Dear MySpace, I think we're through. Over. Done.

As more and more spammers (ie. other bands that I have no interest in or porn sites masquerading as people, etc.), the more I become disillusioned with MySpace. I'm sure you've all felt it, real people of MySpace and honestly, I'm just bored with it. This is not a rant, I promise. It's just an observation.

MySpace may have jumped the shark way before when that young whipper snapper Facebook became the cool kid on the block. I don't remember when that point was exactly... but it definitely became tangible when the almighty MySpace began modeling itself after Facebook.

Ironically, Facebook is turning into the new MySpace. I've been "Friend Spammed" a few times already and I get hundreds of invitations to events that I have absolutely no interest in (no offense, music strangers). So unless by some stroke of brilliance MySpace does something to re-energize it's users and rekindles interest, I think I'll turn my attentions elsewhere.

So while I sit back and contemplate on the mass migration to Facebook and Twitter and what the next move will be, I guess I just have to tell you that I have less vested interest in this page and will continue to do so.

Feel free to join me on Facebook though!

Thanks,
Kenny

It is one of my (if not, THE) first musically memory I have.

I was listening to the "Dangerous" album on the way to school. I remember singing along and trying to figure out why I enjoyed this music so much. I tried to sing along and copy a harmony here or there but eventually I just resigned myself to listen. There was something enchanting about the music. It spoke to me, even at six years old. I still to this day can't figure it out what it was that was.

Then I started listening to the older stuff eventually. My mom realized that I loved "Dangerous" and began playing some of his older music for me on our rides to school. It was the first time I heard him as a child in the Jackson 5. I couldn't understand how this kid, who was almost the same age on record as I was, could do what he did.

I was seven years old, hanging out at my cousin Jenny's house. I remember it being a warm summer day. I was bored so I started digging through my uncle's record collection and stumbled upon "Off the Wall". Listened to it for thirty seconds and then asked him if I could keep it. I still have it to this day.

I started really getting to know the music at about seven years old. My aunt Irma video taped a bunch of his live performances for me. Motown's 25th Anniversary, the Super Bowl, the Thriller music video, Moonwalker, etc. I saw them all. Even made a special effort to go watch Captain EO and The Wiz. I knew that I couldn't dance but I knew the music backwards and forwards. I knew all the moves, all the changes and all the words. I still do.

I'm not really sure why I'm so attached to Michael Jackson and his music. Maybe it's nostalgia but his music never left my life. Even through his tougher years, I listened to him. Though I never really enjoyed anything after "Dangerous", I remained a true fan. It was one of the first areas in my life that I really had any kind of opinion about, anything that I could say with any kind of authority that I still loved his music, regardless of what was happening in his personal life.

Fast forward to the genesis of my musical life. Michael Jackson was still there. His music still spoke to me at a primal, instinctual level. But as I started to really research the music making process and the history behind the music, I became more enamored with the legend and the legacy that he had already left. I knew that I couldn't copy him. So instead I tried to do what everyone else does- I tried to emulate him. I'm sure you're confused, but what I mean is that I try to bring the same magic to my music as he did with his.

Yes, he reshaped pop music, changed the importance of music videos, was one of the greatest and most successful entertainers ever. Michael Jackson, much like the Beatles and Elvis altered the direction of pop music. His music has everything. It's got masterful production. The lyrics are consistently fantastic. The vocals are perfect with just a touch of sadness. And the vision accompanying it was never far off.

But I think it was the fact that Michael could always make you stop and listen to what he was saying. And if you didn't want to listen, at least you could dance to it. He was the kind of performer who was a superstar and knew it, but you still called him Michael.

When I found out today that he passed away, I didn't want to believe it. I still don't. Having such a huge childhood influence suddenly leave your life is never easy. He influenced the world and he influenced millions of people like me. His music is woven into the fabric of who I am as a music listener and music maker. The worst part about the mourning process is that in listening to his music, you can't help but feel a little bit better.

It may be trite to say this but it seems true now more than ever. There are many imitators, but Michael Jackson is the one true King of Pop.

You will be missed, Michael. Thank you for your music.

I always think it's funny when I have indelible convictions about some of the most trivial and mundane ideas.

Whenever I get into deep conversation about these things (and I always manage to, somehow), I get all worked up about what is ethical and appropriate for the greater good and how to not lose your sense of self and all that stuff. And at the time, it sounds like the right and honest thing to say. But the problem with having these strong convictions is that people change. Especially me.

When I go back to revisit my convictions, I find that they either don't exist any more or there are new justifications to circumvent the old rationale. For example, I thought that I'd try to be a real person and never use MySpace as a mass marketing tool. But somehow, I've shifted away from that ideal. Now, I put up my banner (see below) on every new "friend's" page that I come across.



Initially, I thought the whole idea was impersonal and a bit pretentious. But as I moved away from MySpace to Facebook, eventually Myspace became more of the "advertising" site and Facebook was the real social network site for real friends (now do you understand what I mean about justifications?). And I know that eventually, Facebook will become the new advertising site. Sad times. In fact, I already wrote a note about it on my Facebook page.

