Sweet, sweet music
Music is a wonderful thing isn’t it? Even though I suck at playing music, I still consider it to be my passion and I count myself very that I work in the music industry (by the way, what do you do for a living?).
I thought today we could share with each other what music means to us personally. You keen? Cool, let’s go…
For me music didn’t really become a massive deal until I was eighteen because I was a big nerd at school and spent most of my time focused on that. After I left school I began working with a girl called Vicky who was a huge Britpop fan and she suggested I come to a Blur concert with her. I confessed I was completely ignorant and she gave me a copy of The Great Escape to listen to. As soon as the first track, Stereotypes, kicked in, I was hooked. We went to that concert, my first live show, and I felt like I’d discovered the meaning of life.
From there I began buying up CDs like they were going out of fashion (it’s like I was predicting the future…spooky). I took my friend’s cue on Britpop and my collection mostly comprised artists like Pulp, Oasis, Elastica, Suede, the Charlatans, Ocean Colour Scene, Ash, Stone Roses, Supergrass, Catatonia, and so on.
A short while later I began dating a boy who was a huge music nerd and he made a mix-tape for me (on actual cassette, remember those days?). On this tape were artists like Belle and Sebastian, the Auteurs, the Kinks, Boo Radleys, Joy Division, and most significantly – Manic Street Preachers.
I used this tape (and the boy) to expand my musical horizons. I began devouring magazines, sticking up posters, camping outside venues, recording videos off TV, and reading music-related books. One of these books was a biography on Manic Street Preachers called Sweet Venom. As I read I became more fascinated and began to understand their music (which has traditionally not done that well in New Zealand despite being huge in the UK). They soon became my favourite band, and now I have a tattoo of the title of one of their songs across my shoulder: La Tristesse Durera - it was track one, side A of that mixtape (awww).
Of course the upshot of all of this is that music has become my career and I can’t imagine working in any other industry - all because a girl called Vicky Simonson loaned me a Blur CD ten years ago.
Just as an aside, if you are ever miserable and don’t feel quite miserable enough, try listening to these:
Everything is Sorrow by Boo Radleys
Married to a Lazy Lover by Auteurs
Atmosphere by Joy Division
Those songs kill me every time.
So what does music mean to you? And what songs have particular significance?
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I find it hard to sufficiently describe what music means to me other than to say life would be a whole lot less interesting without it. As you alluded, music has the power to impart great feeling and it often can do so in the most unexpected of ways. Most recently, I've become a fan of a wide range of Kiwi music that I feel has kept me in touch with NZ despite living an ocean away. Just as brilliant musicians the world over have shared their musical talents and been embraced by NZ'ers, I hope that more Kiwi musicians will also have more opportunities to do the same and be enjoyed by others. Hooray for music!
I have always thought of music as my release it really is what keeps me sane a lot of the time - my favs are "Konstintine" by Something corporate and "May Angels Lead You In" by jimmy eat world. Konstintine is a perfect breakup song and is amazing when you analyze the lyrics. I totally believe there is a song out there for every moment, every issue and every challenge you are faced in the life. I love music and don't know where I'd be if it wasnt for listening, playing or writing it...
Hey Jane, well first off I work for a rental car company and at some really big horticulture gardens (two jobs woohoo!). And secondly music has played a big part in my life too, I would love to work in the music industry, that would be fantastic. My parents brought us up with music, anything from Simon and Garfunkel, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd, Travelling Wilburys, man and the list could go on forever. SO music is huge to me, there is always music playing in our house (luckily my partner likes music too) and my MP3 player is full of the old and the new. I am a huge fan of mellow, lie on the bed and listen music. Live, Jewel, Pink, Roxette, David Gray, and also like a bit of Van Halen, Led Zeppelin and other older stuff. They all have significance in some way I guess, but nothing really specific. Some make me think of certain people or times in my life but music is definitely great. And The Rock is the best radio station :)
Particular groups or types of music make me think of people in my life... Abba, Pussycat, Fleetwood Mac, all take me back to being at home with Mum and Dad, and listening to their records on a Sunday afternoon. UB40, Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Violent Femmes, early U2 - I'm in high school. Dire Straits' "Walk of Life" is my high school prom. Steve Winwood - my first boyfriend bought me a tape while he was overseas (it means he was thinking of me!). Chemical Brothers, Bevan Keys mixes and anything "dance" reminds me of a particular job and a person I worked with (and enjoyed it).
How can you mention sad British music of the 90's and not mention Karma Police by Radiohead?!
Although (due to age) I only really caught Britpop on its way out in the late 90s, Britpop does hold a special place in my own musical hierarchy. Oasis is a favorite, 'Urban Hymns' , by The Verve, was my first album, and it was you Jane who introduced me to Blur (hard to get into, hard to stop listening to).
I find personally that songs are like a time machine. When I hear a song I will often be transported back to the period of my life when I first listened to it. I think this makes music so important to me, as it is intimately connected with thoughts and emotions, people and places.
The three songs most played in my iTunes? Leif Erikson - Interpol Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley Slow Dawn - Smashing Pumpkins
The thing I love about music is that it affects you on so many levels. Not only does it alter your mood or make you want to sing along, music creates associations with times, places and events - hearing an old song can take you back to the summer you spent on Great Barrier Island, or being in the crowd of a live concert. It's like time travel but you don't go anywhere.
On a side, can I add the whole Fate for Breakfast album by Art Garfunkel to the miserable-songs-to-make-you-feel-worse list.
Jane, your blog is brilliant, I'm so glad I found it!
I totally agree with you, music is wonderful, particularly live music. My fantastic parents took me to Dire Straits when I was in Primary School...was definitely a life changing experience, and the reason I work in the music industry too.
Music to me is a best friend, lover and therapist.
Marianne Faithful, Leonard Cohen & Nina Simone remind me of summers spent travelling to horse shows with my Mum.
Dire Straits makes me think of my Dad, and how we managed to become friends after 18 tough years.
However, if I could only listen to two songs for the rest of my life, it would be All Along The Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix) and Storybook Love (Mark Knophler). They hurt with me when I'm sad, are a celebration when I'm happy, and inspire me.
Queen has always been my favourite group. Even before I knew who they were. Growing up in the 80's hear songs like Radio Gaga and I want to Break Free on the radio. Probably one of the most versatile groups around, and even after losing their lead singer, they are actually still going. The collective talent in the group has always amazed me. I rate Brian May as one of the best guitarists ever, I mean how many guitarists made their own guitar which they are still using some 40 years later? One song that has special significance is Bijou. My significant other and I consider it to be "our song". Has Brian's amazing guitar work and some very meaningful lyrics.
Aside from Queen, pretty much anything goes so long as it sounds good.
Oh, and don't forget the 1812 Overture. Who can resist anything where they use cannons as musical instruments? :-D
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Music started to mean a lot to me as a teenager. I remember discovering channel z when I was 14 and it was like I'd finally discovered the purpose of music. It wasn't just sound any more, it became something that I could identify with. The songs that have particular significance to me are Basket Case by Green Day and The Ballad by Millencolin.