The Music Of My Being

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Once Said:

_{"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks, and invents."}

Many performers (70+) have graced the concert stage right before my eyes! I believe the following artists (and all time favorites) demonstrated Beethoven's philosophy to perfection on tour, including:

• Tori Amos' "Under The Pink Tour" / Rochester, NY (1994)
• Peter Gabriel's "Secret World Live Tour" / Rochester, NY (1993)
• Sting's "Nothing But The Sun Tour" / Syracuse State Fair (1987)
• Barenaked Ladies !All Tours! / Upstate, NY (I have seen them 7 times!)
• Billy Joel's "Storm Front" Tour / The Carrier Dome; Syracuse (1990)

That is why their music is prevalent in my music catalog; one that causes me to dance around my room, sing out loud (badly) in the shower, and enables me to relax when nothing else works. It is a collection that has evolved from the vinyl era into the 21st century.

I was born in the early 70's and formed an opinion about music while watching "Hee Haw",and "The Barbara Mandrel Show". Also, I remember watching Judy Collins on "Sesame Street", and witnessed the phenomenon of Dolly Parton.

Lots of country music...old school!

I thought Ms. Collins was great and received her LP from my parents. I also remember "The Easter Bunny" getting me Dolly's 45" vinyl recording of "9 to 5" in my Easter Basket! I played both on a turn table that was displayed on a brick, rock garden that stood underneath a bay window of my childhood home.

Those were the days; an era; the beginning of my passion for music!

MTV was launched in 1981 to hungry kids everywhere! A new era entered the scene beyond vinyl and "American Bandstand". It gave the world access to the music world through video! I was ecstatic when MTV came into our home and didn't have to watch "Solid Gold" anymore! As a result, my music collection expanded.

But, On Cassette

I got my first one around the age of twelve. It was either Madonna's "Like A Virgin" or Michael Jackson's "Thriller". That was just the beginning.

My friend Heather loved to dace and listen to music more than anyone! Her favorite artist was Adam Ant. That is where I heard about the 80's British Invasion and fell in love with Duran Duran!

While people listened to R.E.M., The Cure, and Depeche Mode in High School, I stayed faithful to the five guys from Birmingham, England; Duran Duran! I drove people crazy with my fascination of them by talking about them constantly, wall-papering my bedroom with their posters, and even wore a purse with there image in plastic! I was obsessed!

I even begged my Mom and family friend to take three Duran Duran-crazed kids to see them in concert! I remember her shocked facial expression when Erasure ("Take A Chance On Me") opened up the show wearing black, spandex leotards...priceless!

Unfortunately, Duran Duran was not my first concert experience. Sheena Easton was. However, they were fabulous!

To date, "New Moon On Monday" is still my favorite song of theirs.

This is a point in my life when I graduated from 80's pop music, started appreciating adult contemporary music, rock and roll of all eras, and the Broadway Musical.

I had been to several concerts before the age of 16. However, this was different. It was my first time: visiting New York City, seeing my first Broadway show, and experiencing "Les' Miserables" for the first time!

My parents took me for my 16Th Birthday; A fantastic experience!

I remember the orchestra beginning to play as I sat there in awe in the auditorium. The cast sang brilliantly, the sets were constructed ambitiously, and the musical's score was paramount to anything I ever heard before! I sat there speechless at intermission (rare), mesmerized and anxious to see more!

As years have gone by, I have seen numerous additioal Broadway shows including my favorites:

• "Wicked"
• "Catch Me If You Can"
• "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"
• "Rent"
• "Phantom Of The Opera"

I have also seen Les' Miserables' seven more times at different venues.

I cannot express enough...go see a Broadway show once in your lifetime! You won't regret it!

Change is good in small doses. However, Nirvana and the grunge movement came into the music industry and stopped the 1980's pop culture dead in it's tracks. It caught me a little off guard and annoyed me somewhat.

I did buy a few Pearl Jam CDs and saw them live, but was disappointed and board. Kurt Cobain's death brought curiosity upon me, enough to buy "Nevermind". I did like Courtney Love though.

Perhaps, being forced to look at the broad spectrum of music a little differently was not such a bad thing. There are lots of genres of music I liked that I did not cover here, including Old-school rap ( RUN DMC, Grandmaster Flash, and The Beasty Boys) or alternative (The Cranberries, R.E.M., Depeche Mode, The B52s). However, I was not able to find any magic of what was being forecast on the radio and MTV was turning ugly.

Then, I had an epiphany!

Great movies=Great Soundtracks!

Films made in the 1990's produced great soundtracks! A few of my favorites were:

• "Forrest Gump"
• "Good Will Hunting"
• "Pulp Fiction"

My love for movie soundtracks brought me into the millennium a much happier music lover!

I saw great movies with equally great soundtracks including:

• "O, Brother, Where Art Thou?
• "Slumdog Millionaire"
• "The Pianist"
• "The Muppet Movie"
• "Om Shanti Om"

These compilations have fulfilled my love for music again and have a place in my collection! However, I am still waiting to be captivated by some musical group or solo performer!

However, Where Is That Spark?

I think Ludwig Van Beethoven Knew...

He once said:

“Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.”

When my tears flow...

I'll Know Too!