Music memories
I grew up listening to my mom play this piano. During holidays and parties, we would gather around it and sing. We weren’t exactly talented singers and our dogs would often join in.
Even if I don’t have a great singing voice, I have always loved music. While I was raised in the 1960s, my first favorite music group was not the Beatles. Instead, I chose the Beach Boys. I played one their albums, Surfer Girl, over and over again until my sister and brother hid it from me.
Today, I like all kinds of music from Barry Manilow to King Crimson and U2, introduced to me by my daughters. One of my fondest memories is attending a U2 concert with both of them and sharing our love of this band’s wonderful music.
Whatever type of music we favor, it often marks important times in our lives. We hear a song today and are transported back to a memory; perhaps our first love, a breakup, time with friends – the list of memories goes on, all triggered by music.
Music and dancing
I also love that music has the power to evoke and alter emotions. It can raise us up when we are down, give us hope when we feel lost, and touch our hearts and souls, simply by the wonderful combination of sounds that become music to our ears.
Music can also help us get through difficult times. It’s helped me many times by taking me away from whatever problems I have, if only for a short while. In addition, it lets me do my favorite exercise, which is dancing. Just “movin’ my feet to the beat” always cheers me up.
Singing friends
While I love music, I only listen to it. I have absolutely no talent for performing or singing, unlike some of my blogging friends.
In addition to writing on her blog, Jannie Funster is also a singer and songwriter. Her CD, “I Need a Man,” is great. Not only can Jannie sing beautifully, but her lyrics make you laugh. She reminds me of Christine Lavin who writes wonderful AND funny music.
Recently, I found out that Patty of Why Start Now is a singer too. I’m hoping she will soon let her voice reach out to all of us via her blog. She’s sort of made a promise to do this and I’m hoping this mention will encourage her:~)
Last, but definitely not least, take a moment to listen to Caity singing a cappella. The song she sings truly captures how I feel about music and people. It also provides a perfect ending to this post. Thank you Caity!
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What about you?
What kind of music do you like? Can you pick a favorite and share it in the comment box?
What’s your favorite song to sing in the shower?
What kind of music makes you want to dance?
Has music ever helped you get through a difficult time? If so, what was the music?
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
The soundtracks of our lives are so unique…
I can’t imagine a day without music in it.
.-= talon´s last blog ..Quest for color… =-.
@ Talon — I like your words…”the soundtracks of our lives are so unique.” Also, I agree with you about a dose of music every day is essential, even if the music is just totally natural — like my birds singing in the trees:~)
Wow! I’m honored that you included one of my songs in your post! I am so glad that you enjoyed it! Oh, I also adore Jannie and I own her CD. My husband would give you a high five for liking King Crimson, too! He thinks they are awesome and added so much to music. I have such a wide range of musical interests myself. I think it’s great to expand your musical tastes and always listen to and appreciate different types of music.
Great post!
@ You are so welcome and I thank you for singing that lovely song:~) Regarding King Crimson, I agree with your husband — the music is memorable and very unique! My girls really expanded my horizon with music. Now, that horizon is expanded when I go to other sites and get to listen to the music the blogger has selected. It’s FUN…kind of like sampling a new dish of food. To be honest, sometimes I love every bite and sometimes one bite is enough:~)
Hi Sara, music is also very much a part of my life. My husband is a working musician and producer. My 3 yr old son was exposed to a lot of John Tavener, Esquivel, Joni Mitchell, U2, in the womb and is now very much into singing and playing drums. We have an iPod playing at home almost the whole time we’re home. It’s an eclectic collection, really. Some days, I’ll catch myself humming Beethoven, other days I’m channeling sultry Eartha Kitt in the shower.
@ Belinda — Thanks for visiting! That’s interesting about your husband…small world:~) I hadn’t heard of either John Tavener or Esquivel. I loved the Song of Athena, which was evidently sung at Princess Di’s funeral, and I love the latin sounds of Esquivel…they made me want to dance!
