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.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
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"
"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"
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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...
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...
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