Music is the Ultimate System

by Sam Carpenter on October 1, 2009

Everywhere in life, system mechanics all work the same. There’s a repeating, base cycle and upon that cycle creativity is unleashed.

Music is my favorite illustration of a system. Rock, classical, smooth jazz, country…it doesn’t matter: There is a recurring throbbing cycle and built on top of that cycle is the emotional lead guitar, piano solo or crazy-maker solo lead singer. In Work the System I talk about this “innovative brilliance built on a rhythmic base” in the chapter entitled, “The Traffic Circles of Pakistan.”

Watch this video in this way: Turn up the volume, enhancing the bass if you have that option, and get caught up in the powerful, rhythmic just-like-a-train drums, horns, bass and rhythm guitars. Then stretch out on that as you absorb the solo vocal and lead guitar. In the middle of it, watch, these guys are having FUN. Love this!

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Systems Mindset Newsletter: January 12, 2010 at 5:14 pm

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1 Jeanne Kolenda October 2, 2009 at 2:42 pm

Hi Sam,
I’m listening to the YouTube Night Owl now. If you like this, you’ll also love one of our favorite undiscovered voices/music in the US (he’s HUGE in Europe)…that’s Paul Carrack. He was with several groups (Squeeze, Ace, Mike & The Mechanics) but not he’s a soloist. We never get tired of him.

Thanks, I needed a little music break this afternoon.
Talk to you later,
Jeanne