Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. Victor Hugo

I want to talk about sound, about music.   I want to talk to you about all the times that music has said for us what we cannot say.  I believe that songs have been written to express every emotion on this earth, well maybe not all emotions, but very near it.  What I find interesting is the numerous different genres that exist in music and within specific genres so many variations.  I find it fascinating how music has changed through time; with it of course so have the musical instruments used to make music.  Each musical era has had its own instruments that suit the type of music played/sang during that time.  Question is, do instruments change to suit the new type of music, or does music have to change to suit the new or improved instruments.

Okay so this is not really a lesson on musical instruments nor is it a theory lesson on music, I am just mulling over this incredible method of expression.  I would like to share with you what music means to me.  I have had a love affair with music for a very long time and now with my angel I am able to appreciate music from a very different yet relevant perspective; Tween opinion of music.  I admittedly and shamelessly have introduced, maybe even bombarded my angel with every type of music available to me. To the point where she now appreciates a cross-section of different genres of music from different eras, after is it not one of our duties to expose carefully, our children to many things in life so that they can make informed choices?

Now I must concede that she not only has embraced music in its entirety, she also has a very clear opinion of what she likes and does not like in spite of my preference in music.  I am beginning to feel the divide between my angel and I in relation to the sort of music she appreciates compared to what I like.  We were watching the USA for Africa (We are the World) video made for famine relief in 1985, we then of course had to watch the newer version (We are the world 25 for Haiti) that was done in response to the devastating earth Quake, recorded 2010.  Both beautifully arranged pieces of work, both utilizing very, very talented musicians, but of course my angel preferred the newer version, it was more in following with the new trends of music today.  I also have to say I liked it because it crossed over several genres and included a variety of different types of musicians, and in all fairness, who can ever get tired of LL Cool J or Jamie fox?

Music, what does it do for me? It gives me strength  when I have none(Lean on me by All Green) ,it gives me hope and a promise of tomorrow (I Believe by Yolanda Adams) , it makes a freedom fighter out of me( A Luta Continua by Miriam Makeba) and makes me feel like a revolutionary(The Third World Cries Everyday by Oliver Mutukudzu) .  It makes me feel like the most beautiful woman, when I pretend that the singer has sung that song just for me! (When am with you by Tony Terry), Well a girl has to make herself feel good from time to time you know! I fall in love and savor that love with Luther Vandross and Babyface. Music even lets me down easy and makes breakups more bearable, or is it that it allows me to cry all the hurt out and makes my recovery faster? (I don’t have the Heart by James Ingram) and music allows me to be melancholy (My funny Valentine by Carl Thomas).  Music inspires me, and it takes me on journeys through the ages (Chariots of Fire by Vangelis).  Yoyo Ma can transport me to the highest levels of the Himalayas with his Violin, and Bobby McFerrin can at the same time make me laugh out loud and feel good in my gut (Hush Album).  Ella Fitzgerald can transport me to any urban American city in the quiet Sunday morning, when I hear her rendition of “Mack the Knife”  (originally “Die Moritat von Mackie Messer” by  Kurt Weill  and Bertolt Brecht in 1928) or take me back to my childhood and a lovely sunny spring day with “A Tisket a Tasket”.  I can lose myself in a world-class disco with the Black Eyed Peas and live for the moment with “Give me everything” by Pitbull, Neyo and Nayer.  What of old school Erik B & Rakim and Doug E Fresh? What of life’s lessons given in “Children’s Story” by Slick Rick, and what of Prince, my favorite album being Purple Rain, what do we say about that? There is so much more, I have not even touched the tip of the iceberg, but you get the gist right?

I think that we all have a soundtrack in our lives; if we don’t, we should. How should it go? Most days we need to “rise up” by Yves Larock. We must have a heavy metal song in our sound track, so we can if needed, stick our middle finger at the world, not literally but through music because we do have those moments when we are angry and need to vent, some rap can do the trick as well, DMX? We need songs that go through the day with us, some jazz or even some easy listening, pop, rock, r&b it doesn’t matter, just music that is easy on the ears and is our steadfast  companion. We need that music at dusk that gets us in the mood for the evenings ahead, a little bit of “Stir it up” by Bob Marley will take you to where you need to be; relaxing, feel good kind of music, transcending time and space.

Then there is the time you are feeling Funky in the 80’s or 90’s and nothing will do but a bit of Shalamar or Earth Wind and Fire. What of Brand New Heavies and their acid Jazz? When Lionel Richie is who gets you in the mood, and a bit of Teddy Pendergrass or Marvin Gaye is all that is needed for some “Sexual healing”. Music makes us feel good, it makes us feel strong, it gives us permission to be angry, and allows us to express ourselves using someone elses words.  Music allows us to make sense of the world and enables us to articulate what is happening around us.   Music unites us all with an unspoken bond across race, gender, ethnicity and religion “Nkosi Sikeleli” the official anthem for the African National Congress during the apartheid era.

Okay I could really go on forever with this; yes you have guessed it I LOVE MUSIC! All music, anytime, except when it time to be quiet! I am glad to share with you some of the songs that come to mind as I write this piece.   I hope that with each sentence or mention of a song, I take you to a place, a memory, or give you hope for a future yet to come.  Music does that for me and now I hope you too.   I am so glad and grateful to be living in a world full of music, to enjoy every song. God Bless all musicians past, present and  those to come, I hope for all my friends that you have a tune in your head that gives you the feeling you need to help you get through whatever it is that you are experiencing. May the music of your soundtrack enhance your happiness, sooth your sadness, deepen your reflection and help you embrace life, grateful for the gift of sound. Music can do all of this for you, just give it a chance!