Sunday 1 July 2012

Music and Memories

After 2 months of completing the Hungry For Change Bloggers challenge, I have been bitten by the writers bug and have an urge to get words down on....a computer screen!
A friend has suggested I write about how music affects our moods, I think the quote  above captures the whole feeling around music, our moods and emotions.
We all have 'special,' songs. Those that were played at our weddings, our first dance, our intimate moments ;)
songs that evoke happy memories, warm smiles and laughter.  We all have sad songs. Songs that were played at the funerals of loved ones, soundtracks to sad movies, our first love break-up songs,  pieces of music that are played over pictures of news bulletins, 9/11 and other stories of human tragedies.
Remember the clip in 'Bridget Jones Diary', All by myself, or the Airport Scene in 'Love Actually,' playing the Bee Gees, 'God Only knows.'  To this day, still tear inducing songs for me if im in that frame of mind.
I was on a course a few years ago and we did a small experiment around music and reminiscence.
We were all played 4 pieces of music and were asked to just listen and concentrate and see where the music takes us. The first piece was classical, the kind of water music you would find playing at a spa, the second was a carpenters song, I cant remember the 3rd but the last was an upbeat Abba track.
I managed to stay awake during the 'spa' music but by the end of the Carpenters track I was in tears.  The track had managed to trigger a memory in me.........
Thankfully I had managed to regain my composure and save any embarrassment, by the time dancing Queen had finished.  It did teach me how important and emotive music is within reminiscence not only during sessions with clients but also within our own personal experiences.
Music can be a great tool for lifting your spirits, for helping you through those difficult or mellow times or for giving insiration when you seem lost with little focus.
Music has been a huge part of my life from growing up, getting married (twice) ,raising a family and through my eating disorder recovery.
I was brought up on Country and Western Music, Elvis Presley, Doris Day and Rock and Roll.  The tune 'two liitle boys,'by Rolf Harris will always bring a tear to my eye as it still reminds me of my Dad.
'I love Rock and Roll,' Jaon Jett, brings back memories of my teens and my best friends birthday party in a local church hall. We thought we looked gorgeous in our ra-ra skirts, neon pink eyeshadow and leg warmers.
Thought I would share some of my favourite song memories and what they mean to me.


Paul Mcartney and Wings-Another Day
Leaving Home



Tammy Wynette and KLF

The Birth Of My Son In 1991


Snowpatrol
Somewhat predictable but my wedding song in 2008


Ingrid Michaelson
What I listen to if I'm feeling a little uninspired.  My 'recovery' song


After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
Aldous Huxley

5 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing..I love music. It's a big part of my life and when I hear an song from the past, it takes me right back to that time in my life..

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  2. I love music too. I go through phases where songs are off-limits because they will induce an all out tear-fest that is unstoppable. There's a great quote floating around somewhere - something like "music says what the heart can't" not sure exactly. But it is true, music speaks in ways that we sometimes can't. Thanks for the trip down memory lane! Love that KLF number!

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  3. I love this :) I'm a huge music fan and musician. Anyone who enjoys Joan Jett and Tammy Wynette is a cool chick in my book :) One book that you might really enjoy is This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin. He talks about all of the stuff above. Rock on, sister :)

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  4. I've always loved music. Quite often I will hear a song and it expresses how I feel which I could never put into words. When my husband was deployed there were a few songs which I listened to during the tough times and it helped me keep going. Now I am thinking about writing a blog post about my favorite songs, just to take a break from all my social media/business related posts. Great post!

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  5. Ah music, what would the world be like without it? I actually spent yesterday afternoon going through my old CD's and loading them onto my iPhone...there were quite a few trips down memory lane then. I didn't find myself crying (done enough of that lately due to Den's accident) but did find myself doing a happy jumping dance whilst cooking in the kitchen later to some of the old tunes (like Groove is in the heart by Deelite).

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