This is my story

[redneckpride]

Well, for starters im not really 18. Im 14. Im a Girl.
I have been a fan of stewart since i was nine years old.
I guess then you could have called me a nutter in training
Iam red neck. I have a southern accent.
I play in two youth orchestras. In one i play stand up bass. In the other i play percussion.
My fave song when i was nine was Koteja and on any other day. People used to ask what my favorite musician was i said stewart copeland. They did not know who that was of course so i got made fun of for not liking britney spears or the joe bros or what ever people listened to then. It made me sad because every body told me that i was listening to old people music. And i said screw you!! and then i got in trouble. I spend my saturdays (12:00-4:00) at drum lessons and orchestra. And thats just percussion. My bass teacher does not like that i play the drums she gets mad at me about it some times. I try to stay happy and i usually do. Im five foot 9 blond blue eyed and extremeley goofy. And i like messing around with cameras.
well thats my life thanks for reading!!

-Suzy Lou

[sockii]

Hey redneckpride (love the name, I grew up in real redneck country myself, just in New York),

I love your story. I was a drummer-in-training from the time I was five years old and in love with Ringo Starr (and my mom's old Beatles lps). When I tried out for junior band in middle school I desperately wanted to be picked for percussion but they assigned me clarinet instead. I was devastated but said oh well, guess I'll be the best clarinet player I could (who also played around with keyboards and a drum machine at home, recording my own music tracks in my free time on an old 4-track recorder). I found The Police (and Stewart) when I was about 12 years old and yeah, even though that was (many *cough*) years ago no one understood why I was listening to Klark Kent and The Rhythmatist instead of Guns n Roses and Def Leppard and Metallica, all the stuff that was "cool" at the time in my little redneck county.

Do what you love with music and enjoy it - I ended up getting to first chair clarinet by 9th grade, beating out the seniors, and then told the orchestra screw you, because I wanted to play keyboards and drums instead! It sounds like you are definitely a nutter at heart and one of the "gang" in spirit!

[luna_virgo]

I'm glad to see you here as a nutter. I'm fairly new to nutterdom myself, but I've been a Police fan since I was 11. I recently asked my mother if she remembered not letting me go to the Synchronicity concert at the BJCC in 1983 (when I was 12), and she said "No, I don't remember you nagging me about it night and day for a month. I don't remember that at all". Mothers. (sigh) Anyway...

It's awesome that you're so involved in music and that you know what you like, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Keep it up and don't get discouraged.

I have a southern accent too. It's nothing to apologize for. "Redneck" is a label that I have not always embraced, because of the bad history of our city and state, but I get where you're coming from.

And I like messing around with cameras too!

[Soundragon]

Well, for starters im not really 18. Im 14. Im a Girl.
I have been a fan of stewart since i was nine years old.
I guess then you could have called me a nutter in training
Iam red neck. I have a southern accent.
I play in two youth orchestras. In one i play stand up bass. In the other i play percussion.
My fave song when i was nine was Koteja and on any other day. People used to ask what my favorite musician was i said stewart copeland. They did not know who that was of course so i got made fun of for not liking britney spears or the joe bros or what ever people listened to then. It made me sad because every body told me that i was listening to old people music. And i said screw you!! and then i got in trouble. I spend my saturdays (12:00-4:00) at drum lessons and orchestra. And thats just percussion. My bass teacher does not like that i play the drums she gets mad at me about it some times. I try to stay happy and i usually do. Im five foot 9 blond blue eyed and extremeley goofy. And i like messing around with cameras.
well thats my life thanks for reading!!

-Suzy Lou

1) You're not the only young nutter! Stewart's music is pretty much everything I listen to, about 98% of the time as a matter of fact! So I'd say their "old people music" statement is a flat out fallacy.

