Today I got an email from my cousin with a link to an interview that the band My Chemical Romance did on LA's rock station, KROQ. So with the little bit of time I have on my hands now a days, I went and I watched the interview. The interview was awesome. They told the KROQ dj all the dirt about My Chem's life for the last few years: making the record, getting married, some having kids. It was awesome to hear all this, as a fan, it almost feels like catching up with old friends. And now that were acquainted, I'm psyched for whatever comes from the next.
But it wasn't the interview that stirred something in me today. It wasn't the interview that drove me to write this. What totally plunged me off the diving board and into my thought process, was this video here:
This video is just a promo for the bands new album, featuring their new single, "Na Na Na." It really at first glance is nothing. Its just a commercial. But when you really think about it, you can't help but respect this group of musicians. When it comes to album promo's what normally is done, is the album artwork is shown while a 30 second clip of a song is played, and then to wrap it all up, they slap a date at the end of the video so you know when the album drops. This promo is nothing like that, this promo was actually completely thought out and created by the band. They created a whole universe for just this 2 minute clip. When you watch that clip you almost feel taken away to somewhere else. In the interview on KROQ they talked about the promo. They literally had the idea for the promo and ran with it and expected to do nothing else with it. After the business execs saw it, they were shocked and told them that, "Na Na Na" is now the first single and they need to go back to shooting next week to shoot more footage for a music video. They were a little shocked and just replied with, "Cool."
After watching that clip I couldn't help but feel so inspired.
I know that sounds a bit ridiculous for some of you who have just now watched that clip and were just like, "what was that?"
How could you be inspired by that?
One thing that I love about the band My Chemical Romance is that they truly are one of the reasons I picked up a guitar and started learning how to play, and how to play in a band. Me and one of my best friends, Nathan Cox, use to stay in his basement all morning long and watch fuse all morning and into the afternoon, consuming music video after music video. But I'll never forget the summer of 2004. Me and nathan saw the video for "Helena" and we were somewhat amazed. "What is this?" I remember watching that video probably 6 to 8 times a day whenever I went over there. We would never turn the channel when that video came on, actually we would flip the channels looking for it at times. We couldn't get enough of it. That video lead my friend nathan to getting the album and then learning a guitar part for "I'm Not Okay" with our friend Steven Lewis. The next weekend Nathan, who was new to guitar as well, taught me the rhythm part, and then we started learning how to play that song together on guitar. All of that all branched from one simple music video. I literally can owe so many memorable moments of playing music on stage and in garages and with friends to that music video and my friend for making me learn that guitar riff.
So all that to say, My Chemical Romance, has been a huge part of my creative side in life. So of course their promo inspired me.
But why did it inspire me?
It inspired me, because it made me remember that thing that I love so much.
Creating.
Creating is the needle that I insert in my veins, push down on the plunger, and take me to that place that I love. It is my high.
There is truly nothing like it.
The feeling of making something completely out of nothing just takes me away.
The last few weeks, actually most of the last year or two I have had this feeling that I get every other day or so, where if I don't write a blog, or a guitar lick, or a screenplay, or something at all, I get this itch. This itch to be creative. This itch to make something. And nothing suffices that itch until I actually do something creative. There have been times that I've tried to substitute that feeling with a movie or something else, but that only worsens the situation for me. I can't really focus on the movie or what I'm doing, because I feel a need to create at times. I know that may sound a little crazy, but its true.
I thought about creation for a long time today. The process of creating something.
Taking an idea and making something in the image of your idea.
It really is somewhat euphoric and magical to see something that you dreamed up come alive.
I couldn't help today but think, we were created, to be... creative.
Its funny, for the last couple of days, I have actually been having some religious debates with my good buddy, Jonathan Pfahl, and some other people about the views of Creationists and Evolutionists and Atheism. So this topic, has been fresh on my mind for the last few days.
As a Creationist at this point, and or believer in Intelligent Design, you can't help but realize that God Himself is our biggest example of this very thing. We even call Him by the name, "Creator" at times. Now we call Him that because, He "created" us, but if you really dive deep into the word and name that we give the Heavenly Father, He wasn't given that title just because of His creation of humans. If you look around us, you will soon realize that almost all of our art is inspired by His art. We recreate that which He created. Have you ever really truly looked around and saw the beauty that surrounds you everyday? The intricacy of the tree that sits next to your car? The beautiful construction of the leaf and how the stem runs the center of it distributing all the necessities the leaf needs to survive until fall. Do you notice the feel of water on your skin? Do you ever notice the magnificence of a sunset? One of the things that always captivates me, is the clouds. Its one of the only things that when I see them, I feel reassured of a Creator.
So I look up to the sky for answers, but I only come up with clouds passing... But those clouds that gave me nothing are what keep me believing. There’s a voice inside when I look into the sky that says I’m not alone. So I keep believing. So I keep believing.-Take It Back
I apparently not the only one who agrees with my last statement...
We are surrounded by so much beauty, because we were given this earth by a Creative God.
But He did not limit creativity to only Himself. He gave it to all of us.
So may argue and say they don't have a creative bone in them, but I would beg to disagree.
Creativity is not only found in the arts.
I would easily say what my friend, Jonathan who I mentioned earlier, what he does as his job is creative and art in itself. Jonathan is a computer programmer. He programs computers. Thats normally not something you think of when you hear the words art or creativity. But when you see this guy behind a computer and going away at it, you can't help but notice the art in the way he knows the machine. The way he treats it, and understands it.... its art.
Another example I would use, is my Mother. My mother truly has an art form with people. Women in particular. She has always been someone who women are just gravitated to for some reason? My dad and I have talked about it so many times. My mother sometimes can hold a conversation with a woman, whose name she doesn't know, and she can move them. My mother has an art form to the way she treats the women who come to her, and the women who mom herself goes to at times. Its art...
Creativity is not limited to just the so called, "Arts."
But the thought that I keep coming back to is God molding the clay in his hands. His hands being dirty with the mud and clay and then Him being completely captivated in His work.
I can't help but relate to that feeling.
Even now at this very moment I am creating. The clay and mud stain my hands more and more as I type.
And at this very moment this blog post is the cure for the itch.
I have created something, and I hope it drives you to create something.
I hope it sparks something in you.
I hope it makes you realize you are a creative human being.
You were "created" to be creative.
So what are you doing in your lives now to cure that creative itch?
What could you be doing?
I know for me, I can't get enough of it.
I feel so blessed to live in a time where I am literally surrounded by so much art, so much creativity.
And I am so blessed to live in a country that does not put limits on our creativity.
I am so blessed and honored to be Created to be Creative...
I'm going to end this post with a quote that I absolutely love by Michele Shea
“Creativity is… seeing something that doesn’t exist already. You need to find out how you can bring it into being and that way be a playmate with God.” — Michele Shea
Lets all be God's playmates.
What will you create?
Media Associated With This Post:
Song: Helena Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: 3 Cheers For Sweet Revenge
Main Graphic "Art work" was created by Alex Pardee for The Used's album, Artwork.
"Child Under Table" was taken by Chris Simms.
All other photos found on Google Images.
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