How Would You Describe Your Relationship With Music And How Has It Changed Over Time?

I was raised in a household where music was an integral part of life. My mom sang in the church choir and in the 'Community Mixed Chorus' in Poughkeepsie, NY. Mom still appears in theater (local) as part of the Gilbert and Sullivan Players-additionally, I think she's played every female role in 'The Sound of Music'.

I actually sang on stage (I think I was 5) in celebration of our church organist's 50 year anniversary with the church. I have always loved music, from the time I was a kid (with 45's-stacks of them-I could buy them at Grant's Department Store for less than a dollar). I still remember two of my favorites-Chick-a-Boom and Hot Rod Lincoln (linked for your listening pleasure).

I was always listening to the new stuff, though I was very disapointed in the late 80's and early 90's (too much 'retreading' of music). I always have music on wherever I am. I kind of found myself listening to 'classic rock' all the time by default-a friend mentioned to my son the 'stick in the mud' listening habits I had. I realized I was sick of U2, Led Zepplin, ZZ Top, etc., which they played virtually non-stop.

About this time (early 21st century) the station I listened to lowered their power output, so I looked around and started listening to HTZ-FM out of St. Catherines Ontario, Canada (again, linked for your listening pleasure). Mostly new rock and some very interesting 'discoveries' (One of the reasons they have been selected as Canada's Radio Station of the year for many years running).

They play a lot of stuff before it really 'hits' in the states-groups like 'Cage the Elephant'. They also play great Canadian Bands that don't have the fiollowing here in the states they deserve ('The Tragically Hip' comes to mind) and of course, Rush (from right up the road in Toronto). They also have, every year or two, Rock Search-where they compare and contrast and select a rock band for a recording contract and a bunch of other prizes to get them on the music map, so to speak. One of those winners was a group, believe it or not, known as 'The Rainbow Butt Monkies'. You now know them as 'Finger 11'.

A few months back, I started trying to come up with a list and links of stuff I enjoyed and I have been publishing it (almost) monthly since then. I'm halfway through building the list for August. I ALWAYS have music on near me. So, I've progressed and have found myself liking the new stuff, leaving the old stuff for once in a while.

Dog help me, but I've turned into my parents where music is concerned. I listen to the music I grew up with and yell "turn that s*** down" at my kids. I grew up in the late 70s/early-mid 80s, so my taste is a bit bizarre. From the old dope smoking hippy music to the new wave 80s pop, throw in a bit of old school country and southern rock with a bit of hair band heavy metal, and we're there.

As a youth, my parents had an ongoing war to influence me, my brother, and my sister with their musical tastes. My mom was a fan of Motown, funk, classic R&B (from the era when "rhythm" and "blues" actually meant something), and modern pop, and still is today. My dad was a fan of The Beatles (who isn't?) and other rock bands, as well as a long line of people that I've always considered to be poets more than musicians. Between my mom singing Sly & the Family Stone while cleaning and whatnot, and my dad blasting The Stones at family gatherings, and countless members of my extended family being musicians, it's no surprise that the three of us kids all turned out to be musicians.

I was in my first band at age 12 -- not that we were any good! -- and did my first real "gig" at age 15. Music has always played a central role in about 99% of what I do. Radiohead's OK Computer, Blur's Parklife, The Beastie Boys' Ill Communication, Weezer's Blue Album, Cake's Fashion Nugget, and Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation are amongst the timeless albums that create the soundtrack of my life. I can barely function, alone or socially, without a CD or MP3 playing in the background.

Today, I'm in the process of forming a new band (finding rehearsal space in Binghamton, NY has proved thus far to be impossible for us, as we're all in our late twenties and live in apartments, but we're soldiering on). I'm in the process of designing an online music magazine with friends, which we hope to launch on the net by December of this year, provided we can find more writers for it. And I've been scouring the internet trying to find "the perfect" drumset for myself, to replace my aging, failing, somewhat-decrepit Ludwig. There was a time when making music had taken a backseat to other ventures, but my love for music has never faded over the years beyond that. If Exit Music [For a Film] isn't played at my funeral, then I was never really loved.

Hi Scott!

I still listen to different types of music, but my favorite is and always was modern hard rock. I can't stand classic rock because the best song in the world gets old after you've heard it 100,000 times. I'm a Sirius Octane fan since the local rock stations play too many commercials, and have stupid DJs and idiots calling in (OK, I've changed in that regard - I used to like certain DJs). So where I used to like Led Zep, I'm now into Avenged Sevenfold, Theory of a Deadman, and other newer bands.

