I was shuffling through my iPod this morning on the way to work and came across Joe Satriani’s “Flying in Blue Dream.” I held back a tear as I realized the following, and wondered where I would be had I viciously followed my music dream.
I, am a music lover. I drive to work listening to music, I workout to music, I fall asleep to music; I can play several different musical instruments. I, love, music.
One of my favorite music memories is standing in the Dallas City Music complex for hours at the G3 concert watching Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai, with my father, sister, guitar teacher, uncle, and many other friends. Rarely did we scream and holler during the concert, just clapped and traded looks and smiles of amazement at the virtuosos that where setting their guitars ablaze before us.
I don’t just process it and understand that music is being played and exclaim that “I like this song”, music is an emotional experience for me. To this day I am still unable to listen to “An American Symphony” from “Mr. Holland’s Opus” without getting teary eyed and choked up. That is a powerful song. And there are literally dozen’s of other’s that affect me the same way. From evoking joyful emotions, to sad emotions, to getting me pumped up for something or mellowing me out, there is always a fitting song for the occasion.
And yet, being such a music lover, I am unable to just listen to music. I must analyze music. I can listen to a song several different times and hear something different each time. Every song that has words with it, I must know exactly what they are saying. I will go back and listen to the guitar parts, to hear every nuance and ghost note, every attack of the pick and slide of finger across string. I will go back and listen to the bass line to hear exactly what is going on. I will go back and listen to the drum part to hear every strike of stick to drum head I can, every swell of the cymbals and the intricate hi-hat work. I love music.
It consumes me. I will become obsessed with it. Kicking in my OCD behavior. I have literally spent hours after hearing a small snip it of a song that catches my ear, searching the Internet, trying to find who performs the melody that has captivated me until I succeed, download the whole song, and analyzed it. Sometimes it disappoints me, and sometimes I find a new favorite song.
Before hearing a song in its entirety, I can anticipate the crescendo and decrescendo. I can pick out when the musician will transition from verse to chorus and back again. Feel what notes are coming next in the arrangement. Sometimes I am surprised, but most of the time I’m dead on.
It is difficult to decipher whether this is a curse or gift. I have been guilty of wearing out a song, or listening to it so much that I grow weary of it, and do not listen to it for quite some time. And even in very bad music I can find some melody, beat, or sound that I like. All I know is that I love music, passionately, and on a level that not many others understand.
“Notes, rhythm, and voice, all combining in an emotional orchestration, moving me, to the soundtrack of my life.” Wes Lang
I, am a music lover. I drive to work listening to music, I workout to music, I fall asleep to music; I can play several different musical instruments. I, love, music.
One of my favorite music memories is standing in the Dallas City Music complex for hours at the G3 concert watching Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai, with my father, sister, guitar teacher, uncle, and many other friends. Rarely did we scream and holler during the concert, just clapped and traded looks and smiles of amazement at the virtuosos that where setting their guitars ablaze before us.
I don’t just process it and understand that music is being played and exclaim that “I like this song”, music is an emotional experience for me. To this day I am still unable to listen to “An American Symphony” from “Mr. Holland’s Opus” without getting teary eyed and choked up. That is a powerful song. And there are literally dozen’s of other’s that affect me the same way. From evoking joyful emotions, to sad emotions, to getting me pumped up for something or mellowing me out, there is always a fitting song for the occasion.
And yet, being such a music lover, I am unable to just listen to music. I must analyze music. I can listen to a song several different times and hear something different each time. Every song that has words with it, I must know exactly what they are saying. I will go back and listen to the guitar parts, to hear every nuance and ghost note, every attack of the pick and slide of finger across string. I will go back and listen to the bass line to hear exactly what is going on. I will go back and listen to the drum part to hear every strike of stick to drum head I can, every swell of the cymbals and the intricate hi-hat work. I love music.
It consumes me. I will become obsessed with it. Kicking in my OCD behavior. I have literally spent hours after hearing a small snip it of a song that catches my ear, searching the Internet, trying to find who performs the melody that has captivated me until I succeed, download the whole song, and analyzed it. Sometimes it disappoints me, and sometimes I find a new favorite song.
Before hearing a song in its entirety, I can anticipate the crescendo and decrescendo. I can pick out when the musician will transition from verse to chorus and back again. Feel what notes are coming next in the arrangement. Sometimes I am surprised, but most of the time I’m dead on.
It is difficult to decipher whether this is a curse or gift. I have been guilty of wearing out a song, or listening to it so much that I grow weary of it, and do not listen to it for quite some time. And even in very bad music I can find some melody, beat, or sound that I like. All I know is that I love music, passionately, and on a level that not many others understand.
“Notes, rhythm, and voice, all combining in an emotional orchestration, moving me, to the soundtrack of my life.” Wes Lang
Wonderful. Brought tears to my eyes. Don't give up your dream.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Momo
I, LOVE, MUSIC, TOO! It is such an emotional experience for me too that I can identify with you. I love how hearing a song from your past can just immediately sweep you back in time. I think my dream job (well, one of them) would be picking out music for movie soundtracks. I love it when music perfectly compliments the emotions of a seen, or how an orchestral swell can almost make your heart explode.
ReplyDeleteI just wish I had more personal talent!
Wes, your love and understanding of music, and Courtney’s love and understanding of music are gifts passed on by family members that traveled the melodies of life before you came to be.
ReplyDeleteI pray that the notes of life for each of you, are arranged in the sweetest melody.
Enjoy the gifts, and live your passions as if those that came before you are able to see!