Receive and Transmit, or The Secret World of Peter Gabriel

I came to love the music of Peter Gabriel when I was about 21 years old. I had heard some of his hits before, but I didn't really appreciate him until my ex (who was a huge Peter Gabriel fan) started playing me some of his lesser-known songs. The song that sealed the deal for me was "Lay Your Hands on Me". I found it to be an incredibly odd, dark, interesting song. I was hooked.

From there, I went on to fall in love with the Secret World Live and Up albums. I would dance around the living room while listening to "Secret World (live)". I would play air drums while driving and listening to Signal to Noise. As a matter of fact, I still do these things any chance I get.

Despite the huge amount of love I have for his music (and his humanitarian efforts, which are plentiful), I have only been to 2 Peter Gabriel concerts. I would love to see him live again, because he is probably the best performer I have ever seen. His shows are an amazing spectacle of lights and props. His lyrics make me shiver. The drums and percussion in his songs transport me to unknown places. His music is extremely innovative - he is always incorporating world music into his songs and trying new things. I have seen some great concerts, but the 2 Peter Gabriel ones I've been to were the best, hands down.

Honestly, I don't know what I would do without the presence of Peter Gabriel's music in my life. He really does keep it real and has had an enormous impact on my life. His range is incredible, and I admire his ability to try new things (and usually succeed). Moreover, I love how "weird" his music is. I think more musical artists should push the boundaries instead of just producing the same album over and over again.

Here's a video of "Secret World (live)." Enjoy!