avatarKL Simmons

Summary

The article "5 Sensational Songs That Give A Peek Into My Psyche" is a personal reflection by the author on how specific songs have profoundly impacted their life and identity.

Abstract

In a deeply personal essay, the author shares five transformative songs that have played a significant role in shaping their psyche. These songs, ranging from Aretha Franklin's "Do Right Woman — Do Right Man" to Pink Floyd's "Time," have been instrumental in the author's emotional development and self-awareness. The author, a self-described highly sensitive person, recounts how music has been essential to their well-being, influencing their artistic expression through dance and singing. The chosen tracks evoke powerful emotions and memories, reflecting the author's values, experiences, and aspirations. The article encourages readers to engage with the music and consider how it resonates with their own lives, inviting them to share their defining songs and stories.

Opinions

  • The author believes that music is not just entertainment but a vital component of their emotional and psychological well-being.
  • They hold a special reverence for artists like Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Prince, Jane's Addiction, and Pink Floyd, whose music has deeply touched their life.
  • The author expresses a profound connection to the lyrics of the songs they've selected, suggesting that these lyrics offer insight into their character and values.
  • They assert that certain songs can encapsulate one's life experiences and serve as a guide for personal growth and understanding.
  • The author's musical preferences have been shaped by a combination of personal experiences, family influence (as seen with their mother's musical tastes), and the transformative power of specific artists and songs.
  • They advocate for the fearless, bold, and unique qualities in music, as exemplified by Jane's Addiction, and see these qualities as aspirational.
  • The author is moved to tears by the emotional resonance of the songs they've chosen, indicating the depth of their connection to this music.
  • They encourage a broader conversation about the impact of music on individuals, suggesting that everyone has songs that define them in some way.

MUSIC|PSYCHOLOGY

5 Sensational Songs That Give A Peek Into My Psyche

It took me a while to narrow them down, but I’m here to share them with you now

Photo by Dmitry Ratushny on Unsplash

It all started with a tag by Misty Rae in her story:

She had read the following story that included 2 writing prompts:

Pierce McIntyre wrote:

Write about 5 songs that would help people get to know you better.

Write about 5 movies that would help people get to know you better.

The songs and movies can be favorites of yours or ones that you feel some sort of special connection to for one reason or another.

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

I am a highly sensitive person and music is essential to my well-being.

I have danced since I could walk. It was my first artistic love.

Although I have loved to sing for as long as I can remember, I was very shy about letting other people hear me sing until I reached my twenties.

However, I grew up singing along to Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Madonna and other pop stars since I was at the mercy of my mother’s musical tastes (she had 8 tracks and records) and the radio.

Photo by Charlie Alcaraz on Unsplash

I had a huge fear of the dark.

The only thing that would help me sleep was listening to love songs and the oldies channel.

That’s one of the reasons I think that there are a few love songs on my list of:

“Songs that define me”

I’m including the lyrics too because they are a big reason that I have chosen the songs that I have.

The excerpts from them that I’m including are ones that I consider “extra special” to me and can give you a peek into my psyche, for those with eyes to see.

Do Right Woman — Do Right Man

by Aretha Franklin

A woman’s only human You should understand She’s not just a plaything She’s flesh and blood just like her man If you want a do-right-all-day woman (woman) You’ve got to be a do-right-all-night man (man)

They say that it’s a man’s world But you can’t prove that by me And as long as we’re together baby Show some respect for me

If you want a do-right-all-day woman (woman) You’ve got to be a do-right-all-night man (man)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Chips Moman / Dan Penn

Do Right Woman — Do Right Man lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

(It’s still hard for me to listen to this one without tearing up…I felt SO SEEN when I first heard the lyrics to this song as a teenager.)

Love Child

by Diana Ross and The Supremes

Love child, never meant to be Love child, born in poverty Love child, never meant to be Love child, take a look at me

Started my life In an old, cold run down tenement slum (Tenement slum) My father left, he never even married mom I shared the guilt my mama knew So afraid that others knew I had no name

I started school In a worn, torn dress that somebody threw out(Somebody threw out) I knew the way it felt, to always live in doubt To be without the simple things

Love child, love child, never quite as good Afraid, ashamed, misunderstood

But I’ll always love you (Love child) I’ll always love you (Just a little bit longer) I’ll always love you (Wait, wait, won’t you wait, just hold on)

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Richards Deke / Wilson Frank Edward / Sawyer Pamela Joan / Taylor Richard Dean

Whew!?!!….it seems I can’t listen to more than a minute of these songs right now without a flood of emotions and subsequent tears.

Prince’s music has an extra special place in my heart because it helped me feel love and appreciated as a woman. It showed me what was possible to feel from a man, what I wanted to feel from a man, and to feel for him in return.

I also LOVED the way he could play EVERY INSTRUMENT WELL, especially the guitar! This inspired me to eventually learn to play guitar, drums, piano and bass.

Adore

by Prince

I ain’t fuckin’ just for kicks, no This condition I got is crucial You could say that I’m a terminal case You could burn up my clothes Smash up my ride Well maybe not the ride But I got to have your face All up in the place

I’d like to think that I’m a man of exquisite taste A hundred percent Italian silk, imported Egyptian lace Nothin’, baby, I said nothin’, baby, can compare To your lovely face Do you know what I’m sayin’ to you this evening? Tryin’, tryin’ to say, I’m just tryin’ to say

That until, until the end of time I’ll be there for you I’ll be there for you You own my heart, you own my mind I truly adore you

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Prince Rogers Nelson

Adore lyrics © Npg Publishing

This might throw you for a loop, but when I was 15 years old, this group and their music changed me for the better FOREVER! (no tears here)

Their music was fearless, bold, powerful and unique…they were everything I wanted to embody and more. I never knew anything like it and few musical artists have compared since.

Ocean Size

by Jane’s Addiction

Wish I was ocean size They cannot move you No one tries no one pulls you Out from your hole Like a tooth aching a jawbone… I’ve seen the ocean Break on the shore Come together with no harm done…

It ain’t easy living…

I want to be As deep As the ocean Mother ocean

I want to be more like the ocean No talking All action… No talking All action…

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Perry Farrell / Stephen Perkins / Dave Navarro / Eric Avery

This is an EPIC song to me, as is the entire Dark Side of the Moon concept album.

It’s a musical masterpiece that I first heard as a teenager and continue to listen to decades later as well.

Time

by Pink Floyd

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today And then one day you find ten years have got behind you No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking Racing around to come up behind you again The sun is the same in a relative way, but you’re older Shorter of breath and one day closer to death Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way The time is gone, the song is over, thought I’d something more to say

Writer(s): Roger Waters, Rick Wright, David Gilmour, Nicholas Mason

That was quite a musical journey!

Now what about you…?

Any and every one can participate.

I am quite curious to discover what some of you will say.

No pressure to respond, of course…feel free to leave a short response in the comments and/or write a story about it.

JA Vassili Alan Asnen, Natasha Nichole Lake, Nathalie Clair, Iris B. Stehn, MN, Ticapo, Sara Burdick, Perri Michelle, Crystal A. Walker, Andrea, Lucy Socha, Warren Patterson

Photo by Vale Zmeykov on Unsplash

A few more stories for you:

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Songs That Define Me
Music
Psychology
Love
Culture
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