How Neil Young and YouTube Inspired My Video Marketing Campaign

In 1972, I was six years old. That was the year Neil Young recorded "Harvest," one of his best solo albums ever.

I didn’t know who Neil Young was then. Nor did my parents, I presume. They were dyed-in-the-wool traditional country and gospel music fans so that was the music I grew up with. I didn’t discover Neil Young until the mid-80’s when I was in the Army. A lot of my buddies were a few years older than I was and I got to sample their music. Neil Young, and by extension all of the folk-rock artists of the Vietnam Era, topped my favorite artists list. To this day, Neil Young is still one of my favorite all-time songwriters.

I recently discovered a video of Neil Young singing "Old Man" on stage in a live performance. The video was on YouTube.

YouTube is fascinating technology. To think that one can actually witness events of the past – events that were missed the first time around – as if seeing them for the first time in person. That’s what YouTube represents to me.

I never got a chance to see Neil Young in concert. Particularly in 1972 when my parents wouldn’t be caught anywhere near a rock concert, let alone anything not associated with country or gospel music. That’s why I am amazed that I can watch Neil Young singing "Old Man" as a young 24-year-old, live and on stage, as if I were there for the magical debut. Man, that rocks!

Neil Young has been voted the second greatest songwriter all time, right behind Bob Dylan. Dylan, too, is one of my favorites, but it has become so blasé for a poet to claim Dylan as an influence. Few people claim Neil Young as an influence despite his status as a favorite and a staple for deeply personal and moving lyrics. Having entered my list of favorite artists of all time, I consider Neil Young a poet as much as a songwriter and musician. His heart of gold is more than an influence. It is an inspiration.

Because of the Internet and the ability for strangers to share their intimate collections of the past through video sharing technology like YouTube, I can experience the harvest of Neil Young’s young talent as if I was there when it happened. Neil Young himself is a testament to how YouTube can be used as a marketing tool by anyone with a video camera. You don’t have to be a poet, a musician, or an artist of any kind to make YouTube an effective marketing tool. YouTube is truly a "needle in a haystack" and the damage undone. Thanks Neil Young!