So I have to write this to say thank you to all the bands who got me through. The bands who literally made my mood swing one way or the other. The lyrics that got me so emotional I felt like I wanted to hug the lyricist. The hooks so catchy I couldn't drive down the road without outrageous car dancing the likes of which caused people in other cars to stare in stunned silence. The bands who made AP English easier because I could use their lyrics to write my definitions on the board (thanks Bad Religion). The bands who were so fucking amazing live that sitting on stage beneath them at Gilman completely changed my life (I'm talking to YOU Fugazi).
To the men like James Taylor who made me want to be a better person. To the bands like The Cure and The Smiths who made my high school years worth living. To the songwriters like Elliot Smith who I miss so damn much because talents like that shouldn't die so young. But pure genius makes you crazy, and craziness and depression make for a short life span. I know, 'cause I thought I'd never make it to 30, and I'm not even a musical genius. I miss you Ian Curtis. Thanks for Joy Division.
To Joe Jackson who constantly reminds me that It's Different For Girls, and to XTC whose song Dear God embodied my thoughts on atheism at the time. To Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie Sioux, Bauhaus, and Front 242 for giving me stuff to dance to, and ladies to look up to when I was young. Exene, I have to thank you and Nina Hagen too. Thanks.
There are so many modern musicians who I rallied against for so long. Nothing new was good. So damn you to Jack White for making me get in to newer music and remind me about the new generation of wonderful and knowledgeable musicians out there. Were it not for you I wouldn't be loving on Sally Seltmann, The XX, Band of Horses, Birdy (15 year olds that can sing like that are from another planet for certain), Bon Iver, Ray LaMontagne...the list goes on and on.
So thanks to Talking Heads, T Rex, They Might Be Giants, Thurston Harris, JD McPherson, and the 1000s of other artists I'm forgetting. You seriously shaped my life and made me who I am. I could not have gotten through this life without you.
Happy picture of the day: Thanks ELO. I think people that don't love you must have bad hearing. Kind of like people who don't realize The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds album is the most brilliant thing ever.
This was great! I didnt know who half of those artists were, but I loved your passion about it. Im not very into music, although there are some songs that have really spoken to me at times in my life.
ReplyDeleteMusic has gotten me through some tough times. I listen at least half my workday, and quite a bit on weekends too. This weekend at my homo husband's we were singing along to a lot of Hall & Oates and Tina Turner.
DeleteGreat post and some absolutely brilliant bands mentioned.
ReplyDeleteIt was Jimi Hendrix that saved my life, back in the days, though he neared killed my mother. (She threatened to go crazy and smash my stereo if she heard 'Manic Depression' on more time)
It's like the lyrics to that John Miles song, ♪Music was my first love
and it will be my last.
Music of the future
and music of the past.♫
Please don't smack me in my motherfuckin face!
Thanks Lily!
DeleteMy dad wanted to kill me for Depeche Mode and Skinny Puppy.
I would never smack you. I fell in love with you the instant I read your blog. :)
So much of our lives is wrapped up in music. That we can identify and find our moods changed by music helps us to connect to others.
ReplyDeleteMany of the the bands/musicians you mention I have not heard of (or I might have heard them since I can't remember names to save my life).
Exactly! And songs and artists can evoke really strong memories.
DeleteI listen to more music than anyone I've ever met. I'm a huge music nerd. Always have been.
I love X - think they are fun, amazing and smart. But I think my son has ruined my previous love of David Bowie, most of The Who catalogue and some of Journey. He can listen to his favorites on repeat for years, or so it seems. He has great taste in music so I shouldn't complain - I just can't take the repetition.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I get in moods but there is definitely, "too much of a good thing" at times. I like variety.
DeleteI have seen X about five times. I love them.
I like your taste in music. Many of these are favorites of mine too. Music has the ability to pick you up, dust you off and get you back in the game. It's also what makes those quiet, introspective moments so much more meaningful. When you're pissed, turn up the Clash and shout the lyrics. Music is therapeutic, inspirational, life changing, ass kicking - transcendent. Where would I be without it? Fantastic post!
ReplyDeleteYes yes and yes!
DeleteThe Clash, The Ramones, and X are my go to's when I need some pep in my step.
omg. this is such an awesome post! music makes life better, a WHOLE lot better! i can't sing. i can't dance. i can't play a musical instrument. but i LOVE LOVE LOVE music -- many types! lots of old stuff, and even some new stuff. it is the best.
ReplyDeletep.s. i feel the same way about art. and books. and even tv and movies. :)
I am a nerd for music, art, tv, movies, and food. I am the meganerd. :)
DeleteTo me, nothing sets a mood better than music. I love a huge diversity too, and depending on my moods, you never know what you will get to hear when you roll with me. It could be anything from Louis Armstrong, to People in Planes or Pennywise, sometimes it Ludacris or Chopin, sometimes its the Three Tenors or freaking show tunes. LOL
ReplyDeleteI know, I know, I'm a total nutter :)
I'm a nutter right along with you because I'm the same way. :)
DeleteOhhhhhhhh...I am so on board with this sentiment. Music is a "soul" expression that will always reach the right ears at the right time, if you're listening. As for the Beach Boys...OMG...on that note, if you don't know what you're doing you should NEVER try to perform a Beach Boys song...they're harmonies and compositions are too complex to replicate. I'm glad you made it past 30!
ReplyDeleteTotally! I have listened to Waiting For The Day (my favorite) over 100 times. I STILL hear new things I missed. It's absolutely amazing. The composition, changes, and amount of instruments used is ridiculous.
DeleteYou and I could be twins in this. We don't listen to the same music, but we seem to feel it the same way. I love how music can trigger memories. Every time I listen to an old 80s hair band, I'm thrown back to some very fond times in my life.
ReplyDeleteI've been in a reminiscent mood the past couple weeks and listening to the "Lithium" station on Sirius/XM - all the alternative/grunge music of my youth has been feeding me recently. Funny that listening to it now helps me put such a positive spin on things that weren't always so positive back then.
Dude, I love 80s hair bands.
ReplyDeleteI have been listening to a lot of old industrial and goth stuff I listened to in high school lately. It must be reminiscing time.