This summer, I went to camp as a counselor in training, called "LT's." I was there for four weeks, and music was a huge part of it. Every day, we would sing five songs in the morning for Alpha, five songs at night during Campfire, and a lot more throughout the day. They were a lot of silly songs, but still music.
The first week, we had a Wednesday night campfire that was very emotional for all of the LT's. Brian, the camp camera man and amazing singer/mandolin player, played a lot of slower songs that really hit home for me. Before this night, I was questioning whether I belonged there, and if that was what I wanted to be spending my summer doing. Listening to these songs and being at this campfire really made me feel like I had to stay. It moved me so much.
The 17 LT's really bonded this night around the campfire. It became a sort of tradition this night for us all to hang around after all the kids had left, and just sit up close in the fire ring. Brian hung out with us and sang more songs that weren't camp songs. There were two that had a major effect on the entire group.
The first one is "Eli the Barrow Boy." This song is very dark and depressing, but it made the entire group so happy to hear. We all fell in love with it. (You can find a link to this song here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQs3wNfArn4) Part of the reason I found it so amazing was the things Brian told us before he sang it, explaining why it has meaning to him. He told us that in school, he was studying effects of music on Alzheimer's and Dementia patients. He told us that very often, People with these brain diseases often get angry and upset toward everyone, partly because they couldn't remember anything, partly because they didn't remember how to be happy. He then explained that often when they hear their favorite song play, or a song that they grew up with, they will become very happy and cheery, no matter what the song is.
Another song that he played had a very strong effect on me personally. It also became one that we constantly asked for, because we all fell in love with this one as well. This song was "The Ballad of Love and Hate." (Linked here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pre7bINBps) This song tells a beautiful story about love, and it was just beautiful to hear. To me, it talks about unconditional love, and how no matter what happens, love and hate can coexist. It really made me think and was really comforting to me. I heard it four times, and each time I loved it even more comforting and loved it more. I can't really explain how or why it affected me so much, it just did. It made me feel more at home, and a little better about being gone for so long.
The effect that music can have on people is an amazing thing to me. It can lift spirits of any person, no matter what is going on, or how depressing the song can be. Music can help us bond with people that we don't feel very connected to, or make us feel at home no matter where we are or how foreign the song is to us at the time. It can have effects that we can't even explain. Music is like a universal language that we can all understand and share together.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Expand Your Horizons
Everybody has a type of music they listen to. Or a favorite band or singer. They fall in love and listen to it on repeat, then it gets old and they find a new album or group of the same kind of music, and the cycle repeats itself. The easiest way to stop this is to expand your horizons. This is one of the many things I have learned how to do from my dad, who keeps hundreds of CD's on his office from Def Leppard, to Lady Gaga, to Mumford & Sons.
One of his tricks is to watch award shows. He doesn't pay much attention to the performances, because those will be the most popular songs by the artists, or their new single that you will hear on the radio over and over for the next three months. He pays more attention to album of the year, and artist of the year. This tells him what other people found to be really good, then he will go and but the album. The reason he does this is to hear the 10-15 songs that are good, that you don't hear on the radio.
From this, you can find a lot of really cool songs that you never would have known. I myself am guilty of hearing a song, and rather than going and buying the entire album, I buy the single song, then listen to is over and over until it gets old. This is also a good way to discover new people, because, especially with the Grammy's, a lot of people that aren't huge names also get nominated. This way you're not listening to the same people all the time. By not listening to the same people, you expand what types of music you listen to.
Sometimes, though, you go and but an album that you thought would be really good, and you end up disappointed. This happened to me with The Lumineers. I heard one song that was pretty cool, so I wanted to hear all the other album music, which wasn't so great. But I didn't let that stop me, I simply learned that I wasn't a fan of that particular group. I still try to find as many new groups or styles as I can. And it might not always be the group, it could be just the one album. For example, I got really into the band fun. a while back, and got their "Some Nights" album. It was and still is one of my favorites. But their first album "Aim and Ignite" wasn't too hot to me.
I'm not telling you to go buy the entire CD section at Target, I'm just trying to give you ideas on how to not become burnt out on the same music over and over again. Happy Hunting!!
One of his tricks is to watch award shows. He doesn't pay much attention to the performances, because those will be the most popular songs by the artists, or their new single that you will hear on the radio over and over for the next three months. He pays more attention to album of the year, and artist of the year. This tells him what other people found to be really good, then he will go and but the album. The reason he does this is to hear the 10-15 songs that are good, that you don't hear on the radio.
From this, you can find a lot of really cool songs that you never would have known. I myself am guilty of hearing a song, and rather than going and buying the entire album, I buy the single song, then listen to is over and over until it gets old. This is also a good way to discover new people, because, especially with the Grammy's, a lot of people that aren't huge names also get nominated. This way you're not listening to the same people all the time. By not listening to the same people, you expand what types of music you listen to.
Sometimes, though, you go and but an album that you thought would be really good, and you end up disappointed. This happened to me with The Lumineers. I heard one song that was pretty cool, so I wanted to hear all the other album music, which wasn't so great. But I didn't let that stop me, I simply learned that I wasn't a fan of that particular group. I still try to find as many new groups or styles as I can. And it might not always be the group, it could be just the one album. For example, I got really into the band fun. a while back, and got their "Some Nights" album. It was and still is one of my favorites. But their first album "Aim and Ignite" wasn't too hot to me.
