Canadian Music

The Believer

It was a good day for Canadian music on tv last night. Rush performed Tom Sawyer on the Colbert Report last night and Neil Young was on Letterman - but he didn't play music.

Rush's performance marked their first appearance on American tv in 3 decades! I'm not really that into Rush, but they are certainly among one of the top rock bands of all time.

I have recently started getting more into Neil Young. He's an interesting cat. Some have compared him to Dylan, in terms of lyrical potency and staying power.

On Letterman he spoke about this new fuel system he is working on with a team he has assembled from around the world. It was kinda interesting, and also kinda weird - Young came across kind of like a mad scientist. He also talked about an upcoming film he directed "CSNY Deja Vu". It's a documentary on last year's tour. Performances are interspersed with crowd reactions and vignettes of American soldiers back from Iraq.

Young was on Charlie Rose tonight. I have never seen him interviewed before these 2 tv appearances. I had always assumed him to be sort of a moody reclusive artist. But, in both interviews he was very amiable and friendly.

3 years ago, Young was treated for an aneurysm. He related a very interesting story, that in his mind has brought him to a state of faith and belief. He said that he woke up in New York Presbyterian Hospital. He was watching a bridge filled with traffic. The sky was foggy and it was 6 AM. He saw the lights of the cars, all people going to work. Then he noticed that there was an African American woman in the room with him. He turned to her and said, "Isn't it beautiful? They're all going to work." Then, she held his hand and said, "You're going to be alright. You're not going to leave, just yet. You're going to be just fine."

Young said that he was so powerfully moved by the experience, that he arrived into a state of believing that there is something greater in the universe. He said he has faith, but cannot articulate what that means exactly. He attended a church with a friend and enjoyed it. But, thought he might feel the same if he went to a Mosque with a Muslim friend. He said that the woods are his church, that the trees minister to him.

I loved Young's honesty. I sense this is where many people in our society are at. They are like the guy who wants Jesus to heal in his son. Jesus asks him if he believes. The guy says, "I believe! Help my unbelief!". I've always loved that guy, because I am that guy. I believe... but also have parts of my life that are filled with unbelief.

We are all on a journey. Part of the journey involves mystery. I could never be a strict materialist. There's too much mystery and beauty in our world. We all believe in something. We all have faith in something. Part of our journey is in trying to gain clarity in the areas that are open for investigation. And then, leaving they mystery in the world to be just that, mystery.