Do you know any JW who’s in the music industry?

[Broseph]

Spencer Larson, another jazz musician but unlike King he's done quite a few original songs.

[Broseph]

And on a related note: Think of Solomon who ended up turning to apostasy, and yet we continue to enjoy his poetry. We take it for what it is: Inspired content produced by someone who was faithful at the time.

[Hope]

3 hours ago, JonE said:

 

You're right that Where I Belong sounds similar to him:

https://www.jw.org/en/library/music-songs/original-songs/where-i-belong/

 

But the cart song is in no way shape or form the same when it comes to tone and timbre. Nothing at all to do with style, it's not even close in fact:

https://www.jw.org/en/library/music-songs/original-songs/if-you-could-see-what-i-see/

 

Okay - we'll agree to disagree, my brother. A skilled singer - especially a theatrical one as King seems to be - can easily change their voice to suit the character they're portraying.  I'm pretty sure of what I'm listening to, as you are. 

 

It doesn't matter, however... he's not our brother anymore and that is a tragic loss.  😢 

[New World Explorer]

5 hours ago, Hope said:

You seemed to be arguing something I didn't say, as if I was criticizing the choice of the person singing. I was confused why your comment seemed defensive against points that were not made. 

 

No worries 😊

Ok, thanks.

Sometimes expression sassy springs negative feelings, also you said that you’re not happy, therefore I concluded that you don’t like the song. This is again perfect example that written language can be confusing. If you meant something else, sorry for assuming that you don’t like the song. I misunderstood you. 😪 

[Hope]

2 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

Ok, thanks.

Sometimes expression sassy springs negative feelings, also you said that you’re not happy, therefore I concluded that you don’t like the song. This is again perfect example that written language can be confusing. If you meant something else, sorry for assuming that you don’t like the song. I misunderstood you. 😪 

 

Broadway/theatrical singing often has a bit more "razzle-dazzle" (sassiness? a lil' campiness?) than just straight singing.  From the moment I first heard the "Cart" song, I imagined jazz hands and a kicking chorus line for the "Big Finish" last verse!   It's just that style; it was sung in character to really "sell it".  Knowing the background of the singer now just confirms that I wasn't crazy for getting that impression.

 

I'm not happy because such a talented, evidently formerly spiritual young man has turned to such an awful way of life.  I will think of the loss when I hear his songs... 😢 

 

I also think about how much I'd LOVE to be involved with singing and theatre as he is, but knowing the potential loss, dangers and enticements make me ever more vigilant to resist wistful thoughts.  It's not an environment where Witnesses can be safe.  It is too seductive.  

[Broseph]

1 hour ago, Hope said:

 

Broadway/theatrical singing often has a bit more "razzle-dazzle" (sassiness? a lil' campiness?) than just straight singing.  From the moment I first heard the "Cart" song, I imagined jazz hands and a kicking chorus line for the "Big Finish" last verse!   It's just that style; it was sung in character to really "sell it".  Knowing the background of the singer now just confirms that I wasn't crazy for getting that impression.

 

I'm not happy because such a talented, evidently formerly spiritual young man has turned to such an awful way of life.  I will think of the loss when I hear his songs... 😢 

 

I also think about how much I'd LOVE to be involved with singing and theatre as he is, but knowing the potential loss, dangers and enticements make me ever more vigilant to resist wistful thoughts.  It's not an environment where Witnesses can be safe.  It is too seductive.  

No need to feel that way with the cart song. 😅 I encourage anybody to open these two links in different tabs and listen to the opening lines of each in immediate succession, and it's very clearly different people. I'm not trying to be contentious or anything, just hate it when fake news/rumors spread and are repeated, and wouldn't want anyone who likes the cart song to feel bad about hearing it when it clearly isn't the person in question. 

 

https://www.jw.org/en/library/music-songs/original-songs/where-i-belong/

 

https://www.jw.org/en/library/music-songs/original-songs/if-you-could-see-what-i-see/

Edited June 27, 2023 by JonE

[Sete]

4 hours ago, Friend of Peace said:

I remember this experience so well!! I’d just been learning myself just about over a year and reading it encouraged me to keep music in its place and our worship as priority. I really love hearing his version of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.1 👌

He really understand what Rach was thinking, I love him version of Chopin Concerto II. Just asking brother, this image in your profile is a Harpsichord?

[Sete]

1 hour ago, Hope said:

I also think about how much I'd LOVE to be involved with singing and theatre as he is, but knowing the potential loss, dangers and enticements make me ever more vigilant to resist wistful thoughts.  It's not an environment where Witnesses can be safe.  It is too seductive.  

