But what I've really been thinking about the past couple of weeks began with how I chose which university to apply to. The thing is, because the preliminary papers were due so early on in my first year at Manchester- at which point I admit I wasn't fully sure I wanted to go or would even get in- I think I maybe didn't take choosing a place as seriously as I should have. However I did have a fairly good go at it, and after eliminating all the states which my very helpful New York born mother described as being 'dull and empty' (which, compared to her bustling native land, included most, if not all of my options), I was left with North Carolina and New Jersey. The New Jersey option, Rutgers, however, was full. So my decision was made for me, and after having wikipedia'd and googled for hours at a time, I think now I have a pretty good idea of the beautiful Southern East-coast state. Aside from the breathtaking scenery and rife Southern state music and culture (okay I'll stop, this is definitely sounding like a cringey travel ad), there are also a lot of interesting exports from NC which have been brought to my attention of late. And here lies the point of this post. Now i'm not American enough (yet) to consider it a sign that so much of my favourite music came out of this place that I hadn't even heard of until last year, but I'm not about to ignore it either... let me explain.
Ryan Adams. Recently I have been listening to him a lot, mostly his stunning solo album 'Gold' which is absolutely incredible. Read about it here and if it sounds like your cup of tea, buy it. It'll change your life. Right now I'm listening to the beautiful 'La Cienega Just Smiled'. So anyway, feeling like I really connected with some of his lyrics (awful adolescent comment there- sorry, had to be done), I used my good friend Wikipedia to find out more about his stuff. And where, do I discover, is he from, and began his career? North Carolina.
Another example of this clear 'meant to be' connection (my own words, I'm not embarrassed) between NC and myself I noticed while walking home the other day, through the sun, to an old folk song I'd heard at a festival several years ago and searched for online everywhere until I found a version recorded by Old Crow Medicine Show. Originally it was a Bob Dylan song but apparently he never got round to recording it. This song is just one of those that kind of means a lot, that you associate with great memories- in my case of a carfree youthful summer spent with friends at festivals. Anyway I must have listened to the song a thousand times but never really paid attention to the lyrics. Until this lazy walk home when my lovely little ipod's volume button got stuck and the blast in my ears suddenly made me aware of the line, 'And if I die in Raleigh at least I will die free'. 'Raleigh': the capital of North Carolina, where I will be living if my application is successful. The song is in fact all about hitch-hiking down to North Carolina and leaving the pressures of cold New England: 'Headed down south to the land of the pines/ And i'm thumbin' my way to North Caroline'. Coincidence?
During my very informative little conversations with Wikipedia I also learnt that musical legends and personal ipod regulars of mine such as John Coltrane, James Taylor, Mitch Easter, Ben Folds Five, Loudon Wainwright and of course one of my absolute favourites, Tori Amos, also grew up and started out on the North Carolinian music scene. These are pretty impressive names for what is usually considered a 'small town' in comparison to the rest of the east coast.
Aside from providing the world with such internationally renowned musicians, there seems to be a trend of setting fresh-faced romantic teen dramas amidst the green beauty of the state, including 'Dawson's Creek' and 'One Tree Hill'. The latter, to which I am completely addicted. And before you feel the tone dampened by that last revelation, anyone who likes a bit of American teen drama and dry humour interlaced with ever-so-slightly obvious symbolism that makes you feel clever as well as touched when you 'get it' has to agree that it is the best of the best. I know right. But anyway it's set in NC. Which I am more than happy about.
So what's my point, you ask? You may be thinking it's proportionally inevitable that any number of influential figures will have come out of any given area. Which may be true. But actually what I really seem to have learnt through my little Wikipedia adventure is that practically everyone who is from, or has even spent time in this particular state seems to be proud; to want to sing about it, actually. Whether that is a result of the moral nature of its history (N.C being the last and most reluctant state to secede to the Confederacy), or the inspirational surroundings, or just general American patriotism, this fact is probably the most revealing I could have asked for. So I'm sold. Here's to hoping I return to England with this same North Carolinian artistic vision- the one that seems to be about as rare in the beautiful south-east as bibles, basketball, and southern charm.
