Destiny
b"Episode #164: Destiny\\xa0 (Song starts at 4:31)\\nToday has been a beautiful, pristine autumn day. The sort of day where you breathe the air in and think \\u2018Yes, it\\u2019s good to be alive\\u2019.\\nOn that note, that\\u2019s what I was thinking back in 1991, when I wrote song #198.\\nBut I was also considering the big picture\\u2026some things were coming through on the news about conflicts between people and between countries.\\nI\\u2019m pretty much a pacifist, I think. The thought of violence is abhorrent to me.\\nSo I wrote this song, thinking about my future\\u2026what sort a future awaited me/us.\\nBack then I was very keen on sharing my music and art. On reflection, I\\u2019m not too sure how successful I was at that. I did gig a lot - and record, but the internet wasn't there to help back then. \\nI have been working hard these last 164 weeks, sharing a song on this podcast and sharing paintings, cartoons and writing on my blog, videos on YouTube (my channel is Pete Pascoe Art Music), etc..\\nSongs sometimes appear to come along \\u2018out of time\\u2019\\u2026 in 1991, I was asking some big questions about humanity - questions that were equally apt for now - I suppose the lyrics could suit any age, really.\\nBack then, to a degree, I didn\\u2019t really have the language for some of it, given I'd been lucky to grow up in New Zealand, in the relatively peaceful South Pacific. But what I really felt was: it was definitely time for creative endeavours to take centre stage and lift us in a positive manner, leading on into a positive future.\\nThis was a lyrics first, music second song. This was the way I worked back then.\\nThese days, it\\u2019s often both music and words at the same time, but I still do write lyrics when I feel inclined - perhaps when I might be away from the piano, and the mood hits me.\\nIt is nice to sit at the piano a few days later, leaf through a few pages and see what's on offer.\\nOne set of lyrics will often catch my eye and away I go. \\nWhat happens? I play, for want of a better word. I allow instinct to take the wheel. All the theory is there as a support, something to draw on. I know how chords interact, what melody notes will fit where.\\nHowever, when I'm \\u2018winging\\u2019 a melody, the technical aspects drop to the background. I allow things like emotion to lead the way.\\nIt\\u2019s a balance. The theory, as it were, is there like a massive support network.\\nAnyway, back in 1991, the news came on. Reports about conflicts between people, between countries\\u2026. And thought to myself why? Why would we do this? This is what inspired 'Destiny'.\\nAnd I also thought: what do I want to do with my life?\\u2026 and that pretty much became a line in the chorus.\\nBut I turned it around and asked a question: \\u2018What do you want to do with your life?'\\nLooking at the song today, I realised, as an artist, I was directly asking a question of my audience. Interesting..\\nI\\u2019m not sure how often I\\u2019ve done this.. I think it\\u2019s quite an effective thing to do, engaging the audience (the song Secret Lullabies comes to mind).\\nI think this song is going to appear on the first \\u2018Songs from the Song and a Chat Podcast\\u2019 album - I\\u2019m planning to record piano vocal albums of songs from this podcast. That\\u2019ll be fun.\\nEven with songs that I might have already released on a band album, a piano vocal take and can be a good creative thing to record.\\nSo, back to the beautiful day today, which is was in my neck of the woods.\\nRight now as ever, there is conflict in the world. But in my day, my surroundings, its was all beaches and sunshine, for which I feel very grateful, indeed.\\nThe way I handle it is: I put as much time and energy as I can muster into producing more music and art - and I\\u2019m working equally hard at sharing it each week.\\nI hope you enjoy the old demo of 'Destiny' (piano/vocal). It was fascinating for me to 'roll' the old tape and listen back to a much a younger me asking some questions and making some statements.\\nAfter you\\u2019ve perhaps listened to this episode, if you want to hear more,"