Being involved in music is really hard to resist. The music industry is very, very dirty. You will not only be forced to think like them, but also DO what they want. There are many cases of chairman wanting sexual relations with artists in exchange for artists getting a good one, or even just to get a record deal. I love music a lot, I love composing, producing, but just for me. It sounds cool to have a name in the music scene, but this is Satan's world, and he won't let us have a big name easily. In my case there aren't many temptations that I would suffer, but a beautiful woman is too difficult. Better not play with fire.

[MullumMiss]

6 hours ago, Friend of Peace said:

There’s a nice life experience of Trummy Young, Louis Armstrong’s trombone player for his band and prolific big band session musician, on how he got the truth whilst in the music industry. — g77 7/22 p.9

In the 80s my girlfriend and I were in Hawaii.  Barely from my memory we were trying to see either him or his daughter perform.  Old timers disease means I can’t really remember exactly what happened but don’t think we got to see either of them.👩🏻‍🦳

[Hope]

1 hour ago, Sete said:

Being involved in music is really hard to resist. The music industry is very, very dirty. You will not only be forced to think like them, but also DO what they want. There are many cases of chairman wanting sexual relations with artists in exchange for artists getting a good one, or even just to get a record deal. I love music a lot, I love composing, producing, but just for me. It sounds cool to have a name in the music scene, but this is Satan's world, and he won't let us have a big name easily. In my case there aren't many temptations that I would suffer, but a beautiful woman is too difficult. Better not play with fire.

 

For myself, I'm not interested in having a "big name".  My father is a well-known blues musician in Chicago; the "glamour" of being in entertainment isn't really a draw for me.  It's just the work I'd like to do... it's the only thing I *can* do that really fulfills me in every emotional way.  I know that I cannot indulge something that would compete with Jehovah on that level, so I just don't.  And I'm well aware of the dangers. I must wait for the New World for such an opportunity.

[Friend of Peace]

3 hours ago, Sete said:

He really understand what Rach was thinking, I love him version of Chopin Concerto II. Just asking brother, this image in your profile is a Harpsichord?

In my cover photo, it is a harpsichord! It was part of the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK  

[Qapla]

Back in the early 1970's I was working for a guy repairing pianos. The guy I worked for was building a harpsichord from a kit for a local college professor.

 

The guy I worked for was not a JW - but - to stay on topic, we had a brother in the congregation who played guitar professionally. He was more of a "studio musician". He used to play for Anita Bryant and some for Frank Sinatra. He was the guitarist for the John Gary Show from Miami. When he moved to our area, he had left studio work and became a guitar teacher.

 

 

[rocket]

9 hours ago, Friend of Peace said:

There’s a nice life experience of Trummy Young, Louis Armstrong’s trombone player for his band and prolific big band session musician, on how he got the truth whilst in the music industry. — g77 7/22 p.9

 

Trummy Young was an Elder in the Kaimuki, HI Congregation I was in back in 1970-71.  At the time he had a band and played in a Waikiki Hotel.  I saw him as a very humble brother.  I never saw his show but I heard that he talked to the Friends on vacation after the show.

Edited June 28, 2023 by rocket

[Sete]

3 hours ago, Hope said:

 

For myself, I'm not interested in having a "big name".  My father is a well-known blues musician in Chicago; the "glamour" of being in entertainment isn't really a draw for me.  It's just the work I'd like to do... it's the only thing I *can* do that really fulfills me in every emotional way.  I know that I cannot indulge something that would compete with Jehovah on that level, so I just don't.  And I'm well aware of the dangers. I must wait for the New World for such an opportunity.

The same thing with me, I would like to understand all the arts in New World, but music I do today, and probably way much more in New World. Music, mainly erudite is too special for me. I love the way the most pieces don't have any lyrics, but it still lyrical. Like El testamento de Amelia. Well, working with music can be really hard for us JWs, but doing by hobby is wonderfull, do you do it?

[Sete]

2 hours ago, Friend of Peace said:

In my cover photo, it is a harpsichord! It was part of the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK  

That's amazing! I used to study Harpsichord. A lovely instrument, I don't have more time to study it (and neither buy one, in Brazil it costs R$80.000 💀, wich is too much), it's amazing playing one. I plan to when have a free time write a Harpsichord Concerto, but I didn't even finished my Piano Concerto, a lovely barroque sound.

[GeordieGirl]

13 hours ago, Hope said:

 

 

System seems to be working slightly differently now, since the upgrade and my comment (plus the separate one below) didn't appear to post, so I kept hitting the post button. And then I found it. Posted multiple times.

