If It's Good, Do It Twice

 Along with our past knowledge in music comes our future. I was little but I remember it like it was yesterday, my first concert. I was eight and my parents were taking my brother and I to see Jimmy Buffett, the rock star of our household. Being downtown in Detroit was always a blast and I loved walking under the lights of Greek Town, but this time I was on a mission. When we arrived, Hawaiian shirts filled the crowd and I felt right at home. Walking to our seats was like trying to make it through a maze since I was tiny. Once we got to our seats I stood on top of mine so I could see and stared down the stage anxiously waiting. When Jimmy walked out on stage the lights blazed and the crowd went wild. So did I. I knew every word to every song, and it was the only time my Mom let me sing “Why don’t we get drunk and screw,” out loud. I didn’t know what it meant but I thought it was an awesome song anyway. Beach balls crowd surfed from one edge of the stadium to the other, and the guy behind us puked everywhere. I asked my parents what was wrong with him and they told me he had the flu. I believed them and actually felt bad for him. As he continued on, so did I. I jammed so hard that night my throat hurt, and I vowed to never forget it. I never wanted to leave. I thought to myself, “This is paradise…”

By 21 I was working in real estate, smothered in paperwork, in desperate need of a break. That just happened to be the day my cousin offered me two tickets to a Jimmy Buffett concert at DTE because two friends couldn’t make it. How could I say no? Amy, my friend I worked with was down for the adventure, so we shut the office down like we owned it two hours early and headed down 75 toward our escape. It was a sunny summer day and this time I knew my experience would be a lot different. We sat on the back of the car drinking coronas, making friends with any parrotheads we came into contact with. Once we entered, smiling faces lit the way to the Margaritas. They were delicious. Jimmy came out on stage and once again the crowd went wild, only this time I was big enough to see him over the sea of people. My $9 drink spilled everywhere and I could care less. I still knew every word to every song, but this time when I sang “Why don’t we get drunk and screw,” I knew what it meant and thought it was true. A guy hanging over the edge of the fence puking made me laugh out loud because I knew he had the brown bottle flu. Jimmy ended the show singing the Bob Dylan classic “Everybody must get stoned,” and everyone did. As the lights blazed yet again, this time I also saw the blaze of the entire crowd. Everyone was carefree, happy and hammered. I then thought to myself, "O, so THIS is what it's all about?!" It's funny how our views change yet stay the same as the years go by.

The Detroit Shoppe

The Detroit Shoppe at Somerset Mall is an awesome store. The store offers a historical look at all things Detroit, except unlike a museum, you can purchase the items for your very own! I am not much of a shopper, but I spent hours in this store, looking around, exploring our city that had been compiled in to this single space.  

At first glance the store appears cluttered with “old” memorabilia…. it is…. but once you get in and start exploring, you’ll find the clutter is actually an endless amount of really cool, sometimes forgotten things of our past. The best things in this store are like treasures, the more you dig, the more interesting stuff you will find. During the time of the depression, people kept everything, and most stores and homes were cluttered with nonsense, so I guess in a way I understood where they were going with the cluttered look, and realized that was part of the reason I felt like I was taken back through time when I walked in.

As I first walked in I was immediately drawn to the sports section. They had old stadium seats, score boards, and photographs that were amazing. It felt like being at Tiger Stadium in the 1950’s. The store is in sections by certain interests, so next I came to the “Michigan” section. This section consisted of all items born and raised in Michigan. Old Faygo and Vernors glass soda bottles cover the shelves, Better Made products, taffy, and vintage t shirts give Michigan lovers a lot of choices for a treat or even a nice gift idea. It was awesome to see how many different things were actually created in our city. 

Of course, the section that drew me in for hours was the entertainment section. The first thing that entranced me was the pictures. There’s something about old pictures that take you back in time and make you feel like you’re actually there. The section of pictures seemed endless. Although some were expensive since they are vintage photos, I thought it was awesome that each picture in the store was for sale. The pictures were mostly those of performing artists, theaters and actual photos of the city of Detroit in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. It was amazing to see what the city actually looked like that then, what residents wore, and how much has changed since those days. There were even pictures of people on horse drawn carriages before there were cars in Detroit. It took me back in time.

The store also offers a section devoted to music, most of which being Motown music which is directly correlated with Detroit. They have compilation albums featuring the songs of the decades, including all the biggest hits. They also have compilation albums of the most amazing music of Motown. The music section is huge and offers visitors a sample look at the time of Motown, almost like its own mini museum. It’s very cool and you should check it out. 

