If music be the food of love

Music has been part of my life since I can remember, though I was raised on a pretty strict diet of classical, ‘contemporary Christian music‘, and children’s songs circa the 50’s. From that (actually, no, I absolutely cannot bring myself to label classical music ‘spartan’) auspicious start, I was introduced to pop/rock as a tween, and never looked back.

My appetite for music expanded, grew voracious, and I greedily channeled all kinds of genres into my ears, taking them in, rolling them around my musical palate, savouring the experience (though occasionally spitting something out with utter disgust and never returning to it again). I refused to refine my tastes, falling as deeply in love with the Beatles as Bach; with Rammstein as Rachmaninov; with Luca Sestak as The Kinks as Paolo Nutini as Aerosmith as Renee Fleming as …you get the idea. Certain parts of my life are utterly anchored to music, and the memories of very specific moments come flooding back in HD (with surround sound) when a particular song plays.

I was delighted, therefore, to be tagged by Lisa Thompson in a ‘Music & Words Award’, which gives me a wonderful opportunity to share some of my experience with music, and how much joy and delight it brings me.

There are rules (aren’t there always?) which I’ll share for propriety’s sake.

1. Link back to the person who nominated you
2. Answer the questions with words AND music
3. Pass the award on to 5 bloggers who inspire you with their posts about music
4. Tag your post with #MWA, for Music & Words Award so that we can all find you down the line
5. Quote these 5 steps and the award icon in your post. You can display the icon on your sidebar as well.

What does music mean to you?

Music is sanctuary or energy or delight or disappearance. It is an external mirror for my emotions or a projection inwards from outside, bringing a wellspring of new thoughts and feelings. It’s freedom. It’s tethering. It lets me express feelings when I run out of words. It makes me dance. It offers translations for concepts I couldn’t hope to grasp outside of the chords and harmonies.

Particular songs also somehow attach themselves to people who are special to me. Not always, but when they do, it’s WONDERFUL, and every time I hear the piece, I am reminded of the person, and I smile. I have no idea WHY a particular piece might attach (well, not always) but that it happens is enough, and I adore the shimmer of joy and love which floats with the music when I hear one of those special pieces. If you want a sampling, click to find my songs for Hasty, Beth, Kristi, Mandi, Samara, and Ken…actually, even some of their CHILDREN have pieces attached – Mandi’s daughter, and Hasty’s…

I *love* that it’s also happened in reverse, and Mandi has attached a song to me, too ❤

What is your first music-related memory?

I don’t know that I can think of a specific one, but I have some VERY strong memories attached to music. I remember being sung to sleep by my Grandad. I remember hearing his favourite songs on CD when he came over to visit. I remember WonderAunty playing the piano. I remember glorious, soul-shaking organ crescendos as my dad played. I remember the tinny, bad-quality tapes I made and played through my Walkman, having recorded songs from the radio, all filled with clicks and static. I remember the cold and swish and scrape as I ice-skated for the first time, as music bounced off the rink and surrounded me with freezing perfection.

What was the first album you purchased for yourself?

Absolutely NO idea. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realise I could BUY music from the local Woolworths, and bring it home, on tapes at first, then on CDs, and my shelves FILLED with music. Seriously. SO much music. Some of my favourite albums are greatest hits, or collections, but quite often I’ll fall utterly for one song and play it on a loop until it feels as though its been imprinted in my very cells. I remember the first music tape I was given though – it was three covers by Robson and Jerome, and held my first listenings of songs which I still adore:

Unchained Melody – Saturday Night at the Movies – You’ll Never Walk Alone

My favourite album, though…

 What was the latest music you purchased? (No online streaming or free downloads, I’m talking about cash here!)

Again…not a clue! It’s been so long since I bought music (thanks, Youtube playlists) but it might have been…no, hang on, I wonder if I can check…Nope. No idea. But I know the most recent album I got (or was sent, maybe):

Which song did you listen to last? (No cheating, come out with the dirty pleasures!)

Now, it depends, because if you just mean the most recent song I listened to (aside from the ones I listened to whilst finding the music to populate this post) then it was THIS, but the one I’ve been wanting to look up and listen to and haven’t yet (because I was writing this post) is a new one, with an important message, delivered in incomparable style. I rather love it.

I’m meant to nominate a bunch of people to continue the trend and do their own MWA post, which…YAY! More music.

Abbie, of Sidereal Catalyst

Gretchen, of Drifting Through My Open Mind

Jesi, of Lunatic Poet

Robert, of Cabbages and Kings (who can ALWAYS think of a music. Always. Always)

Gretchen, of How My Brain Works

So. Enjoy. Play on…