Let There Be Music!

There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is. ~William P. Merrill

End of the school year is always insanely busy….or maybe just insane. I have come home every evening and listened to what I am calling my new happy song: Chanda Mama. The music and singing literally transforms me. As soon as it starts my soul goes to some joy-filled place. Even though I cannot sing along yet, it makes me feel perky which is an odd word but my weariness dissipates immediately upon hearing the first few notes. You can check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I23Bkk92124 and see for yourself. The Playing for Change musicians are doing great work. I am familiar with a few of their songs.

I am one of the least musical people I know but music is something I cannot live without. I am not incredibly knowledgeable about music but I was surrounded by it growing up. My parents both had 78 records with artists like Elvis and Johnny Cash. My older brother devoured music and so I had a wide selection to choose from: Suzi Quatro and Pat Bentar, Beach Boys and Beatles, CCR and BTO, Meatloaf and April Wine, and David Bowie and Elton John. As I grew older and moved away, I gravitated to friends who played music and went to folk festivals and concerts. Certain friends passed along new music, introducing me to all types of people like The Indigo Girls, Metallica, and Bob Dylan.

When I lived in Washington, DC, I could attend free concerts, which was amazing. On occasion we would pay to see Bruce Cockburn or Holly Near. The church I went to in DC had an amazing Gospel choir that sparked a new love for me with rocking spirituals. Sweet Honey in the Rock lived in the neighbourhood and would often play at functions. Some of their songs would make me weep, with images of unspeakable racial discrimination wafting over the audience.

These days I mostly listen to Christian artists, but once in awhile I stray to secular stars like Adele belting out Rolling in the Deep or something even a bit zany like Ricky Martin and La Vida Loca. What can I say? I grew up with eclectic tastes in music. What I do know is that music, in many ways, saved my life. It still goes to a place so deep that it is only second to prayer in being able to move me.

How about you? What place does music have in your life?

Peace,

Suzanne