Soundtracks

One of the things I love most in life is music and, while I do enjoy silence, music is often playing in the background of my daily life.  Music was a big part of my childhood.  Dad loved music and we had the biggest (and first) Hi-Fi in the neighborhood. It was the main entertainment in our home, used far more often than the television.  Dad had a huge library of records and, during our early years, we learned more about music than most people do in a life time. As kids we acted out and sang every Broadway Musical from Guys and Dolls to West Side Story (I still remember most of the words). 

The music played in our home was a varied mix; from Dave Brubeck, the Big Bands, opera, symphonies, and even the popular songs of the day…we heard it all.  Dad's first love was Classical music and our education was broad.  One of my favorite memories is sitting next to him while we read through a libretto of The Flying Dutchman or La Boheme.  He made learning the ins and outs, the themes and 'jokes" in the music fun and I was often wide eyed with the information he passed on.  How did he know so much?

From an early age I've enjoyed everything from the Beatles to Beethoven...a cliché I know, but it was and still is true. Music awakens the spirit, sets a mood, brings back memories and fills the soul with peace (or angst).

I thought about putting together a list of Desert Island albums/records/cds, but that proved an impossibility.  So I'm going to link to a few of the tunes I'm listening to and love today. Everyday it changes.

The current song of the day that runs through my head most often is The Step and the Walk by The Duke Spirit. The song has a very classic sound to it and I love the lead singer's voice. You can find them on Myspace, too. Myspace is a great place to find the bands you love and hear their latest music (free!).

The music genre that gives me a big kick is classic country. (Don't get me started on the "hat country" of today.)  A good country song will make you laugh out loud, wanna cry in your beer and/or give you a gen-u-wine feeling that you want to get drunk and beat someone up.  Seriously, this music, the good ol' outlaw country music, is one of my faves and Hayes Carll is my newest love. His website plays several tunes from his latest album and "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" runs through my head quite often. His Myspace page has more good tunes.

Bela Karoli is flying under the radar, but this groups sound is unusual and stunning.  The haunting voices, blended with acoustic instruments, evoke the past and future of music at the same time. Check their Myspace page and listen to Summertime.

I leave you with my favorite music video of all time...pre MTV.

Yes, M is for Music.

Comments

[Nora]

Great post. I would have liked to have known your dad - what a treasure!

[CindyCindy]

Oh my gosh. I was reading your post and thinking how much our Dads would have enjoyed each other's company. Mine was a professional musician and music was always on in the house. Very little TV was ever watched, but the stereo (the nicest thing in the house:-) was always on. And, yes, the gift of music love was passed on to all his children. Perfect letter "M" dear.

[Carole]

A very appropriate M for you. For the last two Thursdays I've gone to an open mic night of blue grass/country/folk and it's been so much fun. Last night, at the encouragement of one of the women there, I brought my spinning wheel. It was relaxing and enjoyable and the Music was terrific.

[Vicki]

Wonderful post, marvelous M, Margene!! I've watched Bob, and am looking forward to checking out your other links. So interesting! I want you to know, though, that I'm going to have Marty Robbins tunes wafting through my head all day long -- he popped right into my mind and, oh, the memories...

[beverly]

Thanks for sharing The Duke Spirit. I love their sound!

[elan]

Music is the focus at our house now (it does get on the nerves sometimes) it's all Broadway all the time through the show season - my oldest is a member of a young people's acting company - anything goes the rest of the time.

[Kim]

Very good M!! Music is a huge part of my life too and bluegrass is one of my favorites. We are going to see Cowboy Junkies and Nancy Griffith the end of this month. :-)

[Chris]

You know I loved this post. :) That's a great Duke Spirit song! Check out the Minneapolis band Cloud Cult on Myspace, particularly their song/video "Everybody Here Is a Cloud."

Do you ever use last.fm? I'm egret17 there. If I can ever sort out their widget so that it isn't obnoxious in my sidebar, I'll add it to my blog.

[Marcia Cooke]

Marvelous M....we have Many Musicians on both sides of the family, and the family joke is that there are all those Musicians and our son the singer, as if singers weren't exactly musicians! Anyway, it's always been part of both our lives, too.

[Wool Winder]

Great post! Usually I put the TV on in the morning to catch the news, but today I think I'll listen to some music--a much better way to start the day.

