the wisdom of flatliners

In high school, I was the lead singer / songwriter for a synth pop band.  We performed original songs in the vein of early Depeche Mode, and even had one cover; Ministry’s “Stigmata” (with help from our friend Redbeard Dave on guitar).  We played three shows.  The biggest and best by far was the sold out (500 people) “Arts Attack” festival.  There were seven bands.  We were on first.  Though technical issues hampered the set (losing power sucks for an all electronic band), I’m still proud of the experience.  Our moody, atmospheric intro set the tone perfectly for the love agnostic music to come.

Picture the scene.

Darkened auditorium.  Curtins slowly pulling back to reveal a stage swimming in dry ice fog.  Black lights and a single strobe flicker to life, illuminating a neon backdrop featuring our logo; a green pulse wave going to flatline.  Meanwhile, strange ambient sounds echoing through the sound system.  One by one, we arrived on stage, to ever increasing screams and applause.

Finally, the secret was revealed.

The odd noises preceeding our arrival were actually a sample from a movie.  Flatliners.

Keifer Sutherland unkowingly introduced us;

“Today’s a good day to die…”

The stabbing electro bass line of our first song, “Mortal Influence” kicked in, the crowd went wild, and the show began.

Overhearing my coworkers discussing Flatliners the other day brought this memory back, and got me thinking about the brilliance of that quote.

If you’ve lived every day to the fullest, never sacrificing your beliefs, your principles or your pleasure?  Every day’s “a good day to die.”

Why?

Every day was a good day to live.

Unlike most people?

You actually did.