What's on Your Playlist?

Ever hear a song that takes you back to a moment in time or a stage of life?  Music has always been a huge part of my life and it tends to speak to my soul when nothing else seems to get through.  Now mind you, I grew up in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.  Before that I was really only exposed to what was on my parent’s radio – what I call twang country.  To this day there are some country songs that make me cringe. 

At some point my sister introduced Glen Campbell into my listening genre. Glen was a master guitarist and his voice was like warm honey.  “Gentle on my Mind”, “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston” were on repeat.  At some point in Jr. High I succumbed to the Osmond Brothers, Jackson 5, and bubble gum music.  In middle school I attended my first ever live concert – John Denver.  I think I owned every album he ever released.  From there I embraced some bands that my parents hated, and perhaps that was some of the appeal.  But after that my taste in music became very diverse even then.  Paul McCartney and Wings, The Eagles, Gordon Lightfoot, Fleetwood Mac, Doobie Brothers, Christopher Cross, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Kenny Loggins, America, Simon and Garfunkle….the list goes on.  Those were the days! 

Music activates every area of our brains. Songs can elicit strong feelings and memories, prompt blissful reactions or even tears.  There seems to be a difference between listening to music and performing music and what it does in our brains.  Music can help stroke victims recover speech processes.  It seems to delay dementia and helps slow the progress of some degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.  Music develops right and left hemisphere responses in the brains of children which help them to be more creative problem solvers.  Music actually helps the brain release pain relieving functions in the body and is dramatically helpful for those with chronic pain.  Obviously it’s used in television, movies, advertising, to elicit certain emotional responses.  It’s a powerful tool! 

Even today music plays a major role in my everyday life.  I love to plug in my earbuds, tune out the world and turn up the rock or pop music when I am cleaning my house, working in the yard, or taking a walk. I listen to soothing classical for calm, quiet times.  I have a worship playlist when I want to focus on my relationship with God.   I can’t imagine a road trip without tunes blasting in the car. Celtic music struck a chord with me in more recent years and the variety of instrumentation and characteristics of that genre seem familiar and perhaps resonate with the European genetic influences in my family line. Recently I’ve been chasing down music from my past just for nostalgia sake and it brings back moments in time that are clear as day. Just the other day a friend shared a great song with me – music can be a language that connects people, too. 

So turn up the volume and let music speak to you or for you!  It makes us better, more healthy people.  What’s currently on your playlist?