So I make an effort to dig down and do some self discovery sometimes on the weekend. Today I had a wonderful prompt to dig in to music. Specifically to search out music that can take me back to pivotal moments. The power of music isn’t something new for me. However it isn’t something I have really made much time for recently. Not on a deeper level anyways.
And thus this exercise began… pretty shallow at first. Thinking about all the strong female anthems I have been listening to as I run or ride. Not that these aren’t important. The last few years they have helped me stand strong and persevere in those days when my confidence wavered. To rise above when I felt myself falling down. But as I settled into the exercise voices of the past began to rise.
As I continued to settle and fell into the sounds it seemed my past was not so different than my present. Although the songs were not necessarily about strength and independence, the feelings and memories that rushed forth were. It should be no surprise. Finding ones way, breaking free and rising above to be strong and independent have always been main themes running through my art and my life. I know I was born to soar above and these songs remind me of learning how to fly.
So here are some tributes to my musical walk down memory lane and the historical significance in my past.
Fairytale of New York by The Pogues – Takes me back to Seattle, Washington. I was living 100% on my own. I had a wonderful group of friends. I lived a very active lifestyle and spent a lot of time exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. When not outdoors I did spend a lot of time in Irish pubs (tons of time at the Old Peculiar in Ballard) playing darts and drinking beer, thus The Pogues.
Anything by Johnny Clegg – The memories from Africa flood back. Maybe it is just because it was my first experience outside of North America, or maybe it is just the magic of the place, but Africa will forever tug on my heart. The minute I stepped off the plane in Jo’berg that very first time Africa felt like home. I can’t describe it any other way. There was no adjustment to a new culture there was just a feeling that I was meant to be there. Johnny Clegg brings that feeling back. I will never forget being able to see him live in Cape Town while I was living there on my own. I am truly living a blessed life!
Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band – First concert I ever attended. They played at a rodeo I went to with my family. I think I was about 11 or 12. It isn’t the family part that I remember, nor the rodeo. This is the first time I remember being able to wander off on my own. I don’t think this was the actual first time I was able to wander off into a crowd of strangers, but for some reason it really sticks out.
Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd – This one brings back very specific memories, and include a bit of intoxication, but that song immediately puts me into a convertible sports car with close friends, laughter, sun and wind in the hair as we drive through central Florida. I can see the lake my friends parents house was on. I remember laughing about the boat running out of gas and us having to get out and push it back to the dock. Then afterwards laughing about the alligator stories in that lake. It was a trip of rebellion and growth with good friends and lots of laughs.
