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Meaning of Life Show: Episode 1 - Music

From: Scott Dickson
Length: 00:58:45

Pilot for new "pop-philsophy" program. Read the full description.

Molquestion_small Why are we here and what's life all about? Without taking itself too seriously, "The Meaning of Life Show" endeavors to explore topics of faith and philosophy by presenting quirky first-hand stories. In this pilot episode, the topic is "music." Part 1: Roles that music has traditionally had. Part 2: Genres of music & unique effects on particular people. Part 3: Stories of individuals who've struggled to find enlightenment through music.

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Piece Description

Why are we here and what's life all about? Without taking itself too seriously, "The Meaning of Life Show" endeavors to explore topics of faith and philosophy by presenting quirky first-hand stories. In this pilot episode, the topic is "music." Part 1: Roles that music has traditionally had. Part 2: Genres of music & unique effects on particular people. Part 3: Stories of individuals who've struggled to find enlightenment through music.

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Review of Meaning of Life Show: Episode 1 - Music

Solid production and very well-meaning. As for critique: Two hosts didn't seem necessary and they repeated themselves in introing the segments, holding our hands too much; the segments were solid enough to speak for themselves. Sometimes, the packaging felt a bit teacherly, and the writing theme-papery. Mainly, I wanted to hear more MUSIC. The TALK about music was often illuminating, but I wished to hear what they were talking about. I realize that an hour format lets the stories bounce off each other, but there wasn't a cumulative progression, building forward. A modular version might be worth considering, as some of the stories were very strong. I realize this is a pilot and that the series will develop as it continues. -JA

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Review of Meaning of Life Show: Episode 1 - Music

This show was well done. I like the sweet voice of the female host, Fiona, and the theme is excellent. I think the whole thing or some parts would fit a lot of shows and formats, anything to do with music.

One question was something like 'do you think you could enjoy life without music' and the answer was no. I agree with the answer. No, you couldn't enjoy life without it, it's essential. I think a section presenting a theory on what life might be like without music would have been great, too, but this piece wasn't missing anything.

I've heard stories that homesteaders used to buy songbirds to have on the lonely homestead just for the sounds. Otherwise, there was nothing to hear besides the occasional gust of wind, certainly no music besides that made by the homesteader and the sounds of their work. The husband and kids were working on the field, there was no creek nearby, few if any farm animals. The silence sometimes maddened them. Imagine that problem in our noise-polluted world, often maddening for the opposite reason. The mice section of this piece was interesting. The Heavy Metal Mice didn't do well. Gained weight, didn't like each other. Was it because it was in a minor key often found in HM, or was it the loudness?

I don't know if a lot of the popular songs I heard in the background have are licensed, that might need to addressed, too.

I surfed to Scott's web site and found that he produces personal multi-media biographies, which is an awesome idea. I just had to say that. Imagine the great-grandkids having a DVD to watch to learn about their grandparents (better buy a spare DVD player to save for them, too, in 10 years they'll be obsolete, of course).

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Review of Meaning of Life Show: Episode 1 - Music

I REALLY enjoyed this piece! It has all the right elements of a great radio piece- very funny at times, as well as quite deep, compelling, and interesting. You can't wait to hear what's coming next. So many different types of stories, yet all woven around one grad topic- spirituality in music. I would recommend this show to ANYONE with an interest in music or the meaning of life, which I'd think is pretty much all of us.

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Timing and Cues

1:37 Intro
2:36 Rasta
:48 Segue
2:05 Christian worship
1:24 Segue
1:52 Hallelujah
1:07 Segue
7:03 Jewish Music
:41 Segue
2:28 Krishna Music
:31 Segue
2:18 Death Music
:40 Segue
2:24 Music & Mice
:50 Segue
7:28 Heavy Metal
:49 Segue
13:04 Texas Nayzin
:45 Segue
6:53 Cellist
1:11 Close

Musical Works

Title, Artist, Album, Label, Year, Length of excerpt
"Calling Rasta Far I," Culture, Shanachie Records, Two Sevens Clash, 1988, :45
"They Don't Know Jah," Wailing Souls, Greensleeves Records, The Very Best of the Wailing Souls, 1991, :46
"I Can See Clearly Now," Johnny Nash, Sony, I Can See Clearly Now, 1972, :50
"My Sweet Lord," George Harrison, Apple Records, The Best of George Harrison, 1976, :38
"Go To Hell," Megadeth, EMI International, Hidden Treasures, 1995, 2:54
"Office Obligations," Angelo Badalamenti & Phil Marshall, Lion's Gate Records, Secretary (soundtrack), 2002, 2:43
"Rock & Roll Creation," Spinal Tap, Polygram Records, This Is Spinal Tap (soundtrack), 1984, 2:18
"Main Title," Angelo Badalamenti, Lion's Gate Records, Secretary (soundtrack), 2002, 2:31
"Shamus-Ud-Doha Bader-Ud-Doja," Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party, Real World, Passion Sources, 1993, 2:39
"Ulvi," Kudsi Erguner, Real World, Passion Sources, 1993, 1:09
"Into the Night," Angelo Badalamenti & Julee Cruise, Warner Bros., Twin Peaks (soundtrack), 1990, 1:13
"Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 (Moderato: Allegro)," Evgeny Kissin, RCA Victor, Rachmaninoff - Concerto No. 2, 1988, :54
"Appalachia Waltz," Yo Yo Ma, Sony, Classic Yo-Yo, 2001, 3:05

Additional Files

Related Website

http://meaningoflifeshow.org