I was seven — almost eight years old. I was at an age of defining who I would become. Would I change to conform to what traditional schools/society/peers thought I should be or behave like—or would I grow into my creative ways of thinking and sometime awkward being and embrace the “Self” I was?
I had no idea who Jim Morrison was except for some strange rambling poems coming from clock radio my brother had on his desk — scratchy tuned-in from a new FM rock channel. I did hear pieces of news about the death of the "hippie", the "free spirit", the “Poet”, and some "drug addicted rock star." It wasn’t until several years later in high school, when it had become obvious that for-better-or-for-worse I had chosen to embrace the creative soul that was inside me, I started to listen to the Doors/Jim Morrison’s albums. The words and the tone still remain powerful to me.
Is he a voice of a generation or does he speak collectively to all generations? His words and message are able to stay in focus above his “bad” behavior. He, unlike many other musicians, didn’t need a concert to connect himself to a cause in order feel important (or to give heightened importance to the cause). He did not give into commercialism to grow his "marketing" appeal and bank account. He simply let his truth speak and the people paid attention.
At a time when social media did not exist, television and radio were commonly referred to as just entertainment, PR was at best word of month and the making it was appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show — what an impact this 26 year old made on changing how people think around the world! How did he do that? His message, his delivery was different than the rest. He was a musician that claimed didn’t play an instrument and considered himself not a singer but rather a contemporary poet. He said he lived in freedom. Okay, he was a rebel and in his ”freedom” he disturbed many people including the law and the government. (I suppose order does not like to shown the face of true freedom…) The point is, whether you love him or hate him — he was different than the rest of the pack. He had a clear vision of his life. Lived his life in that vision and had confidence to not care if anyone "like" him or not. It is all this that made him and exactly what makes him unforgettable.
The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask.
— Jim Morrison
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jimmorriso167309.html
©Mary Carol Sullivan 07/03/13
MARY CAROL SULLIVAN IS A CREATIVE DIRECTOR who will challenge your established ideas and offer fresh perspectives.
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