Choosing only one CD to take with me to a Desert Island required a lot of contemplating. This decision would, in a way, determine the mood and state of mind I would be in for my entire life on the island. After much debating, I came up with an album that would satisfy my music needs on the island, but my choice actually surprised me in a way. I decided to take Aerosmith's Big One's, a collection of the band's greatest hits. The thing that surprised me though was that this CD isn't even the type of music I like the most. But it is the only one in which I enjoy listening to EVERY song on the album. The CD consists of a wide variety of music styles including gentle, mellow songs about love, and forceful, loud songs about obstacles in life. The album also seems like an appropriate choice because of the memories the songs remind me of. When I listen to the album, all of those old, precious moments in my life come back to me. Aerosmith originated in 1970 from a small town in New Hampshire. The original group membersÐTyler, Perry, Whitford, Hamilton, and KramerÐsigned with US Columbia records in 1972 after being discovered by Clive Davis while performing in New York. The band's first album put them into "US super group class, with Toys in the Attic being regarded as the peak release of the mid-1970's"(Jasper and Oliver, 5-6). At that point in time, Aerosmith need not worry about their fans losing interest. In 1982, the group released Rock in a Hard Place, one of the year's best albums. This CD had "superb, heavy swank 'n' sass sound that feeds on R 'n' B roots" (Jasper and Oliver, 5-6).
Aerosmith is one of the few music groups that was a major hit
twenty years ago and still is to this day. The band's popularity is
largely related to the unique style in which the songs are composed.
The actual sound of the instruments alone would lead one to believe
that the songs were about death or violence, however, this is where
the band utilizes its originality and power. Just as Tosches
describes the music of Jerry Lee LewisÐ"The powers of his music
are of light and dark, wickedness and strength, and they are powers
that can cure and heal and cause miracles"(Tosches, 4)Ðthe loud
pouncing of the drums and the deep strumming of the electric guitar
work together to create the dark gloomy mood of the music. The
sensitive, heart-filled lyrics are then added to create a majestic,
"in love" mood for the listener. The band's popularity is also
related to their similarity to other legendary hard rock groups.
Aerosmith has often been compared to Led Zeppelin in that "both bands
favored no-holds-barred all-out rock with a strong blues
underpinning"(Stambler 5-6). Their music also draws in many different
types of people. Men and women, young and old can be found grooving
to an Aerosmith album. Their music incorporates styles that many
generations of people can enjoy listening to. For example: some
albums contain the groovy, retro, no-frill beats of the seventies,
others contain more of the heavy metal instrumentals of the eighties,
while many of their songs have sympathetic lyrics with softer, more
mellow music. Therefore, every song has a style that attracts all age
groups and allows them to enjoy Aerosmith's music in some way.
One of the reasons my DID is "the chosen one" is the way the band
combines the music and the lyrics. When one listens to the music, it
is actually pretty loud and heavy. But, if you really listen to the
lyrics, you discover the songs are about love. Walker Percy describes
an explorer's discovery of an island: "To him it is beautiful
because, being first, he has access to it and can see it for what it
is. But to no one else is it ever beautifulÐexcept the rare man
who manages to recover it, who knows that it has to be
recovered"(Percy 1). The same statement could be made about music. If
a person doesn't take the time to sit and comprehend what the lyrics
are saying, he/she will never discover the true meaning or purpose of
the song. By the choice of music, one would think that Aerosmith's
songs were about evil. This is the way in which the band differs from
many of today's rock groups. One wouldn't find the music very calming
or mellow, but the words and their meanings make the songs pleasant.
I enjoy listening to Aerosmith because of the unique way in which the
band displays messages. They incorporate hard rock music with caring
lyrics from the heart. Steven Tyler sings about love and the
difficulties that arise when a person is truly in love. He sings
about how great love can be but also how it can rip a person apart
when that love is gone. He tells stories of how we are often blinded
by love and may not even realize what is really going on. People
often take advantage of each other. Sad, but true; this often happens
without one noticing. For me, the troubles that Tyler sings about,
makes me realize that everyone goes through obstacles in life. Not
one human being's existence is problem free, but that is how we all
learn from our mistakes. Tyler doesn't just write songs to tell a
story, he uses his own experiences to make a point and hopes that his
listeners realize what that point is. The songs aren't about fantasy
worlds; they're about real situations that everyone experiences at
some point in life.
When I listen to Big One's, I am reminded of my adolescence.
One of the reasons I love this CD is because of the time when it was
really popular. The album was a major hit during the times when I was
in seventh and eighth grade. Those years of my life were extremely
fantastic. Being a pre-teen was actually one of the greatest periods
in my life. I had such a wonderful time with all my friends and the
Big One's album contributed to that. Five years ago, I was
experiencing many things for the first time. I really didn't know
what to expect out of being a teen. I started going to parties,
getting interested in boys, getting serious about school, and going
through physical changes. Now when I listen to the album all of those
memories flood back to my mind like it was just yesterday.
Even after twenty-five years of entertaining the public, Aerosmith is
still one of the top performers in the nation. So far in their
career, Aerosmith has accomplished everything they have ever dreamed
of. Of course, winning music awards year after year is a great
accomplishment, but the band has done much more than rack up votes.
The members of the group have provided outstanding entertainment for
a huge number of people, but most importantly the group has served as
a role model for many devoted fans. The dedication they have towards
their music is one thing I greatly admire about the group. Many bands
don't aim towards being idols to everyday people, but Aerosmith
yearns to be looked up to. Johnny Lang is one of many who are
inspired by the group. Lang, a high school student from Minneapolis,
is proving that he can achieve his goals for life. "Currently opening
for Aerosmith on its 'Nine Lives' tour, Lang seems to be breaking the
mold by singing and playing the guitar as if he has done it for 30
years instead of the past three"(Hodges, 14).
I guess I never really realized how much music plays a role in my
mood, remembering my past and influencing my future. By only being
able to bring one album to a Desert island, I actually learned to
appreciate music more. I realized that the lyrics make the songs what
they are, not just the actual music. At least that's how I feel about
Big One's. The words make me appreciate the songs more;
everyone can relate to them in one way or another. Everyone has felt
the feelings the songs depict in some shape or form. I feel that I
made a smart choice when I decided to take Aerosmith with me to the
island. The album reminds me of great times in my childhood, and
allows me to sit back, relax, and enjoy what I believe is quality
music. I think this album will provide a very pleasant atmosphere for
the rest of my life on the Desert Island.