Music, Like a Declaration of Love, Demands a Response #MFRWauthor
Many authors listen to music when they write. Some even give you the playlist for the songs that go with a particular book. I am not those writers. I need quiet for the thoughts to flow from my brain to my fingers. Even quiet music sends its soft tendrils into my mind and draws me inexorably into its melody until I become submerged in listening. Then my toes get involved, followed by interpretive hand movements and eventually full body swaying or dancing depending on the tune. Like a declaration of love, music demands a response. It can’t be background noise for me. It always forces itself front and center.
My taste in music is all over the place. I love Bach, Handel and all things Baroque. Seventies music with all the falsetto and disco beat turns me into a nostalgic puddle. Everyone’s heard of Led Zepplin, but my heart belongs to Bread. And Mozart, because his music is sublime.
If you’ve never heard the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald sing, you need to get hold of any of her albums. I especially love listening to her sing the Gershwin song book. If you like that, dip into some Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin. YouTube has awesome clips of stars of that era singing on television shows. Oh, and don’t forget Judy Garland. She did more than just sing “Over the Rainbow.” And for singing, nothing can beat Freddy Mercury and Queen.
Here’s my playlist for this post:
- Bach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WljAjYDg5IQ
- Handel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnn3TVBDtcA
- BeeGees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpqqjU7u5Yc
- Donna summer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW-3Hp1EVdQ
- Led Zepplin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS6n2Hx9Ykk
- Bread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0KXV0gB0dw
- Mozart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEJFuWgkGkY
- Ella Fitgerald https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2bigf337aU
- Sammy Davis, Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5voM2HExV_Q
- Ella & Sammy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQLmQpgv1w405
- Judy Garland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAKyf3nJvGM
- Queen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ
You’ve listed many of my favorites – for singing in the car. I have tinted windows, but people at traffic lights probably still think I’m nuts, lol.
Far better than being the woman who texts while driving or applies makeup while driving. This drives Dr. K crazy. He’s the silver fox with his hair tied back in a pony tail and full beard who growls while he drives.
I agree with Freddy Mercury and Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody is one of those songs that demands you stop everything and sing along. I can see how music could be a distraction.
It’s hard to not listen to almost anything Freddy Mercury sang.