Music has always been a part of my life. I am proud of my musical taste, which varies from oldies to country to classic rock to musicals. I will listen to anything once, and almost anything twice. My favorite genre of music seems to change as quickly as I change the station on the car's radio (my music ADD drives Justin crazy). I've always loved listening to songs, really listening, and hearing each and every lyric. I get excited when I find people who will sit with me for hours and listen to "just one more song." Music ties it all together. It brings me back to different parts of my life, some good and some not-so-good; but the memories come flooding back as the first chords play.
My first introduction to music, that I can remember, is listening to the Oldies channel in my Mom's caravan. I don't have any specific memories of certain songs, but I somehow knew all the words to every Lesley Gore, Gene Pitney, Frankie Valli, and Tommy Roe song. As I got a little older my musical influences stretched into my brother's bedroom; it was there I learned the (probably not so appropriate) words to "I'll Make Love To You" and "Jagged Little Pill." It helped that my brothers were a generation ahead of me and anything they thought was cool was obviously cool. While Boyz II Men and Alanis Morissette where playing on John and Mike's tape players, a few years later Matt opened up my world to country music. I remember watching a Garth Brook's TV special and thinking, "Wow, he's actually telling a story." Shortly after that I heard "Don't Take the Girl" by Tim McGraw and "Little Bitty" by Alan Jackson; I was hooked.
I spent my high school years like most teenagers, rejecting everything I grew up with because my generation's music was obviously the best. I mean, seriously, what's not to love about the Backstreet Boys?!? I adorned the walls of my room with their posters and cried when their song wasn't #1 on TRL (remember the days of music videos?). I also spent quite a bit of time working at a music store during high school. I slowly added Good Charlotte, Barenaked Ladies, and Eminem to my list of downloaded music.
By the time I got to college I had 2 massive CD cases full of the music I thought I couldn't live without. I have continued to add to my collection of songs and artists. My taste in music hasn't narrowed much; most road trips my car is filled with songs from the Rent soundtrack, Pitbill, Taylor Swift, The Beatles, and Brad Paisley.
While I am grateful for music in its entirety, recently it has come to mean more to me. Music has given me ways to connect with people, remember loved ones, and find some inner peace. I was driving home from work yesterday and John Mayer's "Say What You Need to Say" started playing on Pandora. It made me smile and it brought back memories of a weekend spent with my closest friends; a weekend I look forward to each year. Christmas has just passed, and there are very few carols that do not remind me of my Dad. He was Mr. Christmas, and "Someday at Christmas" is hard to listen to without getting teary. Anytime "God Bless the Broken Road" plays on the radio I call to check-in with Justin. My mom and I have too many special songs to list, although my necklace with "26 cents" will always be special.
Music has an amazing way of bringing you back to a moment. A simple melody can make you cry, smile, or laugh. There isn't one song that is my favorite, or one genre that I can't live without. I simply cannot live without music. Lyrics have found their way into my heart, and I am grateful for the music in my life.
"Funny how a melody sounds like a memory"
- Eric Church
I love the power and influence of music
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