Critcize me, civilize me.
I discovered a few weeks ago that my inner critic sounds a lot like Jay Sherman. And not Jay Sherman as normally seen in any episode of The Critic, but Jay Sherman locked up in a mental hospital in a crossover bit from The Simpsons episode “Hurricane Neddy” where all he can do is repeat his catchphrase, “It stinks! It stinks!”
Yes, Mr. Sherman. Everything stinks.
Whenever I sit down to write, make music, or sketch (my latest interest), there’s Jay Sherman in his room, yelling “It stinks! It stinks!” before I’ve even made a mark on the page.
My hope is to eventually turn my inner monologue into the words of the doctor treating him, patronizingly saying “Yes, Mr. Sherman. Everything stinks.” In other words, just don’t take The Critic seriously.
I even made this little parody of a motivational poster to remind me that when I hear that voice, it’s really just Jon Lovitz pretending to be a mentally unbalanced film critic.
Why am I sharing this psychological insight with you not long after talking about getting out of my own head? Well, you may be able to help me in my quest to Be the Doctor instead of The Critic. Or maybe not. Stay tuned to future posts — this might eventually make sense.
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June 22nd, 2009 at 6:23 am
Hey there mate ! How are you doing ?
Well, I don’t know what’s your background on music, drawing or films, but I think that one thing that might help you to lose that “it stinks” mentality, is to find you the best productions on each of those subjects, and i mean BEST, the kind of stuff that you just make a bow and say “your Holiness..”.
And then, everything you listen to (watch, or whatever you’re doing), try to find something that you like, may it be just the 7 second bass line on the bridge of some random tune. And from there, if you start to listen to that particular song a certain number of times, even if you don’t like it at first, as time goes by, you’ll start to like the song more and more.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with the virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai, from Dave Lee Roth solo band, Whitesnake, and even Frank Zappa ! But his Passion & Warfare album (regarded as his finest work) took me several sessions until I finally fell in love with it ! The only track I liked at first, Answers; I wouldn’t say I would remove it from the album, but it’s the only one I don’t care much these days.
There’s always the “love at first listen” algums that you never cease to revere. But I also believe that this kind of approach makes you appreciate the work more.
PS: Nice Rush reference.
Peace, love and good happiness stuff !
June 22nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
Hey there mate ! How are you doing ?
Well, I don’t know what’s your background on music, drawing or films, but I think that one thing that might help you to lose that “it stinks” mentality, is to find you the best productions on each of those subjects, and i mean BEST, the kind of stuff that you just make a bow and say “your Holiness..”.
And then, everything you listen to (watch, or whatever you’re doing), try to find something that you like, be it just the 7 second bass line on the bridge of some random tune. And from there, try to relate it with the things you liked about those songs that are so good that you can’t criticize. And if you start to listen to that particular song a certain number of times, even if you don’t like it at first, as time goes by, you’ll start to like the song more and more.
I don’t know if you’re familiar with the virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai, from Dave Lee Roth solo band, Whitesnake, and even Frank Zappa ! But his Passion & Warfare album (regarded as his finest work) took me several sessions until I finally fell in love with it ! The only track I liked at first, Answers; I wouldn’t say I would remove it from the album, but it’s the only one I don’t care much these days.
There’s always the “love at first listen” algums that you never cease to revere. But I also believe that this kind of approach makes you appreciate the work more.
PS: Nice Rush reference.
Peace, love and good happiness stuff !
June 22nd, 2009 at 6:26 am
Sorry for the third comment.. but accurate post is the second. Please delete this one and the other, if you will, mate
June 24th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I know what you mean about the inner critic, and maybe it’s difficult to replace Lovitz with another SNL alum: Al Franken. But doggonit, people like you.
I’ve been listening to your music for years now, and one thing I’ve noticed is that it keeps getting better and better. What you produced years ago was very good. The stuff I’ve heard lately is mind-blowing.
June 28th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Not sure i could say much of anything in praise of your talents where your critic wouldn’t just minimalize it by saying I’m biased, but i believe in your ability to overcome the critic because when it comes to the many things your talented at you have a drive that just wont stand for “it stinks”. Go ahead, cut Jon Lovitz’s nose off