It's All Around Me!

Through the writing of this blog I've just begun to realize how much my life is full of music. Its everywhere, and now I find myself paying closer attention to it. How music affects my moods especially is crazy. I know I talked earlier about how music can set the tone for a movie scene or TV show but how about how it sets the tune for your own life.
As it gets sunny here in usually-not-sunny western New York I'm loving my country music. Its funny how much of winter people play louder angry music or stuff thats sad and depressing....thats what I hear around our hallways anyhow. And as the sun comes out music gets happier and more exciting. In my case....more country. Kenny Chesney's Summertime is a perfect example of the beauty thats been escaping my iHome speakers recently.
Our campus enjoys the same theme as we kicked off spring with a Hoedown this past Saturday night. The quad was full of people dancing in squares and lines. Though not everyone could keep up with the moves everybody enjoyed the upbeat music under the stars. It doesnt matter how not into music you are....music can totally affect your mood. The hoedown was a perfect example, I dont think we've had this many people laughing and having a great time in a while.
I transitioned from upbeat gospel music (from our gospel choir concert) outside to the quad and couldn't stop smiling. My country beats have not ceased....
So as I go into summer and escape the radio-wave-free zone that is Houghton College, I listen to the music thats around me every day and realize how happy (or sad) it can make me. Right now I'm loving the sun....so bring on the country!

Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

I've done a number of activities somewhat recently that involve meeting new people and getting to know people differently than I normally would. These situations involve camp, class and housing. And in all three circumstances one of the first questions people have asked is "what kind of music do you listen to?"
I find this kind of surprising...how much does what one listens to really describe them? Can we be judged by the genre or artists we listen to? What do different artists say about different personalities?
I for one, love country music and that seems to be a big turn off for a lot of people. Friends have found out I listen to Keith Urban or Rascal Flatts and they walk the other way. In a few instances though I've actually been able to convert people to country loving:)
My roommate and I have lived together for almost two years, we will be again next year and we have complete opposite tastes in music. She loves stuff thats more hardcore, the kind of music where you can't distinguish chords or voices. The Keith Urban fan in me says that hers isnt real music...and her hardcore side says the same thing about my country. But we still manage to get along...
This just proves that music does not determine personality clashing....or not clashing. :)
Punks and country bumpkins can co-exist. AND get along....So don't judge a person by their band posters....you may be sacrificing a friend.
Happy Listening!

Expanding the Range

This past week was a week off from school. I love being able to get away from campus and out into the real world again every so often. One of the best things about being home I find is seeing my friends and what they have been doing, movies they've seen or new music they are listening to. Being here in Houghton the radio doesn't get any reception and I don't spend a whole lot of time searching for music online. Most of the new stuff I hear comes from friends.
When I was home over this last break, not only did I listen to the radio and hear new music on TV, I got music from friends. One of the artists I discovered over break is Missy Higgins. An Aussie artist who is absolutley incredible. Her style is really laid back and her lyrics are amazingly deep and life applicable.
I love the lyrics that I hear and go...."wow, I wish I had written that." Not all of her music falls under that category, but some of it is great. Very poetic. If you like laid back, acoustic amazing-ness. Check out Missy Higgins
http://www.missyhiggins.com

The World of Shows

Well...I really hoped that today I would be reviewing the concert of one of my favourite bands that I've been waiting for years to see. Since probably grade eight I've been a huge fan of Lifehouse. They've come out with new CDs but I've been unable to go see any of their shows. Finally they're in Toronto when I'm home on break from school and Jason Wade (their lead singer for those of you who are not informed) has come down with the flu, has no voice and cancelled all their Canadian dates. gah!
I found out not 35 seconds before I got in my car to drive an hour and a half to downtown. Nice timing, unforunate news....

So all I can do today is share how incredible this band is and how incredibly dissapointed I am to have not seen their show last night....
C'est la vie...

The Strongest _______ Tied to Memory

I know most people say that scent is the strongest sense tied to memory and I would agree to an extenctl but I know the strongest thing for me that ties to memory is music. Different songs tie in my life back to memories of people or places or events. Either there was a song playing during a certain event, a friend and I shared 'our' song, or a specific place always played the same music. Maybe its just me......I'll share a few examples

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang makes me think of my high school lab partner because he used to sing it all the time.

dcTalk's Coloured People reminds me of the summer of 1998 when my cousins and I made a music video to that song in the basement of my house.

