Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Do-Re-Mi

Peggy got me thinking yesterday when she mentioned that she had a theme song of the day for her birthday. It got me thinking about music and the major role it has played in life. I remember as a kid when we would take family vacations every summer, we would always drive through the night. I would get to ride in the front seat as my dad drove because I couldn't sleep in the car. Part of my duties for the night-time drive was controlling the stereo. I used to love flipping through all of his cassette tapes and finding my favorites. My love of music is something I learned from my dad. I believe my love for random music at random times came from those nights of listening to his mixed tapes as we drove.

Then there were my teenage years of thinking I was the next Britney Spears. Turning my stereo up as loud as I thought my mother would let me have it (or sometimes louder) and belting each song at the top of my lungs. Looking back on those days now, I apologize to my family for the years of painful singing that must have come from my bedroom. My brothers would be outside on the basketball court picturing that they were shooting the winning shot of a national championship game, and I was inside my room picturing myself in front of a sold out crowd as the next Celine Dion.

This love of music in my youth turned into a gift I liked to share with others beginning in my teen years and running through to today. In high school, I took part in a group called CLC, which was a group of my classmates that met each week with a teacher from school to just talk about life’s issues. At the end of our two years together, I put together a CD of songs that reminded me of them, of our group, and of the times we had spent together laughing, crying, and sharing memories. Each song was representative of a specific person in the group or a specific memory I had of us together. I wrote a letter to all of them along with the CD, explaining the reasoning for each song to be on the CD. This was the first of a few times that I would put a CD like that together for someone I cared about deeply.

For me, music has been a way of expressing myself. I have put together those compilation CDs, I have put pictures/PowerPoints to music (as I did for my friends for graduation last year), I have sent music to a friend who needs a pick-me-up, and I have shared music to celebrate holidays (such as Peanut Butter Jelly Time). Now, I would like to share my love of music with each of you every time that I make a post. I will sign off each time with my song of the day. My song of the day often matches the mood I’m in when I’m writing the post. Look for the first song of the day at the end of today’s post.

Now, what about you? How have you used music in a creative way recently? Have you ever shared the gift of music with other people? What is your song of the day today?

Signing off until tomorrow with…The Song of the Day

19 comments:

Heather said...

Katie, Thanks for sharing your love of music with us.
I also love music and have shared it with many people I know and love.
My specific favorites are musicals from RENT to Wicked to Aida.
I've typically given music in the way that Katie mentions...a mixed CD or a straight CD of an album I think someone will really enjoy.
I also use music to cheer people up or to connect with people. I seem to remember Amber sharing during our virtual party that everytime "Buttercup" comes on the radio Jessie or I make a phone call to one of our girls from the 2001 guard...it is our way of making sure we stay in touch with one another.
Let's see song of the day for me?

I think that one has to wait until I'm a little more awake and have a feel for what my mood is.

Chaotic Kristi said...

I wake up with a song playing in my head... it is usually the title for my post on my blog ... I love to sing... very enthusiastic if not good...LOL. I mark moments in my life by the song that was on the radio then....

cassie p said...

i love music too. i am constantly listening to music, of all kinds, except country- haha cant stand it.

katie- man in the mirror is a good pick for song of the day.

my song for today? Keep Breathing, by Ingrid Michealson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fORAPkfVV_A

have a great day everyone! Happy (late) birthday peggy!!!

Anonymous said...

Are four heads really better than one? I wonder? Not so sure.

Katie said...

Oh, Cassie! How could I forget your hatred of country music after our road trip together this summer?

Chaotic- I love that the titles of your posts are song titles...and I love to hear that others love to sing even if we're not superstars! I find something thrilling in singing at the top of my lungs.

I have been the recipient of some of Heather's love for music. To this day, when people flip through my book of CDs and see all the soundtracks I have to musicals, I always think of you, Heather. Thanks for broadening my love of music to include musicals. Rent. :)

Peggy said...

Although I grew up with the wonderful ;P music that came from the '70s & '80s, played the piano and cello, and at one time sang in 3 different choirs, performed in 5 musicals... I still have GREAT difficulty knowing artist's names, remembering the title of a song, or singing ALL the words accurately.

I guess my mind is too full of trivial things, at times I like things for what they are and don't want to think about it!

To a degree, I admire people who have thousands of cd's, have been to 20 concerts and their ipod is full....

Heather said...

