Married to the the simple way of a song

I am a firm believer in the "keep it simple" method.

Co-workers, friends and journeys

Friday was bittersweet at the newspaper.

It was the last day of work for a summer intern, who is the son of a co-worker. The day also marked the singing debut of another co-worker.

Both of these gentlemen I have worked with for 24 years.

We started in sports and one-by-one moved over to news side.

Through good and bad, we have been there.

This summer I had the pleasure of working closely with the one co-worker's son. The son is a gem.

Dad has been hard on him as an editor, but also has seen his son has talent that has helped us with our website. The young man is heading off to college for his freshman year.

For the first time, father and son will be apart. We will be there to get his father through.

As for the co-worker who is the aspiring singer, we in the newsroom have been entertained by him for years.

Now, with a web cast on the paper's website, he sings a song once a week.

Forget that he doesn't know how to read notes, or that he is three, four, five beats ahead of where the song is, he loves to belt it out. And he thinks a key is what you use to open a locked door.

We tease him but the entertainment value is priceless.

Friday was a good day.

I watched as our journeys continued and other ones were beginning.

Mayer's music has meaning

John Mayer is back on stage again.

He played Tuesday night at the Beacon Theater in New York City. The concert was broadcast live by the Fuse cable network.

Mayer released "Battle Studies," his fourth studio album Tuesday.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Mayer said the song "Heartbreak Warfare" isn't about his publicized romances with Jennifer Anniston or Jessica Simpson.

While he might get inspiration for songs through his life, the songs are more about the music.

Mayer said when he and his band start playing, the people think about the music as it pertains to their lives, not his.

The Grammy-award winning artist hits the nail on the head.

Whether it's "Georgia," Daughters" or "Waiting on the World to Change," during those notes and lyrics I am thinking how they interact with my life.

Mayer can handle his own life.

His message in the songs helps me in mine.

During an interview with Fuse, Mayer talked about his latest album has him connecting with his fans in a more intimate way.

From what I heard on Tuesday night, he has pulled up a chair to my table and we are discussing the journey of life. It sounds great.

Friday night on the radio

Here it is, Friday night.

I sit at the table in the kitchen and update my Facebook and Twitter, Check the e-mails and post a few songs for my friends.

Joining me is a radio station out of Chicago ... online.

Hmmmm.

Thirty years ago, I was listening to the radio, a station out of Chicago, and enjoying life as smart ass teenager.

Those were the days.

We lived our lives through our music. The heavy stuff for the heat of the moment. The ballads for the tenderness.

Tonight I listened to Electric Light Orchestra's "Roll Over Beethoven."

The album the song is one was among the first 8-track tapes I purchased. Some of you remember the 8-track. That was followed by cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs and music downloads to a mobile player.

ELO rocked me through my junior and senior years.

On those weekend nights when the friends were elsewhere or you had to work, the music moved us.

It is a feeling I have tonight.

To take a line from an Elton John song, thank God my music is still alive.