NHT Blog

The calendar says December 22 and not November 27.  In other words, I recognize that this isn’t Thanksgiving Day or the week leading up to “Turkey Day,” as many here in America like to call it.  Instead, it’s the week of Christmas, with the big day falling exactly four weeks after most folks will have gathered around the table with family for the gratitude-centered holiday.

Oddly enough, September 15 is National Thank You Day.  They even consider December 26 to be National Thank You Note Day.  (And yes, that’s Boxing Day in Canada.)

While I get nervous writing a song review about an artist that I “just” published something about, this latest occurrence has opened my eyes to a positive spin on it.

Just over three months ago I published a blog about the song “Legendary” and now the artist E-NAY has released “Unlove You,” which gets my seal of approval as well.  But instead of fretting about the calendar, I’m choosing instead to support the fact that an artist is putting out new music with some degree of frequency.

Creators on TikTok all want to know what the formula is for a video that will go viral.  Similarly, Instagram users are always wanting to make a Reel that’s going to be the start of the next trend.  Meanwhile, songwriters are looking for the direct route to a hit song.

Welcome to a new month and a new season.  As of today, it’s December and instead of talking about Thanksgiving the conversation has shifted very quickly to Christmas.

Unfortunately, I wish I could be reporting on change in the music industry, but some very recent examples show that things look the same, unfortunately, and there’s still work to be done as a result.

This Thursday (November 27) in the United States is Thanksgiving Day.  People will sit down at tables across the country to eat turkey, likely while watching an NFL game, and hopefully talk about what they are thankful for.

It always strikes me as odd that we need one day singled out as such to dictate that we should have those feelings that day.  Why can’t we be more aware of our gratitude throughout the year instead of just on that holiday?  Perhaps we’re too caught up in where we’re trying to get to rather than what we’ve already achieved.

Although I’m a Member of the Recording Academy, I’m also realistic about my standing in the music community.  I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a household name or someone that readers of Rolling Stone magazine see mentioned regularly in articles published through that legendary publication.

Yet, it is still tough to get my attention with a song you want heard.  And like so many other things, timing is key.

If you have long followed my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast – listened to the show, read the free weekly e-newsletter, and/or followed its official Instagram account – you know that I go out of my way to highlight when I’ve hit a milestone episode, either by its number or an anniversary.

This morning, I received a phone call from someone who, in the past, on multiple occasions, I have asked to be a guest on my weekly podcast.  As evidenced by having had to ask this person more than once, the answer each time had been “No thanks.”

It raised a bit of an eyebrow with me early today when I saw the caller ID, unsure as to why he might be calling me.  But lo and behold, my Monday started with good news.  He rang me so as to state that he was ready to be a guest if I was still interested in interviewing him.

Two days ago, at a craft fair that was set up at an outdoor mall that’s a dozen or so miles from where I live, I bought cheese.  Talk amongst yourselves about a vendor being set up to sell cheese at a craft fair.  (And yes, I already know both sides of the debate).

This is where I tell you that I am quite the cheese eater.  Dare I say, I’m a big fan.  There is a difference, though, in that I would not necessarily say that I’m a connoisseur.  I don’t mind disclosing that every weekday, cheese (and crackers) is a part of what I consider to be my lunch.

I don’t mind taking one for the team and being Captain Obvious here.  Click bait has absolutely gotten out of hand.  And I wish it would stop.

Those who write that way (and I wonder how they sleep at night) would hate that I didn’t bury the lead.  They would cringe if they saw what I put in that first paragraph because they would prefer that I write a bunch of useless nonsense just to fill up space and then finally come out with my main point in, I don’t know, maybe paragraph seven.

Guess what?  We all see right through it.