Maybe it's normal to do this, but
everything that happens with my father I look at
through the future glass of me going through it in 25
years. So turnin' 60 just makes me wanna ask him a
whole bunch of questions so I can see what life is
like through his eyes.
So when I bought the ticket
to attempt the Thanksgiving, 60th birthday, Jess n'
Jeff's baby trifecta, I told him awhile back that the
day of his birthday I wanted to make a video. Didn't
know exactly what I was gonna do but something
including him talking, maybe playing music, who knows.
He has a new band, but they're on a bit of a hiatus so
there was no chance to get any footage of them playing
out somewhere... but that really wasn't what I was
looking for. Something more intimate and one on
one.
Then I remembered what we used to
do 15-20 years ago: record music.
I'd bring him a song and we'd
piece together the parts and end up with...an actual
song. Still seems like magic to me somehow. And
something really unique to be able to do with your
father. We stopped doing it because I eventually had
my own equipment at WTVN and CD101 and then of course
I went to LA... Hadn't made a song from scratch with
since the mid-90s, and since there isn't one second of
the day that I don't have a song in my head, or
working on lyrics, it seemed like it would be pretty
simple...
It was. Almost all first takes and
with no concern for a highly polished finish product.
Just one that was completed from start to finish on
November 26th, 2010. When I get back to LA I'll make
an actual music video with the full song explaining
what it means, etc., this video will be more about the
day and the interviews within. Unfortunately my
father's computer software can't handle HD so the
finished video may have to wait until I get back to
LA, but I wanted to write this on the day.
Now, the "Cameron" in me is
saying: "Oh, you made your dad spend his birthday
helping YOU make a song? Nice.". (sigh) There's a
method to my madness...
In LA I originally started doing a
big video about his life, but it felt way too much
like he was dead. And then, in thinking of actually
shooting something in Columbus with him, I wanted to
avoid the "This is Your Life" aspect, again, the man
isn't dead. I also didn't want to just show him
playing the keyboard (he is so far ahead of me
musically it's astounding), 'cause I have video of
that. I wanted something that was personal, for US.
Something about our relationship. Him helpin'
me put somethin' together is 100% us. He completely
got me into making videos as a kid, then Slick Tracy
as a teen and eventually recording music. Returning
the favor however is something I can rarely do. I was
able to with moments at CBS when I put him on Adam
& The Egos, and actually flying him out to NY to
be on the Early Show (though that was all his doing -
ha check this out)..
I adore this picture. 'Cause they
called for Madeline Edward's family (winner of Living
Room Live) to come up for the final shot and my dad
just OWNED that shit and jumped in too. LOL. Chip off
the young block! HA. Can't even express how proud I am
to have been able to do that for him. That's why
making it and being successful means so much to me. It
means I have the ability to properly thank those that
have supported me. When I'm not? Can't do any of that.
My birthday gift is the $300 plane ticket for ME to
get home. <shakes head>. I desperately want to
do more... but I just can't.
I will have to say though,
I have handed over every ounce of knowledge with
computers, graphics, editing that I possibly can
to him and you know what? He really rocks at it. He's
got a full-time 9-5 doin' all sorts of creative stuff
at a company that is thrilled with what he can pull
off. That's really makes me feel good that I've had a
hand in bringing him into the 21st Century and
honestly? I know of no one his age that soaks it up so
fast or is so willing to learn new shit. We are quite
identical in that respect.
Talking about the day I was
born is very important for me to have on tape. It's
obviously something that was burned into my head at a
young age because of the reaction of family members
when I asked about it. Every single one looked as
if it was so traumatic they barely wanted to talk
about it. That stuck with me as a kid. As I got older
I remember being pissed that they didn't sue someone
for doing a C-Section 6 weeks early (if not more,
we'll never know), but something about hearing this
story now with Jess and Jeff going through concerns
over the birth... I get it: your kid is alive,
your kid is healthy - THANK GOD, MOVE ON.
And bottom line? Suing hopsitals/doctors was not
something poor people did in the 70s. Not even an
option. Being poor and striving my whole life has made
me who I am, so I just don't give it another
thought...
...I will however, never let
down on the "why the fuck is your car so clean" take
with my father. It's goofy people. His cars
look so good you get angry. Inside and out, it's
absolutely remarkable. That car is over 10 years old,
and you would need a magnifying glass to spot any
evidence of that. The video is so awesome... him
actually describing how to wash his car when it's
freezing outside like this is COMMON. HA.
So happy birthday pop. It was a
fun way to spend the day. Hope you enjoy the video.
:-)
Adam
PS - Am I allowed to make fun
of the mullet? I think I am.
