Music and me

[susandennis]

I keep reading in other journals about what music they heard or are playing or are inspired by or what MP3's they've found and downloaded and every journal entry asks me what music I'm currently listening to. It's a conspiracy to point out how out of tune (pun intended) I am.

I grew up in the 50's and knew (and sadly still know) the words to every 45 played on the radio. I'm not going to reprint the spell binding lyrics to Lipstick on Your Collar but it's not because I can't. My first concerts were Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez outside on the grass (and, of course, smoking same). I'm good with lyics. I cannot carry a tune in a suitcase, but I know the words. My family took long car trips and we entertained ourselves with songs - old favorites, camp songs, gospel songs, whatever. My Dad had a beautiful voice but couldn't remember the words. I'd mouth them for him and he'd watch my lips.

I was in college in the 60's and the Doors were it. But, sometime about the same time that Jefferson Airplane morphed into Jefferson Starship, I fell off the wagon and have never gotten back up again.

Over the years I've had paticular musical experiences - Cryer and Ford (in concert and every LP - don't worry, no one else has ever heard of them either), Marshall Chapman (only because I knew her in high school - like her early stuff but not the latest). I have a 6 CD changer in the car and I keep forgetting how to operate it. When the radio is on, it's on NPR.

In the house when I don't have the TV on or NPR on, I have silence. Last weekend I got inspired by all the musical references and conversations and turned on some music while I was doing other stuff. I honestly found it distracting and not in a good way.

Years and years ago I dated this guy who was totally consumed by music. I remember his asking me 'How can you not feel this music?' He tried to help me understand why it was so much a part of him and I honestly just didn't get it then and don't get it now although I've met many like him since. I tried to be outraged over the whole Napster thing. MP3 players are about the only technology gagets I don't covet.

I guess on some level I think I'm missing out on something but I guess if I've gotten along this far without it...

Comments

[susandennis]

Oh my god... If you substitute Mariners for Diamondbacks and Cajin for Hawaiian and throw in a little more TV... Your experience is an exact mirror of mine! Wild. Just Wild. I've been feeling so left out. Now I have a buddy out there with me! Turning heels, no less!!

The Sounds of Silence

[estis.livejournal.com]

Have to admit I've never heard of Cryer & Ford. But I did find some info on them so they are not unheard of. Something new I learned today.
Besides music one thing I really enjoy downloading in MP3 format are old time radio shows. Orsen Wells War of the Worlds, Dragnet, Johnny Dollar (we used to listen to this show Sunday nights in the car driving home from visiting the grandparents), Phillip Marlow, Sam Spade, Jack Benny, Amos & Andy, Inner Sanctum (sp?), Gunsmoke etc. Before we got a tv in 1958 we always listened to radio shows. It is good to still be able to listen to them again...though there is a certain irony in listening to Jack Webb do a commercial spouting the virtues of unfiltered cigarrette when, I believe, he died of lung cancer

Re: The Sounds of Silence

[susandennis]

Oh, that's teasing! What did you find out about Cryer & Ford? Google search? It's been years, I believe, since they've done anything. I've often wondered what they are doing now. I see about Gretchen Cryers son, Jon, once in a while. He's an actor and pops up infrequently in odd things. But, he was only a 'plan' when Cryer & Ford were a singing duo.

Re: The Sounds of Silence

[judith.livejournal.com]

yes, I've heard of Jon. He's cool, very.

Re: The Sounds of Silence

[estis.livejournal.com]

google indeed. The best search engine out there.

Re: The Sounds of Silence

[susandennis]

And I googled right behind you and found a very recent interview with the two of them! I don't think I'd done a search on them for a long time and the last one turned up squat. This one was very satisfying. Thanks for the reminder!

