July 20, 2009
69體驗營終於來了！"Are You Experienced" Pre-release Party is Here!
"69 體驗營“終於來了！我們昨天(7/19/2009)在台北舉行了一場非常特別的體驗營。我們邀請了69位特別的朋友來搶先感受新專輯的音樂，概念，
和音樂電影。我和整個企畫部非常的興奮又緊張，因為這是首次華語流行音樂用這樣的活動讓大家搶先聽和感受一張未發行的專輯！如果你們沒有參加到，
也不用擔心，因為我們有全程的跟拍讓大家可以一起“體驗”！Here's the link, check it out!
http://www.youtube.com/user/D6T9TV#play/uploads/7/-r0OhhrUuIo
Thanks again to our wonderful 企畫“夢幻”組合！僕僕，Philip, Cheer, Mitch and Shay, you guys ROCK!
July 19, 2009
I Love You, Mr. Dirty Organ Man 我愛你，骯髒器官先生
雖然電風琴（Organ）是個鍵盤樂器，但不是會彈鋼琴的人就會彈奏電風琴。它是個非常有個性的樂器，也有很多屬於自己獨特彈奏的技巧。它可以很 dirty and nasty，但同時也可以非常的 holy and soulful。可以在神聖的教堂出現（gospel and church music)，也可以在頹廢的 Mississipi blues bar 陪伴酒醉的客人。Organ在英文可以翻譯成電風琴，同時也是器官的意思。在我眼裏，Organ不只是一個樂器，而真的是一個 living、 breathing 的“器官”。
我很愛這個電風琴，但我更愛 Mr. Jim Cox, 鍵盤大師。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92FKHlfVryc
這不是第一次跟 Jim 合作，之前他在 【太平盛世] 彈奏了“愛，是個什麼東西？”中的 organ parts。那個時候的歌曲沒有特別突出 organ 的部份，所以我立下以後如果還有歌需要 organ，一定要再找 Jim 來發揮功力。這次專輯中雖然沒有很多 organ，但在這首歌裏有讓 Jim 大大的秀他的magic。
現在的科技和電腦能模擬很多聲音。你能想得到的，都可以做的出來，但電腦還是不能 replace the real thing (無法取代真的樂器）。一台 Hammond B3 organ 在當時是個很複雜的樂器，雖然它現在算是是古老的技術。它有很多的drawbars, switches, buttons。這一切都是讓彈奏的人可以去改變它的音色。B3 organ 另一個特別的部份就是他的發聲喇叭，這就是它的 rotary speaker 或 Leslie effect. 這個會 “旋轉的喇叭“ 很有趣，它是個非常原始，粗糙的發明和原理，但到現在還是沒有辦法被取代。它的原理就是把兩個喇叭安裝在兩個會旋轉的馬達上，然後放在喇叭裡面。這樣，當它們一邊在轉的時候，它們的聲音就會造成一種很Stereo，立體的效果。這個跟 siren effect （警笛聲）的原理很類似。所以當你們在聽這首歌和 organ 的時候，特別留意那種“旋轉”和立體的效果，很酷的！
Well...在不久你們就會聽到這張專輯和裡面的歌曲、編曲和概念了。我非常期待跟你們分享這張專輯，因為它是我的生命的一部份。也希望你們能感受到裡面的故事和情感。
Until next time, stay cool! DT
July 11, 2009
Happy Birthday to Me!
Yes, it's my birthday. Don't ask me which one it is or how old I am. It's not important anymore.
It is officially my birthday, NOW. It wasn't my birthday when the video was shot. It was merely a warm-up,
pre-birthday celebration. And since I didn't really get to "party" on my birthday, I am now officially making
the entire month of July, my birthday month. That means I get to celebrate everyday of the month till the 31st
without being called childish, indulgent or irresponsible. I've earned it. Enjoy your birthday this way too!
Check it out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20-HZfRwukc
Happy Birthday to Me! Thanks to all my friends and family who came out. You guys are the best!
