Probably the most common question I’m asked is, “How do you pick your music videos?” That no one seems to ask why a travel trade publication publishes a music column at all just shows how established and – dare I say – beloved our “Listening In” feature is every Friday. Before I go on, today’s video is the great British ska-pop band Bad Manners.
So, why the music? Back before I joined with Jen (just over six years ago now!), it was her notion that the clip was a great way to end the week and just slide on into the weekend – something fun and a little different from the topsy-turvy world of travel.
That concept embodies the general spirit of Travel Industry Today, which is to say, we firmly believe that travel agents are people too! I’ll explain that by referencing the fundamental instruction I received from my first boss now 30 years ago, the esteemed Mrs. Baxter (or Mrs. B as we called her, never Edith), who said, “If it isn’t commissionable, we don’t write about it.”
But travel changed – agents are now “advisors” for one – and besides, who travels more than travel agents? In both cases, that notion opens up a whole world of coverage possibilities based simply on reader interest that goes beyond office-bound and need-to-know “commissionable” product. The Mona Lisa getting creamed by a pie? Can’t book the experience, but if you’ve ever seen the iconic painting in Paris, the story probably holds some interest. And now you might even read it on your phone on the weekend.
So, why not music?
Of course, in the beginning we tried to make the music fit the travel framework, thus songs like James Taylor’s “Mexico” or “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” fit the bill. Or culturally stylistic offerings like reggae, Peruvian pan flutes, Celtic, mariachi, or maybe even Bulgarian monk chanting (okay, I’ve yet to do the latter). But by that definition, blues, country and roots qualifies, though we’re not suggesting it’s a criteria.
Which is a good thing, since songs about places ran out pretty quickly, and who besides me would listen to The Dubliners or Muddy Waters all the time?
How we pick the music
As readers will know, I generally write the column. Every once in awhile, or if I’m away, Jen will jump in, like before Christmas when she got a CCR song stuck in her head and just wanted to share.
As a former part-time music writer, I won’t say I know more about music than anyone else, but my source base is probably a bit wider than most and occasionally I’ve been able to channel long-ago interviews (like Roger Daltry or Sinead O’Connor) into the column.
A personal connection to the music is always good, which explains why you’ll never find me doing a rap, hip hop or Taylor Swift video. A personal favourite column was “First Kiss,” recalling my first-ever concert – KISS – and written as justification for a video for “Shout it Out Loud.”
At the same time, you’ll also never see an official MTV-style video. It has to be a live performance, whether in concert or TV/streaming production. There are lots of amazing gems to be found from the likes of Letterman, Austin City Limits, Top of the Pops or the Midnight Special. Even Rosie O’Donnell. I once found a young U2’s debut performance on Irish TV and you wouldn’t have even known it was them if I hadn’t said so.
The benefit of those clips is also guaranteed to be good quality video, which isn’t always the case and often scuttles a song/band I’d otherwise like to do (where is there a good video for Canada’s phenomenal Cash Brothers?). But they can’t be too long – five to six minutes is usually the max, unless otherwise warranted, since I concede that you might actually have to do some work, not listen to tunes all morning.
I also love artists doing other people’s songs; original artists reinterpreting their work; with someone else; or perhaps in a different musical style (can you say Dread Zeppelin?) – and sometimes all three at once, like the inestimable Playing For Change collective I’ve offered up several times. Or headbanging bands like The Scorpions improbably backed by a full philharmonic orchestra. U2 and a gospel choir: heavenly!
Of course, we’re always “writing for the reader, not ourselves,” so sometimes I’ll go with a particular artist who isn’t really my cup of tea, but otherwise popular. But then, among the top five viewed videos of last year were Styx, AC/DC, the Rolling Stones and Buddy Guy, so it’s clear how our readers generally rock and or roll.
Having said that, variety is the spice of life, so I like to mine other avenues – sometimes new artists (or new to me at least) that I’ve discovered, like Ireland’s heavenly Hozier, Canada’s The Paperboys, or Athens Creek, who stunningly sang “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun”; plus, undiscovered gems or forgotten songs (remember The Monks?). And if there is an interesting story behind them (like The Monks – a British pop-punk band that was despised in their home country and was only a hit in Canada), even better.
Of course, I couldn’t do this without adhering to my own Canadian content rules, so anyone from April Wine to Alfie Zappacosta will find their way into the column.
And seasonality is always fun – Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas…
Then there are artists chosen for timely – or untimely – reasons, like new albums; upcoming concerts that readers might have a chance to see (or that I have recently seen, like Ziggy Marley at last year’s IPW trade show in Los Angeles); or sadly, deaths. We once ran an artist from St. Vincent who was trying to raise funds for hurricane relief through song.
At the same time, readers weigh in with requests or even send links, like the incredible European flash mob performance of “Stairway to Heaven” once suggested (amongst others) by long-time listener Elvi Cal of TravelBrands. Of course, my son and music muse Brendan is an inexhaustible wealth of great suggestions (which reminds me, I really should do the band Muse).
I know I’ve done good when my phone starts dinging on Friday morning shortly after our 7:10 distribution. Then the emails start: “Great song,” “I’d forgotten that one,” “You should check this one out…” My favourite: “Hey, mon, thanks, I’m just sitting here on my patio in Jamaica grooving to your video of Mungo Jerry!”
Messages literally come from around world.
If the entire exercise sounds complicated, it’s not. Most of the time, I must admit, it simply comes down to a song I heard on the radio, or in a movie or TV show, or popped up on my iPod while walking the dog, and I think, “Hey, I should do that one.” And thank goodness for “if you like this, you might like…”
Frankly, the column is more fun than writing about bankruptcies, apocalyptic weather, travel technology, or the pandemic. And fortunately, you seem to like it too.
So, thanks, and please keep writing and sending suggestions. But no Barry Manilow (Elvi!).
That said, how about a Bad Manners romp to start the year on a high note? Popular during the British ska revival of the early 1980s, the effervescent “two-tone” outfit from London with the irrepressible lead singer Buster Bloodvessel was and still is one of my favourite bands.
Here’s to a great year in music… er, travel.
PS – Check out our ‘Listening In’ microsite at https://travelindustrytoday.com/infocus-listening-in/ to see past columns.
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