This is a blog of the songs of my life. These are the silly songs that pop into my head first thing in the morning. These are the songs that move me to dance. These are the songs that move me to my very core, and have helped shaped me. Music has been a parent, a teacher, a friend, and a guide my entire life. I don't get stuck on genres, but I love so many genres.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do, and have fun following!
Feeling very inspired by this song after meeting with Chrissy yesterday.
We're going to create one amazing choreography to a dubstep song based on this song!
Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka
This first music blog will be sharing a few of the songs that were most influential on my life in different time periods of my life. These songs inspired me in some way in my childhood, in significant times of transition and growth, and that currently ring in my head to keep me grounded as well as floating above the clouds.
This was one of the first 45s I owned. I inherited it from one of my older siblings as it came out only 1 year after I was born. It began my fascination with all things witchy, mysterious, and a little bit on the dark side.
This was the first song and video I heard by Madonna. I was instantly a fan, and wanted to be just like her back then.
Much was the same with Cyndi Lauper. I ended up giving all my Barbies haircuts like hers when I was a kid since Mom wouldn't let me get my hair cut that way.
I had a big crush on Boy George when I was a little girl. I loved his feminine boyish style.
Ah, Joan Jett.. She began and still leads my bad ass rocker chick obsession.
I have so many favorite songs by The Cure, but this has always been my favorite. I began listening to them in Junior High. I had been stuck in a small town for most of my life at that time, and when I began to discover the world of Alternative music in the early 90s, I felt rescued from the mundane mainstream. I continued from here to discover more of the goth, darkwave, and death rock genres that I also love so much as well. I plastered the Cure's band posters and article clippings all over my teenage walls in small town North Carolina.
I discovered Punk Rock after I discovered Alternative music. Dead Kennedys were and are one of my 2 favorite old school Punk Rock bands. The sound of the instruments with Jello Biafra's lyrics opened my mind and eyes to so much in the world I couldn't see prior to this. I am forever thankful for the education from this band.
My other favorite old school Punk Rock band is the Misfits. Quite a different vibe from Dead Kennedys, but the horror punk style and Glen Danzig's epic voice still has me singing along to the songs after nearly 25 years of being a fan. No song by the Misfits ever gets old!
I was a little late to the game in discovering Industrial music. Being in the small town I grew up in, my portal to learning about new music in the early 90s was sharing mix tapes with friends and 120 Minutes on MTV. I began watching 120 Minutes in high school, and this was the first industrial song and video I ever saw. It made such an impact on me, and helped me fall in love with so many amazing Industrial band that came before NIN. Trent Reznor is a musical genius, in my opinion, and his raw, unapologetic lyrical expression has always been something that I can relate to.
Hole was the first truly aggressive female fronted band that I found. I bought their CD "Pretty On The Inside" in 1992, before Courtney was even close to going Hollywood, and I couldn't get enough. The music sparked me to learn more about the music of angry and unapologetic strong women, the Riot Grrrl movement, and feminism. This all sparked another huge turning point in my life that I am so thankful for.
The Lunachicks are my 3rd (but most definitely not in that order) favorite Punk band. They are strong, funny, crazy, silly, over the top, embracing of social and personal issues in daily life, and they are fun feminists. They are, in my eyes, the perfect combination of all things punk, rock, gender role embracing without hindering, loud, and fucking fun as hell!
How many people have said that Tori Amos saved their life? Probably a lot. She definitely did mine in my early 20s when I really got into her. I had friends who tried to turn me on to her when I was too busy being an elitist, "I only listen to hard music" girl, but when I felt like exploring some softer sounds as well, I discovered that you can be a little less abrasive and just as powerful and strong too. I found room for both the styles in my heart, and I definitely became a Torihead. Her music helped me begin to face things within myself that needed to be faced just as much, if not more, than all the things in society that I felt needed to be faced that was unjust. Thanks you always, Ms. Amos.
Fast forwarding quite a bit, and to not make this blog too incredibly lengthy (as I could post songs infinitely that were and are staples) is a song I connected strongly with only a couple of years ago. This song, to me, is about some of the growth I am focusing on in my life currently. Connecting to nature, the universe, and the world I live in is vital in progressing and growing, but I have had problems letting the darkness of it all bog me down for much of my life. I am a very sensitive person by nature, and I sometimes feel I am an empath. This song helps me think of ways to connect, make peace, make my way, and flow through the ocean of daily life whether it be tasks, dreams, visions, creative expression, communication, what have you.
In conclusion, I really hope you enjoyed this post and will enjoy the rest of my life soundtrack blogging.
I also have to mention that the one artist I could not post was Prince. There were not good videos or ones with good sound quality on You Tube due to some copyright stuff. I have to add him because he also was such an influence on my childhood. He opened me up to learning more about my sexuality, and his songs were unique and fun.
Again, thanks for reading and listening, and I'll post more soon.
