My daughter Adriana recently received her master’s degree (we are so damn proud of her!). Her thesis was about resistance music in Latin America during the Cold War era (1960s-1980s). As we listened to her defense presentation, I was reminded yet again how important and powerful music is in our lives.
Music has been with us since the beginning of time. Musical instruments, such as bone flutes, trace back at least 40,000 years. And like everything, music—the way it is played, produced, and enjoyed—has evolved.
I remember excitedly holding a small cassette player in front of the transistor radio to record a favorite song. Or buying a 45, wondering what song would be on the flip side. I can still smell those little guys, and in fact I think I still have a case of them somewhere. Of course, the 33s were a better deal, especially with their fancy covers and bonus tracks. Sigh. Those were the days. I also used cassettes, 8-tracks, and, of course, CDs. At one time, Napster and LimeWire were my best friends. Now it’s Spotify and iTunes. “Alexa. . . play music from the seventies” is a phrase often heard bouncing off the walls in my home.
Music has the power to take us back in time. It evokes memories and emotions—long-ago friends, lost loves, and significant events. Even a trip to the grocery store nowadays can send my mind cascading back a few decades! There’s nothing like bursting into tears while choosing tomatoes. LOL. The music that was once such an important part of my life has now been relegated to tracks designed to convince you to spend more money. And let’s not forget those elevator tunes!
I just missed the direct impact of the 1960s music scene. Born in 1959, I was too young to understand it, and my parents were too old to listen to it. But its influence continued throughout the following decades.
Seventies music is where my heart lies. The rebellious sixties had quieted down, and the politically inspired music gave way to more about personal freedom and experimentation. Just in time for the Generation Jones half of the Baby Boomers. There was a tremendous amount of diversity. Rock music split into several subgenres: hard rock, heavy metal, punk rock, glam rock, etc. Don’t forget disco! Culturally, seventies music became a symbol of self-expression and non-conformity. It was full of frustration, anti-establishment, and tied to human rights movements. Music in the seventies, at least for the most part, screamed out for change. Think Led Zeppelin, Queen, David Bowie, and the Rolling Stones. Of course there was a lot of happy folk music in the seventies. And yes, there was Anne Murray. Now I’ll never admit I was a fan of her music, but damned if I don’t know the lyrics to a lot of her songs! (Anne Murray was recently honoured with the Canadian Lifetime Achievement Award.)
Moving along. . . music is a great way to encourage healthy aging. It gets us up and moving, even if that is just dusting or doing some other mundane housework. It increases dopamine levels and lowers cortisol levels. Music can also stimulate other chemical reactions in the brain, leading to more positivity. And that’s a good thing when it comes to staying healthy.
There is research that shows brain waves naturally synchronize with music. This is helpful when treating those with age-related memory issues such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s. I remember my mom, who suffered with Alzheimer’s, not knowing who I was and not being able to speak but reacting with a smile and twinkle in her eye to music. Maybe it was my poor singing that did it, but it still evoked happiness.
Research also shows that sound stimulates the same neurotransmitter in our brain that sends sensations of pain. When both happen at the same time, pain may not feel as intense.
And of course, there is no end to the good things that learning to play a musical instrument or even a new song can do. I grew up playing the piano, clarinet, bass clarinet, and a bit of guitar. Now I’m working on the lyre and melodica. Wow, aren’t my neighbours lucky!
So, come on and turn up those tunes! Shake a leg! Sing your heart out, and not just in the shower or your car. Learn an instrument. It doesn’t have to be something grand. Pick up a recorder, strum a ukulele, or beat on a drum. You can’t go wrong.
Billy Joel says it well. “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
Do you remember the old Coke commercial I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing? Well, that’s what we need right now. More music. Music to bring us together.
Note: I just went to the movie Sinners. It’s one of those movies that I will be thinking about for a few days. Right now I can say that the music featured throughout is incredible, if you like the blues, and I do. You can download the score or playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. There is one scene in the movie, and I don’t want to say much because you really should go see it for yourself, that shows how music has transcended time and culture, unifying all people. It was amazing! Check out this explanation. This movie has a lot of layers!
Interesting Reads & Things
https://www.mi.edu/in-the-know/musics-historical-influence-ancient-greece-modern-times/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-canadian-musicians-1234779020/
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mAL3gKsyM3JIZmWZYJgKrIbwQbnxgGc64
Wanderings Art 