Music. Rhythm, notes and lyrics that resonate and bring raw and unfiltered emotion to the present. I don’t remember my parents playing music at home when I was young. My mom typically had Q105 (Shoutout to the Eastern Shore), a local soft rock station playing in the car when we traveled and my dad listened to Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Elton John and The Charlie Daniels Band but it wasn’t until I was in eighth grade that I really started to be introduced to music. A friend of mine loved Madonna, The Beatles and Aerosmith, all artists I still listen to today. She also played piano and I remember listening to classical composers I had never even hear of. I was intrigued about the way music played a role in her life as if it was following her around. It was obvious her parents had taken great time to ensure that she had listened to and was appreciative of multiple genres. Her collection of music was unlike anything I had ever seen. Especially since the only real album I owned was a Madonna’s The Immaculate Collection – I had managed to convince my mom to buy it when I was about 12. And I used to record (on a cassette) the top 5 songs every night on the top 40 station – I really thought I was going places when I started memorizing every word.
My early high school years I was enthralled with rock and broadened my listening to include some of the best AC/DC, Motley Crue, Thin Lizzy, Led Zeppelin, Guns and Roses, No Doubt, Sublime, Pink Floyd, Peter Frampton, CCR, Weezer, Green Day, Nirvana, Heart, Santana, Journey, Queen, Tom Petty, the Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac. I learned during this time that my mom had also listened to many of these musicians and bands even though she had never played them for my brother and I. How funny. Even after I started to take an interest in music, including signing up for some guitar lessons (didn’t pan out) my parents still didn’t incorporate music. Sure, my Dad took me to see Charlie Daniels Band (opening for Travis Tritt), after all I could sing the entire album. He would play Uneasy Rider for my brother and me while we rode in the back of his Mazda pickup. (My how things have changed!!) We would laugh and laugh especially when he started in on ol green teeth… “So I jes’ reached out an’ kicked ol’ green-teeth right in the knee.”
By eleventh grade it was obvious that there was a non spoken agreement in the ranks of high school that you also had to listen (and know the words to) mainstream top 40 and in some circles, DMX. I don’t know exactly whose mind was being lost and I tried like hell to get the words down. But let’s face it, I don’t have rapper skills. I felt like a sell out. I learned to like many pop artist that are still around today though some have gone on to solo careers. My playlist in the early 2000s and thereafter included Destiny’s Child, Matchbox Twenty, Alicia Keys, Nickelback, Gwen Stefani, OutKast, Pink, ‘N Sync, Eminem, Maroon 5, Ashlee Simpson, Sara Barellis, and Kelly Clarkson. It doesn’t surprise me that during this time I started to listen more to women in lead vocals. I was in college and really starting to define or understand who I was, or so I thought. I also had an entirely new set of emotions from being homesick to being confused about how I felt about boys and all the baggage that came with both.
I also found country music during this time in my life. I was heavily influenced my my two best friends and also found that the lyrics in country musics had a different way of telling stories. I added Gary Allen, Brooks and Dunn, Toby Keith, Sarah Evans, Shania Twain Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride, Little Big Town, Emerson Drive, and later Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band, and Miranda Lambert. Even now I find the country genre soothing. I can easily relate to many songs and let’s face it, they’re catchy!
As I transitioned further into the real world, got rid of roommates and started living I noticed when I was alone my taste in music varied greatly. I listen to all genres depending on my mood and the things going on around me. I felt drawn to other newer artists Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, Frank Ocean, John Legend, Charlie Puth, Adele, Kate Voegel, Three Days Grace, Shinedown, The Lumineers, and I also find that now I listen to a whole album instead of just a popular song. It’s amazing the story that is told (don’t believe me, listen to radical face – really listen.) I also listen to instrumental more often, particularly when I am meditating or on my mat practicing. It allows me to focus on breathing in rhythm and listen to my body. Sometimes I find groups (vitamin quartet) that doinstrumental versions of popular songs. Just don’t try to focus on an intense yoga pose when “Don’t Stop Believing” starts to play…
I also finally feel like a I have a soundtrack; music that compliments and adds value to my life. I don’t know if I can capture an entire soundtrack for my life (this far) but I know these songs would be included – in no particular order.
“Angel” Aerosmith
“Yellow” Coldplay
“St. Robinson In His Cadillac Dream” Counting Crows
“I Hope You Dance” Lee Ann Womack
“9 to 5” Dolly Parton
“Landslide” Fleetwood Mac
“Rise Up” Andra Day
“It’s My Life” Bon Jovi
“Survivor” Destiny’s Child
“The Good Life” Three Days Grace
“When You Say Nothing at All” Alison Krauss
“Love in the Dark” Adele
“November Rain” Guns ‘N Roses
“Hey Ya” OutKast
“Thunderstruck” AC/DC
“Girl Crush” Little Big Town
“Hall of Fame” – The script feauturing Will.i.am
“In My Daughter’s Eyes” Martina McBride
“Always Gold” Radical Face
“When You Got a Good Thing” Lady Antebellum
“Hallelujah” Alecia Keys
“My Shot” Lin-Manuel Miranda
“Stronger” Kelly Clarkson
“Mercy” Shawn Mendes
It’s not complete and I could probably write this post again next week and the songs would change but it’s where I am today.