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Post by singingsparrow on Oct 5, 2009 23:21:28 GMT -5
Even though the lyrics can, upon first listen, be interpreted as being about restoring some sort of relationship (perhaps restoring a friendship after a painful divorce)................the lyrics lack specifics and so therefore can surely be read ambiguously to suggest a better, more compassionate world as well for all. This happens to be my favorite Rob Thomas video to date, as I feel it best resembles Thomas' androgynous personality.............where he is both celebrated and notorious for hemorrhaging emotion and heartache in his music, yet in his personal life and interviews (aside from the Sidewalk Angels work and other charity work) appears most outgoing and buoyant. I feel his other videos tend to veer toward the former but don't quite exhibit the latter aspect of who he is. Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus
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Kai
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Post by Kai on Oct 6, 2009 0:10:42 GMT -5
I was just talking with some guys about this song and I think these lyrics are, if you listen closely, kind of revealing, maybe more than he meant them to be. Thomas strikes me as a very dark guy who really wants his world to be all bright and rosy, who wishes he - and anyone like him who has, to paraphrase his lyric from Bright Lights, "scars he can't talk about" - could just be themselves, could just be content. Instead he has to put up with people's criticisms and his own self-doubt. If all the bigots/doubters/ critics would just open their minds, maybe then he could be himself as well as anyone who's got to hide who they really are. I think he feels like he has a responsibilty, because "he is someone", to shine a light on that kind of human condition and maybe get people to start re-thinking their positions on things (pick your issue, but I've got a pretty good idea of what he's talking about), but it's still "someday" and even though maybe he's realized he can't keep all the crap inside any longer, it's all a work in progress.
Even though this wasn't initially one of my favorites, the more I listen to it, the more I like it. It's a great anthem and I'm digging the way so many people that aren't normally big Rob Thomas fans are connecting to this song. I guess sometimes it's the simplest message that gets the biggest response. Not unlike Unwell, another song that seems deceptively simple on the surface but hid a ton of pain between the lines. The fact that the video emphasizes the more universal peace & brotherhood interpretation of the song doesn't mean there aren't other, deeper levels of meaning. Of course, that's what Thomas always excels in, isn't it?
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Kai
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Post by Kai on Oct 6, 2009 0:15:19 GMT -5
Oh, I meant to say, two songs in the Top 20 - dude just keeps cranking out the hits, doesn't he? Man, it's good to be someone!
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 6, 2009 17:58:22 GMT -5
Noah and Kai, I enjoyed reading both your posts and I can't agree more with both of them. I just watched the Someday video and I thought it was awesome. I think the director really managed to show a side of Rob that we haven't seen before in any of his videos. Here's a short article that I enjoyed since Rob talks about radio. I think Noah has posted that Rob is making music for himself and if some people happen to like it that's great and if not he's okay with that, too. By MARIO TARRADELL Music Critic mtarradell@dallasnews.com Rob Thomas needs no qualifiers. At this point in his career, after two solo albums and co-writing as well as singing the huge 1999 Santana hit, "Smooth," the 37-year-old artist no longer needs to be referred to as the Matchbox Twenty lead vocalist. So today, while promoting the recently released Cradlesong disc, which feels more natural for Thomas: solo star or Matchbox Twenty frontman? "It all feels equally natural," says Thomas by phone from New York. "It's all kind of integrated. If I had to make a choice, I have to say Matchbox Twenty. That's where I started and we've been playing music for 13 years. That feels like home. I still very much rely on those guys a lot." And yet, Thomas points out, he still craves that extra outlet. "Matchbox Twenty is more and more becoming a collaborative effort. We are writing more together. So because we collaborate so much, I feel like I need to get rid of the songs that I write alone." Those self-penned songs found refuge on 2005's ... Something to Be and now Cradlesong. One particular track on Cradlesong, "Mockingbird," is especially clever. Taking inspiration from the classic "Mockingbird" tune popular in the '60s and '70s, Thomas writes about a relationship that may have run it course. "You and me tried everything/But still that mockingbird won't sing." To his credit, Thomas doesn't sample the original song. "I had the idea ... what if the mockingbird never sang," he says. "I've been married for 10 years now and we have a good relationship. Good relationships are based on boundaries. But you have that moment when you think, what if it doesn't work out? That song was written in one of those moments." These days, Thomas' songs find acceptance at pop and especially adult-contemporary radio. That's quite a shift from the early days of Matchbox Twenty, when the band all but owned alternative and modern-rock stations. Such a stylistic about-face can be attributed both to artistic maturity and changes in radio formats. "I'm a songwriter," he says. "My only job is to try to be as honest as I can in a song. That said, radio is formatted now much more structurally than it was when we started. It seems that radio has to find a place that they can put you. My music is growing up with me." That means Thomas is no longer concerned with being the hip alt-rocker. He's comfortable in his creative skin. "At the end of the day, the songs are all about me," he says. "They are always a mirror reflection of what I am going through at the time. At 37, you shouldn't be worried about being cool. It's a cop-out if at 37 you are worried about being cool. Being 37 is what's cool."Plan your life Rob Thomas performs 7:30 p.m. Monday at Nokia Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie. With One Republic and Carolina Liar. $30.75-$50.75. Ticketmaster. www.dallasnews.com/shar...dition1.4c4dae2.html