Days Go By by Keith Urban makes me think of wakeboarding or summers at camp.

All these are quite fond memories I have of people and places and things, maybe if I identified smells to people (which may be unfortunate for some) then scent would be the strongest thing for me tied to memory. But my head and the soundtrack that runs through it would have to differ. And for that reason I have to say that music is the strongest thing tied to memory.

"days go by, I can feel them flying like a hand out the window in the wind..."
-Keith Urban

Makes Me Think...

We were meant to live for so much more.
Have we lost ourselves? Somewhere we live inside...

We want more than this world’s got to offer...
We want more than the wars of our fathers...
And everything inside screams for second life.


These are lyrics from a song by a band called Switchfoot that always make me think. I enjoy music that sends a specific message or makes me think about something in particular; inspirational I guess. This song specifically makes me wonder what I'm living for. What does this world offer me that's of value?
I wish more things made me think this way, for the amount of time I listen to this song (which isn't all that often) I contemplate life a little bit more. This is just one of those 'in your face' prompts that tends to get me thinking. What is it exactly that I want out of life. What does it mean to live for more?
Is the more found in relationships, success, money, fame, beauty? I dont know. But whatever the more is I want to find it. I challenge you all to find the more in your life to work towards. So you can actually live life to the fullest.

Freedom of Tune

I'm spending the week in Florida with family and, as always, I pay attention to the soundtrack of life that plays around me. I find myself paying closer attention these days to all the music that plays in the background of restaurants, in malls and outside at all the touristy spots.
One thing in particular I've noticed this week is the variety of music that's being played around here. I don't know if it's because people are happier on vacation so they don't raise ruckus or if it's just because people don't care....but the variety of music that's played is incredible. I'm not talking genre, I'm talking religion.
I've heard at two places so far this week, at a mini golf course and at Target, Christian music playing. This isn't just Christian bands that I know, but outright worship music. The other day playing at the golf course was "Word of God Speak" and today at Target was a song by Mark Schultz. I was pleased but shocked. Rarely will you hear Christian music played in a public place....somebody is always offended. Today's political correctness and 'religious freedom' stand in the way of expressing religious views in schools and most other public places. What is it about Florida?
Regardless of the reason, I'm pleased and impressed to hear this music being played in high traffic public places. Kudos to Target and lame mini golf course.

The Best Love Song

I emailed a bunch of my friends last week on Valentines Day asking a number of my best girl friends what their favourite love songs were. Out of curiosity I was going to attempt to create the perfect love song out of a variety of lines from different songs or different artists. The way it turns out I got more full songs than lyrics, which is totally ok. So here for you to enjoy are a number of pieces of love songs....the kind of love that seems pure and good and excellent. Not the sleezy night club love that I feel like is in many of the songs I have previously ranted about. :)

"I knew I loved you before I met you. I think I dreamed you into life."
This line from a song by Savage Garden is just so cute and talks about the 'I fullfill your dreams' kind of fuzzy love....so cute.

"Strong like a mother holds her child. Free as horses runnin wild. And real as a prayer on a lonely night. And sure as the ocean tide
Deep as the life from God’s own breath. Endless even after death. Gone like the sunset
You can break down sweet forgiveness. You’re the one that never ends.
Oh love"
This song I've never heard myself but I really like the concept. I am a huge fan of the ocean, so any love song that talks about that I can totally identify with.

"Oh he was walking her home. And holding her hand, Oh the way she smiled when he said this is not the end. And just for a while they were eighteen. And she was still more beautiful to him than anything. He was walking her home"
The song "Walking Her Home" by Mark Shultz was also suggested, and the lyrics are incredible. This line is one of the last of the story of a dedicated husband who is absolutley crazy about his wife. The kind of love we all dream of.

Four others were suggested though I won't include lyrics because they're pretty well known. Rounding out the list I was given was "Everything" and "Always on My Mind" by Michael Buble, "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds, "It's Your Love" by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, and "My Better Half" by Keith Urban.

One of my favourite love songs is one that was sent to me by a special boy. Its by a fairly unknown Christian artist named Dave Barnes and it's lyrics include:
"I need you now and forever
So stay right here with me
Don't ever leave
Love was kept from me like a secret
And I swore that I was through
Until you, until you"

Mood Music

I don't think we all realize how much our lives are permeated by music. It not only comes from our CD players or headphones, but it is played in stores and restaurants, on the phone when you are put on hold, in elevators, coming from other people's dorm rooms... It is also in movies.
Music in film is largely used to affect our moods, tell us what is coming or to juxtapose (love that word) situation and mood.

