Song endings- to fade or not to fade?

I’ve wondered this for a long time… how do artists decide if their song should fade to silence or have a definite, clear ending? It used to bother me when a song just faded out because I thought, “It’s still going! You can’t just turn it down!” Songs that ended on a guitar strum or a cappella moment were so much more satisfying, and honestly, they still are. To use a movie comparison- the fade out songs are like movies that leave you with a with a cliffhanger, wondering what happens next. I actually like this in movies, most of the time. But not in music!

I need the song to end. 

Even to this day, I think it’s weird when a song is fading out and the person is still singing. What else do they have to say? What do I need to know? How are they feeling? All these things will go unanswered because the song faded away. 

So if you’re an artist who writes music, how do you decide how a song comes to a conclusion? Is there a reason behind the fade-out that I’m not perceiving? Thanks in advance, and as always, thanks for stopping by! 

-Out of the Wilderness

Phrases to describe your anger

I was upset one day and I won’t get into why, but my anger dissipated as I came up with phrases to describe my rage! 🙂 Take a look below at texts between my sister and I, and if you have some of your own, chime in below! 

Screenshot_20200218-105404Screenshot_20200218-105413Screenshot_20200218-105428

Thanks for stopping by… 

Out of the Wilderness

Watching political debates, but why?

I’ve made a habit of watching the Democratic debates from back when there were 194 candidates on stage to the more recent with just a handful of hopefuls arguing about climate change, healthcare, and removing Donald Trump from office.

Historically I would be considered a republican but I think of myself more as an conservative independent now. So when I watch the debates, I find it interesting as to what they discuss and what they value most.

With that said, most of the democrats I know (real people, not politicians on TV) actually do have a big heart and care for people. That’s a good thing! I don’t necessarily believe that’s true about democrat politicians, the same way I don’t believe some republican politicians care about “right to life” for the same reasons republicans I know do.

So these debates… why do I watch when I most likely have very little in common with any of them? Well, I like to know what people I don’t agree with are up to. I hesitate to use this quote…

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

…because we shouldn’t be enemies. As Americans, we’re all on the same team. I don’t like that there seems to be a gigantic chasm between two political parties. It doesn’t seem healthy for the country at all. The interesting part is that I really don’t see it in real life, only in the news and media, YouTube, etc.

Now I’ll be totally transparent, I kind of tune in just to not miss something crazy Joe Biden might say. He’s got a knack for saying some weird stuff lately, and I kind of feel bad for him. I don’t think he’ll get the nomination. In fact, I wonder if any of the current candidates will… it might be Hillary!!! Click here for a post about that.

Have you been watching? If so, what are your thoughts about how the debates are going, and who might be rising to the top?

Thanks for stopping by!

-Out of the Wilderness

I was level 10.2 angry

Have you ever been angry and it caused you to do something that was actually productive? It happened to me the other day as I was about to start a workout at Planet Fitness. One might say I channeled my anger and this day, it was channeled towards the treadmill. 

I got it up to level 10.2 and was determined to not reduce the level till I finished. I also had Prince singing “Purple Rain” in my ears (thanks to these ear buds I found on Amazon for a decent price) so somehow that helped, too. 

Gosh, sometimes people make me so mad! I guess I should thank the person who helped me run the fastest mile I’ve done all year. 

-Out of the Wilderness

 

A Bible verse exposing the “glass half empty” personality

I read this verse in Jeremiah and it struck a chord with me. Please, please, please don’t read this as me coming off as judgmental because this can apply to any of us at any point in our lives. I’ve for sure been a Debbie Downer in certain situations but as I read this Bible verse below, I couldn’t help but think of a friend of mine who is virtually always negative about everything. 

Jeremiah 17:5-6

“This is what the Lord says: The man who trusts in mankind, who makes human flesh his strength and turns his heart from the Lord is cursed. He will be like a juniper in the Arabah; he cannot see when good comes but dwells in the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land where no one lives.”

My friend is definitely a “glass is half empty” type of person. On the positive side, though, if you win the lottery and need someone to tell you why that sucks, he’s your man. 🙂 All joking aside, he really can find something to complain about in almost any scenario. So when I read the verse in Jeremiah, I thought of him. I don’t think my friend is a Christian, so the part that reads, “he cannot see when good comes but dwells in the parched places…” really had me thinking. But just to be very real, this could apply to Christians, also. Sometimes it’s just human nature to not really see the good when it comes our way. But in this context, the words are just devastatingly real. Without God, life is the Arabah… a desert. You may be a tree (the Juniper), but you’re in a dry land and you’re alone. As I’m just thinking out loud, I’m remembering the reference to Christ-followers being like a tree planted by the water. How vivid is that imagery given this picture from Jeremiah of the lone tree in the desert? Interesting.  

My friend can, and will, find fault in the most full glass– it’s not the right flavor or it’s too full or he didn’t even ask for a glass full of anything– maybe that’s just his personality, I don’t know. But I hurt for him sometimes. I just wish he’d see the good things he has going on… and better yet, find the Living Water 😉

-Out of the Wilderness