I have no discernible musical abilities. I cannot play guitar, drums, bass, or keys. When I sing it is not a sound that one would ideally want to have playing in one’s headphones. When it comes to music it is best if I am the one pressing play. Even though I am lacking that gift that I so envy, I still adore music. And I have enjoyed music for as long as I have had ears.
I remember finding my mom’s Beatles, Michael Jackson, Carole King, U2, and Rolling Stones records and wondering what these giant plates were. Later I was informed that music was captured inside of them and that magic happened when these were played.
I remember sitting in front of the radio waiting to record Paula Abdul songs onto tapes. I would wait with my finger hovering above the “record” button just so I could capture “Opposites Attract” so I could dance to it in my room.
I remember sitting in the car each morning on the way to school listening to my mom tell stories about Led Zepplin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and highlighting all of the drug references in Beatles songs. That was my first experience understanding figurative language and how so much can be stated with so few words.
I remember getting my allowance each month and spending it on these fancy things called CDs. I would buy The Backstreet Boys, Hole, and George Harrison CDs and listen to them on my giant six disc, silver CD player whilst in my childhood bedroom.
I remember waking up for school every morning and watching MTV and VH1 music videos (when those channels actually played music) with my mom. We would eat breakfast and watch the latest Coldplay, The Strokes, and Fiona Apple videos and discussed the lyrics, content, and cinematography of each video.
I remember spending hours in the music section at each store at the mall. I would wander around FYE and Best Buy and browse the CD collections wondering what was worth spending $16.99.
I remember trading mixed CDs with friends in AP English IV. My mixed CDs usually consisted of some hardcore rap, The Ramones, and there was always a Beatles song. I would spend time ensuring that each song properly transitioned to the next; there could be no abruptness, the music had to “flow”.
I remember going to college and making it a goal to go to a concert a month. I spent my first two years of college going to big name shows, e.g. The Rolling Stones, lesser known bands (at the time), e.g. The Bravery, and every music festival within 30 miles of Greensboro.
I remember when I realized I needed music to function. I would sit and begin writing papers in college, feeling oppressed by the silence and would grab my new MP3 player, an iPOD, and suddenly I could churn out paper after paper. (That ability may also have to do with the fact that I love writing papers, but I would like to rely on my intense love of music for this one.)
I remember the first time I cried while listening to a song. I was in my dorm room playing U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name” and I was playing around on this new website, Facebook. I paused and listened to the words and the chords and I started crying; I am not sure I even had a reason to be crying. After some time I realized that music can profoundly impact people, and that a perfect song can be made with great lyrics and a pleasant melody. I still cry and get goose bumps when I hear “Where The Streets Have No Name”.
I remember being able to deconstruct and dialogue about music. It happened at Crosspointe when I first started serving on the tech team and I got to listen to live music every week. Inadvertently guided by Travis, Claybrook, and Don, I began to notice and comment on the sound of the instruments and how technology can make those sounds even better for the listener. It was good to know that I was not the only one of my kind.
All of these experiences, plus a myriad of others, have taught me that music can directly influence one’s life, just like a person, an event, or a novel. Music has taught me to engage with a world that I would have passively been drifting through. Art is such a monumental part of my world, and music falls into that. I cannot begin to fathom a life devoid of music.
There is an assumption that since I am an English teacher, writer, and word lover that novels and writing have a great impact on my life. That assumption is true, but music has also shaped and molded me. It is not just the chord progressions that transform me, but it is the lyrics too. A couple weeks ago I talked about my “favorite” books, but there have been songs that have been just as impactful. And again, while it is impossible to make a list of “favorite books” and it is also nearly impossible to make a list of “favorite songs” but below are a few that have greatly shaped my life.
1. “Where The Streets Have No Name” by U2- I already talked about this one. And yes, I’m currently listening to it and getting chills.
2. “Gravity” by John Mayer- The lyrics in this song were written for me. It is about redemption and fighting against being “here”. “Just keep me where the light is”, I would definitely get this tattooed on my person.
3. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by the Beatles- This song is an elegy for what humanity is called to do, love. The version from “The While Album” is loud, heavy, and layered with sound and it’s such a great contrast to the lyrics. And I love the fact that George Harrison wrote this, instead of John and Paul.
4. “Little Hell” by City and Colour- I just have an emotional journey during this song. It’s is so sad and depressing. And there is this idea that we are currently in hell and will get out but it does not seem that the narrator is convinced they actually will escape this personal hell. This song + a sad book + tea = me being sad and loving everything at the same time.
5. “Numb/Encore” by Jay-Z and Linkin Park- Whoa. It was getting a little heavy there. This song literally makes me want to be a rapper. Pretty much anything Jay-Z related makes me feel that way, but I love that two different genres of music can create something pretty cool. I love mashups, unless it’s a Glee mashup, then I’m out.
6. “Use Somebody” by Kings Of Leon- I know it might be cliché to list the biggest song from a musician as one’s favorite, but I do not care. I love KOL so much and this song’s lyrics are so identifiable. Being on a quest to find someone, anyone really, that loves and understand us is what everyone wants. And I love Caleb’s raw and raspy voice.
7. “Poison and Wine” by The Civil Wars- This song wrecks me. That is all.
8. “Till I Collapse” by Eminem- A white guy rapping like this? In high school I could not believe it. I was listening to Bone Thugs –N- Harmony and Wu-Tang and 2Pac, and other than the Beastie Boys, I was unaware that white rappers were successful. Eminem’s lyrics are brilliant. Hands down. He is an amazing song writer and this song is from The Eminem Show, probably his best album. And the second verse pretty much echoes this post.
9. “We Will Run” by Gungor- I know I probably should have some “Christian” music on my list but I do not believe in a division between secular and religious music. So I approach Gungor as a band that tells a great story, regardless of being entrenched in faith. This song is about returning to, in this instance, God after one has walked away from Him. Gungor’s words function as a necessary reminder in my life when I begin to feel distant from God. And I love that the song is nine minutes long; it allows me to sit and rest in those words for awhile.
10. “Yellow” by Coldplay- Rumor has it that Chris Martin just threw in the word “yellow” because nothing else worked and he tried to find another word later on that would work better, but he could not find anything. I love that art can do that. That something so unassuming and ordinary can be turned into something beautiful.
These songs definitely do not begin to encompass all the music that I love and listen to, and I wish I could write about all the music I love all the time. So can I pick up a guitar and start playing any of the songs listed above? Not a chance. However, I can appreciate and value when someone else can, but they must do it well; I do not have time to listen to crappy music.
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