Music to my Ears
Mary J. Blige’s ‘My Life’ was released in November of 1994. I remember when my brother brought it home-for many years he would buy me Mary’s CDs when they hit the stores-I sat and listened to it for hours. As I went through years of teen angst I would turn to that CD, and many others, and sing my heart out, identifying with all of the pain and anguish.
Music. It can illicit feelings of joy, sadness, despair, and elation all within the same set. For centuries it has been a way to express feelings and emotions that simple words with no cadence or melody could express. It has been the backdrop to movements and one of the many ways we worship and praise my Lord and Savior.
Music has played a huge part in my life. I can still vividly remember listening to my mother sing to Luther Vandross’ ‘Bad Boy (Having a Party)’ as she got ready for a surprise party for her best friend. Or hearing Shirley Murdock’s ‘As we Lay’ and realizing the pain that song’s scenario had caused women I loved. As I got older I branched out from R&B and Rap to Pop and groups like Maroon 5 and No Doubt.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve fallen in love with Gospel music. From the Old 100s to more contemporary acts there’s something about singing about the power that God has over our lives that gives me goosebumps. But depending on the day of the week you might hear me listening to anything from Three 6 Mafia to Yo-Yo Ma and everything in between.
When Jacob and I got married our party favor was a CD of songs chronicling our love over the 7 years preceding our marriage. Seventeen (come November) years later we could add a plethora of songs to that soundtrack, from just about every genre imaginable. Of all the songs that would play, the best one to sum it up would go a little something like this…
‘I don’t feel no ways tired. Come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me, that the road would be easy. I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me’.
Until next time…