I’ve never seen myself as someone deeply involved in politics. My emotional triggers have always resided in the realm of art. A powerful scene in a film – yes, even ‘Kung Fu Panda’ can get me – or a song with a melody that pierces right through me. Occasionally, a book has the power to move me profoundly, evoking not just sadness but also bursts of liberating laughter, the kind that builds until tears stream down your face. That blend of emotions is, to me, the ultimate release. I often joke, “I don’t really like real life; it’s art that truly captivates me.” For years, I avoided newspapers and still steer clear of news channels on television.
However, today feels different. ‘Real life’ has nudged me, inspired me, if you will. This birthday message is an opportunity to express my strong feelings about Barack Obama. Someone recommended Obama’s book, ‘The Audacity Of Hope.’ I downloaded it from iTunes, and listened to the author himself narrate it. My work is almost entirely driven by intuition. I lack formal music theory knowledge and can’t read sheet music. I simply know what resonates, what excites me, what brings tears to my eyes. I see myself as more of a lightning rod than a traditional musician. Listening to Obama’s book, I was struck by how much I admired him and the sheer hope he instilled in me as the story unfolded.
My family background isn’t particularly artistic, although my mother loved music and its stars. Her ideal Sunday was a drive through the affluent areas of Warwickshire, dreaming about which celebrity might own which grand estate. Spotting a personalized license plate would send us into hours of speculation. I have no idea what Rod Stewart was doing in Solihull High Street that Sunday in June 1972, but we both saw ‘RS 1’ and knew instantly who it must be. No, not an artistic family in the conventional sense.
My maternal grandfather, on the other hand, was a significant figure in the early days of English Trade Unions, hailing from Liverpool. I never met him, but the Lord Mayor of Birmingham attended his funeral. My father, conversely, despised trade unions. He was a forward-thinking individual who had little patience for what he saw as the lowest common denominator that unions represented. My dad, like many others from the Midlands, suffered when the British car industry collapsed under unrealistic expectations and a shifting global economy.
Obama is a Democrat. He believes in unions. He’s also a pragmatist. Listening to him articulate his story, his ideas, and his ideals, I initially struggled to believe that he could become the leader of the United States, and therefore, arguably the most important person on the planet. Yet, a thought took root in my mind: ‘But what if he could?’
As I said, I’m driven by instinct. It’s about a feeling I get about people, places, songs. It either clicks, or it doesn’t. There’s no room for debate. Naively optimistic? Perhaps.
I missed the Kennedy era, but I witnessed the excitement around Clinton. Truthfully, I was more enthusiastic about Hillary back then. However, times change. While Bill and Hillary represented the future in 1992, the future now demands something different, and that is Obama. He embodies America, but he also embodies something universal within us all. He inspires me to think politically because he radiates authenticity in a world desperately lacking it. And this isn’t just about politics. Look at our TV screens – the reality show drivel, the talent show nonsense. Everyone is performing, saying what they think they need to say to get ahead.
Obama elevates the standard. His Father’s Day speech brought tears to my eyes. He is a wake-up call. If America elects him (and while I can’t vote), it will send an incredible signal of hope and change across the globe. It will capture the attention of even the most entrenched America-skeptics. This is a momentous opportunity.
No one is perfect, and I don’t believe he is either. I simply wanted to use this birthday message to share my thoughts on what I see as the most significant event of the coming year. For those who are doubtful, I urge you to read the book I mentioned; you might just believe anything is possible!
Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. This year has been extraordinary so far (do I ever say otherwise?). Losing Nick’s father, Roger, these last few weeks has been tough. He was a major influence on me during my hard-headed teenage years. Watching my oldest friend navigate this loss with such dignity and strength has been truly inspiring. I cherish being on tour, playing night after night, and seeing so many of your faces warms my heart. Thank you for sticking with us; we always strive to make it worthwhile. Gratitude to my family who challenge me to grow every day, and to my friends who guide me.
Love and peace, JT.