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NORTHCOAST
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Post by NORTHCOAST on Oct 6, 2009 20:06:42 GMT -5
Wondering how this single is doing. It's at #18 on Hot AC today. My station started playing it last week but I rarely hear it. I've heard If You're Gone & Ever the Same more than Someday this week. Is this doing well? Doing what the label is expecting of it? Getting any play on Pop at all? Selling any more albums? Love the video. I agree that it totally capture ROB. The fun and playful regular guy. I especially like the part where he comes across the girl street musician and he sings with her. That's great. I always give money to street musicians cuz I want to help them along. :)
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NORTHCOAST
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Post by NORTHCOAST on Oct 6, 2009 20:15:15 GMT -5
I was just talking with some guys about this song and I think these lyrics are, if you listen closely, kind of revealing, maybe more than he meant them to be. Thomas strikes me as a very dark guy who really wants his world to be all bright and rosy, who wishes he - and anyone like him who has, to paraphrase his lyric from Bright Lights, "scars he can't talk about" - could just be themselves, could just be content. Instead he has to put up with people's criticisms and his own self-doubt. If all the bigots/doubters/ critics would just open their minds, maybe then he could be himself as well as anyone who's got to hide who they really are. I think he feels like he has a responsibilty, because "he is someone", to shine a light on that kind of human condition and maybe get people to start re-thinking their positions on things (pick your issue, but I've got a pretty good idea of what he's talking about), but it's still "someday" and even though maybe he's realized he can't keep all the crap inside any longer, it's all a work in progress. Even though this wasn't initially one of my favorites, the more I listen to it, the more I like it. It's a great anthem and I'm digging the way so many people that aren't normally big Rob Thomas fans are connecting to this song. I guess sometimes it's the simplest message that gets the biggest response. Not unlike Unwell, another song that seems deceptively simple on the surface but hid a ton of pain between the lines. The fact that the video emphasizes the more universal peace & brotherhood interpretation of the song doesn't mean there aren't other, deeper levels of meaning. Of course, that's what Thomas always excels in, isn't it? I saw an interview with Rob where he talks about the "I've got a scar I can talk about" line from Bright Lights. He said it meant that the hurt of losing this person was really significant. That it was a hurt WORTH talking about as compared to those that really aren't worth the breath they take to voice them. But after reading the recent Rolling Stone article it really gave me a deeper appreciation of the hard childhood that he endured with his abusive grandmother and mother. It was a sad article to read. Showed how much self doubt he has. But I do believe that that self doubt has turned him into one of the most relatable songwriters of his generation. Wondering what you mean by "I've got a pretty good idea of what he's talking about" line.
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 7, 2009 16:54:18 GMT -5
Northcoast, you can follow the song's progress here. I wish we had access to know which stations are actually playing the song but this is better than nothing. I wonder what alternative station has added Someday. I don't look for this song to create a giant demand for the album. I am hoping that it can keep the album in the top 150 through the holidays. We'll see. www.mmr247.com/mmrweb/Reports/Reg/EMD.asp?SOngID=1654158&NumDays=7
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Kai
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Post by Kai on Oct 9, 2009 18:20:18 GMT -5
Rumors - Thanks for the article. I liked this part: "That means Thomas is no longer concerned with being the hip alt-rocker. He's comfortable in his creative skin." Which makes him all the more hip than the average scenester.
Northcoast: "Wondering what you mean by "I've got a pretty good idea of what he's talking about" line. "
Like I said, you could pick your issue, but in light of everything he's been talking about in interviews lately, I think there is probably a lot of things he's dealt with, that he's not comfortable talking about yet. I think he's been dancing around some stuff, leaving some heavy clues, and maybe that's as much as he's willing to put himself out there. And that's fine. It's not anybody's business. Anyway, that's just my opinion and I could be way off-base, but you know, you hear things. But mostly what I hear is what a decent, talented guy he is and that's really all that should matter. Whatever issues he's dealing with seems to fire his creative juices and that's what makes him so "relateable" to the rest of us and seems to be working out just fine for him, career wise, anyway.
