Monday, 17th November 2008
Shoulders of Giants
I vaguely remember sitting in my hotel room that day, feeling like THIS was a turning point in my life. Feeling like I was misunderstood, trapped, stifled, drawn into something which I never thought could become that way! I had my acoustic guitar sitting on a bed,which I had slept in the night before, but which was made up by the chamber maids, in that clean crisp fashion that almost seems surreal.
I struck the strings so that I could hear the dissonant sound, which was pretty much like I was feeling. Out of tune with my life, out of tune with the world and out of tune with the normality that seemed to be engulfing me. I sipped at my tea and stared out of the window. Then in an instant I picked up my guitar and started strumming. No one really believes me when I say this, but I always write words and music together! I’ll find interesting chords and just sing words to them. As though there was something pre written in my soul dying to make its way out.
And so I started to sing….the first words which came out of my mouth were “Standing on the shoulders of Giants….I need to believe that I’m here for a reason.” The words just blew me away and in disbelief I kept writing. It was almost as though I was on automatic pilot. You know when in biblical times they say people spoke in tongues…unaware of what they were saying? But it made sense? THAT’S what this felt like. Like my subconscious was on a roll and I wasn’t going to stop it!
The expression “standing on the shoulders of giants” derives from ancient philosophy, it tells the tale of Dwarves, standing on Giants’ shoulders in hope of seeing further in the distance and learning more about what surrounds them. Yet, not possessing the wisdom that the Giants have.
This is our youth. They look up to our elders in hope of one day becoming like them, the people we aspire to be. Growing, learning, sometimes forced to undertake what they are too young to handle and yet still get criticised for it. “Now I’m here only a soldier, you know I fear the beating of my drum is louder than anyone’s”, Sometimes I do feel like a soldier. Takes me back to 1987, where dressed as a little drummer boy I banged on my drum in the Christmas School play and I did feel different. I felt like I was a little crusader, ‘no I don’t look like a girl, yes my hair is cropped as short as a little boy’s, yes music is indeed what I want to learn about, no I don’t have to conform.’ Of course all this rebellion is in small dosage compared to how it then transforms throughout ones life.
Why are we sometimes given that look of disdain from older generations and yet all they are trying to do is integrate themselves and grow. They want to drop their guns and make peace with their fellow companions. They want to breathe they want to learn to be someone, they want to be. Growing up is hard enough as it is. “I’m bleeding just to be somebody, I’m tearing up inside, I’m facing all uncertainties…. But I’ll be at the front line”.
Ira Losco’s new single is “Shoulders of Giants” is available for preview at www.myspace.com/iralosco . Ira Losco is also performing the touching single at the 2008 Malta Music Awards on Saturday 29th November at the MFCC.
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