[theryn.livejournal.com]

Can I join the club too? My husband has several hundred cd's. I have less than 50. I keep a dozen or so at work and don't really listen to them most of the time. The only radio station I listen to is NPR, talk and music (except the pipe organ show) and that not very often now that I hardly ever drive. Despite that I don't listen to much music and I let my husband program the soundtrack of our lives, I have very specific and broad ranging taste in music and love live music. I listen to a lot of local bands that play pop, rock, folk, and punk. Otherwise I'm a big fan of modern folk and bluegrass, punk and ska, blues, jazz, and big band. A woman who comes into my office frequently termed my music taste as schizofrenic. But really, I never think to turn it on.

Music rules

[judith.livejournal.com]

Music is perhaps the overarching passion of my life. I love classical, some jazz, some progressive rock, blues, a variety of other things. I majored in music as well as math, although ended with only a math degree because i was tired of going to school - and because I was a realist, knew I'd never make any money with music. I can carry a tune well but rarely know the lyrics! So we're a match that way.

But I also love silence.

What disturbs me is the constant barrage of "sounds" - for a lot of it I would not call "music" - the saturation of every place commercial with constant sound. It upsets me to the point where I often have to leave an otherwise-lovely place. I am not able to ignore it. I have written several articles on this subject but haven't done anything with any of them. I am waiting for the right point of view to arrive so I can present my thoughts in an original and effective way.

I like being able to choose whether to have music with me or not. I often listen at home, sometimes turning the sound way up on a major mass, for example, when I am in the mood. But I also often sit in silence. I like hearing what is there, wherever I am, whether it is the sound of trucks unloading or birds chirping. There is music in the strangest places, like the sound of the crowds talking at an outdoor event, or the whish of bicycle wheels on the street.

Some people have suggested that many people keep sounds on all the time to clutter their minds, interrupt their thoughts, distract them from their loneliness. This is probably so. At the same time, I am reminded of a woman I saw in a drugstore humming to the piped in songs, and I could see her pleasure. It wasn't my pleasure but I didn't want to begrudge her that little bit. Still - I vote for NO SOUNDS ZONES. At least give me a patio without a speaker in it.

[joyofmacs.livejournal.com]

I suppose I am like the man you referred to. I really feel the music, notice certain instruments and if it is a song that has voice I love to sing along. But I do like there to be quiet time, too. When I am learning new software or reading a book or something that really requires my attention music is off or classical turned down LOW. Otherwise it gets on my nerves.

Then there is the nostalgic memories of music from bygone times. I hated being forced to watch Hee Haw but it is that music which reminds me of the few pleasant memories of my dad.

I have a friend whose name is also Susan and when we get going talking about the older songs (40's - 70's) we laugh as we reminise about what we were doing, stores, toys, the whole nostalgic thing. We have both decided we must of been super busy in the 80's as a lot of the music we can't recall.

I really got into the true appreciation of music when I was in high school (70's). During good weather I worked on a landscaping crew. Mostly it consisted of me being on a gang mower tractor for HOURS and HOURS on end. The music helped keep me company and as I was alone I sang along much to my amusement. But then I have always been a ham.

I even miss 8 tracks!

Now at work I kill myself learning new things in quiet, write reports in quiet and then as I do the tedious part of setting it up on machine after machine my music makes my heart glad. Only way I can describe it. And true it does make me feel less alone. I have a lonely job much of the time.

Everyone is different. I admire your book reading. I used to be a big reader but now I associate most with software manuals so it is only the occasional book. My eyes get tired and then I zonk out.

Hey this reminds me of a song from a TV show DIFFERENT STROKES!

[melodysk.livejournal.com]

I am of similar age to you ...and I grew up listening to radio ..I also know the words to the most obscure songs as well as all the most popular. I love music but it isn't a passion. There are songs (Drive by the Cars for example) that move me to tears , Opera is a love of mine too. I love music but not all of it , I cannot stand jazz though I know its very popular.

My PASSIOn though is for books ...I could stand to go deaf , but not blind ...to live without my books would finish me. Pratchett , Holt , Wyndham ...achh ..too many ...libraries are my Mecca (as well as dusty little 2nd hand books shops)

:)