Oh, and I don't go to as many concerts because I have a hard time getting to work on time the next day, since I'm not a young pup anymore. So far the only ones I've seen this year are the Seldom Scene (bluegrass) and Stone Temple Pilots (who I guess are pretty close to being classic rock at this point). Plus a bunch of local blues/R&B bands when I was in New Orleans this past spring.

I mostly listen in my car; at home, I agree that silence can be wonderful, especially in the spring and fall when the windows are open and I can hear birds and insects. I'm trying to get in the habit of putting Octane on when I get home from work, though, because it often gets me off my butt and onto the elliptical trainer. Avenged Sevenfold is a great fast-paced band for me to work out to.

I dont buy much music. I'd rather not support the hypocrites who supported the industry's ban on sharing. I'm talking the same hypocrites that used to copy cassettes before becoming famous, and they KNOW this.

Hi, I grew up in the late '60's & early '70's, having a sister who is 13 years older than me I listened to some golden oldies, of course all the wonderful 60's music, still a die hard Rolling Stones fan..I like the old Motown & Philly Soul, some of the newer stuff is okay and has found it's way onto my iPod...I also like The Tragically Hip & Blue Rodeo out of Canada (husband is Canadian & turned me onto it)...throw some classical in there & that's about it.

Music is my therapy. Seriously. It can help with any mood I am in, lift me up when down, mellow me out when hyper, it can elicit sadness. It does so much for me I cannot be without it.

I am one of those people that can watch something on TV and hear the music behind the movie or show or whatever. So many people I know don't pay any attention then when I play a song for them they ask where did I hear that I say from such and such. They don't remember.

I listen to nearly anything, excluding most country, most hiphop/rap and heavy metal. Can't really take any of that too much.

But everything I will listen to otherwise at least once. My tastes haven't changed as I span over all categories to hear the different voices, beats, lyrics.

But all in all music is in a way my therapeutic entity.

In one word diverse.

In many words. Any music that I feel that can have a influence on my appreciation for it. If it has a universal affect, IMO I believe the artist has done its job. I don't much appreciate cookie cutter, commercialized nonsense you hear now. I have just about every genre of music in my collection. You name I probably have it.

My relationship with music is ever changing but I grow to appreciate it more and more. I wake up to it, work out to it, I listen to it at work, in my car, in the shower, and go to sleep listening to it. My children are learning to be musicians, I can't play a lick but I try to provide the same influence and appreciation I have for music to them.

The best way to describe my relationship with music is if my life had a soundtrack ha! What would it sound like. Mine would be so diverse I don't think anyone would buy it but me. I guess my relationship is unique, but so is everyone else. My relationship has changed only by expanding and growing larger. I am always looking to hear the next great song and adding it to my collection.

I've discovered new music when my life has taken different turns. and vice versa.

I'm not sure if the new music led to the life change, or if the life change led me to new music. Right now, I am looking for "new" music, because I sure could use a change of scenery in life in general, and music has inspired me to seek new directions in the past.

Does anyone know of anything "new" that perhaps most of us haven't even heard yet?

I missed that developmental stage where music soothed and facilitated rite of passage in the adolescent years- long story for another day. However, around age 20 I started to lift weights alot, and started getting into loud, powerful music as a sort of driving force keeping me pumping away and motivated. Probably the last 3 years I listen to music now to lift my spirit, and help me cry and grieve. Its ...its.... luminous expansion while self-disintigrating, in a flow towards higher being......

Hey Scott... great article...

Music was introduced to me in my cradle (maybe before). Mom would not pick me up when I cried in the crib sometimes ... on purpose. She would leave me and the radio. I don't think she realized how it formed my independance from her. Not to the extent that I learned how to shut everyone out.

Later I would take my pain to my room and place one of my records (yes 33's) on the turn table. Usually Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Jesus Christ Superstar... when I was moody. ELO, Eagles, Grease, Saun Cassidy, Hellen Redy, Donna Summers when more up.

The radio was on all the time to catch what I could not afford to buy. I would take the tape recorder and put it up next to the speaker of the radio to try and catch a song. I could memorize every line from that... easily. Unfortunately I may miss part of the song...

