On Music

Well, you know, I can't sing. Can't carry a tune in the proverbial bucket. But I'm not tone deaf; in fact, I'm anything but, and music stirs my soul, so here are some of the pieces that make me feel. Again, in no particular order ... just random thoughts as I think of them ... and the reason why.

When I thought of making up this list, almost the first thing that came to mind was an obscure memory from way (way) back when I was in the highschool band. I think it was the first time - that period of my growth - when I realized what music does to me (and presumably, I'm not alone in this). I hadn't been one of those teens who bought tons of 45's or lot's of albums  (I bought books!). I didn't even own a record player (for you kiddos, that was the device that preceded jam boxes and CD players and oh, yes, DVD players and blue ray). But I was in the marching band and I loved it. After football season, the concert band season began. Many of my fellow band members disliked that part of the year, but I loved it. We had this piece of music we performed in a community concert, The Blue and the Gray, A Civil War Suite. When I think of concert band, I remember the way playing this music made me feel. All shivery with unnamed emotions welling up inside me, bringing me to tears ... like the drums and the rolling caisson carrying JRK's casket up Pennsylvania Avenue, like any of the five theme songs from the branches of the Armed Service, like sitting on the first row in the theatre for Riverdance (close enough to feel the fling of sweat!) ... like they make me feel. But that's how it began ... with The Blue and the Gray. Anytime I hear music that moves me, stirs me, makes me feel, I remember, and love again.

*The Blue and the Gray, A Civil War Suite.

*The Theme from Exodus
*The Theme from Chariots of Fire
*The Theme from Romeo and Juliet
*The Entertainer from "The Sting" (great movie, too!)

*Leonard Cohen's music ... that voice ... particularly Dance Me to the End of Love and Hallelujah

*Ravel's Bolero. When I saw the Bo Derek movie "Ten," I fell in love with Bolero.

The trumpet solo in the old classic John Wayne movie, "Rio Bravo."  I don't know its name, but I watch the movie just to hear the trumpet solo. Haunting. (Ricky Nelson and Dean Martin are pretty cute, too)

*James Taylor. Name any song by James Taylor and its on my list. I LOVE everything James Taylor has ever done! He's just such a singer-songwriter.
I love Fire and Rain, You've Got a Friend and Handy Man.

*Carol King - Tapestry! What else can I say?

*Simon and Garfunkle - The Sounds of Silence, In My Room.

*Elvis - can't leave out The King. From Love Me Tender and Don't to Fool's Rush In to many of his later hits - Kentucky Rain, In the Getto, the Dixie medley. I saw Elvis in Hawaii live on TV and recorded it! Was horrified by his overblown looks and mesmerized by the music. I remember exactly where I was when I heard of his death.

*The Beatles - well, they were part of my teen experience. I remember that first summer when they had their first three hits (I Wanna Hold Your Hand, She Loves Me etc) on the radio, top five, playing all at the same time.  Help (summer, sophomore year, heartthrobe) - Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (summer, Colorado, 19 yrs old!), Hey Jude! (Lambuth, David P singing in his own back yard!) ... so many more, so many memories hemmed in Beatle hits.

*Marry Me by Bruno Mars (it didn't hurt when I saw 'Isaac's lip-dub proposal' on YouTube, either)

*Speaking of singer-song writers ... CJ Schooler has an album that I love. One of my favs on it is Falling Snow, but I really like all of them. She sings two other songs (not on the album) co-written with Courtney C. Stevens, and they are One Body and The Wedding Song.

*Chicago, in particular Chicago's Greatest Hits - I LOVE every *single* song on this album.

*Adele's Rollin' in the Deep - love, love, love this one!