MUSIC TO MY EARS 

Music is music to my ears. If you were to look at my playlist you would see anything from lullabies to Club, Soul, Classical, New Age, Gospel; it is a salad bowl of anything goes, in several languages. Of course, like most people, I sort my music into specific playlists, but when I am out walking, I listen to all my songs in alphabetical order so there is A LOT of diversity. “A Lovely Night” to “Zero”; Disney, Chicago, Rush, Earth, Wind and Fire, Big Generator.  There is “Christmas Island” by Jimmy Buffet, (the song I’ve listened to the most: 292 times!) and “By the Light of the Moon” by D Simonet (that I still have not listened to).

This mix up is a result of the fact that I just plain love music. I am not much of a musical instrument player even though I took lessons in piano, organ and flute. But my mind is programmed to HEAR music. There is no such thing as “background” music in my world. For example, I cannot read a book while music is playing because I am concentrating on the musical instruments, how they are playing separately and/or the harmonious sounds…then just add a singer and I can do nothing else but be all ears.

It is a known fact that often, listening to music conjures thoughts or moods that one attaches to specific songs, melodies or words. For example: when I hear “Amazing Grace” I am back in my sandbox as a child, belting it out, “You are my Sunshine” is my marriage mantra, “Back to the Islands” transports me to St John where I love spending time with my family. “Better together” is for Eddie, “Mexico” for Brian and Melanie “Cheeseburger in Paradise” for Scott, “Hallelujah” for Matthew and Deborah, “Butterfly Kisses” for Kaitlyn and “How Deep is the Ocean” for Olivia and Avery. And for every birthday we must play “(They say it’s your) Birthday” (Beatles).                        

You must understand what I am saying. After all, who of us cannot say that at one time or another a song or snippet of a tune gets stuck in your mind? Over and over the melody rolls around inside your head. Yes, Willie sometimes “Always on my Mind” can be an experience. Music can move you to tears, send you dancing, relax your senses and soothe your worries. It lulls babies to sleep, reminds the elderly of younger days, inspires one to work out and searches for or has found the most sung about topic: Love.

Music resonates across all language and ages. It must be an important facet of life as the mediums used during my lifetime have spanned from records (they took up so much room) → 8 track tapes (what are these?) → cassette tapes (Walkmans/all those tapes!) → CDs (now coasters) → downloads/streaming (cloud anyone?). But this is just proof that music will always have an effect on us.

So go ahead. Turn up the tunes! Let your fingers snap, hands clap and feet tap! Carpe this Diem!