A Musical Moment of Happiness

My moment of happiness today came in the form of a discovery. The discovery of a song called “Believe,” by The Dirty Heads. Check it out here: .

Influenced by hip-hop, rock and reggae, evocative of Sublime’s classic sound, The Heads have produced other singles that have landed on my Glee playlist (and no, I am not referring to the ever-popular TV show with its cheerfully pop-y versions of contemporary hits). I’m referring to the sheer excited joy I feel when listening to the songs that grace this particular playlist, especially when I’m belting them out while driving with the top down, soaking up the delicious So Cal sunshine.

But this song is special. It speaks to the artist in me—the one struggling to reduce the obstacles I have created between my real life and the practice of my art; the one trying to turn my pretty-darn-swell life into that elusive artistically fulfilling life. Beginning with an explanation of the sounds that influenced them as musicians (including the very same artists—Beastie Boys, Sublime, The Police—that taught me to love music) Duddy B and Dirty J Watson are telling a story about opportunity.

The music moves them—clearly—“Six damn strings never sounded so appealing.” The moral is one that anyone who is an artist should take straight to heart: “Once you grab the mic you’d better sing like you believe.” Eminem talks about the “one shot” we get in his hardcore rap single, "Lose Yourself." The Dirty Heads also, are telling us what to do with that precious opportunity.

Sing like you believe.

Believe in the music? Certainly. Believe in yourself as the vessel creating that music? The Heads answer, "like you believe in you. . . like you. . . like you believe in you. . .”

But the part that strikes me most is Duddy B’s line about rejection, “Now my music’s been shelved, because these people don’t believe in me.” Apparently it happens to all of us—even with several hits on the radio, The Dirty Heads are still all too familiar with the feeling. But they don’t stop writing, singing, playing. In fact, Duddy B reminds us that, “every day you wait’s just another day wasted,” and that,

“I’m so damn close, man, I can taste it.”

Hmm. That’s an awful lot like how I feel. I think that’s why this song gives me the chills. It’s fun when you find music that feels like it was written for you.


What songs inspire you?