Music is good for the Soul!

Music?  What does music do for the soul?  Does music effect how we feel?  

I grew up in the 70’s, and all I remember was music.  I remember as a kid listening to the music coming out of our component system.  If you don’t know what that is, it is a stereo system that had am/fm receiver; record player; 8-track, all in one.  If you grew up in that era, you may remember that radio stations didn’t have a lot of different genre stations, so you would hear a lot of variety when it came to music.  So, I grew up listening to The Jackson 5, Doobie Brother and The Oak Ridge Boys on the same station.  Now, as a DJ today, that experience has paid off.  I was exposed to all types of music without prejudice, it really gave me the opportunity to learn music.  All always have loved music, didn’t really matter what kind, just the beautiful sound that instruments made, the harmony of voices, wow!  My family had a big part in my understanding of music, my grandfather only listened to bluegrass, my dad, liquor-house soul, and my grandmother lived and breathed gospel.  But really, what power does music really have over us?  Well, I won’t call myself an expert, but I will say that I know music.  Music can cause us to become emotional, it can get us hyped or pumped up, it can allow us to praise our God, and sadly in some instances, it can motivate us to do things that are not right.  So yes, music does have power.  But think of your favorite song, and I mean that go to song.  Why is it your favorite?  See, when you think of that special song, it will bring back memories, evoke emotions, put you in your happy place.  I remember a song that brings back a lot of memories for me.  Now, this is not even my favorite song, but it carries a moment from my past that I only remember when I think of this song.  The song is “Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin.  I remember it was a Saturday mornin

g in the summertime, it was warm outside, because we had the window open, and that song was on the radio.  My mom was singing along to it as she finished breakfast.  She had made pancakes and had butter all over them.  There was a maple syrup that she had poured all over the pancakes and it tasted so good.  Every time, I hear that song, I can remember the taste of that syrup.  I was about 6 or 7 years old during that experience and I am 48 now and cannot find that syrup anywhere.  But see, that is the power of music.  I’m sure all of you have an experience as well, whether it is the song that you had your first slow dance or had your first kiss, music is always there.  So, go and find that song, happy memories!