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 10, 2009 11:49:38 GMT -5
Cradlesong US sales-
Week 14 #124 4,560 280,864
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NORTHCOAST
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Post by NORTHCOAST on Oct 10, 2009 11:53:06 GMT -5
Cradlesong US sales- Week 14 #124 4,560 280,864 Thanks for the update. Hmmmm. Too bad such a great album isn't getting more support. What sale number do you figure Rob and his label were shooting at? Just wondering if they are where they expected to be. Hoping they get a third single off of it.
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 10, 2009 18:03:19 GMT -5
My guess is that he has undersold per what the label anticipated. "Her Diamonds" didn't really move many albums. But as we have discussed, I'm sure Rob's fine with where he's at. If you put it in perspective, Brad Paisley came out the same week. He has sold 82 PAISLEY*BRAD AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT 6,775 2 6,670 343,918. He is also on his second or third single from the album, has been on at least one nationally televised country award show since his album came out, already had an arena tour that probably averaged 10-12,000 per show, and I saw him on the cover of People "Country" in the grocery store yesterday. So all things considered Rob isn't doing bad for a 37 year old, non-cool guy that's never on TV except for VH1. BTW, I saw that Cradlesong has been certified platinum in Australia. Australia has certainly continued to support Rob and MB20 through the years.
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Post by singingsparrow on Oct 10, 2009 18:58:20 GMT -5
My guess is that he has undersold per what the label anticipated. "Her Diamonds" didn't really move many albums. But as we have discussed, I'm sure Rob's fine with where he's at. If you put it in perspective, Brad Paisley came out the same week. He has sold 82 PAISLEY*BRAD AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT 6,775 2 6,670 343,918. He is also on his second or third single from the album, has been on at least one nationally televised country award show since his album came out, already had an arena tour that probably averaged 10-12,000 per show, and I saw him on the cover of People "Country" in the grocery store yesterday. So all things considered Rob isn't doing bad for a 37 year old, non-cool guy that's never on TV except for VH1. BTW, I saw that Cradlesong has been certified platinum in Australia. Australia has certainly continued to support Rob and MB20 through the years. Australia has essentially been the strongest market for both Rob Thomas and matchbox twenty since the "More Than You Think You Are" era. Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 11, 2009 19:42:18 GMT -5
A little off-topic but this seems to be the thread for us die-hard Rob fans right now. Anyway, check out this video of a song that didn't make the album but Rob seems to be playing at all his shows. I thought it was one of the highlight songs when I saw him a few weeks ago. This is a really good recording. Hopefully, it will be released at some time. Makes you wonder how many great little songs Rob has tucked away that we haven't heard yet. "Sunday Morning New York Blues" - little country vibe to it www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNWtwj3DuIY
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2009 3:20:56 GMT -5
A little off-topic but this seems to be the thread for us die-hard Rob fans right now. Anyway, check out this video of a song that didn't make the album but Rob seems to be playing at all his shows. I thought it was one of the highlight songs when I saw him a few weeks ago. This is a really good recording. Hopefully, it will be released at some time. Makes you wonder how many great little songs Rob has tucked away that we haven't heard yet. "Sunday Morning New York Blues" - little country vibe to it www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNWtwj3DuIYI would love a compilation album of rare material...
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wavetunes
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Post by wavetunes on Oct 12, 2009 15:31:17 GMT -5
BTW, I saw that Cradlesong has been certified platinum in Australia. Australia has certainly continued to support Rob and MB20 through the years. Awesome!!!
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 12, 2009 16:49:56 GMT -5
Someday just jumped over Bon Jovi's new song on the HotAC chart. But what's up with the bullets? Did they add 6 stations to the panel? All the bullets are inflated for now?
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Post by singingsparrow on Oct 12, 2009 20:39:24 GMT -5
Someday just jumped over Bon Jovi's new song on the HotAC chart. But what's up with the bullets? Did they add 6 stations to the panel? All the bullets are inflated for now? I may be quite off, but I thought I remembered the previous #1 song before the update had 96 stations, and the number has since risen to 99. So perhaps the inflated gains have to do with the addition of three detected stations to the format. Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus
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wavetunes
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Post by wavetunes on Oct 13, 2009 6:08:17 GMT -5
But what's up with the bullets? Did they add 6 stations to the panel? All the bullets are inflated for now? Yeah, I think I read something about that last week. Almost all songs had bullets.
