Tommy Shaw Gets It

    So I’m scrolling through YouTube the other day as I sometimes do, looking for clips of movies or television shows that I have yet to see, or better yet, a clip of my new favorite comedian, Nate Bargatze. Laugh out loud funny! Anyway, a few weeks ago I came across a picture of a guy that looked like Tommy Shaw. You remember Tommy Shaw; guitarist and vocalist for the band, STYX. STYX was a more than fine band back in the 70s and 80s with hits like Come Sail Away, Babe, Renegade, Too Much Time On My Hands, and more. Unfortunately, their co-founder, keyboardist and vocalist Dennis DeYoung decided he wanted to do some kind of over-indulgent rock-opera, with that hideous album Kilroy Was Here featuring the (I can’t believe I’m typing this), hit single Mr. Roboto. Sadly, it was the beginning of the end for that particular version of STYX. 

    Anyway, indeed it was a picture of Shaw on YouTube, sitting in front of an orchestra that was composed of what initially looked like 10-year-olds! I suppose they were older, but the older I get the younger these kids today look. I took the bait and clicked on the video. It was one of the greatest decisions of my life. The video was Shaw (and a fellow guitarist) sitting in front of the Cleveland-based Contemporary Youth Orchestra as they re-imagined Shaw’s classic song Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man). Because I’m an idiot my first thought was, “Did any of these kids even know who Tommy Shaw was/is?” I mean, this song came out in 1977. Now, to be fair, this orchestral happening took place in 2018, and the ages of the orchestra members are 13-19. Still, that means these some of them might...MIGHT have been born around 2000! Twenty-three years AFTER the song came out! I’m pretty sure I was never that young. 

    The song itself is made for orchestra. The strings beautifully replace the 70s synthesizers, and then out of the ether, the teen choir replaces the backing vocals on the original  recording. And when I say out of the ether, I mean just that. The cameramen do their best to hide the choir at first, which is above the stage and is not heard from until the chorus. When it’s their turn to join in with Shaw, they join with a joy and exuberance that is bringing tears to my eyes...again, as I listen to and watch it for what seems like the 100th time. And all the while realizing that I am nowhere near talented enough to do these frighteningly talented young people the literary justice they deserve. 

    As the cameras moved around the stage and caught glimpses of individual orchestra members or even groups of three or four at a time, I saw in my mind’s eye fellow bandmates of years past, whether it was the stage band or jazz band. We had the same variety of kids in those bands that were on the stage in the video. The players who stared at the cameras grinning from ear to ear as they panned by; the serious young musician who wouldn't, or couldn't, take his or her eyes off the sheet music in front of them; and of course the ones who stared at the conductor not wanting to miss a single instruction, however small.

    While not wanting to single out any one particular thing or person, I have to say a word or two about one of the musicians. If we assume that the orchestra is set up like a professional orchestra (let’s say the Philadelphia Orchestra), the young man who is seated in the first chair, first row on the director’s left, is the 1st violinist. This kid can play. He does the guitar solos from the original recording, and he flat-out kills it! His bow glides over the strings like a master, and he is playing with the joy of a teenager that I hope never leaves him as he grows older and life’s adversities multiply. The audience is all over him, cheering and clapping, like they are throughout the entire song; they even join in with the choir as they repeat the verbal echo of Shaw’s chorus. It is truly, truly wonderful. And speaking of Tommy Shaw, he is a great frontman. He encourages the audience, he radiates enjoyment, and he is at the top of his game, vocally. 

    As I described this to some friends the other day, in much the same way I am typing this now...the inevitable question arose, “Peter, why do you think this has affected you in such a way?” I was surprised how easy that question was for me to answer. To paraphrase, I told my friends that with all of the chaos in the world; with the seemingly casual acceptance by many people of political assassination as a form of protest; with the inability of people to discuss differences of opinion, whether those differences be political, social, sports, or whatever, without sounding like troglodytes and actually threatening the other person with bodily harm...watching a video like this gives me hope. It causes a tear (or two, or three) of joy to roll down my cheek, and a huge lump to develop in my throat. 

    Not only that, it is a wonderful example of what music can do. In this case it brings together the generations in a common venture of creation. It is a mindset of creativity and, I hope, a desire to bring joy to others. That’s rare in this world, and I applaud each and every person who put this concert together. I would also like to think that Shaw added this song to the set list for its meaning. Shaw wrote this song during a time when young people were angry, as they are today. This song, if nothing else, seemed to be the antithesis to that anger and to offer an alternative: 

Why must you be such an angry young man

When your future looks quite bright to me?

And how can there be such a sinister plan

That could hide such a lamb, such a caring young man?

    Simplistic? Maybe. On the other hand, Tommy Shaw gets it. He knows who holds the future...and it’s these young men and women. Don’t get me wrong, I trust this orchestra incorporates Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart into its annual set list. But it is an important and uplifting sentiment from a rock star who took the time to bridge a gap and to share his gift of, and love of music in the hope that others will listen and embrace what music can do. I invite you to tap the link above and watch for yourself. Turn it up loud and be lifted up! Shaw may not realize it, but he is carrying the fire, and offering the blessing: More life into a time without boundaries. And if the faces on these kids are any indication…they get it, too.

Write to Peter: magtour@icloud.com