Drake Family and Friends, As many of you know Garett was kind of into music. One of his greatest music projects was called Drake’s Ultimate Collection or DUC. This collection included only the best of the best songs that Garret and other liked. There were 64 CDs each with about 18 or so songs. The CDs followed a strict set of rules. Each CD had a unique them. No artist could have more than one song on a CD with the exception of DUC 53 the Comedy CD, and DUC 50 the Christmas CD. Each CD also included a song that would stretch the limits of the CD’s theme and each song had special meaning for Garett. Song 4 on any CD is the clean-up hitter so to speak, and would always be the best and most important song in the play list. There were also rules around songs 1-3. No song from a previous DUC volume could repeat although two slipped through; Pride – U2 and No One Lives Forever – Oingo Boingo. Garret worked on these CDs over about a 5 year period. They all had to be “created spiritually before they could be created physically”. On a few of the CDs he sought input from others. I have been thinking a lot about Garett recently, probably because his birthday just passed. I listen to his CDs all the time, at home, in my car, and at work. I really miss him. He was a great friend and mentor. I wanted to honor him. I wanted to give him something for his birthday. I wanted to continue the DUC collection with just one more CD. So I did. Here is the playlist for DUC 65, the ‘Tribute DUC’. The theme is grief, loss, and emptiness. It is my tribute to my friend. I followed the rules. No artist has more than one song. Song 4 is the most important. No songs on this CD appear on any of the previous CDs. The artists include some of Garett’s favorites and were carefully selected for their titles, content, lyrics, or context. I really think that if you listen to these songs in order you will get something out of it. Maybe it will inspire memories or help you fell close to Garett. If you want a copy of the CD, private message me your address and I will make sure that you get it. Die Another Day – From our perspective, Garett died way too young. We all wished that he had had died another day after a much longer life. From Garett’s perspective, while it must have been hard to leave all of his loved ones behind, he was able to return to that God who gave him life. The Show Must Go On – This song was written while Freddie Mercury was nearing the end of his life due to complications with AIDS. He could barely walk and knew his time was short. Stiff Upper Lip – We need to keep a stiff upper lip even though we miss Garett. Hurt – This is the Johnny Cash remake of the NIN song. Cash is 71 when he recorded this song. He was nearing the end of his life. His wife June Carter Cash died 3 months after he filmed the video. He died 4 months after her. This version features some lyrical changes that demonstrate Johnny’s strong belief in Jesus Christ. Memories Fade – From the album, The Hurting, this song was one of only songs that Garett had not already used in the DUC CDs. Garett bought me this album and to this day it is one of my favorites. Both the album and the song explore the themes of DUC 65, loss, grief, and emptiness. A fitting choice. Pictures of You – The Cure have made several songs that fit the theme of this CD. In this case, the mood of the CD lightens. We will always have pictures of Garett to remember him by until we see him again. Home – Another song that fits the theme. There are several lyrics here that I feel apply to my relationship with Garett as a friend. He taught me so much that has been valuable to me in my life. Now he is at rest, no longer in pain, at Home. Crossroads – This is a song that stretches the theme. It is about grief and loss and the reunion of loved ones at the crossroads of life and heaven. This song contrasts with the largely rock and new wave songs that dominate the play list. I can imagine Garett arguing for justification of this song on this CD and finishing with a sarcastic “Yuk Yuk” to bring the point home. Can’t Get It Out of My Head – At the time I put this CD together I was thinking about Garett all the time. I would. I think it was Garett nudging me on to create one more DUC CD for him. Empty Garden – This song was a tribute to John Lennon. Elton John and John Lennon performed together at Madison Square Garden in 1974. They were fast friends before and after that historic performance. The Empty Garden that Elton John is referring to is Madison Square Garden. Keep Me In Your Heart – This is from the album Wind and was Warren Zevon’s last album. He was dying of lung cancer. This song was a gift to his loved ones with a very sweet and powerful message. Let It Die – Literally this song is about the conflict of Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain’s estate and memory. The theme is to let the petty things of life go. Life is too short. Live it well and without regret. In God’s Country – U2 is all over the DUC CDs and this song seemed appropriate to include. Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven – Garett gave me the album Earth Sun Moon from which this song comes from. He made me into a huge Love & Rockets fan and this song had to be on this tribute CD. Daddy Could Swear – This is another song that stretches the theme. Really is just reminds me of Garett. He would argue that he didn’t swear by expanding his vocabulary to use words like arse instead of ass. I needed a laugh at this point in the playlist. Heaven Sent – We are children of God, even Garett. He helped me through some really tough times. He was truly Heaven Sent. The End – The Beatles. Every DUC CD has to have a Beatles song which means he has already used 64 of them that I could not repeat. This song represents the end of this life and leads to the next song which… Hallelujah – ends with the hope of something more. Something beautiful.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 01:02:26 +0000
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