[Judy]

thanks for the Bela Karoli link.

[Jenn]

Yay! One of my dearest friends plays guitar (and a host of other instruments) for Hayes - they are great live - I hope you get a chance to see them! My favorite would have to be "She left me for Jesus."

[Hillary]

That's a great M. Music is really important in our house too. I just love sharing the music I love with my girls and I hope they look back on it fondly some day too.

[Luni]

That Bob Dylan song is my favorite of his. I can remember playing it at a friend's house. Her mother walked over and jerked the needle off the record, and said "Who is that? He can't even sing!"
Probably that made me love the song all the more. :)
The video is a true classic and is often imitated.

[Dianne]

Your post brings back many beautiful memories..the hi-fi and music..My Father loved music also..and had a bit of talent for playing the piano..*inserts a few teary eyes*
I am not one iota musically inclined, playing music is as good as it gets, but my Moth(man of the house=fantastic hubby) is also very musically inclined and plays the guitar..his serenades were what won me over 30 years ago...We have quite an eclectic collection of 'records'..yes...those old round ones!!

[Heather Joins The Round]

Ian and I just watched the Dylan together-fabulous! I remember seeing that back in the day, but I never watched the writing. Love the "misspellings"!

[Teyani]

great M post :-)
Music feed the soul.

[Norma]

Mmmmmm, music. Good choice for an M.

[Knitnana]

Sounds like my growing up years, except no one explained opera to me...they just listened to it.
I had a grandfather who explained Shakespeare's plays, tho!
lol
Thanks for the wonderful links!
(((hugs)))

[AmyP]

The Dylan video is so modern and has been much copied, but it's great to see the original - thanks!

[Nonnahs]

Great post! Music...I honestly can't imagine my life without it. Especially live music - there's just something about live performances that enhance the music even more. One of my favorite things. Ah.. Again, great post! :)

[Lorette]

How the hell did I miss Hayes? That Texas sound is one of my favorites (how many states have their own music??).
I think your music tastes are as eclectic as mine! Thanks for the links.

[marianne]

Fortunate souls, you and your dad. We share music interests, that's for sure...
I really enjoyed 'String of Lights'
Yep, that's an All Time Favourite of mine, Dylan.
Thank you for a fabulous M post.

[Birdsong]

What a great job you did, sharing so much about something you are as passionate about as fiber! A perfect M for Margene.

[Rachel]

Thank you for the lovely MUSIC tour, I really enjoy it (Hayes Carll is now singing to me).
Have a great weekend :)

[Cathy-Cate]

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows!

Indeed, and right on.

Loved reading this; and given all the tastes we share (Bela! Coltrane! Stevie Ray Vaughan! Old classic country!) I will have to check out the ones I'm not familiar with -- thanks a bunch!

[Pat K]

I sang in the chorus of a Michigan Opera Theater production of La Boheme many years ago. It's one of my favorite operas. Any Puccini, for that matter. Music has been a great part of my life, although I'm not as interested in other types as I am in classical. Marvelous Musical post.

[Jennifer]

I love your M! Music stirs the spirit, and soothes the soul.

[Lee Ann]

The Bela Karoli music reminds me of Jorane, here in Québec. She actually mimics an instrument in many of her songs, accompanied by her cello, so it's a little hard to sing along, but...same cool, eerie vibe. Lovely.

[deb]

I just finished reading a Dylan biography for my piano class and thought of you most of time I was reading it. My current "must hear" every day is Robert Plant/Allison Krause - it's just so dreamy!

M for Margene and Music!!

[Jewel]

Your dad sounds alot like mine. I also grew up with music in our home we would spend Sunday afternoons dancing around the house, on my dads feet. I have all my dads records and still love listening to them. My hubby is a Dylan fan and has most of his records.

[Lucia]

Magnificent M! Is there anyone who does not love music, in whatever form speaks to her? (I just want you to know I'm going to have "One's on the Way" going through my head for a while. Nice work.)

[Sharon]

Ian and were both fortunate to have parents with music passions so it's no surprise that we both had iPods. He calls his the indiscriminate iPod, because you name it, it's on there.

[bonnie]

that is an incredible video (dylan)! I've never heard it before. very cool