Music Is Our Superpower
Can you feel it?
We reveled in the magical drive through the cathedral of nature named the Boreal Forest. Now the city was behind us. We pull up to the cottage and after letting the dogs stretch their legs and do their biologicals, we skip inside where our insides immediately melt into
“ahhhh-ness”.
After a few minutes of settling in, Martin gets his playlist flowing and we are ready to hunker down for a happy evening. Music, for us, is as necessary as breathing or walking our pups.
Since the “covid revolution”, we have missed live music events oh-so-dearly. Our substitute has been frequent Friday night dance parties to the curiosity and possibly even embarrassment of our dogs.
Thanks to Apple, we have quick go-to playlists of “most listened to” songs. Those reassuring, familiar tunes that draw you into a joyful or pensive mindset.
Like Moths to a Flame
Why are we so drawn to music? Why must we make it, sing it, play it? I think this may refer to humanity in general, but more specifically for Martin and me, it is about the connection of thoughts, philosophies, feelings, expressions of joy, sorrow. It can also be a form of release, to rail against injustice.
There are times music can often express ideas and emotions more eloquently than mere words.
It rescues us from times of deep loneliness. When we hear an artist not only describe the same sentiment through lyric but somehow through their expression of notes hit with perfection (Cecilia Bartoli makes me swoon!) or cacophonous wails (summoning The Pixies’ Where’s My Mind in the final scene of Fight Club) we are a little less alone.
One genre of music cannot capture it all. We will swing from Silversun Pickups to Sinatra. MISSIO to Mozart. Saskatchewan country Colter Wall to moody alternative Manchester Orchestra. Why are we so compelled?
Shared Consciousness
An older very special cousin of Martin’s took his then 18-year-old self to an unforgettable Bruce Cockburn concert. Not only the kindness of this act moved Martin, but the experience of the event and the communion of it also made a mark on his life. Many years later, this cousin has recently taken to posting “tunes for today” on Facebook. In beautiful simplicity, he has been listing songs daily that have spoken to him and invites others to share theirs too. How lovely! A universal language of discovery and invitation. “I love this song, what speaks to you and why?” he invites.
We humans can’t seem to always convey what we want or mean to say. When you listen to music, you hear a stranger express what you’ve known or felt your whole life, and suddenly, you are not alone in your bubble anymore. You and Bastille are lamenting loss as one. Billie Eilish confides that she’s the bad guy (“duh”). You nod along with Caroline Rose — yes, it is possible to live a life “without Blood on Your Bootheel”.
Visceral Connection
The power of music connects us, and not necessarily through sensible lyrics.
One of my favourite bands waxes poetically in a way that does not tell a traditional story, yet moves me to tears simply from their carefully selected lyrics. It stirs something inside, chord progressions tearing you apart. “Great Salt Lake” is Band of Horses’ best, in my opinion. Then you have the masters who through some act of alchemy summon divine poetry in song: Leonard Cohen’s last album… You Want It Darker… it’s all there.
Music is Life
Music runs almost constantly in our household. It is our elixir, it is our confidante, it is our voice.
Martin is creating another playlist to take us into Saturday evening. I can’t wait to hear which delights my personal DJ will line up. I’m ready for another evening of harmonies and dissonance, depending on the artist and the song, as we sit back and gaze out of our cozy hideaway into the forest.
In the spirit of Martin’s cousin, I would love to know what kind of music you enjoy! Can you share examples of some of your favourite songs in the comments below? I am all ears!
The “Tower of Song” is a pillar for the soul.
