I can't stand when people get all self righteous about music. Like if you admit to actually enjoying a Justin Beiber tune, you suffer the snorts and eye rolls that come from the people who think they have it all going on and JB is not where it's at. Musically speaking that is. Not that I am stamping my foot and admitting to Beiber Fever. Not that there's anything wrong with that. And whether you're a lover or a hater, kid's got a fat bank account and he gets to do what he likes, so who's to judge?
But really for me, it's as simple as I like what I like. My itunes library is definitely bipolar. No, schizophrenic. No, eclectic.
Growing up, I was always a top 40's kind of girl. I listened to what was on the localish station and besides the Neil Diamond that was played incessantly by my parents in my house, top 40's were pretty much all I knew about music diversity. And there wasn't much of it there.
Then, I made my way out west and I met this guy who totally opened my eyes to a world off of the Billboard charts. And I've never looked back. Who knew there was so much out there?
I don't know why, but every song that has some sort of meaning, that I have some sort of connection to, seems to be directly related to a moment. I think I read somewhere that music is definitely a memory stimulant. It's scientific even. Personally, a song can come on the radio that will immediately bring a tear to my eye, make me heavily emotional. Or definitely bring a smile, or a smirk, or an angry frown.
I was just recently listening to and downloading a bunch of music that I was into when I was a teenager - The Replacements, The Cure, The Thompson Twins, The Psychedelic Furs, U2, Rush... and whoa. It is literally immediate, the emotions and thoughts that are conjured up with specific tunes. Pretty powerful stuff.
Anyway, can you believe that itunes are now $1.29 a song? That's highway robbery. And annoying. But I can't complain really. How great is it that you can have every single bit of music that you like on one little device that is insanely easy to carry around and use like, anywhere? We went from crazy huge boom boxes to something that can fit in the palm of your hand.
That's pretty awesome.
I am old fogey who still buys and listens to CDs. I don't even own an MP3 player, other than my phone.
ReplyDeleteI may think Miley Cyrus is a ho bag, but she does produce a catchy tune every now and again.
My boys listen to pandora as they play xbox. . . Because after all xbox isnt stimulating enough on its own!. . . Anyhoo. . . They love the 80s mix and every once in awhile a song will come on and wow, talk about time travel! Powerful indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet words. . .So encouraging!
Sometimes I think that if I didn't have my music I would go CRAZY. It can do everything- calm, soothe, energize, encourage, empathize...you name it! If anyone saw my selection they would shake their heads- 40s, 50s, 60, 70s, some 80s; rock; motown; classical; blues; jazz; bluegrass; and more! The only thing you won't find on my ipod is country- except for Patsy Cline. I'm going to plug in right now!
ReplyDeleteI don't buy music often because I usually just listen to Satellite. (XM) That said ... I miss a LOT of what's out there because I hang out in one little niche (Contemporary Christian). But Gordon Lightfoot, Joan Baez, Carol King, and Simon & Garfunkel (etc.) sure bring back memories of younger days!
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