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 13, 2009 17:30:34 GMT -5
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wavetunes
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Post by wavetunes on Oct 14, 2009 13:45:49 GMT -5
LMAO, seriously what's a mom rock? I'd categorize it as a smart music.
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JJ
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Post by JJ on Oct 15, 2009 1:04:23 GMT -5
OMG, he's totally mom rock!! Not that there's anything bad to it
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 19, 2009 16:02:48 GMT -5
"Wonderful" acoustic. Most excellent. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKkJ1FS2zl0No US second leg to the Cradlesong Tour per Rob (rumor). Doubtful there will be a third single then. We'll see what happens. MB20 guys wrote together a few weeks ago (assume Rob was there). I would expect a new MB20 album next year. Maybe even an early summer release??? Pure guess on my part.
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NORTHCOAST
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Post by NORTHCOAST on Oct 20, 2009 20:39:08 GMT -5
Someday seems to be slowing down. My Hot AC station rarely plays it. I called yesterday to request it and since I know the DJ she played it just for me. But they've been playing all kinds of MB20 and other Rob solo stuff, just not Someday. Today I heard If You're Gone, 3 AM, Lonely No More. Still think this wasn't a very good choice for a single. I think Mockingbird or Meltdown would have done better. But Rob must be one rich guy with all that radio play. Wonder how much he makes just on Smooth & 3AM still. (actually wouldn't the Tabitha's Secret guys be taking in some money too on 3AM? And Itaal Shur on Smooth) I really would like to see how much artists make years after the song hits. I think Rob should get some of his new songs on some TV show or movie. Give the album some more exposure. It's really a very good album. Wish more people would BUY it!
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Post by singingsparrow on Oct 20, 2009 21:17:49 GMT -5
Someday seems to be slowing down. My Hot AC station rarely plays it. I called yesterday to request it and since I know the DJ she played it just for me. But they've been playing all kinds of MB20 and other Rob solo stuff, just not Someday. Today I heard If You're Gone, 3 AM, Lonely No More. Still think this wasn't a very good choice for a single. I think Mockingbird or Meltdown would have done better. But Rob must be one rich guy with all that radio play. Wonder how much he makes just on Smooth & 3AM still. (actually wouldn't the Tabitha's Secret guys be taking in some money too on 3AM? And Itaal Shur on Smooth) I really would like to see how much artists make years after the song hits. I think Rob should get some of his new songs on some TV show or movie. Give the album some more exposure. It's really a very good album. Wish more people would BUY it! Given "Someday" isn't Top Ten yet, most stations currently would have the song in medium rotation, I believe, and many haven't yet made the transition from "Her Diamonds" to the new single. Should the single reach the Top Five and your station STILL not play this in earnest, then I actually think it's more an indication of the station than the song's success or lack of success thereof. Sincerely, Lisping Hibiscus
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wavetunes
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Post by wavetunes on Oct 21, 2009 16:30:55 GMT -5
Yeah, I wish the album would sell more. It's really great! IDK, I think the theme of the album in general is a bit dark, so considering that the sales aren't really that bad.
I'm hoping for at least one more single off the album. I hope they aren't giving up on it already. I mean it's been less than 4 month since the release. I think Meltdown, Fire on the Mountain, and Real World 09 would be great singles.
I think Someday is doing great on HAC. It's already at #12 there (Her Diamonds is #13) . So I'm guessing Her Diamonds and Someday are kinda competing for plays.