For quite sometime I thought that the first line of American Pie was "from every paper I delivered...Bad news on the door step, I couldn't take one more step. I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride. but something touched me deep inside, the day, the music died..... "

I stopped taking music classes in 8th grade. I never could get the notes. I understood Do, Rae, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do.... but when the notes are put together .. .I am lost. I don't think I understood that may be part of my dyslexia.. I can not read a comic book either. But I would sing in plays and in a courus.... until for the most part the 8th grade... then I abandoned it for something more "stable". I burried myself in mechanical engineering. I sometimes wonder if it was a mistake.

I feel like I abandoned music, yet it never left me.... it is my connection to humanity and God (ok maybe that is too deep... so be it.)

Scott... I too have a ridiculous collection of CD's... the rack is 6' high and spins with 4 sets of racks.

My taste spans.... Rock, blues, R&B, country, pop, jazz, classical, showtunes.......

I wish I could play music at work, but I work in an office.

I find it hard to concentrait on Newsvine and music, so I don't listen to it while here. I can block out the TV in the living room, but not music.

The truth is the TV is on too much. I remember when the house was full of music. I am the daughter of a baby boomer... I grew up on Man a la Mancha, Jesus Christ Superstar, ELO, Barbara Striesand, Stevie Wonder... etc etc. And when the tv was on... at least most of it was musicals.... MGM, etc.

I even got caught shop lifting $40 worth of 45's when I was 12.... YIKES.

I either sleep to MSNBC or the R&B digital tv station.

Music was, is, and always will be a part of me

i think music is humanity's most natural art form, with writing a very close second — it's an organic, urgent thing. i think might be one reason why it's so difficult to capture the nature of one with the other.

but that doesnt mean we cant try!

one thing i love about your work, scott, is that it inspires so many people to respond in kind. with writing like that, it gets even closer to music — you write, we hum along, and soon everyone is playing some variation of the theme.

First I felt the urge to get some music to listen to at home while I write.. then I started a new job that lets me listen to music while I work.

Both changes happening at the same time, perhaps feeding off each other, made me reflect on the changes in my relationship with music and wonder if others have also noticed changes in their own relationship with music.

You'll find that every culture has some form of music. If you go say to an outdoor concert you'll see small children who by instinct start jumping in rhythmic fashion to the music. Things like this don't just happen. Music in its many forms touches something in the human psyche. As the philosopher Nietzsche said, "Without music life would be a mistake." Just as Nietzsche postulated a Will to Power. There must be a Will to Music as well!

I'm pretty sure Gene Simmons said something to the effect that girls aren't loyal to bands past a few years and that if a boy listens to you when he's 14 he'll be bringing his grandchildren to hear your old songs live.

While it's a gross generalization I'd have to say I wasn't very much into music before being a teenager and haven't absorbed much after. And the stuff I do listen to isn't considered music by some anyway. Oh and I don't listen to KISS I just remember Gene saying that.

college killed music for me.

I was born to be a musician--my mother was a concert pianist and my first philharmonic attendance came four days after i was born, because i came more quickly than expected. when i go home, the old ladies still love to tell me about dad bouncing me around backstage during mom's performance. they tell me how little i was as she held me in one arm and played with the other.

i started dancing before i could move and had entire operas memorized before i started school because i'd be coloring in the corner during rehearsals day after day after day while my mom accompanied.

in the course of my childhood, i had 14 years of ballet, learned seven instruments, took voice lessons for six years and sang in three operas. I can't even remember all the musicals. i was completely clueless when it came to pop culture and music. still am, really, even though scott is trying hard to remedy this

Some health problems prevented me from my own music career, so i became an elementary music teacher. i had just enough music classes in college to just about kill it for me. i could no longer listen to the radio without analyzing form, instrumentation, etc. I couldn't play for fun anymore because of the physical limitations and I knew too much to enjoy the sounds I made.

it has changed a bit lately, again thanks to scott. his aforementioned giant cd collection is slowly moving it's way over to my ipod and im discovering things i never knew i'd enjoy.

also, i now have a Melody of my own, who dances and sings and twirls. She started making up songs at barely a year old and likes to belt it out at church. My other two sing a bit, but she is already much more like me and her Oma.

Music was non-existant in my life until I was 11 years old.