It’s so cool that your son is so into music. Given what you said about you and your husband, it’s a good thing that your son loves music, too:~)
Well what a little sweetie you are to mention my l’il ‘ol songs. Why, thank you kindly, ma’am.
It must’ve been the concert of a lifetime seeing U2. I have been a huge huge fan since ’87.
And one of my very first record albums was by Barry Manilow, a bargain basement find, but a real trip down memory lane now.
And I can understand you being a big Beach Boys fan too– I think they’re brilliant.
Cheers, and thanks for the link, wheeeee!
xo
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Wacky! (This’ll Explain A Lot) =-.
@ Jannie — Since I love the CD, how could not given you link!!! You’re “l’il ‘ol songs” as you say…are truly great and lots of FUN to listen to!
The U2 concert was amazing…not only for the music, but for SHOW. When I was a senior in HS, I went to hear Jefferson Airplane near my home. The only extras they had other than fabulous music was that they released paper airplanes into the crowd at the end of concert, for which they played White Rabbit. At that time…it would around 1969…the airplanes really freaked a lot of people who weren’t just high on the music:~) It was still a great concert.
Sara! I can’t say no to you. Thanks so much for the mention, especially considering that you haven’t even heard me sing and for all you know I could sound like an early American Idol reject. But more to the point: I absolutely love what you’ve written about music. Music has always inspired me and helped me to uncover my deepest truths. I look back and realize its influence at various times in my life. I love all kinds of music, but I’m really entranced by Broadway show tunes, especially Stephen Sondheim. I wrote about him awhile back.
Also, I love the photo the piano. I can just see you and your family, dogs included, leaning in to hit that final note.
.-= Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Old Newsletters and Silt =-.
@ Patty — Sometimes I get a bit pushy, but something tells me when you sing, I will NOT be listening to “an early American Idol reject.”
I agree with you about music. It has also inspired me throughout my life. When you mentioned Stephen Sondheim, I remembered how much I love “Send in the Clowns.” I found this music video of a young guy singing this song and he used his PHONE to record it, but don’t let that stop you…he does a really good job…isn’t YouTube amazing:~)
Thanks about the piano…I have fond memories of it and when I look at it, I can see my mom’s love of playing it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get used very often now , except as a place for photos.
I can’t wait to hear you sing….who knows you might discovered and then I could buy your CD like I did Jannie’s or better yet, you, Jannie and Caity could get together and sing. Wow, I’m always amazed at the talent in the blogosphere:~)
As I was following the music links and going to different ones I found a song “Tell me Why” by Declan Galbraith. Does anyone know who wrote it? He was pretty impressive especially since he was only 14 or 15 years old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzLZ32kZT5M&feature=related
@ JC — I liked this song very much!! To answer your question, I believe the song, Tell Me Why, sung by Declan was written by Ian Mack and Barry Mason. Evidently, they wrote several of the tracks on his album, appropriately called “Declan.” However, it is a bit confusing in that there quite a few songs called, Tell Me Why:~)
Sara,
Right now, I am listening to Peter Kater. Yum!
Thank you for visiting my blog! Very lovely space you have here and I must tell you that I adore music. Most kinds, anyway. I love ambient, classical, most jazz, oldies (I’m 56, so you can guess what oldies I might like–the Beach Boys never fail to lift my mood….). Music heals, uplifts, centers, oh, it does it all for me.
@ Jan — Thanks for your comment about my site and I appreciate the visit. I really liked your site and encourage my readers to stop by and visit you. BTW, you’re a year younger than I am:~)
As I am trying out the music people mention in their comments, I’m also listening to Peter Kater right now. I agree that this is yummy music — it has calmed and warmed my spirit. Thanks for sharing and for visiting:~)
Hi Sara! I cannot imagine living one day without music! I listen to all music but my favorites are classics, new age-y (Enya, David Arkenstone), soft rock and good old rock n roll – any decade! I find my mood will take on the ambient beat and mood of the music – more than a million times, it has lifted me out of a funk! I’m glad you wrote about music – it is such a huge part of most of our lives (from the comments here) and yet we don’t talk about it! Good call!
