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When I was growing up – KJR was the cool station that played the top 40’s. I remember the music from the early 70’s and the count down with Casey Kasem every Saturday night.
Music has changed over the last 40 years – but I am still comfortable with music I grew up with and listened to during those crazy teenage years. It’s comforting somehow – I can’t explain it.
My Dad always preferred classical music – so that is what was always played in our home – even during every meal.
I studied music in college – even got a degree in vocal performance and had to study many different types of music – much of it classical. I never developed a real love for it though, much to my dad’s disappointment, I’m sure. I can appreciate it – which is something entirely different. Mozart was a genius and so were many of the others – but I must admit – I can only listen to their creations in small doses before it starts making me edgy.
For example:
I was trying to find a station the other day, had grown tired of 106.9 because of the commercials and went exploring – and stopped on a lovely slow classical piece on the classical station. I stepped into the shower hoping to have a lovely time relaxing and listening – and at first it was lovely – but then the tempo changed and suddenly everything became frantic and fast paced – and I found myself getting nervous and agitated. I thought to myself, “this is why I don’t listen to classical music”.
I also don’t like commercials – who does? Radio is really irritating to me – which is one of the reasons why I don’t like the Christian station 105.3. WAY too many commercials for my taste – it’s not that I don’t like Christian contemporary – I think I like most everything (in moderation that is) it’s the commercials that drive me insane.
Then I remembered 95.7 – the oldies station for Seattle with very limited commercials and almost every song they play – I LOVE!
I played it today while in the shower and getting ready for the day – and it was so refreshing to me. Don’t you just love it when music does that?
Now there’s nothing wrong with classical, or Christian contemporary, or smooth Jazz or easy listening – but if it’s something that relaxes me – it’s oldies and easy listening from the 70’s – up to today.
That being said – I also LOVE instrumental movie soundtracks. James Horner and people like David Foster are amazing for bringing great music to highlight and bring out the very best in a film. My very favorites are “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Leonard Bernstein and “Meet Joe Black” by Thomas Newman. These are some of the modern-day genius composers and I know there are others.
I’m fascinated by all sorts of talent – old and new and LOVE a wide range of styles. Christian music is far too limiting for me – although I have been criticized for being so open to other more popular kinds of styles. It doesn’t bother me – I am secure in who I am. I was raised in a fundamental Christian home where only classical music was played – so I feel no guilt in my departure from mainline Christian music.
That being said – I do love some of the more modern worship choruses sung today in our church worship services – not all – but definitely some. I’m not big on repetition and so it’s hard to sing the same thing over and over, but there are some really beautiful new creations and I have been amazed at how much I really connect with them and love the lyrics. And I only like the older hymns if they are not so predictable and stuffy. I love beautiful chord structures and variety – inspiring lyrics and something that moves me – not just the status quo.
Because we have a great big world and much to listen to, appreciate and inspire us – I feel it is a shame to limit to just one style. At the moment I’m listening to Jackie Evancho singing “Pie Jesu” with beautiful clarity, like an angel – and then I will hear James Taylor, Billy Joel or Josh Groban and they all make me feel happy – like an old friend.
Don’t you love that – when music has the power to make you feel happy? Put a smile on your face – and a dance in your step? Me too.
What’s your favorite station? What song makes you feel good – makes you smile? If you wrote it down, would you feel that someone might criticize you? Here are a few of mine:
Jump – by the Pointer Sisters
Sister Moonshine – by Supertramp
When you say you love me – Josh Groban
Sweet Darling – Heart
Loving Arms – Darden Smith
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
Reaching – Bill and Gloria Gaither
January Rain – David Gray
Wild Horses – Susan Boyle
Leesha – Michael W. Smith
Shine on us – Phillips, Craig and Dean
and SO MANY others!
I hope you’ll share some of your favorites with me 🙂
God Bless
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