Melodies take us to many different places
Van Dyke Parks, a key figure in American pop music, will perform his final concert in Japan. He is known in Japan for his participation on the Beach Boys' elusive album "Smile," his collaborations with Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, and Little Feat, and his participation in Happy End's 1972 LA recording. His piano playing, which draws on a variety of elements from classical music to Caribbean and African-American music, is backed by a profound insight into the origins of the American nation, 20th-century pop, and music itself.
Great music brings people together
"Happy End came to LA in 1972. At first I wondered why they'd suddenly come (laughs). We wrote a song together called 'Goodbye America, Goodbye Japan.' We decided to stop talking about the atomic bomb and talk about what came next, and to write a happy song (laughs). And during the session, we all just came together in perfect harmony. They'd come all the way across the Pacific Ocean in search of connection. That really touched my heart."
This performance was a simple trio consisting of Van Dyke's piano and vocals, joined by mandolin and bass, directly conveying the diverse charm of his piano harmonies.
"When I was young, I learned from the works of 19th-century musicians like Schumann, Hugo Wolf, and Schubert that great music connects people. I incorporated calypso into my album 'Discover America' because I witnessed a bus ride in the American South carrying a white priest and 28 black people, and felt like I was seeing the true essence of America. The harmony of my music comes from the overlapping of various historical and historical events."
At 82 years old, he is mindful of the contemporary music scene, saying, "It's not the time to listen to another album all the way through," but his desire to create is endless.
"The America I knew has collapsed. Climate change is having a variety of effects on the world. To borrow the words of my friend, the folk singer Phil Ochs, I believe the true antidote to these ugly times is beauty. By creating beautiful things, I can give people an opportunity to think about important things. I believe that is my mission as a musician."
