I’m realizing I’m getting more support from people I don’t usually interact with compared to those I see daily.

On Friday, I asked people to like and comment on my latest video; 20% did, the rest ignored me, and in two cases, they even posted about other topics, shifting the attention elsewhere or boycotting me with offensive, out-of-place comments.

I knew it would be tough, but I hadn’t imagined such a lack of support from friends I’ve known my whole life… Oh well, I’ll accept this fact too and move on with fewer friends because if I ask for 30 seconds of your life to like and comment and you don’t help me, imagine if I ever needed a more significant favor! Oh, and in case you don’t know, liking and commenting on videos won’t put you on the CIA, FBI, or INTERPOL suspect list; do what you want, though.

Then there’s also something to consider about why people leave likes and comments with unusual accounts – shame? Fear of promoting me? I’m just curious; logically, personal account or not, if you like and comment, I can only be grateful, of course!

Let’s continue.

A friend of mine, one of those who liked and then commented on the video, told me that from “Tomorrow You’ll Wake Up,” he expected a “more boring” song, in the sense of something more traditional from a guy who spends hours smoking, leaning against a fence, observing passersby and scowling at strangers, something like lazy country/blues! From my side, I can say that could have been a viable option if I had shifted the focus to a kind of stereotyped ordinary life in the Wild West, and indeed my friend isn’t entirely wrong. I focused on the “Red Dead Redemption” story, so on the action, on the fact that the protagonist is framed by the sheriff who pushes him to eliminate all the survivors of his old (criminal) gang to save his family. So my song is influenced by shootouts, duels, chases, escapes, deceptions, and the song that came out represents the hero’s journey who, despite the vicissitudes, always gives the impression of finding a way to achieve the final goal of saving his family, which he eventually succeeds in doing.

The ending reminds me of an exchange in the Italian version of the anime “Saint Seiya” between Shaka of Virgo and Ikki of Phoenix; Shaka asks Ikki what good is a victory if you’re no longer alive to enjoy it, what’s the point. In “Red Dead Redemption” too, the protagonist understands that his life is numbered, so he sacrifices himself for his loved ones, redeeming himself for the actions he committed, just like Ikki who in the past had committed atrocious acts to achieve his goals. Death as redemption. To die to find redemption and enable others to carry on. Would you sacrifice yourselves for your loved ones? I don’t mean actually losing your life, but even just stepping aside to dedicate your main attention to your loved ones, would you do it?

For now, I wouldn’t. See you next time…