Earth Glue: Intro (12/24/07)

Well, this is some pressure. My first Earth Glue installment. I've had a lot of different thoughts on what I should feature here. So, I didn't want to give the two readers out there (hi mom, hi dad) the impression that whatever song I feature first is my favorite song, but that will come later. But before that...


I will give you a very brief music autobiography of Ben Belnap. I have been a music lover from a very young age. There is home video of me as about a 3-year-old dancing to "The Sounds of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel. I was brought up in a healthy music environment. Some of my oldest memories involve driving with my dad in his '76 Chevy pick-up truck singing along with Bob Dylan. I remember distinctly asking my dad at about age 5 why he liked Bob Dylan so much "because he's got such a funny voice." My dad, a Dylan-fearing man, rarely passed up the opportunity to give a music appreciation lesson. Upon hearing my question, he calmly pulled the truck over to the side of the road and said, "Yes, Ben, Bob Dylan does kind of have a 'funny voice', but Bob Dylan had a pen. And Bob Dylan did a lot more for music and society with his pen than anyone who has ever been known for having a nice voice. Don't ever forget that music is much more than listening to a nice voice." Thanks, Dad.

I will leave that as the first installment of my music autobiography for all of your sakes. Of course, my nostalgia about Dylan would provide an excellent transition into introducing a Bob Dylan song as my first Earth Glue installment. However, the Bob Dylan feature will come at a later date.

I have chosen my song for today's post on three criteria: 1) it is consistent with the season, 2) it is light-hearted...an appropriate beginning since much of my music is not, and 3) it is performed by one of my top fives...Jack Johnson. This song is a classic Christmas song, but Jack added his own flare, as only he can do, by using catchy acoustic guitar along with an additional verse.

I'm confident you will enjoy. Merry Christmas from the folks at Earth Glue.