Friday, May 6, 2011
Music
Edna is particularly drawn to certain pieces of music; they move her and create visual images. Write about a song/piece of music that is particularly meaningful for you. What is the song, who is it by, and why is it so special? What images/emotions does it create for you? Why is it significant? Etc.
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Music plays a huge role in my life. Although I listen to a variety of songs, there are definitely some tunes that I prefer over others. “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack is one of these songs. I enjoy this song’s sweet melody, but, above all, I like its inspirational lyrics.
ReplyDeleteI had heard “I Hope You Dance” several times on the radio, but my emotional attachment to this song did not develop until my parents gave me a copy of Lee Ann’s song for Christmas. They accompanied her song with a brief note. It said, “So you’ll always be happy and live life to its fullest.” Although the note did not say much, it was enough to hit home. Today, I listen to Lee Ann’s song with my parents and their short message in mind, whenever my spirits need lifting. This action is enough to brighten even the worst days, because it is always nice to remember that someone cares for you and is rooting for you to succeed.
As I mentioned earlier, the lyrics to “I Hope You Dance” are incredibly inspirational. Each verse has its own hidden message, so listeners can apply the lyrics’ meanings to their own lives. A small portion of the chorus reads, “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance/I hope you dance…I hope you dance.” This line in particular jumps out at me. It reminds me that no matter how stressful and hectic my life can be, I should always save time to dance and have a little fun. Sometimes, especially in years past, I forget about Lee Ann’s message and do not dance. In these moments, it seems as though I would rather sit back and watch life pass me by than make the most of what time I have left as a teenager. Nowadays, I make a conscious effort to listen to Lee Ann and her lyrics, because every human has their own woos. Since hardship is unavoidable, it is a person’s ability to dance when the moment presents itself that determines the amount of joy in one’s life. So, thank you to Lee Ann and my parents for reminding me that nothing is as bad as it seems if you willing to dance despite your inevitable troubles.
The most played Ipod has to be You Found Me by the Fray. This song is significant not only for its catchy tune, but mostly because of its meaningful and important lyrics. I have been listening to this song since January 2009, 2 years after I became a Christian. This song really made an impact on my life, when I first heard it, the first few words really made me want to hear the rest of the song. It started with: “I found god on the corner of 1st and Amisted”. Wait pop music artists sing about god? To find out more I listened to the song and was amazed. My life was really relevant to the song, and I realized that it really described what happened in my coming to Christ. “Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me” this can sort of describe the shambles my life was in before I came to accept and live my life for Jesus Christ. Everything was going wrong, bad grades and family problems, but this song reminded me that god had found me and I would now be saved. This song reminds me that if I ever doubt god or I begin straying on my walk with Christ, that Jesus saved me when no one else was there. It really enforces my trust that god will do wonders in my life because ever since I became Christian my life has progressively gotten better. To this day I still listen to this song every day because it just reminds me of how I came to Christ.
ReplyDeleteThough many songs have inspirational lyrics, I always found that one song in particular stood out from the rest and really spoke to me. “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers reminds me of the people in my life who are always there for me, through good times and bad, and are always there when I need someone to talk to. In addition, as most kids who went to Blanchard Memorial School remember, this was our sixth grade graduation song. Whenever I hear this song, it reminds me of the times my friends and family helped me through a bad situation I had, making me appreciate my relationships with them so much more. If I ever have a problem that I need to talk about, I do not hesitate to approach a family member or call a friend, because I know that one day they will “need somebody to lean on” as well. A main idea of the song is being there for those in need. Listening to this song encourages me to reach out to a friend or family member who I know is having trouble, and help them through whatever it is that they are going through. I cannot even count how many times friends have called me on the phone crying or worrying, just needing some comfort. Having been encouraged by Bill Withers’ words, I always tell my friends, “call me if you need to talk to someone, I will always be here!” I believe a big part of being a good friend is being there for someone to “lean on”. This is part of the reason the song speaks to me so much, it emphasizes one of my strong beliefs of being there for your friends when they need help. Not only is the song about helping friends, but in my mind, the song is also encouraging the listener to help strangers in need. I love helping people out, even if I don’t know them. It makes me feel good to know I made a difference by volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating clothes to a homeless shelter, or even asking a boy or girl who looks lonely to sit with me and my friends at lunch. Letting people know I am there for them and knowing I can lean on others whenever it is necessary is a big part of what makes me who I am, which is why “Lean on Me” means so much to me.
ReplyDeleteA song that is particularly meaningful to me is “For Good” from the musical Wicked. It is meaningful for a number of reasons. It is a good song from my favorite musical, and it has strong connections to my old school. My best friend, Maggie, sang “For Good” at our eighth grade graduation instead of writing and essay, so it reminds me of her, and of my graduation. I have not seen Maggie much since graduation almost two years ago, and I always think of her when I hear the song. I listen to this song a lot, and it always makes me sad. It evokes memories of times with people I never get to see any more, and a school that I wish I still went to. The song itself in not particularly uplifting and that does not help either. I also heard the song for the first time when I went to see Wicked in Boston for Maggie’s birthday in fifth grade, so the song also reminds me of elementary school and all of my friends and teachers from those years of school. The song also reminds me of the last few weeks of middle school when Maggie was constantly practicing the song, and I was working on my graduation poem, or helping her decide how best to end the song. I also spent a lot of time listening to the song in the weeks after graduation so it reminds me of that summer and the fun activities I did. Mostly when I listen to it now, I miss my friends and my old school. It makes me sad to think of all of the people that I do not get to see any more. I listen to the song when I am feeling particularly nostalgic, and I want to remember what happened at the end of eighth grade. I recently went and watched the musical Wicked again and all the songs reminded me of things that happened during seventh or eighth grade. The “For Good” song in particular has lots of memories attached to it and that is why it is particularly meaningful to me.
ReplyDeleteMusic plays a huge role in my everyday life. Music is a way for me to escape the stresses of school and helps me relax for once during the day. I listen to many types of music, but one of my favorite songs is “Show Me Something” by J. Cole. This song does not really have any personal meaning to me, but when I need to relax, this is the song I listen to. It was shown to me by one of my friends earlier this year, and ever since it has been one of my favorite songs. The lyrics he signs are about the struggles that he faces in his life and he is looking to god for something. He really speaks from the heart in this song and the meaning is very deep. There are some swears and bad words in the song, however this does not bother me at all because I think that he grew up with these words being used frequently. He is singing from his roots which is a reason why I like his music so much. This song relates to me because I always look to god whenever I need help with something or when I am going through personal struggles in school or in my daily life. This song falls under the category of rap, which is probably my favorite genre of music to listen to. All rappers have interesting stories that they tell through their songs, and these types of songs really calm me down. Some other rappers such as Wale and Lupe Fiasco speak from their hearts which is why I enjoy their music so much. Without music in my life, there would be so much more stress and difficulties to overcome.