Besides... even other younger people (or at least the ones I've met) readily admit today's music is going nowhere fast. At least Police music (which technically counts as nutter-worthy) is still being played on a majority of radio stations! At least that "old people music" is still selling and going strong! Whereas most newer music is readily found in the clearance bin within a span of about three years... tops.

2) Stay happy. Why shouldn't you be? Music is an extremely "happy" form of art, or at least it is to me, and you should keep it that way. Unless of course you're commissioned to perform a song that communicates sadness or some other emotion.
3) Your bass teacher doesn't like the fact that you play the drums? The drums are a very important part of music. They pretty much sculpt the other portions of the song to where they need to be. If your teacher doesn't like the drums then she doesn't understand the full expanse of music. And it's not like you can't be a bass player and a drummer - I was at Guitar Center recently and found a guy who is a drummer and a bass player. It's not like the two don't mix!

Sounds like you just so happen to have some unruly peers/teachers. Don't let it get you down.
EDIT: As smax says below it's possible your bass teacher may want the best for you, it's just hard to tell from a computer's "point of view". Didn't mean to be misleading there.

[conroy]

Great story, redneckpride, and welcome aboard! I agree with everything that was been previously stated above (and Luna has a great southern acccent!) and I'm half a redneck myself (my dad's ancestors have been in Virginia since the early 1600s).

It's great to hear that young people still discover and love Stewart's music. I really wish they could take G'amelan D'Drum on the road because I think it would interest people who have come to love Stewart either through the Police, his solo stuff (particularly his Spyro the Dragon score) or both. And it has become my favorite original Stewart composition.

[smax]

as a boy (ahem) from london i LOVE that you're called Suzy Lou and describe yourself as a redneck. all praise the internet.

14, huh? i guess i should apologise now for any disturbing mental images my posts here may cause.... and sweary posts too.....

maybe your bass teacher just thinks you're good and she wishes you would concentrate on that instrument alone.

be happy, keep playing, don't feed the trolls, remember that not everyone on the internet may be as nice as you may be.

[English-lion]

Suzy Lou keep on being you and welcome

[ltwoman]

We can introduce you to Shangeris! He must be at least 15 by now.

Welcome SL/rnp,

Laura Lee
(aka LTWoman. From Virginia, with my own hillbilly Mama from Tennessee.)

[kmart]

Great Story!

My second oldest daughter is 15 and she plays Cello in the orchestra.

My son is 14 and he plays upright and electric bass.

You guys can make a Police tribute band! You can be Stewart Copeland! My son Rey can be Sting and Amanda can be Andy...all you need is a singer...Can you sing too?

How did you discover Stewart Copeland? through your parents? Do you have most of Stewart's and the Police's music? I must congratulate them on thier taste (and on raising such a bright, gifted young lady!). I have brainwashed...um exposed...my children to the Police and especially Stewart thier entire lives too so that they can sing every song, and though they may groan when I put in on, within a minute everyone is singing along!

Follow your own path, its the only one that can make you truly happy. Live your life for yourself. Try to make others happy along the way,..sounds like you are well on your way already!

[Jose]

Great story...and welcome to the board... I think Stewart was an is an inspiration not also for old people... also to youths and kids... the rest...are only "The rest" You are unique and that value more than surfing the same wave than the rest

Ahhh regards from Lima - Peru (South America) !!!

PS: I reccomend yuou to visit mi video blog...you could find a collection of hundred of videos of "The Police" and Stewart!!! click at: http://thepolicevideotube.blogspot.com ENJOY IT!!

[BongoBoy]

Well I listen to a lot of Red neck music ! I put Stewart style vibes with Reggae and smush it up with some Country/Folk/Rock vibes and see what comes out.

You tales of liking music no one else does is a badge of honour to me. I always had that, even more now that I'm an old guy.

Stick to what ya dig, music just flows through you, go where it takes you. People who don't get it are just missing out.

Great to have you here.

Bongoboy: AKA: Russ of Twang n Dread.

[Horacio]

Hi!