Music

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I do not think I have ever met someone who does not like any type of music at all. I just cannot comprehend not liking or not ever listening to any. I believe that music means a lot more to me than I think it does for most people. I feel like sometimes I seek out music that is connected to my mental state at the time, sometimes without even realizing it. Music is therapeutic to me in many ways. It has helped me through a lot in my life, especially when I was younger. I really wish I had Spotify growing up. But I did have a bunch of CD's. When the iPod came out I was so happy to have portable access to all my music. I brought it everywhere with me. Music has helped me through a lot of rough times in my life. You ever find a song that you really connect with in a way you cannot describe? Something like that. 

I believe our music tastes evolve as we grow and change. My music tastes evolved from a little 90's country, to a lot of pop (N*Sync, Britney Spears, etc.) and then I got more into rock in my teens. During my angry/emo teenage years my favorites were Three Days Grace and Linkin Park and I really identified with Avril Lavigne. I have always loved rock- started out with emo and pop rock and then got into some harder stuff thanks to my husband. My tastes have also changed as I have been influenced by other people. I have gotten into more chill music as I have gotten older. My husbands friend introduced me to Illenium and then I found Seven Lions and fell in love with melodic dupstep. It is basically a slowed, more tolerable dubstep genre. I am constantly changing what I want to listen to- sometimes it changes day by day. I love to search for random music on Spotify from other countries or cultures. Since I have gotten into meditation I have looked into more slow music as well but I do like to jam out sometimes. It can be hard for me to match the music that I am thinking of listening to- my 'music mood' if you will. Sometimes I will have a specific sound in mind and it is hard to search for sometimes but I really like to make playlists. My husband says I have a knack for making playlists and I think he is right. 

I love going to concerts and I always have. I remember turning around once during a concert at everyone jumping up and down all together and some feeling came over me that I can't explain but it was a good one. Hands down. Shinedown puts on the best live performance. It feels like they really connect with the audience while you are there seeing them. I love that concerts really bring people together. I got super lucky one faithful year Tool came into town and it was sold out (of course) which, being my first time buying Tool tickets, I did not realize that tickets sold out also immediately after going on sale and then were re-sold for ridiculous prices. I decided I would try my luck at finding someone online that maybe by chance had an extra ticket and I found someone who had a friend cancel the night of the concert and I took the chance and it actually worked out. The show had already started by the time I got there so I did not get to see the whole show but from what I did get to see it was so worth it. I did eventually get to see them again for a full show- each one is always unique and quite an unforgettable experience. They actually discouraged phone use to record or take pictures, which I understood because it is distracting during the live show. And you forget to sit back and enjoy the show. I get really frustrated at people who sit there the whole concert holding their phone up in front of everyone else recording it. Bro, give it up. I gave up on recording live shows a long time ago. They never turn out that good and I never end up looking at the pictures or videos again anyway. So now I try to enjoy the moment while it lasts and try to savor it so I don't forget it. 

I played violin when I was younger, in school and some private lessons. I liked it for a bit. Then I got an electric guitar. Though sadly I never really learned how to play it and eventually got rid of it after it was just collecting dust. Looking back I think nothing really stuck because I am not the best at reading music and I am too shy to play in front of people. My niche really came to be dancing. Which is where music really comes into play. I love that music can make you feel things but I also love music that makes you want to dance. In my mind music and dance go hand and hand. I love to watch So You Think You Can Dance- the routines that really stuck out to me were the ones where the music and the movement felt like one. There is perfect flow, build up and release. I love the ones that tell a story without saying words. When you throw in talented dancers it is even better. I could ramble on about dance but I will save that for another post. 

Music is a great way to escape- in whatever that means for you. I love that I can just shut the world out. I have anxiety and music has always helped clear my mind when I need. Learning about mindfulness I started looking into meditation music on Spotify to help calm my mind and it works very well. I also recently got a singing bowl because I really love the sound. Taking a moment to stop and listen just to the ringing helps stop my mind for a bit. I feel like we always feel like we need to stay busy doing or thinking about what we are going to do next so meditation and/or mindfulness is hard for some to grasp. I still have a hard time but music is always effective. 

I love how powerful music is. And I doubt many know just how powerful it is. Dementia/Alzheimer's is something we all fear- no one wants to lose their memory. It is really easy to give up and lose your confidence when you don't even trust your own memory. I remember watching a video on YouTube  where a gentleman with dementia who was withdrawn in a nursing home until they found some of his childhood music and put headphones on him and he came to life. He remembered it! There was another video I saw recently with a woman that used to be a ballerina and she remembered the movements while listening to the Swan Lake score music. I remember some random dance parts of past routines I have learned. Funny how muscle memory is tied into other memories. Music is tied to our emotions in so many ways- even in our brains. That is something I have always understood. I feel a lot of emotions when I listen to music, especially if it is tied to a fond memory of mine. Or even if it was a song I really liked in a movie. There are several movies and TV series that have always stuck with me because of their soundtrack- one of them being One Tree Hill. The music choice in several scenes made it resonate with me even more. 

If there is a song that has special meaning to you anytime you hear that song it brings you back to that memory, or at least it does to me. It is for that reason why I love music so much. I love that music can make you feel, make you remember a moment, or help you escape. Music is there for you no matter where or when. That is why I love having Spotify. I have access to my music at all times. It is rare to see music artists (and I truly believe they are artists, well most are) who make music for themselves because they love to do it, not for the fame or fortune. Too often than not they let it go to their heads and it isn't about the music anymore. But even after a music artist dies their music lives on. If you think about it, in a way they become 'immortal'  through their music. Which I don't know about you but I think that is really cool. 

I thought about making music. But I am such a perfectionist it would be hard for me to ever get up the courage to do it, let alone post it to the public. So I usually search around for something that fits my mood or a song that I don't remember the name of. Sometimes it is easier than others. I found an artist named Sasha Sloan who's music I really resonated with because a lot of her songs describe me or something I was going through at the moment. Specifically 'Thoughts' and 'Version of Me'. If you want to get a glimpse into my life, give her music a listen. 

Music is meant to be shared. I never fully agreed with the uproar about downloading music. There were so many CD's I bought for only a few songs I wanted. Then iTunes came out, which I liked for a while. Then I finally gave in and got Spotify Premium subscription- the best thing I ever did. It is so worth it for me. Speaking of sharing music, if you would like to check out my Spotify channel here is the URL- spotify:user:12175398856.