I'm not telling you to go buy the entire CD section at Target, I'm just trying to give you ideas on how to not become burnt out on the same music over and over again. Happy Hunting!!
The Great Debate: Country Music
There are two kinds of people in this world. Those people that love country music, and those that hate it. There are very few people that, when asked, say "It's okay." The debate is almost as black and white as the "Twilight" debate, Team Edward, or Team Jacob.
Those that enjoy country music are everywhere. It's not just the people that live on farms, and drive pick-up trucks, and live on the Midwest. We know this from how popular country music has become. Some of the most famous artists currently are country stars, and they are doing pretty well on the charts. These people don't try to cram it down people's throats by any means, but they most prefer to not turn it off to listen to the cookie cutter stuff that is what most of the rest of the world likes to listen to. That's what they like to listen to, usually what they've been raised listening to, and who wants to listen to the same 30 songs played over and over all day long?
On the other side, we have the people who are against country music 100%. They hear a country sounding intro, and they change the station or turn off the radio immediately, and demand it be changed. They have no interest in it whatsoever. Most of these people, when giving a reason why they don't like country music, say it's all "rednecks singing about trucks, dogs, and girls." To them, all songs sound exactly alike, and they have little to no variety. They prefer music that is more globalized and about more than three things. people that are against country music openly bash people that enjoy it, calling them hicks and trying to get them to listen to other music, maybe something with a more techno feel to it?
In my personal opinion, I don't mind it. I understand that I said that there are two types of people, with no shades of grey, but maybe there is a small shade of grey between the two. I used to be the type of person to bash country music, and refuse to listen to it. There were a few songs that were kinda catchy to me, but beyond that was a lot of music that I would never try. Then one day, was just in a mood that I wanted to listen to country music non-stop, and that's what I did. I do prefer male singers to female when it comes to country, but I keep an open mind. In my personal experience, country music is not all about the same thing, and it's not all alike. It's just as diverse as any other genre of music. I can also vouch for the other side and say that a lot of it does sound alike, style-wise. But so does every type of music. That's what makes it country music, just like rock music is rock music and pop music is pop music. So before you go and pick a side, give them both a second look. You might be surprised what you find.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Music is Everywhere
Everywhere you go, music is sure to follow. You get in the car, the radio is playing. You walk around in the grocery store, music is playing on the intercom. You go to the gym to work out, fast music is playing to keep your heart rate up. You go to school, and, depending on where you are in the school, you can hear the band, orchestra, or choir practicing. Music follows you everywhere you go. It's impossible to escape it, but do you really want to?
Without music, life would be dull. Take a minute and picture it. No music, anywhere you go. No pep band tunes or halftime shows at Friday night football games. No radio as you drive. You go to lift weights, or run for sports conditioning, and all you hear is the sounds of weights clanging on the bench or ground, the machines running, and people breathing. You walk into your favorite clothing store in the mall, and all you hear is the sliding of clothing hangers and the sales associates talking to other customers. How empty does that feel?
Music is an amazing thing to me. I love how if I'm happy, I can feel free to sing along to upbeat sounding songs. If I'm sad or upset, I can listen to slower, sad songs and get that make me feel like somebody understands how I'm feeling. If I'm mad, I can turn on some hard rock music and feel like I'm venting my anger. If I'm relaxed and just driving in my car, with nowhere to be, cruising with the windows down on a warm sunny day, I throw on some country music and just chill. There is music for every mood or situation.
Music has become an omnipresent aspect in people's lives. We don't always think about it, or even realize that it's playing, but it's there. We don't think about having to turn it on, it does it itself. We appreciate it without thinking. You might be standing in line, waiting to check out at the store, you hear a catchy song and you subconsciously start tapping your foot or bobbing your head. (Everyone has done it, just admit it.) You don't think about it, but it's a habit.
Appreciate music when you hear it, because it make up your life. It adds color and beauty, and rounds it out. It's like adding color to television, it just makes it better to watch, and much more fun.
Without music, life would be dull. Take a minute and picture it. No music, anywhere you go. No pep band tunes or halftime shows at Friday night football games. No radio as you drive. You go to lift weights, or run for sports conditioning, and all you hear is the sounds of weights clanging on the bench or ground, the machines running, and people breathing. You walk into your favorite clothing store in the mall, and all you hear is the sliding of clothing hangers and the sales associates talking to other customers. How empty does that feel?
Music is an amazing thing to me. I love how if I'm happy, I can feel free to sing along to upbeat sounding songs. If I'm sad or upset, I can listen to slower, sad songs and get that make me feel like somebody understands how I'm feeling. If I'm mad, I can turn on some hard rock music and feel like I'm venting my anger. If I'm relaxed and just driving in my car, with nowhere to be, cruising with the windows down on a warm sunny day, I throw on some country music and just chill. There is music for every mood or situation.
Music has become an omnipresent aspect in people's lives. We don't always think about it, or even realize that it's playing, but it's there. We don't think about having to turn it on, it does it itself. We appreciate it without thinking. You might be standing in line, waiting to check out at the store, you hear a catchy song and you subconsciously start tapping your foot or bobbing your head. (Everyone has done it, just admit it.) You don't think about it, but it's a habit.
Appreciate music when you hear it, because it make up your life. It adds color and beauty, and rounds it out. It's like adding color to television, it just makes it better to watch, and much more fun.
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