July 4, 2009
這些老外。。。值得我們學習
自己看了新的video之後又有一個感覺想跟大家分享，那就是關於這些“老外”音樂人。。。
其實跟這些樂手合作最快樂的不是因為他們的技巧和playing很厲害，而是他們的態度好和領悟能力高。還有的就是，他們懂得表達他們對你的音樂最真實的感受。
這個對我來說，非常重要。他們聽到你的音樂之後會說，“Cool, man, this sounds fun" or "Yo, I dig it, man!". 但並不是再吹捧你，而是在表達他們對音樂的第一個反應。聽到他們這樣的話，會常讓我覺得更有想法，動力，和自信。那種正面, positive energy，的環境和互動真的很有力量。他們“不怕”說出他們的真心話，也”不怕“讚美人。這種懂得讚美別人的習慣，是我覺得非常值得學習的。
可能因為東方人比較涵蓄，比較內斂，所以我們有時候很難說出口這種讚美的話。如果有人說出對我們說出一些讚美的語詞，我們甚至於會當成是他們在諷刺或”虧“我們。
It's interesting how cultures are different and they way people express themselves are different.
總之，他們的那種在音樂上的表達能力和分享是我成長的養分!今天別忘了用真心的讚美一個人吧！Even if it's only, "Hey, I like your hair today! It's nice!" It'll make you and somebody else SMILE!
July 4, 2009
第二個新專輯錄音側拍來了！ I’ve got bass!
第二個新專輯錄音側拍來了！ I’ve got bass!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZdLfPUUNc
在第一集中，我介紹了這次合作的鼓手 - Shawn。在第二集中，我想介紹這次合作的貝斯手 bass player - Paul Bushnel。Paul來自愛爾蘭，也是個有很多credit的音樂人。
Bass 雖然只有四條弦，主要是維持節奏進行的樂器 (holding the groove together)，但它的變化可以是很多的。一個好的 bassline 可以決定一首歌的氣氛。Bass是低音吉他，所以音頻不高。對於不懂音樂的人，它常會被忽略，因為不是很容易被聽出來。可是一位好的 bass player can really make a difference in a song.
我也是第一次跟 Paul 合作。他是王治平大哥大力推薦的。因為這次的 sound 和編曲沒有很多樂器，所以我在選擇樂手的部份特別要求。我要求的不僅是他們的精準度高和技巧好，而且他們的 tone 和 sound 要很獨特. 因為這次是 rock trio (3 piece band) 的編曲方式，所以每一個樂器的 tone 會特別明顯和重要。我之前合作的 bassist 技巧很好，但沒有很特別的 sound 和音色。這次 Paul 一來，就帶了至少八把低音吉他來。從很復古的 Hofner violin bass ( Paul McCartney 早期在Beatles 用的 ) 到很現代的 Fender Precision 5-string，他給了我幾乎所有能想得出來的 bass tone 的可能性！又是一個非常專業的音樂人！
還有一個令我很欣賞 Paul 的地方，就是他使用效果器 (effects) 在他的 bass tone上的功力。吉他手都常會用 guitar effects，但不是很多 bassist 會使用 effects。如果有的話，也不多。因為在 bass 上面使用 effects (chorus, flanger, delay, overdrive) 不是那麼簡單的。你聽 Paul 彈我這首歌當中的第一個figure，就可以知道他是個高手。我非常喜歡他用 chorus 和 delay 彈那些和弦的parts。有種說不出來的憂傷，也是吉他或其他樂器做不出來的聲音。厲害！
我也希望你們會喜歡這首歌，雖然你們只能聽到一點點。。。
這是一首我很喜歡的情歌，因為裡面的故事是我的親身體驗。我也從來沒有寫過這樣的旋律和結構的 ballad. If you like it, please let me know, I’m excited to hear what you guys think! 你們很快就能聽到完整的【他】 了！
June 30, 2009
Our House...is a very, very, very fine house
Lavina，Goobii和所有參加以上對話的朋友，謝謝你們！你們讓我很感
動。感動的原因也就是因為我們可以這樣一起分享，討論，表達我們的想
法。就是這麼簡單。在這種討論當中，沒有絕對的“對”或“錯”，只有觀點
的不同。我希望在這個地方，我們永遠可以做這樣的交流，因為只有這樣
的交流才能讓我們更了解彼此和這個世界。
This is a place for sharing ideas and feelings.
這不是我的blog。。。這是我們的blog.
June 29, 2009
我的回覆
以下是我的回覆。。。
Lavina, thoughtful piece of writing and I do think you have your point. However, here are a few thoughts on what you've said...