ReplyDeleteMusic is one of the biggest influences in my life. It inspires so much of what I do. Although there are hundreds of songs which are a huge part of my life, the song that I always turn to in times of sadness or happiness is “Emily” by Joanna Newsom. Although I have only recently found this song, it has become a huge part of my life. The song is crafted by the incredible harpist, Joanna Newsom. The first reason I adore this song is the sound of her harp. Her musical talent is incredible and enchants me. If I am having a bad day or I feel stressed, when I listen to this song I get so lost in her melodies and complexity of what she plays, I forget about everything around me, including my stress and sadness. For 12 minutes and 8 seconds, my world is only about the voice and harp of Joanna Newsom. Before I found her, I had no previous experience with harp playing or what it even sounded like, and now I can’t go more than a day without listening to her beautiful playing.
ReplyDeleteThe second reason this song is amazing to me as it is, is her lyrics. Most songs heard today have extremely straight forward lyrics, singing about a significant other or expressing yourself. After listening to the song once, the meaning is obvious and leaves no wondering or contemplation. In “Emily”, the lyrics are diverse and symbolic. Her message is hidden behind the words and in order to uncover it, you must listen to her beautiful lyrics and try and interpret them. It turns listening into music more than something you do when you’re in the car or going to sleep, it becomes a project, listening over and over again until you uncover what she is talking about. Once you are able to figure it out, the song becomes a trophy, something that reminds you of your triumph. This song has a meaning deeper than other music today, which is why it is such a meaningful song to me.
Music plays many different roles in my life. For example, music helps me pass time, forget about things, deal with anger, and sadness. I have many favorite songs, but those songs don't make me feel like "Kiss the Rain" by Thriving Ivory (which was originally written by Billie Myers) does. I can listen to a song for a few weeks and then it would get “old” and overplayed quickly. But there are a few songs that I could listen to forever. I could listen to it now and love it, and then again in five years, I’m sure I would feel the same way. This song is one of those songs I could listen to forever. Whenever I listen to this song, I think of people who are far away from me physically and mentally. It helps me remember that even though I don’t see people everyday, they are still there. And through everything that changes over the years, we’re all unified by the same sky. I listen to this song whenever I miss someone because it paints a picture in my head of a rainy day everywhere that the people I miss are. It also paints a picture where people I miss are sitting next to their window and looking the same rainy sky that I’m looking at, and as the song progresses it changes from them sitting down to going outside and staring up at the sky while the raindrops hit their faces. No matter how different people are, or how far away they live, they are still close by and together because “we’re under the same sky.” It shows me that just because someone isn’t standing right next to you, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t there for you when you really need them. At the end of the song, the singer repeats “think of me” and I relate to this part too because when I miss someone, I want to know that they’re thinking of me too, and that they know I’m here for them even when it’s stormy outside. Whether I’m happy or sad, this song always reminds me of the people I miss when I listen to it.
ReplyDeleteMusic is a part of my being. It is a huge part of my life and impacts me greatly. Although I enjoy today’s popular pop or rap songs that all listed as the top hits in the country, I mostly appreciate classical music. As a trumpet player in orchestras, I enjoy classical pieces with trumpet fanfares and melodies. My favorite song/piece of music is probably William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini. It is one of the first pieces I played after joining the Longy Orchestra. It was one of the most difficult pieces I ever had to play and as one of two trumpets, I had to pull my weight. The tempo of the finale was too fast for me to keep up, forcing me to practice and practice. This piece has different parts that create different emotions. It begins with a cello solo backed up by other cellos and double basses. This slow passage is extremely beautiful and great to listen to. It makes you feel warm inside and happy. The next part gets the whole orchestra involved, creating a huge dynamic entrance, creating the image of a storm. This “storm” eventually subsides and calms down. This next section consists mainly of oboe and flute solos that switch off. I picture a place where the storm has finally passed, where birds are singing and daybreak has arisen. Last but not least, after the solos immediately follows trumpets only, a part that I personally practiced day and night. This part leads into the famous Finale, usually seen as a cavalry charge. It is extremely powerful finale that makes listeners imagine galloping horses or a hero riding to the rescue. This finale was difficult but so amazing to play once I got it down. This piece is significant to me because it was my favorite piece. I would listen to it 24/7. Not only that, as one of my first pieces in the new orchestra, it holds sentimental value. It is this kind of classical piece that helps me relieve stress and enjoy music. Without these songs, I would not be who I am today.
ReplyDeleteTo say that music is a big part of my life is an understatement. Currently, my music collection consists of 943 complete albums, totaling 11,016 songs. I’ve listened to 39,122 songs over a period of about a year and a couple months, and that only counts my computer. So, needless to say, it was very hard to pick a single song to isolate my feelings and emotions with. But, the song “Holland, 1945”, by Neutral Milk Hotel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhhfJTgHx58) is an amazing example of a song in which the singers passion about the lyrics shows through.
ReplyDeleteThe song starts out with a simple guitar intro, which segues into the lyrics. Starting out, the lyrics go as follows: “The only girl I’ve ever loved, was born with roses in her eyes. But they they buried her alive, one evening 1945.” Although seeming like a rather weird topic to be exploring, the song title holds the key to the puzzle. The song is about the bombings taking place in Holland during World War II. More specifically, it is about the life that Anne Frank went through during her stay there.
When you listen to this song, you can almost feel yourself being transported to what it must had been like for the residents of Holland during these bombings. The songwriter, Jeff Mangum, talks more in detail about how Anne Frank had to run away, citing: “But now we must pack up every piece, of the life we used to love.” His inflection provokes a feeling of sadness for the residents of the city as they see their life being crushed before their eyes. It’s a powerful feeling that I feel can only be portrayed through this song, other than seeing footage.
This song is special to me because of the way that it tells you the atrocities of war bluntly. As in this lyric: “Where their bodies once moved but don’t move anymore”. While history books tell you about how certain events went through, they rarely tell you about how individuals lives were drastically effected by the war. In this song, the seemingly uncompromising enemy shows no remorse for the harmless individuals who inhabit the city. Whenever I listen to this song, the images of a time of panic fill my mind. Panic filled individuals who fill the streets as the bombs start to fall. Frantically trying to hide from the men who will cause their death. All around you, you see your friends dying. Man, woman, child. Bombs don’t know how to distinguished between the three. Bombs don’t know who is innocent; who is guilty. They merely kill. Kill without the feelings of a human.
That’s why they are used. Humans can’t take the guilt.
Music is my way of leaving reality for just a few minutes when I need a break. My favorite type of music is rock because the soft, slow tune is relaxing. Although this song may not be rock, it’s the only song that I could find meaning in. The song is “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond.
ReplyDeleteThe song does not have a deep meaning but it has a connection. My mom attended Tufts with Neil Diamonds daughter. They remained friends throughout college and my mom was even able to help out at Neil Diamonds concert at Tufts. Neil’s daughter and my mom were close friends for numerous years after college but unfortunately, they moved away before I was able to meet them. So while it doesn’t have an actual meaning, it represents the family friendship that exists.
In the later 1900’s, Neil’s kids did become part of Boston and his tunes followed along. His most popular song “Sweet Caroline” became the theme song for Boston and many Red Sox fans. It is the song played during the seventh inning stretch at every Red Sox home game. Many people, like my Uncle, just think it is a song. In Boston however, it’s a symbol and everyone knows the extra parts added after “Sweet Caroline...” Every day I wake up to it on my iPod. It gets me pumped up for the day and excited even though once I turn it to the sports radio station, the announcer breaks the news of another loss by the Red Sox.