Fortunately, I found them, all in one post, before the edit time limit was up and was able to remove them all - so it didn't look like I was going for '3 times for emphasis'. 😬🙄😁

 

Edited June 28, 2023 by GeordieGirl

[GeordieGirl]

13 hours ago, Hope said:

You seemed to be arguing something I didn't say, as if I was criticizing the choice of the person singing. I was confused why your comment seemed defensive against points that were not made. 

 

No worries 😊

It may be because of the emojis you used in your post about 'the sassy Broadway sound ...'.

I, too, got the impression you didn't like it, due to the emojis you used. 🤗

[Hope]

1 hour ago, GeordieGirl said:

It may be because of the emojis you used in your post about 'the sassy Broadway sound ...'.

I, too, got the impression you didn't like it, due to the emojis you used. 🤗

The emojis were my feeling about that Broadway sound being quite often associated with homosexuals... and discovering our former brother is living that life.

[New World Explorer]

4 minutes ago, Hope said:

and discovering our former brother is living that life.

And do we know this for sure? or merely suspect that from the post on Instagram? 

Sometimes what looks very obvious is not always black and white. 

Jumping to conclusions can be "dangerous" (Look what happened between David and Elibab) 

You may say...but Greg.. Can't you see? Yes I can, but I draw my conclusions privately. 

How would you feel if NK joined the forum in the future (fully serving Jehovah) and see the posts about his sexuality? 

 

We need to be careful, and drop the subject altogether please. ☺️

[Hope]

53 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

And do we know this for sure? or merely suspect that from the post on Instagram? 

Sometimes what looks very obvious is not always black and white. 

Jumping to conclusions can be "dangerous" (Look what happened between David and Elibab) 

You may say...but Greg.. Can't you see? Yes I can, but I draw my conclusions privately. 

How would you feel if NK joined the forum in the future (fully serving Jehovah) and see the posts about his sexuality? 

 

We need to be careful, and drop the subject altogether please. ☺️

It's on his own IG page. He drew his own conclusions. He is singing with his partner (that he's "so happy with") on Pride Day... in a rainbow lighted church.  People congratulating him on finally escaping to "where he belongs" to really "live the best life ever". 😡

 

You can check for yourself. Or not. It's all grotesque and shameful. 😔

[New World Explorer]

24 minutes ago, Hope said:

It's on his own IG page. He drew his own conclusions. He is singing with his partner (that he's "so happy with") on Pride Day... in a rainbow lighted church.  People congratulating him on finally escaping to "where he belongs" to really "live the best life ever". 😡

 

You can check for yourself. Or not. It's all grotesque and shameful. 😔

Let this not "shake" you dear sister. 

People from all walks of life keep choosing, and exercising free will. 

Satan is powerful.

Real faith in Jehovah and his organization is of essence right now, and during GT. 

[Hope]

7 hours ago, New World Explorer said:

Let this not "shake" you dear sister. 

People from all walks of life keep choosing, and exercising free will. 

Satan is powerful.

Real faith in Jehovah and his organization is of essence right now, and during GT. 

Oh, I'm not shaken. Just unhappy- as I mentioned earlier. I'd be over the moon to be able to sing for Jehovah’s Organization like that... he blew it.

 

It's always sad and disappointing when someone leaves Jehovah, especially in such a public and reproachful way.

[Brother_Bliss]

On 6/27/2023 at 4:40 PM, JonE said:

I wouldn't want anyone who likes the cart song to feel bad about hearing it when it clearly isn't the person in question. 

 

This statement caught my attention. Not for any good or bad thing, but just to note that I still will listen to Elton John, George Michael, and a handful of other artists irregardless of their lifestyle choices. I can separate the art from the artist.

 

All the original songs published on JW.org are fantastic pieces of art. What the singers end up doing 2, 5, or 10 years down the road doesn't affect the quality of the song, imo.

[Jwanon]

On 6/28/2023 at 6:41 AM, New World Explorer said:

How would you feel if NK joined the forum in the future (fully serving Jehovah) and see the posts about his sexuality? 

 

We need to be careful, and drop the subject altogether please. ☺️

 

That's a good point, we never know if he will repent or even join JWtalk

 

I agree we should let go of this topic 😌

[truce]

I'm still shaken by the news about Nicolas King I read here last night. This must all be a misunderstanding or better yet a dream. I actually cried last night listening to his performance of the Original Song Where I belong. I couldn't understand why he had to leave all that behind.. I'm so broken. Now I can understand a little of the agony a parent must feel when their child leaves the truth.

 

 

Edited July 10, 2023 by Brother_Bliss
Removed comment containing unconfirmed speculation