Anonymous,
Please feel free to give us feedback about how we can make things better...you can email it to highlowaha218@gmail.com or simply post a comment.
We are committed to providing the best experience for our readership and if we aren't meeting your expectations we'd like to know.
Thanks for your honesty.

Cheryl Houston said...

I share Katie's love of music. I love mixed tapes/cds. My iPod! My iPod- I love my iPod. There are not enough words to express my love for my iPod.

Cassie- No country!!! gasp! We can never be friends. ;)

As much as I love music, you know that phrase "She couldn't carry a tune in a bucket"? That was written about me. Sad. But true.

I don't really give music as gifts because I love ALL music. Country. Rock. Musicals. Cheesy music is the best. Stuff that makes me laugh. I love embarrassing my boys by playing music and acting silly. They have the eye roll down!

Anonymous said...

I'm actually song obsessed today. My children sang a song at my grandma's funeral four months ago. I was trying to get it ready to post on my blog to celebrate her birthday tomorrow, but it's broken and I don't have it. I'm heartbroken and sobbing over something this small.

Lullabye for a Stormy Night The Vienna Teng version, not the Weiss kids. :-(

Cheryl Houston said...

Oh and the song I have stuck in my head today is Womanizer by Britney Spears because KKIM was playing every version done on the radio this morning.... country, classical piano, grunge, etc...

Amy said...

HI!
I love music.
After I had my kids I felt trapped in a music void. I made a new years resolution that every day, even if it was for 1 minute, I would listen to the music I loved so much!
I grew up taking dance class and love ballet music and all show tunes. My youth was spent in the 80s so I am perpetually stuck there. My dad is a country-music die hard and I love Johnny Cash.
Today I make cds for my kids birthday parties and have a running folder for Eric and Amy (my husband and me) for all the music we love as a couple.

Tera said...

Unlike most of you, I'm not a big music person. I appreciate it for what it is, but it doesn't play a huge part in my life. Of course when certain songs come on I remember past times or people in my life so I guess it has some role in my world.

I also wake up most morning with a song stuck in my head. It never makes much sense, but happens more often than not.

Cristine said...

Music is constant in our house. Right now, I'm listening to the M&W concert. Yes, I'm a mom who bought the kids electronic drums, keyboard and a saxaphone. Tons of fun for a 3 & 4 year old. William has just requested the Peanut Butter and Jelly song (thanks Katie) This song has been a staple in our house ever since PB&J day.
Have a great day - and look for tons of free stuff tomorrow on Tax Day!!

Claudia said...

Wow! Hi, everyone. I have literally been in meetings all day. It feels great to be back in the comfort of my friends at highlowaha.

I love that Katie loves music, because I am one of the lucky recipients of her thoughtful gestures. In fact, I called her the other day to tell her the high of my day is that she has my taste in music pegged perfectly.

Per a highlowaha holiday suggestion, Katie has been sending me a monthly CD of music. It has been great - especially now that I get to spend some time in the car each day.

If it weren't for Katie, I would operate a whole lot more like Tera - liking music, but not really collecting music.

Cassie... a few months in Texas might put a dent in your disdain of country music. You know what they say... when in Rome...

Cristine... you are good and brave woman! Drums, a keyboard, and a saxaphone. So which one does big Matt play?

Katie O said...

I think music and I got off on the wrong foot due to piano lessons I did not enjoy as a child! :-) I've never been "good" at music - can't sing, not talented at any particular instrument, zero knowledge of new bands and music trends, and I am really not crazy about concerts. That being said, I do have an I-Pod, tons of favorite songs, and I've embraced the fact that I don't have to "know" music or play music to enjoy listening to music. I love how a positive experience can change my perception of a song, or make me love a song that I once didn't find appealing. My song of the day (and pretty much every other day) is "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey!

Cheryl Houston said...

Katie O~ That's funny. We have a saying... those who can't (sing, make music), listen. :)

Cheryl Houston said...

AND! sometimes those who can't throw caution to the wind and sing out loud anyway!!

Chaotic Kristi said...

Cheryl, that would be me... I do not sing well but what I lack in voice I make up for with enthusiasm!

Claudia said...

My husband tells me (and it's true) I would make it onto American Idol - no problem!!!!!

I would be the person featured in the first two weeks of the season when they are showing (and exploiting) the worst of the worst.

That should tell you a little about what my voice sounds like.