Since I have attended numerous Red Sox games, every time I hear it, I imagine Fenway Park with the Green Monster and fans screaming everywhere. Boston fans have the best spirit in the country and I believe it is an honor to have such a great song show the pride we have for our team. One of the beginning lyrics “And spring became the summer” gets me excited during winter. Spring is so close and just as it says, summer, the best time of the year, comes right after.
Not only does it get me ready for the day and have a friendship connection, but it brings together Boston sports fans.
Music is a very large part of my life. I like listening to music whenever I can. I like many kinds of music however my favorite type of music is hip-hop/rap. The reason hip-hop/rap is my favorite type of music is because there are good beats and the lyrics of the songs are meaningful. There are many songs that are meaningful to me. The most meaningful song would probably be “Till’ I Collapse” by Eminem and Nate Dogg. This song is special to me because Eminem is one of my favorite artists and the lyrics give great advice that I think is important in one’s life. The advice given through the lyrics of this song tell people to never give up and try your hardest at everything you do. The lyrics from the song say “Cause sometimes you feel tired, feel weak, and when you feel weak, you feel like you wanna just give up. But you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength and just pull that s*** out of you and get that motivation to not give up and not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse.” This introduction to the song is really deep and very meaningful for me. At times when I am feeling sad or mad, I listen to this song and it always makes me feel better. This song gives me images of myself struggling and feeling bad then as the song goes on the image is of me being on top of the world. The song has a very positive vibe to it and it is outstanding piece of literature. This song is significant because it is a very motivational song. This song was also the trailer song for the best selling video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2”. This being said, the song is incredibly popular and is one of Eminem’s best songs made.
ReplyDeleteI love to listen to music and often times have my iPod in. Music plays a huge roll in my life because it helps me express myself and also provides a way to escape. One song that is meaningful to me is “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly. This song is very special to me for multiple reasons. First when I was a kid my favorite movie was Space Jam, with Michael Jordan. This song was played in the movie so from a very young age I knew it. When I was little I pictured myself as Michael Jordan driving through the lane, jumping, soaring, and dunking the basketball. I believed that I could fly and be just like Mike. As I grew older the song took on a whole new meaning. Instead of literally wanting to jump high or fly like a bird, the lyrics meant endless possibilities. “If I can see it, then I can do it. If I just believe it, there's nothing to it.” These words mean a lot to me and have become a personal motto. If I want to do something I need to believe in myself and then it becomes a possibility and I can do it, “I can fly.” Belief in myself has become very important. When I run races in both track and cross country I need to believe in myself and imagine myself doing well. When thoughts like doubt and fear come into my mind I need to flush them out and envision a good race. When I hear this song today I become nostalgic because it brings me back to my childhood and all the hopes and wishes I had. These dreams have evolved over time from an idea like being a professional basketball player to getting into a good college and doing well in school. I still dream of flying one day like I did as a child. The song reminds me of the multitude of chances that I have in the world and when I see something I want to do I should go after it. This song will always inspire me whether it is when I play basketball with friends or I am trying to do something meaningful with myself like doing well in school. R. Kelly truly touched me with his song “I Believe I Can Fly” and it will forever be one of my favorite songs.
ReplyDeleteMusic is always changing for me. I listen to basically any type of music, besides rap. My favorite song usually changes each week, depending on my mood. I get tired of listening to them, and then I cannot listen to the same song again. However there is one song that can never get old for me, my all time favorite, "Tubthumping" or "I Get Knocked Down" by Chumbawamba. Yes, it is a '90s song, but all of my favorite songs that never get old are from the '90s and it is amazing in my opinion. I can remember listening to this song when I was little on my sisters CD player, and I have loved it ever since. I never thought about the lyrics when I little, it was a likable song. I am pretty positive that it was my favorite just because of the catchiness of the lyrics. I could remember the lyrics and sing to it because it just repeats the same lines. But now, I love the song for the meaning of the lyrics, not the easiness to remember them. Mainly it restates, "I get knocked down, but I get up again. You're never gunna keep me down". Which as mundane as it sounds, it has a moral. That no matter what, you should never give up and stand up for yourself. Instead of just a catchy song it is captivating now. It is the song for nearly all aspects of my life. Very fitting to the situation, this song plays in my head when I fall off my horse. But I refuse to become afraid of doing what I love because of a fall or traumatic experience as some call it. It makes no sense, for me at least, to fear doing something. As the song says, you should just get back up and never back down from doing what you want to do. This song makes me aspire to do better in a competition after a bad round. It will continue to do so for all aspects of my life. The song of my childhood, that most do not recognize and have never heard, is the basis for my life.
ReplyDeleteIn daily life, music is a huge part of me. Usually I’ll turn on whatever’s on the radio, but I may not really like it. My ipod is extremely diverse because of all the different interests I have. Ballet makes me listen to classical music, but I also need different music for when I am drawing. Although many songs these days have motivational lyrics and meanings, one song in particular has a lot of meaning to me. About two years ago, one of my close dance friends got into an accident and passed away. She was one of the brightest and bubbliest friends I ever had. Whenever I was around her, she could always make me smile even if I was having the worst day ever. It was almost like having an older sister who I could depend on whenever I needed her. She was four days away from her eighteenth birthday when this incident happened so she was still young at the time and lived the life of a child. “If I Die Young” by the Band Perry means a lot to me because of this incident. For the first couple days, I felt like a part of my life was missing and I couldn’t get over it. My friend showed me this song and it stuck with me for a couple of weeks. I feel really bad saying this but it was reassuring that I was not the only one who was going through the pain. The song tells me that it is okay that people have accidents because they are usually mentally prepared for it. A person usually thinks about their death at least once in their life and that they know what they want if they do die young. The song says that even if your life is short, you are loved by someone every moment of it so live your life to your full potential. It reminds me that she was loved by many of her friends and family, and if there was a reason she was taken away from us, it is justified. This song helped me get through hard times in my life and it means a lot to me right now as well.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song has to be “Glass of Water” by Coldplay. Coldplay has been one of my favorite bands for a very long time. I have fallen in love with this song since it came out in late 2008. This song has one of my favorite messages; live life in the present. There is no use worrying about the past or the future. This message resonates very well with me. I believe that the only important time is the present. If I can succeed in the present all of the time, then I always will be succeeding. The future mentioned in “Glass of Water” refers to the afterlife. This song rejects religion and the afterlife by saying “The hollowest of halos is no halo at all”. I think that that this song touches on many important. Coldplay is a very down-to-earth band who views everything with a clear perspective. They take a very loose religious view on the afterlife especially considering that the lead singer, Chris Martin is a Christian. This song has a quote that resonates very well with me: “Living your whole life in the past/ Going nowhere fast at all”. To me, this quote means that if I dwell on the past too much, it will lead to the stagnation of my future and the present. The most important concept of this song is focusing on the present. To me, that incorporates viewing the little things in life. If I am dwelling on the past too much, how can I make progress in the present? Although it is important to learn from mistakes, it has to be done in moderation. I use this policy in school because I always enjoy improving my scores from the last assignment, I do not focus on the past grade for hours when I could be focusing on the next chance to improve upon it. Coldplay plays such deep musical consistently and they are always the perfect band to listen to. Most days, when I come home from school or a random activity, I almost always listen to at least one song from Coldplay. It is my favorite song for relaxation and moving on in life regardless of what happened during school.