"I don't get it. Is the 60’s something to be proud of? "
As a collective conscious, yes, the 60's is an era and a time in history that we should be knowledgeable and aware of. There's much we can learn (or, perhaps, forget about) from history though, we, as humans often turn our heads from the past. I don't think anyone attached personal pride to that period of time in any of these replies.
"But how many of those who upheld the “Love
& Peace” banner of the 60’s knew the true meaning of
love and peace?"
I don't think we have any quantitative account of how many people knew the meaning, however, there were many movements that led to action and changes during that period which are still influential today in the peace keeping process. That's history that's been written. How does one measure influence in human history?
"Embracing sexual freedom isn’t love, neither is it
true freedom. Rather, I see it as selfishness and self-
indulgence. Don’t you think the many problems of
society today take root from the sexual revolution of
the 60’s?"
Again, nobody said that embracing sexual freedom is love. Sexual freedom and love are two separate things and were never used in comparison. Whether sexual freedom in and of itself is selfish or self-indulgence is your personal opinion, like you said. Sexual freedom was not born in the 1960's. It was something that existed probably as long as man existed. I'm sure one of sexual freedom's heights was during dynastic Chinese civilization and Roman civilizations? Are there not evils from every era of mankind post-Genesis?
"Speaking of freedom, what’s true freedom? Is it being
able to do as one please? Nature has its law and
order, so is our society. If everyone does as he
pleases, what will the world become? How can peace be
found then?"
Are you defending a particular religion or moral concept? Freedom is what you make of it and that definition changes with different societies, eras and governments. Freedom does not mean anarchy or some kind of an existential society defined by Nietzsche. This freedom isn't any extreme definition of the word but the basic human need to express one's self (in a socially responsible manner) without harming others. I don't find this form of freedom offensive, do you?
"The youth today may embrace hip-hop without
understanding the soul of hip-hop. How is that
different from those of the 60’s who embraced “love &
peace” without truly understanding love and peace? I
don’t see those of the 60’s being any less
superficial, just a lot more conceited."
Hip-hop is a form or music or, to some, a form of dress or esthetics. The "movement" of love and peace was a thought, attitude or perhaps, even, ideology. How can these two be compared? It's comparing apples and oranges, which is better?
Perhaps if you wanted to compare the hip-hop and hippie movement and their attached "lifestyles" that would be more pertinent.
Please remember, the hippie movement and lifestyle in the 60's was not a transplanted culture or form, it evolved in the 60's in California. Hip-hop did NOT evolve in Asia. It evolved amongst African-Americans and their lifestyles. Therefore, my point was that in order to truly understand the "soul" of hip-hop (especially being that it's not indigenous to our culture) we need to delve deeper into understanding it's origins and roots. My other point was that hip-hop music would find it difficult to sustain itself in Asia because we've transplanted it's physical elements but not it's inner core. Is there anything wrong with "embracing" these exterior or esthetic elements? Of course not. However, the soul and meaning of things gets lost in time which, to me, is worth lamenting.
This piece was not written to be conceited or offensive but to offer to some people a view into an era that I found very seminal in the making of our modern 20th century world. I was born on the tail of that decade but was a benefactor from it. I didn't expect some of you would take to the defensive on this. I hope this explains somewhat my intentions and motivations.
June 29, 2009
我有很自負嗎？
有位朋友剛寫了一篇話，讓我覺得必需要回覆。。。他說：
I don't get it. Is the 60’s something to be proud of?
Indeed, having the courage to express oneself is
admirable. But how many of those who upheld the “Love
& Peace” banner of the 60’s knew the true meaning of
love and peace?
Embracing sexual freedom isn’t love, neither is it
true freedom. Rather, I see it as selfishness and self-
indulgence. Don’t you think the many problems of
society today take root from the sexual revolution of
the 60’s?
Speaking of freedom, what’s true freedom? Is it being
able to do as one please? Nature has its law and
order, so is our society. If everyone does as he
pleases, what will the world become? How can peace be
found then?
The youth today may embrace hip-hop without
understanding the soul of hip-hop. How is that
different from those of the 60’s who embraced “love &
peace” without truly understanding love and peace? I
don’t see those of the 60’s being any less
superficial, just a lot more conceited.
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本帖最后由 ASION 于 2009-8-21 18:07 编辑 ]
