If Music be the food of love...

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 14:27

Written by Editor

By Elizabeth Streeton

Ok so I’m going to make a confession, I have decided to come out of the closet – no not that closet. I am actually admitting that I’m neither a War baby nor a child of the Swinging Sixties, I am – yes, yes get it out – I am a child of the Helen Reddy revolution. Some of you may even have heard me as I hurtle past in my little car, Vera, with "I am Woman" revolutionising the Spanish Senoritas.  The words strike a definite chord and at times in my life gave me the "get up and go" to take on life and face another day. And it started me wondering what other songs do I have in my library that mean so much to me. It was then whilst dusting off my CDs that I realised I could take a walk down memory lane and actually categorise my life by the music that I was listening to at the time. Is this simply my little foible or are there others out there who can follow their joys and woes by the CDs that affected them. Is this an age thing or is it simply something that you have to be of a certain age to understand, possibly youngsters today have not had the Life experiences yet to start their own musical history. 

I know my introduction to music started when I was very young and I do remember Mother and Grandma singing to me when I was small. Grandma was always old time music hall and I have recently unearthed such things as "She Had To Go And Loose It At The Astor" see, even then songs were getting racy! I even can admit to knowing all of the words to Tommy Cooper’s "Don’t jump off the roof Dad" which has had several airings at friends’ weddings. But it was only later that I started to amass my own collection. I can remember that it started with John Leyton and "Johnny remember me" and yes, I know the words to that too.

My first marriage resulted in lots of Carpenters, Bread, Gladys Night and several LPs of Neil Diamond. All of which were played and replayed when the marriage ended. So many songs that could raise you up or make you cry. I will still admit to "Rainy Days and Mondays" being sung quite a few times on winter mornings on the way to work.

In between husbands Hot Chocolate and "You Sexy Thing", Tina Turner and "Nutbush City Limits" were often the songs I boogied the night away to.

Now happily married again my music style has grown to include such as Il Divo, Katherine Jenkins and even Cold Play and Scouting for Girls. My child often despairs of admitting that the songs he’s getting are really for his MUM. I know that I can listen to three full run through of "Summer Of 69" to get me from the bins by the river to home!

And yes we do have our song, you may not remember Dan Hill and "Sometimes When We Touch" but for our first real date I had bought him a present and, as I presented it to him he handed me exactly the same that he had bought me. How could we have anything else.

I am so glad as I realise how full and rich my musical life is, there is still so much out there that can still make me laugh – and make me cry. And even though there are many who decry Modern Music, there will always be certain songsters who have the talent to interpret a song to ensure that it means something for the listener and so adopt it as their own. 

So I hope that music will always be an important part of my life and I am grateful that there is so much that enriches and lifts the spirits. Who knows how my Library will expand – but can you say the same? Can you also say that you know your Music Timeline?