ReplyDelete“Love and Memories” by O.A.R (Of a Revolution) is the first song that comes to mind as meaningful – not because it is a particularly moving song but because of the memories and feelings that I associate with it. This is the song that I think of for all the time I spent with Sav the end of freshman year and the summer just passed. It was such a great time in my life, everything seemed perfect: no stress, an amazing best friend, and success in what I was trying to achieve. This song makes me think of warmth and freedom and belonging. At the end of last year I really just clicked into my niche and felt a sense of being in the right place. Also, my friendships – especially with Savanna – grew and I found myself feeling completely comfortable and content. There are heaps of little snippets of events that I think of with this song: sun baking, going out to this pond and Sav hurting her leg, watching a No Soap Radio concert – all with other stories attached that always make me smile. I remember that Lucy, Sav and I made a video lip-syncing and dancing around to Love and Memories. It was hilarious and so much fun. I think that total openness that we have with each other is so special and this song reminds me of that. As I’m writing this, Sav’s over for a four day sleepover and I really just want to hang out (I’m checking the word count quite regularly). Thinking about how far our friendship has come in less than two years makes me feel so thankful and lucky that we found each other amid the hundreds of other students at AB. Sav helps me through all the rough times and I don’t know what I would do without her. This song signifies all of the wonderful times we’ve had together and my disbelief at how fortunate I am to have such a wonderful friend.
ReplyDeleteMusic is a huge part of my life. It gets me through the day, helps me relax, is there for me when nobody else is, and is just fun to listen to. I listen to and appreciate all types of music, while also playing it every day on my guitar. Some songs have real meaning to me, while some are simply good to listen to. One song that always manages to touch me and get my mind going, however, is Imagine by John Lennon. This song is symbolic of peace and the idea of a world without government, religion, or possessions. John Lennon offers his version of a peaceful, wholesome life free of societal corruption. It’s great to get in touch with one’s inner hippie every now and then, and this song, among others, is a great way to do it. It’s nice to every now and then disappear into my thoughts of peace and love and a world with no people or Gods to worship or impress or fight, a world where people do not constantly hurt others in a struggle for power and personal gain, and a world where all people share the world and live in a brotherhood of man. The lyrics of the song, while simple, are powerful. They are great food for thought. I do not see my yearnings for a simpler, more peaceful world as idealistic, because I do understand that humans are imperfect creatures, but a world where nobody has any God(s) to impress or live for is indeed a pleasing idea to me. Human nature would never allow a world like this to exist, because so many greedy, power-hungry people would lose all their power and possessions and ignore the true values of life. The idealistic world free of wars, hatred, hunger, poverty, and greed is simply too far from human understanding to really exist, but as the song says, I can Imagine. However, humans are simply not ready for this way of life. It’s a very nice song, though, and it conjures a very pleasant image of a truly peaceful society.
ReplyDelete"Maps" By Emancipator has to be my favorite song and doesn’t hold much meaning but the way the song sounds is really interesting and the feeling it causes me to have. I don’t listen to a lot of music so there’s only so much to chose from. I prefer to find meaning in poems and writing rather than songs. Maps has this amazing sound that sooths me immensely and helps me calm down and concentrate. When i listen to this song i think of tranquil places and about life and the role of music in life. The song has this very soft tone to it at the beginning but as it picks up it gets sort of metalish but still seems to keep its integrity as a soft song. Whenever I play this song I can concentrate so easily on what I’m doing or thinking and the world around me except for what I’m thinking of just seems to melt and be replaced by the music. The feeling is almost of being in a separate world detached from the stress and obstacles of life and in a rather perfect place where life can only be enjoyed. Like a day in the summer that you have all to yourself to do with as you please with a warm sun and just a beautiful day. On the contrary if I wish when listening to Maps I feel like I can look at a map of my life and analyze the past, present, and what I want from the future as a whole and just understand myself better and the world around me.
ReplyDeleteMusic for me is my escape from reality and life. I can put my earphones in, and just drift from the world. It helps me become not stressed, and it can make me extremely happy, and I can just block out the world. My iPod has a lot of different kind of music, and someone can always tell my mood from what music I am listening at the time, and there are many songs that are special to me. But the song that has the most meaning to me is “Save Tonight” by Eagle Eye Cherry. One of my friends had showed this song to me recently, and it automatically made a connection with me. It reminded me of all my summer memories that I had in the summer before eighth grade and freshmen year. I spent the entire summer with my friends, and created so many amazing memories, and this song is about saving those memories because you will not have that day again, and you have to always “save” that night. One night in particular that was meaningful to me was the day where I got to spend the entire day with one of my best friends who I normally do not get to see that often. I remember that day was where I was the happiest I have ever been, and I did not want that day to end. A line that resembles my feelings is “It ain’t easy to say goodbye darling please don’t start to cry cause girl you know I’ve got to go, oh lord I wish it wasn’t so…Save tonight and fight the fight the break of dawn come tomorrow I’ll be gone”. This is saying how no one wants to say goodbye to a wonderful night, but it has to end eventually but it is important to “save tonight” and remember the memories you make in your life. Whenever I hear this song I remember that night, and I will always remember the special memories and keep them forever. It makes me happy when I hear this song because it makes me remember those memories always. Even though those memorable times had to end eventually I am thankful to have those memories that will last for my whole life, and this song helps me realize that you even though you are sad those times had to pass, you should be happy to have them in the first place.
ReplyDelete"Changes" by Tupac is one of the most meaningful and inspirational songs to me. Tupac, and most other rappers had an association with crime and violence in there songs, however, in this song Tupac takes on a different side. In a time where many people were fighting against each other in the rap community, and when blacks were being more oppressed than nowadays, Tupac wrote this song to inspire them to change their ways. Although primarily this song is targeted toward the black community, the song can apply to anyone as in it says what it necessary to create and live in a peaceful world. The thing about hip hop back then, was that it had such a negative connotation with it. When Tupac wrote this song, it really was a huge change from the normal rap songs. It contributed to a revolution of blacks not willing to be treated or treat each other so poorly. This song was released after Tupac was killed; an example of what this song was trying to fight.
ReplyDeleteIt is really a significant song to me because of this different message in the song. As a big fan of rap and hip hop, a lot of the rap on my Ipod has violent topics, however whenever this song comes on, it is a really important change for me. It speaks to me in the way that it is so peaceful and uplifting. The message contributes a lot to who I am as a person, in how it is about the right way to treat your fellow man. One of the most interesting lines of it is "we ain't ready to see a black president". This, having been released in 1998, was well before President Obama. It shows how much we, as a human race, have grown over the years to be able to elect a black man as a president.
