Vie’s Verses – Sometimes All You Need Is The Music
I won’t sugarcoat it. These last few months have been very hard on me. Most of it is stress due to work (my demanding day job, not this awesome gig writing for Hard Rock Hideout), as well as some family issues that I am trying to work through. The rough Northeast winter hasn’t helped my mood, and I keep trying to make more time for friends, but never seem to have enough of it. All of that has added up to some hard months that I have had to endure. On the upside, things appear to be turning around and I believe in the next few weeks, life will turn on its ear and better times will be at my doorstep.
When I go through rough times like I have recently, I find myself diving into music more and more. When I was younger (especially as a teenager) music was my vast escape from the everyday pressures. Metallica, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Posion, and KISS got me through almost anything. In my 20s I branched out and really got into Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers Band, and Pearl Jam. I also re-discovered Iron Maiden at this period in my life, and all of that music really had an impact on me. If I was down, I could play power ballads for hours on end. If I needed to rouse myself into a happier state, “Run To The Hills” or “God Of Thunder” would power me through and leave me with a smile on my face. Music was always there to embrace me, no matter what was happening at the time, and it’s nice to know that it is still there today.
I got my love of music from both of my parents, but it was my father that really hooked me. He had a vast record collection of almost 3,000 vinyl albums, and they, along with his top of the line stereo, were his pride and joy. I would spend endless afternoons just staring at his collection and wishing that one day, I could have a collection that mammoth. My dad was into everything (except rap) and my diversity in music definitely stemmed from him. Dad would rock out to Molly Hatchet and Skynyrd, go crazy over Kiss, and lose himself in The Moody Blues (his favorite band). There were many nights when he and I would stay up late listening to classic rock and what was hot at that time. Those are some of my greatest memories.
And now, here I am, years later, still using music as my escape. Not too long ago I wrote a post about how I was using music during my commute to get me through the rough times. I am still doing that and now I am listening to some great hard rock whenever I can. At the office, in the car, and in the house, the music has been taking me away and making me feel much better. It’s amazing what the power of music can do for the human body and spirit. No matter how down or defeated I am, the right music can always change my mood in an instant. Over the last couple of weeks, the latest Against Me! album has kept me going, but I’ve also found myself revisiting Warrant’s entire catalog (including their lesser known works like Belly To Belly). The modern music hypes me up and the classics leave me nostalgic and smiling. Ahhhh a good song can still brighten any day!
What about you? What music are you listening through to get you through the winter blues? Anything particular song or album that is your go to when you need a pick me up? Drop us a line in the comments and let us know!
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Was trying to write down how music has impacted my life, when I read Jeff ” my brotha from anotha mutha” Legg’s comment above. Jesus, I couldn’t have said it better myself! I too, am a 48 year old dude who has some kind of music in my life….every single day! My family and co-workers tease me and flip me shit for having to ” make a mix or playlist” for everything that I do. I couldn’t imagine my life without it, or how’d I’d get through some of my toughest challenges. A little Boston , Kansas, and Van Halen for nostalgia, and then kick down some Black Label or Sevendust to feel a little rowdy !! At my age, I’m still the buddy who goes ” Dude! Ive got this badass new song You gotta check out!”. Yep, if it’s too loud, your too old. I’m not ever growing up. Yes, I too, …..am addicted
For me, music is the only constant. No matter what sorta crap you encounter during the day, from work stress to family stress, the only thing I know that won’t change is the sound of the bands/albums/songs I love. Hearing Detroit Rock City in 76 I was 12, living in a different city going to middle school. The landscape has changed but the song hasn’t and I know it won’t. It’s dependable and I like it. I don’t have go-to music necessarily, but what I do is listen to something new that I’m pretty sure I’m gonna like and shut off the world around me when I do. It’s a present to myself on at least a weekly basis. More often it’s 4 times a week. Tomorrow is the Hendrix Miami Pop Festival CD and yeah, I’ll be listening to it from start to finish and reading those liner notes.
I’m listening to the new Blackfinger album daily. I waited years to hear that voice again and now I’m going to wear it out.
Isn’t it interesting how most everything about you and everything around you changes but something that will never change, is the effect music has over you. You put on weight, your hair gets more gray by the day, your face seems to get a new wrinkle every other week, and your energy decreases. It’s called aging. Face it. It’s the one thing that we all have in common and it’s not going away anytime soon. Life is sometimes hard and very stressful and maybe things get to you that probably shouldn’t. Fortunately, there’s a cure for almost any ailment and the prescriptions are very easy to get. It almost sounds too good to be true but it’s not. MUSIC. Music will cure you. It’ll cure the blues, it will give you energy, it will lower your blood pressure and, it will damn near cure the common cold. It will stimulate your memory and it will make you feel years younger by the beat. Some people have the crazy idea that “I’m 40-something now; I’m too old for that now”. You’re not and you’ll never be. I’m 48 and rock harder now than I ever have. I try to listen to music, at some volume, all day, every day. I know that everybody doesn’t work in an office with a stereo or isn’t allowed to have something in their ears all day, but at some point, you must crank it up. No matter what mood you’re in or how bad you feel, when you play your favorite music, you just feel better. I’ll admit it right here and now: I’m addicted.