BTW, I noticed that Someday is starting to pick up sales a bit on iTunes. :)
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Oct 22, 2009 16:04:13 GMT -5
Interesting note on billboard.com today. POPPIN' Dear Gary, I have been an avid user of billboard.com for many years now, but since the recent unveiling of the site's new layout, I can't seem to find the Adult Top 40 chart anymore. Has it changed, or become obsolete? Thank you, Mark Petty England Hi Mark, I received your e-mail prior to the chart's return to our web site. Based on reader feedback, we're proud to welcome the survey back to our chart menu on billboard.com as of this week. The chart, formerly entitled Adult Top 40 on our site, now shows as Adult Pop Songs on billboard.com. The chart houses acts such as Pink, Daughtry and Rob Thomas, acts that straddle the musical ground between the primarily rhythmic/pop sounds of mainstream top 40 and the lighter fare on adult contemporary radio. The survey reflects weekly airplay on 84 U.S. stations, as monitored by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS). The first chart measuring the format's airplay appeared in the Billboard issue dated March 16, 1996. In many markets, adult top 40 stations use the "Mix" moniker, such as those in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C. and Boston. In the top two U.S. media markets, respectively, the chart's reporters are New York's 95.5 WPLJ and Los Angeles' KBIG (104.3 My fm). View the current Adult Pop Songs chart here. This week, Kings of Leon spend a sixth frame at No. 1 on the list with "Use Somebody." BTW, total AI (all formats) for Someday is about 11.8 million today. I bought 4 copies of Cradlesong. Two for myself and two for friends that are kind of fans and music lovers but don't like Rob well enough to buy his albums. I just recently got around to giving the albums to my friends and I heard back from my friend Scott yesterday. He said that he instantly liked the song Someday and that he's heard it on his station alot. I think he listens to a HotAC station. So there's always hope. The song has slowed down on HotAC but I don't think it's over. I've still sticking with my #3-5 peak. Cradlesong moved up 6 spots on the Billboard 200 to 121 so its holding steady in that area of about 4500 sales a week. Not going to get him to Gold status but at least over 300,000 in a couple of weeks.
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erzo01
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Post by erzo01 on Oct 31, 2009 21:37:43 GMT -5
Top 10 in Hot AC!
12 10 ROB THOMAS Someday 2456 2264 192 11.916
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Rumors
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Post by Rumors on Nov 2, 2009 9:35:42 GMT -5
Top 10 in Hot AC! 12 10 ROB THOMAS Someday 2456 2264 192 11.916 Congrats to Rob. How many Top 10 hits does that give him on the format now? Smooth, 7 solo?, and 11 with Matchbox?
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wavetunes
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Post by wavetunes on Nov 5, 2009 9:01:32 GMT -5
#9 on HAC 2582 spins (+184)
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NORTHCOAST
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Post by NORTHCOAST on Nov 10, 2009 12:47:34 GMT -5
This post by Rob Thomas on his board is so touching and emotional. :'( Thought I'd post it here for others who are his fans to see:
it was just over 5 years ago. mari and i were just starting to realize how serious her health issues had gotten and we felt as if we were at the end of our rope. we heard about a no-kill shelter not far from us and i took mari there, just so she could spend some time around the animals, in hopes that it would lift her spirits. when we were sitting in the office, tyler found her. tyler had been horribly abused and neglected for all of his three years on earth. he wasn't a dog who took to new people. when he saw mari, he just jumped on the couch and started kissing her. when she got up to go to the bathroom, he followed her and waited outside the door until she came out and then went back to sitting with her on the couch. we were in no way ready for the responsibility of caring for another, as we were having a hard time just caring for ourselves, but there was no doubt that we had just met the newest member of our family. when we brought him home, i was just starting back to work. the countless hours in the studio and on the road would have left mari, who couldn't travel because of her health, all alone. tyler became her support. her guardian. without him, she would have never made it through. years passed. tyler traveled the country on the bus with us. he came to shows. he went to functions in the city with us. he was in my videos. he became my best friend. we like to think that he forgot all of the horrible things that had happened to him before he came to us. four months ago, just as i was about to perform on the view, tyler was in the hospital. i got the call from mari that he had a terribly aggressive cancer of the blood vessels and had anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months to live. i canceled letterman that night and went home to be with him and mari and samy. for four months, mari worked 24 hours a day on his care. cooking meals, supplements, chemo treatments, whatever we could do, she did diligently and we really thought we were going to beat it. as i was walking onstage in toronto, i got the call that he was collapsing again and they were taking him to the hospital. i ran from the stage to the bus and straight home. the next morning, mari and i went back to the hospital, only to find that he had masses that were erupting through his whole body and there were no more options to keep him alive. when he passed, he was in mine and mari's arms and his whole family was there. he looked into each of our eyes and said goodbye. it was the single hardest moment of my 37 years. i can't explain to someone who thinks a pet is just a pet, and i don't have to explain to those who know otherwise. everyone who met tyler said that he looked human and that he looked straight into them as if he were trying to communicate. tyler saved our life. his passing has left a hole in our life that will never be repaired and that we will have to slowly board up so that we don't fall in. we have lost a child, a friend, and in so many ways a teacher. our life will always be "before tyler" and "after tyler". to him i say thank you for spending your too short time on earth with us. i would never trade any of this pain if it meant not knowing you. to you, i say thanx for all of the kind words and well wishes and please support a no-kill shelter near you. Rt
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