I do not spend a lot of time listening to songs because I am not a very big fan of music. Because of this, I do not really keep up with new songs, and I have not really heard that many songs in general. Despite this, one song sticks out to me. This song is called “Superman” and it is by Lazlo Bane. I first heard part of this song when watching the show Scrubs, as a slightly altered version of the chorus plays during the title sequence of the show. I liked listening to the part that I heard, so I looked up the full song and found out that I really enjoyed it. The lyrics of the song are somewhat ambiguous, so I am not certain about what it is supposed to mean. However, I think it is about how in order to get ahead in life, you have to rely on others to help you along the way. It also seems to say that you have to enjoy your life as you live it, because if you simply try to achieve a goal without enjoying life, it will not be worth it in the end. Despite the serious overarching themes that the song has, it still seems somewhat hopeful and happy. Personally, I really like the messages of the song as well as how it manages to stay hopeful all throughout. I also like “Superman” because every time I hear it, I am reminded of Scrubs, which is one of my favorite shows. To be quite honest, the association with Scrubs is probably the main reason why I like the song so much. In addition to the previously mentioned reasons why I like the song, I also like it because I like the way it sounds. Overall, “Superman”, by Lazlo Bane, is especially meaningful to me because I like its themes, because it reminds me of one of my favorite shows, and because it is simply a song that sounds good to me.
ReplyDelete"Dil Chata Hai" from the movie "Dil Chata Hai" by Shankar Mahadevan is as meaningful as songs get for me (admittedly, not that much). I listen to a song once every few days, maybe even a week, but I have heard this song at least THREE times. You can tell I must like it already. Not only do I like it, I try to relate with it. It is not so much the song but the signature music video which is incorporated into the Bollywood film which helps me understand what life was like for my parents in India. Obviously their lives did not match up closely with the characters, but it gives me an anthropological check on roughly what they did. During the music video, three guys are riding in a sports car to Goa (a vacation hotspot), stopping on the way to go fishing. It was pretty random when I first watched the movie, but my dad later commented that he used to go on similar car rides with his friends during summer vacations. That was one of the few times I heard about recent life before me, and I tried to imagine my father’s younger self (same guy, but with a mustache) driving around and partying with his cronies. I realized that I would be doing the same thing if we had not immigrated to the United States. I would hit the road (yes, at the age of 15.5) and drink and whatnot, fooling around. Of course if I went to school in India I would already be good at mathematics and thus there would be no need to study precalculus and trigonometry and take gym classes and extra AP courses over the summer (six weeks out of eight, in India summer vacation is almost 3 months). What I want would change from being raised in either country, and growing up the United States has taught me that I do not want to party and get some job from some close associates and keep raising myself- I want to graduate after about 20 years of school (from preschool up) and do five million other things to certify myself affirm a good occupation. The former still makes me think of my father, who was caught between lifestyles and made the transition from Indian-style to U.S.-style and earned some degrees in Chicago and Boston. My brother and I made our grand entry into the world a couple of years later and never knew our pre-graduation father, and “Dil Chata Hai” is the only song I know which depicts the sentiments of a past like his.
ReplyDeleteMusic has a huge impact on my life. I always enjoy listening to rock and classical music, but I usually listen to classical music when I am studying. To me classical music has both a calming and rushing effect that helps me get my homework done. The most meaningful song for me is Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. This song was on of Beethoven’s shorter, but still famous works. When this song was finished in 1802, his decaying hearing had reached a point where it impaired his ability to play piano. Despite this Beethoven still endeavored to write music. When I hear the sadness in the first movement, I reflect on how hard his life must have been. Playing piano was his only income, but he suffered from a disease that destroys his hearing. The mood of the first movement reminds me of slow ripples across a lake's surface. The second movement is entirely different. It has an upbeat mood like a galloping horse. The tone was probably used to remind us about the joys of playing piano, as this piece was written to one of his students. This change of mood contrasts the previous movement and reminds us that life is also fun and cheerful. The last movement replaces the mood with the neutral feeling of being rushed. Instead of presenting al piece layered with emotion, it brings a sense of danger. It makes me think of a chase trough the jungle or the cartoon, Tom and Jerry. Perhaps Beethoven had something on his mind that worried him while he was writing this music. The song is unique because it is about three different points of life. Unlike today's music, which is presented very specifically, Beethoven’s piece gives three different styles, sad, happy, and fast, that gave variety to the otherwise boring and repetitive piano music. As study music, the first two movements are great, however, it is so hard to concentrate on the last movement that I usually change the song. This does not change how I think of the song as it is still very well written, emotional, and one of my favorite songs.
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ReplyDeleteMusic is very important to me. Not only do I listen to it, but I even make it sometimes. When I listen to it though, I listen to it a lot. I listen to it when I'm happy, I listen to it when I'm bored, I listen to it to help me get through boring tasks and chores, and I listen to it when my spirits need to be lifted. One song that I listen to when my spirits are down is "Try it Again" by The Hives. Whenever I mess something up or do something wrong, the song never fails to cheer me up. Not only is it a good, catchy, and cheery song to listen to when you're feeling sad, but it also has a meaningful message. Whenever I mess something up, I always feel like I'm a failure and can never do anything right. I want to just give up right there and never try again. However, I listen to this song and it cheers me back up. I immediately want to try it again and try to succeed. If I fail again, I'll just get back up and try it again until I succeed. However, I can't just keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome, because that'd just be madness. I gotta learn from my mistakes and change them if I want any chance to succeed. This song has kept me persevering through my toughest times and has taught me to not give up and to learn from my mistakes. Without it, I'd still be hanging onto every single past mistake that'd I've made and I would never have gone back and tried to fix them. The tune also sticks in my head for days (which could be a bad thing) so if, or rather when, I make future mistakes, I will simply remember this song and I will never give up.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this song is not only meaningful to me because it gets me through the hard times that I face, but also because it reminds me of all the hard times I already faced and successfully got through. It shows me that I can succeed and that I'm not a failure and I won't be a failure if I just persevere and keep at the task that I'm doing. This, in turn, gives me even more motivation to keep trying again and again until I succeed. The song is so meaningful to me because it has already gotten me through so many tough times and I know it will help me through even more.
One of the songs that moves me is called “For Good”, by the cast of Wicked. I first heard this song last year when I was watching Wicked, the musical. The two main protagonists Glinda and Elphaba sang this song in order to show their appreciation and love for each other. This song is presented at the climax of the show when the two friends are about to separate. Even though Glinda and Elphaba hated each other at the beginning, they grew to love one another. They become best friends and they find that their opinions on life are similar. When they are forced to leave each other, they sing this song as a farewell address. The song expresses their love and it is a sad point in the story. The beautiful tune of this song also contributes to the mood and I was left almost in tears. Whenever I hear this song, it reminds me of the relationships I have with my friends. I have definitely been changed “for good” by everyone in my life. Hearing this song, it makes me sad as I imagine the time that will come when we will all leave each other. As we all get older, we will go to different colleges and go our separate ways. This song tells me that even though people will leave me, my character will be a tattoo of our friendship. There is not another song that describes who I am more accurately. We may not know it, but we are “led to those who help us most to grow.” My friends have taught me valuable life lessons and cared for me when I needed it most. The little acts of kindness they show to me make me feel happy and it motivates me to try to be a better person. I see how nice it is to have nice friends and I also want to be a nice friend to others so they can be happy too. Through their care, I have learned to care and be nice to others. I am very grateful to have everyone that supports me in my life. They have changed me over the years to who I am today.