.-= suzen´s last blog ..The Down Side of Being Good? =-.
@ SuZen — I totally agree about music being an important part of our lives…and think of how long we’ve used music to calm or energize ourselves. One of the things I’ve enjoyed about this post is discovering the music that my readers like. While I am very familiar with Enya, I had to look up an listen to David Arkenstone. I liked his Secret on the Moors and Celtic Sanctuary, but all his music is beautiful. Thanks for sharing:~)
I would never have survived my angst filled teen years without music!
.-= Mama Zen´s last blog ..May I Take Your Order? =-.
@ Mama Zen — Same with me. I played the rather depressing song, “When I was seventeen” over and over again, but also enjoyed a time period of fantastic music…the 1970′s!
So true about music. A life’s essential.
A long time favourite of mine is the late (sigh) Dan Fogelberg – particularly his song Nexus.
@ Hilary — I also loved Dan Fogelberg. My favorite song is Run for the Roses. I’ve always loved horses and this is just such a beautiful song. Thanks for reminding about it:~)
The music I love is totally related to how I feel.
What I love today, doesn’t resonate with me tomorrow.
One day I love classical music, the next day I cannot stand it and want to hear Bob Dylan.
So what I love varies hugely and covers a wide range, but music sure can take me to a wonderful place.
@ Wilma — I have varied tastes, as well. I think it’s good to like a variety of music and to find the right music for your mood. That’s what’s so great about music — it can be a wonderful “mood adjuster.” Thanks sharing about Bob Dylan. He’s also one of my favorites, as well as my younger daughter. We both love the song, Tangled Up in Blue. Thanks for sharing:~)
Even though I can’t carry a tune, play an instrument, or coordinate well enough to dance, I don’t know what I’d do without music. I came into an appreciation of it late in my teens.
I appreciate many different styles of music, and thus listen to a wide range of artists.
There’s the aforementioned Enya whose celtic stylings have evoked images of ancient forests full of mystery and wonder. She awakens gentleness, curiosity, and my imagination.
There’s the strange, yet compelling vocals of David Eugene Edwards as he muses his way from abstraction to compelling abstraction in bands like 16 Horespower and Wovenhand. Any time I feel emotional dissonance, I listen to him and I usually start to feel okay.
There’s the haunting voice of Rowan London of Virgin Black that goes from operatic to guttural in the space of one song. The operatic tones speak to me of a stubborn refusal to give up hope while in despair, and the guttural roaring often represent the ‘sound’ of the turmoil inside me. This is for when I’m feeling a lot of intense emotions and need a safe outlet for them.
There’s the straightforward rumble of Johnny Cash’s voice; whether he’s singing a spiritual or a murder ballad makes no difference to me. He always seemed to make every song his own, even if he’d never written it in the first place. Yeah, that man owned everything he uttered, and wore his heart on his sleeve. I love him for that.
Really, I could go on and on and on. I don’t close myself off to any form of music if I can help it as I just don’t know what I’ll be moved by next. The voice usually ropes me in first, then the words, and then the instruments – in that order. I don’t know why, but that’s the way it’s been for me ever since I opened my ears to music.
Music puts words and sounds to stuff that I can’t put words and sound to. For that I’ll always be grateful.
.-= Tony Single´s last blog ..From the Archive =-.
@ Tony — What a beautiful thought you shared with this line, “Music puts words and sounds to stuff that I can’t put words and sound to. For that I’ll always be grateful.”
You really challenged me with your selections. With this post, I decided to listen to all the music that readers recommended. Some of your choices were a bit more interesting…especially Virgin Black. I did find one I liked called Domine. I also liked David Eugene Edwards singing, The Whistling Girl and I could miss Johnny Cash’s Men in Black! Thanks for introducing me to some music sounds. I imagine Virgin Black puts on one heck of concert:~)