My indulgence

What is it about music that just gets to me… albeit in a good way? Music and I have a relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no singer nor artist. I like to say I have an ear for it. I hear the beat, the emotion behind it, the meaning behind the lyrics, delight in the singer’s melodious voice and notice the different ways s/he sings. See for me it’s not about how popular the song is or who the artist is. Well, I may have told a white lie here…. Some popular songs do catch my attention sometimes and is on my tongue for a month or two, heck I’ll even dance to it.

There are those songs though that you listen to and they never loose meaning, they never grow old. For instance, Dakota moon’s A Promise I Made to You is song I first heard years ago. Yet it still makes my heart melt every time I hear it. It has not grown old on me. It has not lost meaning for me. I still love it.

My affair with music began when I was a young girl. The radio was playing wherever I was. When I woke up early to study, music kept me company. As I did my chores, music played in the background. When I had my first crush [oh, the illusion of young puppy love] my music was there helping me belt out the “I love him” songs. When I suffered heartbreak, my music was there playing keeping me company as I cried my heart out.  My dad once asked “what is it with this radio? Must it always play?” Nevertheless, when I went to university, he bought me a radio because he knew I’d be lost without my music. And I loved him for it.

Music is a healer. Music calms me down. Music helps me deal with my emotions. Music helps me get lost in my own world and escape reality. I have tried to understand why but I told myself not every good thing needs an explanation. It is good to just let things be as they are and just enjoy.

I love it when I discover great music. Songs that speak. Recently I came across Katie Melua’s Closest Thing to Crazy. I was elated! I also discovered Fourplay’s I’ll still be Loving You. It is sublime, soothing, relaxing. My sister introduced me to Sara Mitaru’s song Make Way. A bold song with a message. Eric Wainaina’s new album Love + Protest has one of my best songs Image is zero if I have to borrow. A song that makes you pause and think, wait a minute what is it that I value? Why do I struggle to be what I think people want me to be?

Music can set the stage for a variety of emotions some that you may not be aware you had. Some songs may make you melancholic all of a sudden. Some may make you realize you harbor feelings of pain and hurt and boy will you cry. Some will make you realize you are in love. Some will remind you of a loved one. Some will bring memories of a past that you had forgotten. Some will make you realize what you need to do

In my perfect world, give me my music and a good book and I shall be in bliss. Well, and a glass of Merlot. I shall get lost in a world known only to me and I shall be happy.

What is your most favored indulgence?