ReplyDeleteMusic is a big part of my life. I listen to music when ever I can. My favorite song would have to be “Let it Be” by the Beatles. It’s special to me because my Uncle likes the Beatles a lot. He was the one the introduced me to Beatles music before he moved away. Every time I listen to the song I think of my uncle and the wonderful times we had when he was around. The song it’s self reminds me of the time me and my uncle were driving around town and gong to play soccer. The song creates a feeling of happiness because I get to remember my uncle and the fun times I had with him. Just the song its self is significant because I listen to it every time something goes wrong at a soccer game. I take the lyrics of the song pretty literally. “Just let be, let it be speaking words of wisdom, let it be”, if we lose I just let it be of if I get to foolish during the game I think of the words and I get my head back into the game. I also listen to the song when I am down and need a boost. It helps me feel happy. The song also helps me imagine what it was like when the Beatles wrote this song. But in general the song reminds me of the summer and my uncle.
ReplyDeleteA song that is very meaningful to me is “Yeh Joh Des Hai Tera,” sung by A.R. Rahman in the Indian movie Swades. It is special because every time I listen to the song, it brings back memories of all my India trips in the past. In my head, I can see images of the smiling faces of my relatives when they see us, the good food, congested highways with horns constantly honking, all the clothes I get, etc. Almost every summer for the past five to six years, I spent a month there with my family, and it always brings tears to my eyes when I am at the airport, saying goodbye to relatives. Sometimes, I just wish I can live with my relatives and be able to see them every day because of how much I miss them. This is similar to how the character feels towards the end of the movie because he, living in Florida, cannot stay away from his mother and his best friend that was like his sister, living all the way back in India. (Except, he ends up moving back…which I’m probably not going to do) Four lines in the song, translated, mean “This very bond between the land and you, how could it ever break up? The fragrance of this very land, how could you forget it?” These lines apply to me because I agree that bond between my motherland, India, and me can never break up. I am proud to be from such a great country and will never deny it, no matter what happens. Another line in the song, translated, is “Someone / something will remind you of this.” I also can never forget anything about India, even if I try to because many things that are in my house are brought from there. Whether I look at pictures, Indian clothes, books, movies, etc; or even talk to my relatives, they always remind me of my past summer vacations. “Yeh Joh Des Hai Tera” is a song that I will never be able to stop listening to, and will always be meaningful to me.
ReplyDeleteI do not listen to a lot of music but when I do I listen to a wide range of music. But the song that impacts me the most is Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel. It explains what sounds are made when there is no noise. An image of darkness is seen by me when I hear this song. It also paints a picture of a man all alone and no one to talk to. This brings back feelings of when I changed schools so many times that I was constantly meeting new people. Not everyone was so excepting of the new person. This song has the ability to be depressing or uplifting depending on how you want to listen to it. The song is meaningful to me because it is the first song I heard by the two artist and it is in one of my favorite movies The Graduate. At first those two reasons were the reason that I listened to the song but after hearing time and time again I began to listen. Listen to the lyrics of the song and I realized that it told a story of a man that was in solitude and no one to talk to. He did not ask for the darkness it was planted in his mind when he was sleeping. Then at a certain point the darkness leaves and he sees an image and voices that break the silence. I think at times everyone feels the way he does. Everyone feels like being by themselves and being silent, but then after a while they realize that it is better if they talk and break out of the silence. I have felt this way many times but just like the man, I too become vocal and silent no longer.
ReplyDeleteA song that is particularly meaningful to me is The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti. Although it is not my favorite song, I think the lyrics are interesting, it reminds me of summer, and I did a project about it in Digital Imagery. The lyrics sound very negative which is strange because it doesn’t at all match with the overall mood of the song. For example there is one lyric that says “Jumped back in where I learned to swim, tryin’ to keep my head above it the best I can”. I find this very confusing, not only because it doesn’t match with the song but also because it doesn’t really make sense. I always wonder what he means by this. It could possibly be that places from his childhood should be comforting but they are not anymore. What also intrigues me is it has negative lyrics but it still makes you feel happy after hearing it.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason this song is meaningful is that it reminds me of the summer. During the summer I had it on my ipod which I listened to on our way to Maryland which was a really long time in the car. Because I heard this song so much during the summer it reminds me of it. It also may remind me of the summer because it is beachy and kind of sounds like surfing type music or something.
Last semester I took digital imagery and I used this song for one of my projects. The assignment was to create and image that you have in your head when you hear a song. Since this song makes me think of warm and cool colors because of the conflicting moods that’s what I did. I put warm and cool colors meshed together with the opposite color text on top of it. The reason I chose this song to do was because I is one of the few songs that does bring a picture to my mind. The pictures that Edna sees in her mind seem to have hidden meanings about her life so I wonder this song says anything about my own life.
Music is as much a part of me as anything; it is pretty much all playing in my room. Music, to me is a release and a get away from stress. Relaxing and listening to the various melodies and tones of what I am listening, as well as pumping my self up for sports and making it through the day. From the time I get to my room music is playing until I go to bed. A song that helps me no matter the situation is “Country Roads” by John Denver. The song has it all, a great melody, relaxing vocals, and to me a special memory of places I love. Perhaps one of the most played songs on my ipod, I first heard this song at Belknap, and immediately loved. This song brings to mind the image of a campfire and relaxing with friends. In fact as I write this blog, I am listening to the song. How fitting it is to listen to this song and reminisce about summer nights by the fire, laughing and sharing stories. It’s not the that I love West Virginia as much as the song is about loving where you are from, and to me that is very special. To me the song brings up the message to always remember where you are from and be humble about it. The song is very much opposite to the raps songs and pop songs of today, which are all about sex, drugs, and alcohol, messages that do not send a very positive message to those who listen to it. I believe that the song “country roads” does and will always hold a special place in my heart, as West Virginia does to John Denver. Whenever I listen to this song, I become a much calmer person, much more relaxed and get a sense of freedom and happiness that one gets when he or she thinks about something they love. Other songs that I like similar to “Country Roads” are “The General” and “Rock Me Like A Wagon Wheel”. Two songs that really inspire me in much the same way that “Country Roads” does.
