Yesterday I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York City. As a lifelong musicologist it was quite a thrill to see all the exhibits and artifacts from many artists I grew up with and admired.
There was also a special exhibit called “John Lennon: The New York City Years” that was especially poignant and ultimately moving, given the tragedy of his all-too-early death in 1980. Bottom line, I’d highly recommend this museum to anyone with a love (or even a liking) of music.
More importantly, however, this visit crystallized the very reason I love this genre of music so much in the first place. There was a 10 minute video that kicked off the visit that was very well done and was visually and sonically top notch. So much so that by the time it ended with a crescendo of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” while over 50 years of Rock and Roll history flashed on the screen, I experienced an exhilarating “jolt” of emotion.
Exhilaration – that was “the thing” that keeps putting music in the forefront of my life. And when seen in a “virtually live” context of that video, watched with a roomful of other people, it only heightened the feeling.
Great Rock and Roll, particularly performed live, is an unmatched sensory experience. Far better than anything 140 characters can deliver.
For when was the last time you felt exhilarated sending or receiving a Tweet? Perhaps only when you clicked a music link. Or when you Tweeted from a concert, or from some other event that you enjoyed.
Social Media is more of a conduit in this regard- it’s not an exhilaration generator in and of itself. More like a means to share (and learn) about experiences. Like this one, for example.
So, at least occasionally, I highly recommend you put down the Blackberry or iPhone, step away from the computer, and pull out and play an old vinyl record, or a CD – or better still, go to a concert, or a club – and experience the exhilaration of Rock and Roll a little more often. You’ll be glad you did.
For as the Rolling Stones said, “I know it’s only rock ‘n roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do”.
Me too lads, me too. 
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
So true, so true.
Keeping with your rock & roll theme. Think about some great rock lyrics. Take U2 for example. The lyrics are often small bits of information put into as few characters as possible. Often each phrase is as short as a tweet. Each phrase with its accompanying music doesn’t exhilarate you. String the phrases together, create a great melody, repeat the chorus and, ta da, you have exhilaration.
I do get exhilaration when I participate in a scheduled 60 or 90 minute Twitter chat focused on a specific top. With people with great minds come together and discuss an issue, I find a similar exhilaration.
For me, it’s all about connecting with people on an emotional level.
Jeff, I see your point – there are times when exhilaration can break through on a SM platform. It is indeed emotional. That said, you NEED to go to the R&R hall of fame annex – they use U2 so well in their video- you’d love it.
Thanks,
Terry
The best music is a two-way flow of energy. Even with recorded music, when the latent energy is released it connects in a way a one-way electronic submission never could. That said, I haven’t engaged that deeply in Twitter. What lands on my page often seems, to me, random and disconnected.
Perhaps if I participated at the level and in the depths of conversation that Jeff does, I’d feel differently.
Hi Heather – thanks for stopping by. Yes, the “two-way” flow of music is absolutely the best way to get that energy really cranked up. I recently went to a rock concert for the first time in several years – I had forgotten about how exciting they can be. I’m already looking forward to the next one!
Thanks again, and all the best!