Motown Museum

When I was a kid one of my most memorable experiences was taking a trip with my Dad to the Motown Museum. Since I grew up in Detroit listening to Motown music, the idea of going to the museum was very exciting. Little did I know what this museum has to offer. I left this museum with a new appreciation for music, and a better understanding of what music is all about and how much goes into making it.

The gallery at the Motown Museum is an awesome way to go behind the scenes and feel as if you’re actually there watching the magic unfold. The gallery displays costumes and uniforms actually worn by performers like the Supremes, the Temptations and Michael Jackson. I’ll never forget how it felt to be arms length away from Jackson’s infamous outfits and sparkly glove.  The original sheet music to Motown’s most memorable songs are on display, including sloppy sketches of lyrics that would one day make some of the most famous songs ever written. Never before seen photos cover the exhibit making you feel as if you’re a part of the jam session you see taking place. Posters and flyers the record label used to spread the word are on display, and the dates of events make you feel as if you are right there in that time, waiting to purchase your tickets. In that moment, you feel like you’re a part of Motown, right there with the artists.  

Another cool part of the museum is the echo chamber.  In the 1960’s, special effect sounds were created in this echo chamber. The museum exhibits the exact chamber the artists used to make their songs. Visitors are encouraged to clap and sing to Motown songs in the echo chamber, making their own music, the same way the artists did. It’s really hands on and I loved being able to actually be a part of making music while I was there.

Visitors are also able to check out the control room equipment originally used to record popular songs like “shop around.” It was very exciting to learn exactly how lyrics and instruments were recorded separately and then later put back together so each part of the song could be perfected.

Motown’s first recording studio, “Studio A,” was the hang out and recording spot for many famous artists. Here at the museum, the recording studio is set up the exact same way it was for the artists of the 1960’s. Visitors are able to stand in the exact same spot as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and many other stars as they recorded some of the most popular songs of all time. It’s an amazing experience to be able to stand in the exact same spot as your idols.

The Motown Museum is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Detroit but even for those who live in the Detroit area, it can be on awesome experience. The best way to understand something that happened is to actually live it. Since we can’t go back to 1960 and relive the magic of Motown, it is nice to know we get the next best thing; the chance to go back and relive it by walking through the exact same rooms and making music the same way the artists did.

The beginning

Before you can understand the impact music can have on a city you have to know where the wave first started, and how it grew to engulf the entire world. On Jan 12, 1959, Barry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Record Corporation right here at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit Michigan. His good friend Smokey Robinson saw an amazing opportunity and urged Gordy to put the plan in motion. With borrowed money, Barry Gordy bought the West Grand Boulevard home and created what would turn out to be one of the most memorable music labels of all time. The music created in the home which would later become “Hitsville USA” moved the nation. Motown songs brought a bright upbeat tempo for listeners with soulful feelings in their lyrically appealing songs about love gone and love for a lifetime.

By 1966 the label was up and running, with 3 out of every 4 Motown songs taking over the charts. “Motown U pros” were the people behind the scenes, styling and making the artists into the stars they became. Motown swept the motor city at the height of the civil rights movement. Since Motown was African American owned business that white Americans could relate to, they couldn’t help but move and grove to the soulful workings of the artists that produced the pop and soul hits that impacted the country. Motown was bringing people together in big ways. 

Vintage Motown: A jam session from the 1960s features Kim Weston (microphone) Stevie Wonder(dark glasses), Berry Gordy Jr. at the piano, Smokey Robinson (center rear) and Marv Johnson, at Gordy's left.

The impact of Motown music, born and bread in our city was much more than radio hits and stars being born, it was the beginning of something bigger. The music changed the lives of those who owned or worked for the company, artists and writers, but it also changed the lives of each person who was moved on the music. Some say Motown died when it moved from Detroit to California in the 1970’s, but if you look hard, you’ll see that Motown and the love of music never really left the motor cities.

What moves you?

I am an elementary education student at Oakland University. I love music both old and new, and I am proud to be born in the city of Detroit, home of Motown, and other amazing music.

I hope to capture and share with you many different types of musical entertainment Detroit has and has had to offer over the years. Music has helped shape our city and it's important to recognize where we came from and where the music of past generations has brought us today.

This blog is designed to give all readers a greater appreciation for the artists who impacted our city in such a great way, and to help those living or visiting in the Detroit area to know where to look to see the magic of the motor cities musical life unfold.