ReplyDeleteSince I am a pianist and very involved in music, there are many pieces that are meaningful or significant to me, each in different ways. A good example of this is one of the pieces I am currently working on, Etude in A flat, op. 25 no. 1, by Chopin. It is one of the 12 etudes in Chopin’s op. 25, and one of a total of 27 etudes that he wrote. The etudes are unique in that they are primarily written for practice and for working on technique, but they are complex and interesting enough to be played in a concert (the etudes of Liszt are similar). This particular etude is very meaningful to me, especially because it is one of the pieces that my grandmother loves; she is a piano teacher and is one of my sources of inspiration. It is also an incredible piece; in my opinion, it is completely ambiguous: it can be interpreted as having a happy mood or a sad one. It can form a comforting image in the listeners mind, or it could form an image of a lonely person crying out. This makes it theoretically possible to be played differently each time, depending on what the mood of the performer is, though I have a specific way of playing it each time that I only slightly change over time. Either way, it is a very expressive piece, despite being an etude, and has amazing harmonies and modulations. Another piece that I must mention is the German Requiem, by Brahms. This piece was written for a funeral mass, though it is rarely played for that, but instead in concert format. The piece includes a chorus as well as orchestra and several solo singers. This is one of my favorite pieces for orchestra and chorus, though there is an incredibly wide variety of music in that genre. What I like about it is the incredible and complex intertwining of the harmonies and the expressive qualities of the piece. It is a huge piece, about 70 minutes long, but it is so well structured and has so many great moments that it is worth listening to throughout. Brahms is one of my favorite composers because of works like the German Requiem, and the fact that he wrote so many other incredible pieces is what makes him even more amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt’s be dumb to say music has a big impact on my life or whatever, since that’s what everyone here is saying, but it really does. Basically, it gave a future to someone like me, who isn’t interested in any school subjects and isn’t really good at anything else besides playing trombone. And while I’m not the best, I really have a lot of fun with it. So, I’m going to write about a song called Brass Machine (or Scream Machine) by Maynard Ferguson. This was a song the jazz band played last year when I was a freshman. What I like playing the most of jazz, and after being asked to join the high school jazz band when I was in eighth grade because they were short one trombone, I decided jazz is what I want to play for the rest of my life. In jazz band, since it was my second year, I already knew most of the people in it, and I felt really at home there (and I still do). Brass Machine was given to us along with quite a few other pieces, since the director couldn’t decide on three and would pick which ones to work on for the concert after we ran through them once. The piece is a trumpet feature, which was appropriate, since we had the invincible three that year—the three best trumpet players in the band, perhaps three of the best overall musicians in the band—in the jazz band. When we started playing, I could tell it wasn’t like other pieces we’d played before; it was a fast upbeat shuffle with loads of energy, and I loved it right off the bat. After the trumpets started wailing and going crazy, I had one of those moments where you think, “This is why I love _____”. Brass Machine is still one of my favorites that I’ve played with the jazz band, and although a lot of the people that used to be in it have graduated, I’ll never forget the experiences we had and the music we made together.
ReplyDeleteMusic has had a major impact on my life. I listen music for a variety of reasons such as being bored, relaxing or getting pumped up for a game so I listen to music pretty much every day. One of my favorite songs is “Not Afraid” by Eminem. This song is by one of my favorite rappers and also has a great amount of meaning behind it. When listening to this song I realize both how fortunate I am to live in a safe place like Acton and also, if there is any obstacle that I can succeed. Eminem had a very rough childhood and had some drug addictions and other problems in his life but was able to become one of the most successful artists of our generation. With him being able to succeed and move past all his obstacles; all of the challenges I face seem much smaller in relation. I really respect what Eminem is saying in this song especially in relation to other rappers who only rap about money, drugs, and cars. It is rare today to see a rapper or any artist who writes from his heart the way Eminem does. Eminem shows that no matter how many problems you have you can get past them. “And I just can't keep living this way So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage I'm standing up, Imma face my demons I'm manning up, Imma hold my ground I've had enough, now I'm so fed up Time to put my life back together right now”. With the right mindset and motivation everything is achievable and Eminem is living proof of this. This song is also a great pump up song before a game. Confidence is a big part of sports and this song is able to get me in the mindset that I’m ready to play. When listening to music I am more interested in the message of the song rather than if it has a catchy chorus and this song in particular captures the type of a message I like to hear in my music.
ReplyDeleteMusic has been a massive part of my life for as long as I can remember. Since I was old enough to really appreciate music, at the age of 5 or 6, I played violin, and was raised to music by aerosmith, led zeppelin and all the amazing rock giants. The most meaningful song to me is "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera. I know you're thinking "cheesy song" or even "cheesy singer..", but this song really speaks to me. But there is just this one line in the song that is actually written all over the walls of my room. "Words can't bring me down." Since I was little, I've been different. Back then, It was my skin tone, hair and glasses, whereas now, it may still be that, but its also my style, my taste in music, and the things I enjoy happy. My differences have caused me to grow more and more self conscious over the years. I have this idea of the way I want to be, but I can never seem to be that person. This song, or rather the line, helps me remind myslef myself that hey, I am beautiful. The lyrics actually speak my life. It speaks my thoughts and hopes, and the idea about myself that I try hard to be. But sometimes, I realize that I have to see that I can't change who I am. But I will always be beautiful. "No matter what they say."
ReplyDeleteI havn't always been like really into music or anything but over the past few years my brothers have gotten me to listen to some really good music. One of my favorite songs is "Fast Car" by Wyclef Jean. I really like this song because it actually has meaning to it and isn't just another stupid rap song. It talks about how everything in life can change really quickly and sometimes there is just nothing you can do about it. It's just such a chill song and it always helps me clear my head when I'm having a bad day. Some things in my life have changed really quickly in some not so good ways to people that are close to me but there was nothing I could do about it. The song also talks about how to be loved "you don't have to be a billionair." I think this is really cool for someone as big as Wyclef Jean to write about because obviously he has enough money for anything he wants but it shows how down to Earth he really is. I really like this song not so much that it pertains to my life but because it is a good message to everyone.
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ReplyDeleteMusic is a big part of my life and is a very big deal to me. One song that is very meaningful to me is “One Day” by Matisyahu. This song is mostly about having world peace. I am really for this because I do not believe in war and hate against others. In the song he says “All my life I've been waiting for, I've been praying for, for the people to say that we don't wanna fight no more they'll be no more wars and our children will play.” This shows how he wishes one day everyone comes together, stops fighting and hating each other. There is no reason so many people in the world should have to be suffering due to these all of these wars and they need to stop. In the attack on 9/11 hundreds of innocent people died and that is not right. When Osama Bin Laden was killed last week so many people around the U.S. are very happy. If you think about it though everyone is so happy about someone dying and that is not right. I am completely against what he had down and believe he should have been killed, but seeing the world come to this just does not feel right. Without hearing this song I probably would not have cared about the killing of Osama or would have probably just been happy, but now I have really noticed how low the word has become. This song means a lot to me because the message is very deep and it makes me feel like there is hope for all of this fighting to stop some day. Usually I listen to either rap or rock music, so I do not listen to reggae a lot. Due to the message I really like the song. If all fighting and wars actually stopped the world would be a way better place, and I respect Matisyahu for wanting this. This song is very meaningful to me and has made me think about many things differently.
ReplyDeleteAs a musician many pieces of music are meaningful to me. Many different types of music speak to me in many different ways. There are messages in many different songs and many different ways of getting these messages across. I listen to many different types of music although I prefer country music and more specifically, Taylor Swift. However of all the songs that exist today the most meaningful one of all would have to be the one that I wrote for one of my best friends. I wrote the music on my guitar and spent months writing and rewriting the lyrics. The song is unnamed but it is meaningful because not only is it from my heart but it’s to one of my best friends in the world.
