People-Music-Moments #8
Simon Forbes
My Name is Simon Gary Forbes, but better know as Forbesy. I currently work for NICS as an IT Technician and help alongside Do Your Bit NI. Happy married for over 5 years to my beautiful 2x business owner Kellie Forbes and proud cat dad to Luxe and Walter. You can find me in coffee shops feeding my addiction, play some DnD, playing Video Games, headed over to Ethos Training or playing guitar. Not much of a sports guy but will I do love Professional Wrestling, it's my male soap opera alternative. Long time lover of Rock, Metal and the odd country tune or two. However, have been loving funk provided by Cory Wong and The scary Pockets (gotta be diverse). Influences of music again is diverse, I grew up in the 2000's when Nu-Metal was thriving; Papa Roach, Linkin Park, etc. But I do find influence in the likes of Prince, Switchfoot, Thin Lizzy, John Mayer, etc.
Song 1
Mike & The Mechanics - The Living Years
Summer of 2010 wasn't smooth for me. Had went through a breakup, didn't get into Jordanstown to do ICT due to A Level results and my grandfather passed away; a week before my 19th birthday. I hadn't experienced a family loss in a long time. This was a raw experience, on top of a pretty shit summer.
My Dad and I have a cherished relationship, he is the one who got me into a lot of classic rock and many times have we just went on drives and cranking tunes from Bob Seeger, Def Leopard, Thin Lizzy, Bryan Adams and so much more. The mentioned song however, unites a family through this painful experience.
The song details the singer losing his father. Even though the relation was complex, complicated and conflicted, it wasn't until the Father's passing that the writer cherishes how strong the relationship was and processing the regrets that he didn't get to tell him. The irony is that when the Father dies, a baby is born. I felt this weird sense of generational passing down; as my dad reflected on his Father, so the song passed to me thinking about the man who I would sit with in car journeys and more life experiences with.
August 21st 2010 gave me a space to mourn and yet reflect. While I no longer get to see my Grandfather, I stand thankfully and hope to not regret not saying all that I need to say to my own Father, in these Living Years.
Song 2
Linkin Park - One Step Closer
Around the rise of Nu-Metal, I was 9 years old. My music interests were just there. Going with the flow of my BoyZone and Westlife obsessed sister, I had nothing to claim my own. I remember back in the day of Kerrang TV and Scuzz featuring on cable, this my morning ritual. Break and Metal/Rock, beautiful. One morning around the end of 2000/01, I seen this red headed guy called Chester and co-member Mike... hearing this song that was so different from what I was used to... and I was hooked. For me, Linkin Park opened the gate for all other bands I would listen to.
Sometimes in life, I have been One Step Closer to the edge... about to break and at times broken. Having someone saying what you're thinking in order to express is awesome. This song hasn't always been an aggressive outlet though.
Hearing that intro, you know what's going down. Whether on shuffle in the car, ready for a set of burpees at the gym, casually hanging out with friends; you know it's a united front of being a 90's kid. Linkin Park were also a reason for me wanting to play guitar, to play that riff and jam with friends years later. One Step Closer is a stamp on my life forever. PS Hybrid Theory, the best album ever.
Song 3
Boyce Avenue - On My Way
That's right, Boyce Avenue do original music as well. Always found inspiration of their covers that they continue to do but was excited when they announced original music. The mentioned song in particular tells this story of the bride to be that you will have all of these experiences in life, but I am on my way. My relationship with my wife stemmed out of 3 years of long distance; from Belfast to Tampa FL. A lot of airport drop offs, FaceTimes and pondering of our future. April 1st 2016 (no joke) remains one of the happiest days of my life.
On My Way, in our context, helped us preserve through uncertainty, worry, joy and peace. A song so simple in words, yet conveyed everything we have felt and going to feel. Yes, we had missed may life experiences and endured over 4000 miles apart for a long time but when I heard that final verse "I'll be there the morning you come out in white, cause I'm on my way, on my way", it closed that chapter of life on April 1st and started something new.
Long Distance is never easy, but never impossible.
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