I love my car radio. There is something not so random about what I often hear as I journey about.
There seems to be some sort of cosmic connection that I don’t understand, but appreciate. It happens to everyone who avoids their personal, programmed music options. I did not purchase the car that had a CD player and I rarely use audio tapes. I have never downloaded music to carry with me. I would miss something.
My favorites are 3 local stations; the most popular is an oldies station that features music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s. These are the ones I sing along to; the ones that conjure up the most memories, both good and bad. On stressful days, I turn to a publicly funded classical music station; this is the one to be turned up to drown out the noise, both physical and mental. My third choice always surprises my children. I seriously do like modern music in all forms; Top 40, Pop, Alternative, Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop and even Rap.
There have been countless times that the music chosen by some anonymous DJ will match my mood or thoughts so perfectly, it is as if I called in the request myself.
If I am preoccupied with worry, on comes the Beatles “Let It Be” or Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. After a hateful or violet news report, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” or the Youngbloods ‘ “Get Together”. Feeling romantic; pretty much anything by Barry White or Al Green works. You really can’t escape the tear-jerkers; “Cats in the Cradle”by Harry Chapin; “My Father’s Eyes” and “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton.
In more modern terms, there is good stuff out there; by Coldplay, Radiohead, Maroon 5, John Legend, Sam Smith, One Republic. Aloe Blacc , alone or with a group, has one of the most haunting sounds ever; Nico and Vinz with “Am I Wrong” show a lot of promise; and for me, Avicii’s “Wake Me Up” was the best song and video of 2013. http://youtu.be/4xz-J5mUPjE The lyrics and visuals are inspired, almost brilliant.
Sometimes, it is about the words that come across the airwaves. I heard excerpts from an interview with singer/songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp. He was asked how he comes up with his storytelling lyrics. He said that he never sits down with the specific purpose of writing a song, his best stuff comes when he is merely channeling.
If you look up the definition of “to channel”, you will find “to direct toward a particular course” or even better; ” to express (your ideas, thoughts, feelings, energy, etc.) through a particular behavior or action”; “to serve as an intermediary for, (spirit guide) “.
Like his song lyrics, my best writing comes when I get out of my own way, and let the brain make its way to the keyboard, which is faster; or the pen and paper, which is more deliberate and far more personal.
There are many others who attempt to describe the process of creativity; John Cougar Mellencamp’s interview was a simple but pleasant reminder, by way of Y102, and the (not so) randomness of radio.
vanbytheriver 