ReplyDeleteAs far as actual songs go (not written by me) the most meaningful song in my life is “Everything I Own” by Bread. This song was the song that me and my best friend from camp listen to all the time and it makes me think of her when I hear it. It is also the first hard song I learned on guitar. Although not really a sad song this is the song I listen to when I’m upset and it’s gotten me through many bad times. This song is about love for parents and it makes me think hard about how much we actually learn from our parents. When I listen to this song it brings back very visual memories of when I was young and life was easy and my parents were there to pick me up and dust me off when I was hurt. I see myself walking hand in hand with my mom as a little five year old. It reminds me of the days I played t-ball in the back yard as a two year old with my dad. Overall nothing moves me as much as hearing the melody of this song float through the air.
Music is my life. It is my greatest passion, without it I cannot even fathom how I would live. I listen to it day in and day out. My taste in music is obscure. I love the catchy beats of pop music, but I also adore the beauty, talent, and passion one finds in Broadway music. Over the years I have listened to thousands of songs. Many of them stood out to me, but only a few have truly stuck with me. The song that is most meaningful to me is Will I from the rock opera RENT. The song itself, other than having a pretty melody is not what is truly meaningful to me. The message and the emotions behind the song is what I love the most. The song itself is so significant to me because RENT is my favorite Broadway show. I love everything about it. I take comfort in RENT and it has never failed to make me feel better. Whenever I listen to it a feeling of sadness and despair hits me at first. The desperation in the singer’s voices and the emotions behind the lyrics are very saddening. Throughout the song, my emotions tend to change, and I begin to feel blessed. I feel fortunate that I do not have to experience the hardships the actors sing about in the song. They sing for their lives because they are infected with HIV/AIDS and they do not know how much longer they will live. They sing about the poverty and homelessness, and the struggles with drugs or sexuality that they all encounter. I feel blessed that neither my family nor the people that I love have to encounter all of these hardships. For that I feel blessed. I love listening to the song at a point when I am unhappy, and all I need to think to myself to feel better, is at least I do not have the to face the same hardships like AIDS or homelessness that thousands of others suffer with on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteMusic is very important to my life and it plays an important role in my life. You will always see me listening to my iPod and wearing my headphones. I feel naked without my iPod because I am so used to having it all the time. My taste in music is always changing. I used to like rock, now I like rap, techno, and dubstep. I have so many different types of music on my iPod, but there is one song that I have listened to since the first day I heard it. “Live like You Were Dying” by Tim Mcgraw is not my favorite song, but it is the most inspiring to me.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line in the whole song is, "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'." This line to me is very powerful because it says so much if you think about it. It could mean so much. But to me it means to live each day as if it were your last and do not be afraid to do something crazy because you don’t know what will happen next. A natural disaster could happen tomorrow, or a death or a sickness and you should live each day as if you think it is your last. This song also plays a huge role in my life because I heard it the day after I found out my cousin had died because he was drag racing. This song sounded so powerful, I couldn’t help but cry when I heard it. I realized then that I need to live my life as if I thought I was dying. Kudos to Tim Mcgraw for writing a song so powerful.
One song that is meaningful for me is “Till I Collapse” by Eminem. The first time I heard this song was from my brother who was playing it in his room. As soon as the song reached my ears, I was instantly hooked. The beat and the lyrics are intriguing for me and this was the first song I found out about that made me listen to it a million times. Today, I find the song uninteresting but back then, when I first heard it, it was more of a connection between me and my brother. A lot of the music he has on his Ipod, I find very catchy. This was the first song of many for me and my brother to share. This song marked the beginning of a friendship between us. We spent time together sharing music and eventually became closer. This song was also motivating for me. Before sports, this song made me feel motivated to not give up and put all my effort onto the field. Even on long car rides to places I did not want to go, I could relieve my anger or stress through music, specifically this song. This song gives me an adrenaline rush, especially when I listen to it before a sporting event. The idea of not giving up and working hard runs through my mind. Sometimes when I listen to “Till I Collapse”, I get the image of marines or navy seals. Men and women who work exceptionally hard and their efforts never end until they can not physically do anything. The Mentality that people in the army have is truly admirable. This song gives me to goal to someday have the effort to be like a soldier in the army. In no way would I desire to join the army, but it I attempt to reach that level of aptitude mentally and physically, I can feel like I have achieved greatness. And that greatness all leads to mind stimulation caused by music, starting with “Till I Collapse” by Eminem.
ReplyDeleteA song that is especially meaningful to me is “Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys. First of all this is meaningful to me simply because this about Boston. I have spent a lot of time in Boston and I’m proud of the city and that I live close to the city. This is also special to me because it always reminds me of the Celtics games and their championship season. They always played this during the games at the Boston Garden and every time they did, the crowd seemed to get reenergized and the team would play better. This fits the team very well because of the Irish roots of the band and song and the name of the team is the Celtics with a leprechaun as the logo. The great thing about this song is how it spread so quickly. At first, the Celtics were really the only team to use this song. Then it started to spread to all the other Boston sports teams. Now if you go to a sports game in Boston, it is more likely that you will hear this song then you will not. It got even more popular and was featured in movies (The Departed) and even video games (NHL 11). The song now does not just represent the Celtics or even Boston sports to me, but it represents the Irish roots and the true spirit of Boston.
ReplyDeleteI also particularly like this song also because of the message that the Dropkick Murphys are trying to give off. Their style of music is Irish rock and this particular song is about their home. They prove in this song that they are proud of their roots and where they come from. I think it is important that people always remember who they are and where they came because I believe if they do not, they change usually for the worst. They forget important values they learned and they leave people who helped them behind.
Music is a big part of my life and gives me a haven where I can relax and forget the stresses of school and women. The genres that I like to listen to mostly depend on my mood, music from artists ranging from Taylor Swift to Benny Benassi. One song in particular that I can listen to over and over again is “Changes” by 2pac. The genre of the song is rap, but contrary to popular opinion the song overall sends a positive message to future generations. The song is about 2pac and growing up born into the drug game and having to deal with the struggle to get out and make himself a life. He talks about how for a lot of people that are not as fortunate as others, they need to resort to selling drugs, even to little kids, in order to stay out of poverty. He then goes on to talk about the constant need for changes, hence the name of the song, from all people in order to make our society that we live in a safer and better overall environment for our posterity and their descendents. At first glance the song may seem like just another rap song about drugs and violence, but after listening to the lyrics I’ve noticed how it is deeper than just another rap song and that the message it is trying to get across is one we as a nation need to acknowledge. For me I like the song itself, but again the message it displays is just something else to think about while listening to it.
ReplyDeleteI listen to a variety of music on both my iPod and on the radio while driving in the car. Music can be very inspirational at times and the genre of music I listen to reflects in my mood. A song that has a great meaning to me would be "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson. He sings about how we should stop having wars with other countries and just stop fighting because it's not helping anyone. Jackson also wants everyone to get along and there is no need for hate and enemies. This song always puts me in a good mood and makes me happier when I am feeling down. When I listen to this song, I think about the oppression and war in the world and how we should all just get along. There is no reason to fight with each other. This is only causing us harm, not peace and happiness. If we make the world a better place, everyone can live better lives. Michael Jackson's music influences a lot of people in the effort to make everyone love each other without hate. His music personally influences me and makes me act kinder.
ReplyDelete"Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me"
This section from the song essentially sums up his goal. We need to make the world a better place so nobody is hurt and to make everyone happy.