And then one day a new buddy of mine introduced me to FAIR WARNING by Van Halen. It absolutely floored me and in truth, it changed my life. Within a year I had well over 2000 RECORDS and/or CASSETTES and for me, HEAVIER quickly became better. I went from the likes of Van Halen and quickly got into bands like early Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motorhead and the Scorpions.

And then in 1983 a friend of mine from out west sent me a bootleg of this band that was unlike anybody else out there. They had a cool freakin' name though, so I gave it a good listen. And what was the album you ask?

It was the then still unreleased Freshman effort KILL 'EM ALL album by METALLICA.

It was like I found GOD. I swear, it was like a physical assult on my very SOUL.

Now here I am at the age of 39 and if anything at all, my taste in music has only gotten HEAVIER with time. My Ring Tone is MOP (Master of Puppets) by Metallica and my two alarms are SOUTH OF HEAVEN by Slayer and CEMETARY GATES by Pantera.

And on October 1st i'm taking my 13 yo to his first concert. And who is it you ask?

Metallica of course.

Metallica was also my oldest boys 1st concert. I took him to Metallica and Godsmack when he was 9 years old. (His favorite band now is Slipknot)

The truth is, extremely heavy music is like medication for me. I get off on the aggression...the anger and the pain. I go to hard core shows and they let me...just vent. They let me get out all the @!$%# that "society" wont allow me too. And nobody judges...condemns. They accept me for whoever the hell it is I am.

They don't care.

For those few hours we can just let go.

People have never taken Heavy Metal serious. They underestimate the abilities of the musicians and they get to caught up in the "image" of it. So caught up that they don't really look at the music itself. They think all the fans are idiot stoners who will grow out of it. They've been saying for YEARS that Metal would be dead within a year.

Well, guess what? It's been almost 40 YEARS since the release of what most consider the first true metal album. And that would be Black Sabbath, which was released in 1970.

And Metal is still here, as strong as ever.

In the end, music has saved my sanity on more than one occasion. If it was to disappear, there would be a major void in my life.....

I had a kid looking through my CD collection one day... he said "You know... you're the only person I know that would have "Mettallica (SP) and Marty Robbins in the same case!" *GRIN*

I grew up with brothers and sisters that were old enough to be my aunts and uncles. I am 39 btw... so I heard a LOT of the late 70's and early 80's stuff. My mom LOVED Charley Pride... and Dad listened to Marty Robbins and Tex Ritter.

Then when I got to my teen years the "Hair bands" were becoming popular... I used to catch a LOT of flak from some of the kids at school for knowing the words to a LOT of the songs on the local radio station (OLD country at the time).

I think my FAVORITE style is classic rock and SOUTHERN rock (Esp. Eric Clapton and Greg Allman. However I will listen to PRETTY MUCH anything that someone wants to put on!!!

I grew up tripping on Blotter Acid (LSD) listening to Jimi Hendrix and off the Vietnam. After separating from my first wife and two kids after a bad car accident, started going to school at the University of Maine and I became a roadie for a college band that played Alternative Rock - I Love it. I saw Stone Temple Pilots in Concert in my late 40's and did a little crowd surfing. Went out today to find the Album CORE and I bought it. Bought Temple of the Dog too as my kids took most of my music albums - CD's.

Appetite For Destruction by G-N-R was one of the best albums ever released PERIOD, let alone in the 80's. Every song on that mother f*$^er kicks your ass. They could have been the greatest Rock-N-Roll band that ever hit the stage if Axl wasn't such an @!$%#.

They had it all. They were some bad ass dudes who lived what they preached. They had the image. They had the danger. And damn could Axl, Izzy & Slash WRITE music. They just freakin' rocked.

And I prefer the harder music. My Ipod has pretty much nothing but Metal on it. SLAVE TO THE GRIND by Skid Row is probably the softest thing I got. And is Appetite as heavy as most of what I listen to? Nope. Not even close. But that album is pure AGGRESSION. It's pure testosterone. I still listen to it at least once a week.....

I like a lot of different types of music, from the 50's to now, I don't listen to a lot, as the writer put mainly in my car. I was thinking about this not too long ago. Sometimes I'll sit in my car for a couple of songs I like, and singing along off key of course.

I like to collect music and movies from the past. I don't know why. Even when I was Young I wanted to collect old music. Now years later I want to collect the music that was popular when I wanted to collect the old. I do like modern music too.