get happy!

'are you depressed?'
i get that alot. just cuz i spend alot of time on the couch. early in my pajamas. little to say.
yeah, i'm depressed.
but jesus, that's nothing new.
i know. i know. it's a drag for my loved ones. people are concerned at first. then they get pissed. and rightfully so. get off the couch, ya fucking baby, you're a grown man!
i'm trying,really.

i've been listening to alot of sad bastard music lately. elliott smith, townes van zandt, 'blood on the tracks', etc. i know, i know. it's throwing water on a drowning man.

so. today, i thought i'd try something new. i thought i'd listen to, if not exactly happy, energetic music. tho' i didn't really feel like it.

know what? it worked like a motherfucker.

first i listened to the gun club. 'las vegas story'. certainly not a feel good album, true. but powerful. not lying on the couch music. jeffrey lee pierce singing his heart out, trying ferociously to exorcise his demons. wow. that doesn't sound happy. but you gotta listen to kid congo powers destroy a guitar solo to know what i mean. (hint, hint, buy a fucking gun club album). i had my eyes closed the whole time i listened to it. staggering. it made me want to try. that's been missing lately.

then i put on van morrison's 'his band and the street choir'. positively fucking joyous. the squealing saxophones! the piercing trumpets! the growling, huffing, blurting, howling voice of van the man! jesus, why don't i listen to him more? i made the record skip 'cuz i did a leg kick during 'domino' and landed it hard on the floor. don't tell anyone. but i dance like a drunk when i'm listening to music. it moves me. music should always make you feel physical. to make you feel like fighting or fucking. or dancing. shutting off yer brain and enjoying not thinking.
it's so good. please listen to it.
how could you not?
....
....
ah....

then i put on the only ones anthology. you probably don't know them unless you're a replacements fan and have heard a live version of 'another girl, another planet'. possibly the greatest power pop song since 'septemeber gurls'. oh yeah. listen to big star too.
if i had to settle it once and for all i'd have to say power pop is my favorite form of music. cuz it's usually downer lyrics. with beach boys melodies. great harmonies. swirling guitars. it makes you consider you're present state while taking you far, far away from it.

so, am i depressed? yeah. horribly.
but i have my moments of euphoria too.

do you 'happy' people have those?