One movie I watched recently was Mr and Mrs Smith. Though not the most well done movie in the world, the way it uses music is ingenious. The music totally dictates the feelings of the viewers and lets them know what they should feel about the scene and about the characters. The main song that plays throughout the movie is a slow latino piece "Mondo Bongo"...a beautiful song, and when played during action sequences it provides an interesting perspective.

Usually in a fast paced action sequence the music in the background follows suit; it is fast paced and hard core, giving the viewer an edge-of-your-seat feeling. But this music slows the mood down and allows the viewer to catch the intricate choreography that goes into the scene....a brialliant move by the director I think.

The other point in this movie where I noticed the music is the scene where Brad and Angelina are fighting in their home. She jumps across the kitchen at him, smashing glass as Charles Wright's "Express Yourself" plays loudly over top of the action. The song contrasted against the fighting couple brings a comical appearance to the scene. The viewer becomes unconcerned with the welfare of the two characters, somehow knowing because of the music that they will be ok. The light hearted tune allows the viewer, again, to pay attention to the little details of the scene and find it funny rather than shocking....as a fist fight between a husband and wife could otherwise be.

Though none of us are going to be largely affected by the soundtrack from "Mr and Mrs Smith" I found it so interesting to pay close attention to the music that was playing in the background of a movie that could have otherwise seemed pretty violent. Makes me wonder how much music really affects our moods...

You Complete Me?

At any given time one can take a look at the top 10 songs on the Billboard charts and see a pattern in the lyrics of the week's most popular songs. This week's Top Ten is no different. As I looked over the songs that were most popular with the public this past week I noticed one, kind of alarming thing...they are all about love; some sort of relationship. All the songs on the list said something to do with a significant other, a one night stand or somebody met in a club.

Lyrics such as:
"No matter what you say about love I keep coming back for more. Keep my hand in the fire. Sooner or later I get what I’m asking for"
-Jordin Sparks
"Well I’m not paralyzed But, I seem to be struck by you I want to make you move Because you’re standing still"
-Finger Eleven
"I like serious relationships and A girl like me don't stay single for long Cause everytime a boyfriend and I break up My world is crushed and I'm all alone"
-Fergie
"You and me together Through the days and nights I don't worry 'cause Everything's going to be alright"
-Alicia Keys

None of these lyrics are 'bad' in and of themseves. I happen to enjoy all these songs and none of them really send a negative message....but what exactly is the message that they send? Is it that love is amazing? Is it about relationships? Does it talk about how great it is to be single?

After talking to a friend yesterday about a relationship that she has been involved in I realized that our culture does not promote being single and independent. Movies and music both send young people the message that they should have some sort of significant other to be a 'complete person.' Most songs on the radio today are about love and relationships, sharing a story about being with someone or breaking up with somebody. True, relationships are a huge part of our lives, but I don't believe that anyone has to have a boyfriend or girlfriend to be complete. Many girls around my age today are incredibly insecure because they believe that society is telling them that they need a guy! The friend I was talking with was really frustrated with this concept... I believe that it's 150% ok to be independent! It's ok to do what you want! It's ok to have lots of friendships. You don't have to have a love interest to be a complete person!

So thanks music industry for your fabulous tunes....but how about more messages about being your own person? That you can be secure without a boyfriend....we need to start telling girls that it's ok to go through their teenage years without a guy by their side.

Humble Beginnings

Hello to all in the blogging world...I am new to this so it's kind of an experiment. I'm a college student studying communications with a particular interest in music and pop culture. I'm hoping I have something profound and interesting to say to the world, but if not I'll enjoy my time sharing my thoughts with all of you.

The purpose of this discussion is to explore what's going on in the world of popular music today. So much streams through our culture and I don't think people take the time to stop and listen to what is coming through their headphones or speakers. I'm looking to explore what artists are saying through their lyrics and respond to how that relates to people today. I'm hoping to find that what we're listening to has a positive impact on our lives and our culture. I'll look at specifically what music I listen to...which may or may not be to your taste...and what's on the top ten charts of the weeks ahead. Maybe my insight and ideas will prompt you to look further into what you're listening to as well. Happy listening!