Now, should I feel conflicted? Am I selling out? Am I succumbing to the desire to be successful? Am I joining the ranks of the rest of the hopeful/annoying MySpace "artists" that want nothing more than to increase their "friend" and "played" stats all for more "visibility" in order to "attract" label interest (even though it's all a farce)? Not even close.

I guess that brings me to my point... and maybe it should be viewed as a disclaimer as well. There are convictions that I have that will change. There will be ideas that I will brow-beat people for having and then turn around and start subscribing to the next month (don't take it personally if I brow-beat you... it means I like you). I still have a lot of ideas to work out, just like everyone else. For example, for the longest time, I thought that writing songs about relationships and love was such an inescapable cliche. I thought that it was trite and that the people that did it were similarly so. But I've come to the realization that putting those kind of superficial limitations on my creative output was not only silly but actually detrimental to me as an "artist". I want to be honest with everything I do and there was a time when I had ideas that I wanted to express about relationships but I wouldn't allow myself to because it would be "copping out". Stupid, right?

Anyways, there are some very basic principles about music that I believe will never change. I still believe that success is a relative idea. I'm already successful, in many aspects of my life anyway. The desire to have more fans or to make exorbitant amounts of money is and will always be secondary, even tertiary. The other is that I write music that I must enjoy as a listener. That is my idea of musical honesty. Obviously, my tastes will change. I listen to Bill Withers, D'Angelo, Prince and even newer artists more than I do Jeff Buckley and Jimi Hendrix (although, they are still my go-to guys) and that will be reflected in the music I make.

All I'm saying is that no matter what people may say about the music I make and the person I am, just know that I think about these things too. A lot. And if they don't make sense to me at the time, then I don't do them. Just don't jump to any conclusions and say that I'm conceding to pressure to be "liked" or "successful" because clearly, I'm not. To be honest, couldn't really care less if a million people enjoyed my music. If ten people do, then I'll keep playing and keep writing.

With much respect,
Kenny

For the good man Teddy Geisel,
With you, I'd like to share,
A list of lovely stories,
Ten of them, I dare.

When I was a young one,
I didn't know it then,
That Dr. Seuss was better,
Than many with a pen.

Now I know this isn't written,
With Seuss' rhythmic style,
But hopefully I made it,
Worth your precious while.

10) Cat in the Hat

9) Fox in Sox

8) One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

7) I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!

6) Marvin K Mooney Will You Please Go Now!

5) Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

4) Oh, the Places You'll Go!

3) Sneetches and Other Stories

2) How the Grinch Stole Christmas

1) The Lorax

It's not like I don't enjoy being asked if I like Kenny G or if people can start calling me "Kenny E" because of the remarkable similarity to the famous oboist's name. Having grown up with that kind of ridicule has made me stronger than many who don't suffer from easily distinguishable name parodies, often delivered people who think they are "clever". I can't even begin to tell you how many times a week I hear something like that (I'm probably going to get a few after I post this too... thanks guys). It makes me sad for myself and the other Kenny's with any one of the nine possible last name initials that may elicit these kinds of albeit, good-natured but cliche teases.

Oddly enough, it's only older people (or the socially stunted) that make the Kenny G jokes. For the more recent generations, South Park is the reference I receive most. I considered going as the ill-fated Kenny from South Park for Halloween back in highschool, but knowing how moronic some people are, they might actually try to kill me just to say (fill in the blank). So, I decided against it. It was a safety precaution more than anything.

All of this complaining and griping really has got nothing on some of these names, though. Sorry mates. I tip my hat to you and I will mention this ne'er again.

Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited
'Cause we're reunited, hey, hey

Here's to you Mrs. Robinson.


More sad news for Michael Jackson. Questlove said we "knew" it would happen. But it's still sad to see a grown man's head painted onto Peter Pan's body. Even in the plays, Peter was a woman... I guess in "Hook" he was a man. But at least they had a back story for that.

I was a fool to ever leave your side
Me minus you is such a lonely ride
The breakup we had has made me lonesome and sad
I realize I love you
'Cause I want you bad, hey, hey

I spent the evening with the radio
Regret the moment that I let you go
Our quarrel was such a way of learning so much
I know now that I love you
'Cause I need your touch, hey, hey

Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited
'Cause we're reunited, hey, hey

I sat here staring at the same old wall
Came back to life just when I got your call
I wished I could climb right through the telephone line
And give you what you want
So you will still be mine, hey, hey

I can't go cheating, honey, I can't play
I found it very hard to stay away
As we reminisce on precious moments like this
I'm glad we're back together
'Cause I missed your kiss, hey, hey

Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited
'Cause we're reunited, hey, hey

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Ba-a-a-by

Lover, lover, this is solid love
And you're exactly what I'm dreaming of
All through the day
And all through the night

I'll give you all the love I have
With all my might, hey, hey

Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited 'cause we understood
There's one perfect fit
And, sugar, this one is it
We both are so excited

'Cause we're reunited, hey, hey


Simon and Garfunkle reunite.

More interesting news articles about the further decay of our society! Weeeeeeeeee!

Article #1: Miley Cyrus

Article #2: CA