Laura L. Smith
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Rock and roll hall of fame

1/10/2013

6 Comments

 
Picture
The glass pyramids imitating the outside of the Louvre, hallmarking the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
“I can begin again.” New Year’s Day by U2

I spent New Year’s Day 2013 soaking in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Barely visible amidst Elvis’ outlandish purple Cadillac with “EP” blazed on every seat cushion, tire and door (no lie), John Lennon’s neon green silk Sergeant Pepper’s uniform and Katy Perry’s memorable peppermint dress were my two favorite artifacts in the multi level, glass pyramid of a museum (a copy of the Louvre in Paris)
.
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Elvis Presley's purple Cadillac
My favorites weren’t bright or shiny or glitzy or even psychedelic, like all the items I believe rock stars own and save and cherish. They were small and flat and plain. They were rejection letters.
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John Lennon's Sergeant Peppers uniform
As a writer I get my share of rejection letters. You might think looking at others’ rejections would be torture. But, actually it’s the opposite. You see, these weren’t random rejection letters written to bands you’ve never heard of like Carl and the Crazies or the Keyboard Lizards, these were rejection letters written to U2.

In 1979 RSO sent a letter to P. Hewson, Bono’s real name, stating the demo tape he mailed “titled U2 is not suitable for us at present". The letter was written on Bono’s 19th birthday. I hope he got a decent cake.

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Katy Perry in her peppermint dress
Around the same time Arista Records sent U2 a form rejection letter, the kind they sent to hundreds of bands with just a preprinted signature, and without details of why the band was being turned down.

But those rejections did not make U2 quit. It gave them fodder to begin again. To make another tape, to send it to another label, to try again.

One year later, Island Records signed U2. They went on to become one of the biggest selling bands in the world. Over 7.2 million fans attended U2’s 360 Tour, more than any other fans attending any other tour - ever. U2 has won more Grammy awards than any other band, ever. 22.

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U2 the band with the most Grammy awards of any band, ever.
But what if Bono and the boys had listened to RSO or Arista? What if they took those rejections as signs they didn’t have what it takes? That they weren’t good enough? That their sound wouldn’t resonate? That they should give up?

What hill are you climbing today? Who’s told you “no” recently? What roadblocks are you encountering?

What if instead of listening to the negativity, you tried one more time – took the SAT or LSAT one more time to improve your score, auditioned for one more play, ran one more race, applied to one more internship or job, sent one more song to a record label?

Hills are rarely easy to climb. Sometimes they reveal themselves as careening mountains.

But the view from the top of the mountain is glorious.

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He lift me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song
  Psalm 40 by King David and revamped by U2 in their song “40”

What new song can you sing today? Where can you begin again?

6 Comments
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4/13/2013 03:56:41 pm


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9/18/2013 06:03:35 pm

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7/14/2013 04:24:06 pm

The glass pyramids are a fascinating and splendid sight in the rock and roll hall of fame in Cleveland. I really appreciate the creativity of their architects. Just look around to see wonders. Anyway, thanks for the post. Regards.

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traci
8/31/2013 03:14:11 pm

wow... I attended Young Life (christian youth kinda thing) in high school in the 80's bc the cute boys went there. That's where I 1st heard "40". i knew U2 and thought they were really cool (unlike me or people at my church). Then someone showed me in the Bible where the lyrics came from, and it blew me away. I found God thanks to Bono, and Bob Bingham, my YL leader. Rock on!

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Laura L. Smith link
9/1/2013 01:36:18 am

Traci, I love "40" too. Everytime I hear it, it finds my soul. Praying you'll be as inspired today as the first time you saw King David's original lyrics to Psalm 40 in the Bible.

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