The Power of Music
Stuck on the couch. No motivation. UNTIL –
I pop in my earbuds and the music starts playing. My step lightens and I walk my dog for miles to the tunes. The music lifts my spirits and provides motivation. Imagine Dragons, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Sia, and classic Queen quicken my steps, and I change the song immediately if a slow beat threatens to dampen my mojo.
Music has power. If I ask the kids to clean the house, it gets done faster with less whining when the tunes blare across the living room. When I’m down or want to be alone, then Simon and Garfunkel, Enya, or Nazareth bellowing “Love Hurts” can fit the moment and allow gentle reflection. Jimmy Buffet makes me crave a margarita, while Bob Marley’s sweet Jamaican tunes remind me I need to get to the beach soon or I may die.
On a random drive home from work, the screeches of Skid Row, Slaughter, or Motley Crue immediately cause me to grab my cell phone and call my best friend. Memories flood and reflections of high school days and carefree nights cruising. Meatloaf’s “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights” screamed at the top of our lungs while we danced in the streets at summer festivals and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” blaring with windows down and our heads hanging out in the breeze. A new perspective as the song’s triggered memories cause anxiety of my own children and their teenage years. What will they be doing as their music plays?
Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” puts my dad bouncing around the living room bellowing his best Cash impersonation. Neil Diamond and every-song-he-ever-wrote places mom in the kitchen singing along in perfect pitch.
Certain songs flash back to a VERY specific memory, and I don’t know why. George Michael “Father Figure” brings forth an image of me sitting in my basement putting a puzzle together while the song plays. Unfortunately, any song by the Spin Doctors causes me to throw myself at the radio to immediately change the station. The poor Spin Doctors get a bad rap, but their songs are permanently linked to certain college memories that don’t need brought to mind with “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.”
The song of our wedding first dance “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong makes me smile and feel the blessings of my life. I remember “The Monster Mash” while dancing in the neighbors basement under the black light. I will blare Metallica “Sanitarium” to empower me and bring out my angst when faced with challenges. “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider and “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner cause my eyes to glass over as I crank the dial to maximum guitar.
Ravel’s “Bolero” rendered on the oboe reminds me of my sister.
Music can transport you through time and take your heart on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the course of one playlist. My hope is that this blog triggered some memories or song favorites to put on your life-list.
Now I am going to put in my earbuds, find the perfect song, and take my mind on an adventure as I walk my dog.
Crank your tunes, friends.