Sunday Scribblings: Music
I find it a little funny that I am writing a post on music while watching Dolly Parton’s musical on Netflix. I’m weird that way, don’t judge me. Today’s Sunday Scribbling is on music, and that’s such a huge topic! I don’t even know where or how to start! But start I will…
Is there a piece of music or a song that just stays with you and whenever you hear even a small excerpt of the music, feelings and memories rush in? Maybe it’s just me, but that’s how I operate. I don’t know what it is about music, but it communicates things that even words cannot express. And you know me with words. There’s something about music that also retains memories of feelings, like deep vaults that contains precious feelings. Whenever the vault is opened, the feelings rushes through your system and, suddenly, you find yourself right back where it happened.
Let me tell you about some of the songs that made its mark in my life. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. You are welcome to listen to the songs on Spotify or any of your favorite music streaming places. Here’s my spotify playlist.
These past couple of weeks, on Monday mornings Jakarta time, I have had the privilege of watching two livestream concerts of my favorite band. (Are they really a band? How does one define the meaning of ‘band’?) Here. Let me just say this. My favorite musical group. They are called the Punch Brothers. I was first introduced to the Punch Brothers by my college friend, Jessica. She half-dragged me to a Punch Brothers concert in Seattle about eleven years ago? Maybe ten years ago. The concert was at The Showbox Theatre in Seattle. It was dark and there were red curtains. It’s funny the things that your memory retains. They played their set, but the song that got stuck in my heart was “Rye Whiskey”. So every single time I hear that song, or even the opening chord by Gabe Witcher (the fiddle player), I’m always transported back to The Showbox Theatre, the very first night I heard the Punch Brothers live. I was entranced.
On a completely different note, a song that would always transport me back to being a teenager at IESTEENS was Planetshakers’ “Come to Praise”. Yes, folks. It’s an older song at this point. I don’t sing the song anymore. (Actually, I don’t think we ever really “sung” the song. It was more of a shout/scream/make lots of high-pitched noise kind of a song.) But it was hype and it was fun, and there was a mosh pit. Yes. Churches and mosh pits aren’t exclusive, you know. The last time we did that song was probably about five years ago, at a teens’ camp? And every time, it feels like I was a teen again, excited to be with friends and quite literally scared of being trampled. Granted, after the song, I would feel my age again. With all the aches that come with it.
Another song that comes to mind is “Come Rain or Come Shine”. It’s a very simple jazz song, but it always makes me smile. A decade ago, that song was one of the songs I had on my Senior Recital repertoire. It also always reminds me of Seattle. Every time I sing the song, or remember the tune, I think of a place I once called home. The rain, the two weeks of sunshine, the hot coffee on dark gloomy days. All of it. And I think of singing in front of a stage with my friend Beth on the piano and my friend Dustin playing the saxophone. Somehow, it’s a taste of home. Today’s home is different.
There a song that I relate to my love of singing and music. I sing the song not because it reminds me of a person or a place or a moment. I sing the song because it reminds me that I love music and I love singing. It’s actually an aria from Camille Saint-Saëns’ Samson and Delilah called “Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix” (translated: Softly Awakes My Heart). I’ve never performed it to anyone before except for Bernie, my wonderful vocal coach and friend back in Seattle, but there’s something about that song that reminded myself why I fell in love with music and singing. And it reminded me that even though I don’t have a voice like Gretzinger (or contemporary great singers… pardon my pun. I just had to.) there’s a place for me and my voice. Maybe one of these days, I’ll record myself singing it. Just maybe.
Last but not least, a double whammy. “Closer” by Bethel Music and “Closer” by Chainsmokers. You have my permission to laugh. This is actually how my best friend became my best friend. These two songs. I can never lead worship using the Bethel song ever again, but I cherish the friendship that came out of that. These two songs now always make me laugh and reminded me of that moment, right before a worship set (God forgive us) where we almost sang the wrong song. It would have been bad, but it solidified a friendship. And for me, that’s a God-given gift.
So, dear friends. What are some of the songs that just get you? Please reach out and let me know. I would love to take a listen and maybe venture a glimpse into what memories make you uniquely you.