Music is often the emulsifier that blends cultures and people into a solidity that carries them through the hardships in life.
Rock Legend and keyboardist for the band Chicago, Robert Lamm, has seen the power music has when the world appears to have fallen into darkness.
WWL’s Scoot shared memories with Lamm and discussed how his newest song “Everything is going to work out fine” could bring hope to people suffering from the struggles of today.
“You've been doing what you've been doing as long as I've been doing what I've been doing,” said Scoot. “We've seen this country go through a lot, and I see a lot of similarities between now and 1968. Do you share that belief?”
“Yes, I do. It's difficult to explain, but there are many things in this world and in nature that are cyclical,” said Lamm. “The fact that we are too busy with our own lives to realize when the cycle is about to come about again. I'm hoping that this will be an opportunity for this country to get right again.”
“Ok, here is an important question, when is Chicago going to be back in concert, when are you going to tour again,” Scoot asked.
“I think it will be in mid-2021,” Lamm replied.
“Really?!” said Scoot.
“And I’ll tell you why,” said Lamm, “It is really all about finding a vaccine, finding a way to manufacture it in mass quantities, getting it to everybody that’s possible, inoculated. It’ll take a long time for that process to occur before everyone can feels safe sitting in Saenger auditorium or anywhere else.”
“What aspects of life now, do you think, will carry over after the threat of the coronavirus fades,” Scoot asked.
“Well the number one thing is I hope that in terms of the racial divide that has existed pretty much since the 16th century, 17th century, going forward,” said Lamm. “I hoping that we will stop looking at each other, we’ll stop treating each other and assuming a person is perceived because of how he or she looks. I’m hoping that changes, that would be a huge step. I have a feeling that there is a possibility that we are on our way to something like that.”
“What is a Chicago song right now, that if you were in concert, if you played it, it would mean more to you than say some of the other Chicago songs, “ Scoot asked.
“I’ve always felt when certain songs are performed, when I look into the audience I know that the way that I felt and the way that I hoped to affect people is true,” Lamm said. “So, even like a song like ‘Saturday in the park’ that might just seem like a mindless pop-song it is more than that. It is about people getting together and enjoying it.”