seriously, I say, 'if you had any idea how much time they've spent learning you'd understand that what they do is not a conscious effort to learn. NO, it was never an effort. It was/is a passion driven by souls that simply loved music and the sounds of guitar and other instruments. Anyone can learn to shoot a basketball or play chords on a guitar. Very few people learn, or even are aware, of the miniscule details that make a finished product special, e.g., the accurate, just in time/at the right spot bounce pass, the clever timely riff that fills a gap in a song, the inflections that Michael offered so well, to tell a story and emphasize phrases of a song, or, the softness or heavy delivery of certain words. Michael and Eddie are true artists and maximized their learning individually and together thru 54 years and thousands and thousands of hours. Eddie will continue to excel because it's in his DNA, he epitomizes artistic passion. I believe in my heart, somewhere in our universe, the spirit of Michael continues to sing, laugh and perform and always will. Physically, his person died. His spirit is endless. Thinking of his talents, comedy, personality and passions makes me smile thru the tears. I suppose, in time, we stop crying. No time will we cease to appreciate the concerts we had, so frequently, in our family life, when our brothers would spontaneously give us another concert.
Thanks for reading this personal therapeutic exercise. We all get thru the 'moments' in our own ways......
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