I woke up this morning to the news of Steve Jobs' passing and wasn't quite sure how to react. A few minutes later, I could feel a few tears strolling down my cheek and then I realized, that even though I never knew the genius that was Steve Jobs personally, I was mourning for someone who felt near and dear to me.
Without wanting to sound like an episode of Glee, I got in the car and instinctively had the urge to listen to a few songs from Queen this morning. Freddie Mercury was a genius in his own right and died fighting an illness that he'd kept hidden for years. Steve Jobs did the same. Different illnesses but the fighting spirit remained in both of them.
Listening to a few songs from Queen, it seemed like every song I was listening to related to Jobs. A few examples below.
A King of Magic - A classic from Queen was the first song that came to mind. What Jobs did was magical in so many ways, whether at Apple or at Pixar. He re-did what was already done and knocked our socks off. The lyrics from this song also seem apt (see below).
It's a kind of magic,
It's a kind of magic,
A kind of magic,
One dream, one soul, one prize,
One goal, one golden glance of what should be,
It's a kind of magic,
One flash of light that shows the way,
No mortal man can win this day,
It's a kind of magic,
The bell that rings inside your mind,
It's a challenging the doors of time,
The waiting seems eternity,
The day will dawn of sanity,
Is this a kind of magic,
There can be only one,
This rage that lasts a thousand years,
Will soon be gone,
This flame that burns inside of me,
I'm hearing secret harmonies
It's a kind of magic,
The bell that rings inside your mind,
Is challenging the doors of time,
It's a kind of magic,
We Will Rock You - Steve you did indeed rock our world. In the last couple of years, we've seen a World Economy and an Apple Economy. The Apple Economy has probably helped save the World Economy.
I Want it All - In the chorus, to the song, the words "I Want it All" are repeated three times and then Queen sang, "and I want it Now." This epitomizes what Steve Jobs believed in. He had a vision, a passion, a desire to get things done and to dominate the way it was done. What made him stand out though was the belief that it wasn't a product of the future but something that could be done today. It makes me think of the launch of Siri, the talking assistant that was demonstrated by Apple just the day before Jobs passed way during the iPhone 4S launch.
I Want to Break Free - May seem like an odd-choice for a song to remember Steve Jobs by but there are a few powerful lyrics in this song that summed up the passion Apple products created for a first time buyer that often stayed with them for life. The lyrics from the second verse are below and see if you agree with me.
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love for the first time
And this time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love, yeah
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love
Radio Ga Ga - Seems ironic that the iPod may have killed radio at one time before Apple again revived it by spreading the concept of podcasts (that virtually most talk radio stations rely on today) and Apps to listen to your favourite stations on.
We are the Champions - Jobs came back to Apple when they were down and made them into one of the most enviable companies out there. The fact that he managed to defy the odds during a recession, made Jobs and Apple true champions. What's more, they've inspired another generation of champions along the way.
The Show Must Go On - Tim Cook and the rest of the team at Apple have been entrusted with the job of continuing where Jobs left off. The culture and the mindset has been instilled by Jobs but as most of us know, companies outlive individuals in many cases. Let's hope the same continues here with Apple.
I know there many be many other songs that may have been relevant and I grappled with whether I should include them in this post or not but felt these summed up the loss of Steve Jobs probably best.
Steve, you will be missed but the lessons you've left behind will inspire generations to come. Thank you.
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| Image Courtesy: apple.com |
Listening to a few songs from Queen, it seemed like every song I was listening to related to Jobs. A few examples below.
A King of Magic - A classic from Queen was the first song that came to mind. What Jobs did was magical in so many ways, whether at Apple or at Pixar. He re-did what was already done and knocked our socks off. The lyrics from this song also seem apt (see below).
It's a kind of magic,
It's a kind of magic,
A kind of magic,
One dream, one soul, one prize,
One goal, one golden glance of what should be,
It's a kind of magic,
One flash of light that shows the way,
No mortal man can win this day,
It's a kind of magic,
The bell that rings inside your mind,
It's a challenging the doors of time,
The waiting seems eternity,
The day will dawn of sanity,
Is this a kind of magic,
There can be only one,
This rage that lasts a thousand years,
Will soon be gone,
This flame that burns inside of me,
I'm hearing secret harmonies
It's a kind of magic,
The bell that rings inside your mind,
Is challenging the doors of time,
It's a kind of magic,
We Will Rock You - Steve you did indeed rock our world. In the last couple of years, we've seen a World Economy and an Apple Economy. The Apple Economy has probably helped save the World Economy.
I Want it All - In the chorus, to the song, the words "I Want it All" are repeated three times and then Queen sang, "and I want it Now." This epitomizes what Steve Jobs believed in. He had a vision, a passion, a desire to get things done and to dominate the way it was done. What made him stand out though was the belief that it wasn't a product of the future but something that could be done today. It makes me think of the launch of Siri, the talking assistant that was demonstrated by Apple just the day before Jobs passed way during the iPhone 4S launch.
I Want to Break Free - May seem like an odd-choice for a song to remember Steve Jobs by but there are a few powerful lyrics in this song that summed up the passion Apple products created for a first time buyer that often stayed with them for life. The lyrics from the second verse are below and see if you agree with me.
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love for the first time
And this time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love, yeah
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love
Radio Ga Ga - Seems ironic that the iPod may have killed radio at one time before Apple again revived it by spreading the concept of podcasts (that virtually most talk radio stations rely on today) and Apps to listen to your favourite stations on.
We are the Champions - Jobs came back to Apple when they were down and made them into one of the most enviable companies out there. The fact that he managed to defy the odds during a recession, made Jobs and Apple true champions. What's more, they've inspired another generation of champions along the way.
The Show Must Go On - Tim Cook and the rest of the team at Apple have been entrusted with the job of continuing where Jobs left off. The culture and the mindset has been instilled by Jobs but as most of us know, companies outlive individuals in many cases. Let's hope the same continues here with Apple.
I know there many be many other songs that may have been relevant and I grappled with whether I should include them in this post or not but felt these summed up the loss of Steve Jobs probably best.
Steve, you will be missed but the lessons you've left behind will inspire generations to come. Thank you.
