Singer/songwriter Rob Anthony posted this thought yesterday:
“Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside us.”
Perhaps because I’ve been driving around with a temporarily disabled sound system, this comment hit me hard.
I miss music in my car and I crave it in my life.
I appreciate all the brave and talented souls who meld the notes and the words so satisfyingly and then share them with the world. Their efforts score my day, add a little pep to my morning workouts and a sense of fun to my evening chores.
I once snatched a song out of the thin (though glorious) air during a Mile of Music concert at the Lawrence Chapel, and then claimed it as my own. I texted the songwriter, Hilary Reynolds, the next day and she graciously allowed me and Vince to call “Let’s Not Grow Old Just Yet” our song.
The first time I heard Disturbed’s David Draiman sing “Sound of Silence” on the radio, I sat in my car, mesmerized. Same with Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill’s rendition of “How Great Thou Art”.
I feel extremely fortunate to live in a city that values music, and just blocks from a renown Music Conservatory. I count as bucket list items the live performances I’ve seen of Paul McCartney and Billy Joel, and I loved the big venue concerts I’ve seen with Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Chicago, and Earth, Wind and Fire.
I’m also grateful every time I see a songwriter perform original music in a venue small and quiet enough for the music to take center stage. I’m pretty sure I welled up at every school concert and I’m grateful every day for the music teachers and directors who taught my children how to sing.
I love live music. In fact, tonight I’m walking downtown to catch Jamie Kent in concert and I can’t wait.
What I’m saying is, let your music out, man! Share it with the world.
Life is too short, and music is too precious to waste a single measure.
Play on!
