Sometimes songs reach out and grab us because they just seem to contain the perfect lyrics that explain what is going on in our lives at a particular time. Some of the songs that you love are experienced by people all over the world – this is an example of one of the many ways we are connected! Dr. Misha Turner and Dr. Staussa Ervin are two individuals who share a strong appreciation for music and are particularly interested in the ways women around the world are connected through their appreciation of popular music. Music's ability to transform our lives and the lives of others is a focus of our curiosity because of the ways that music can reach people and highlight the commonalities that we share. Using social and psychological perspectives, we will be collecting and chronicling the stories of women around the world about the impact that music has had on their lives, which we will include in our book.We want to hear your story! Recognize, articulate and contribute to a sustained sisterhood through the appreciation of music. Participation in this project is voluntary and participants will not be remunerated. The purpose of this blog is to collect stories from women around the world who share a connection through music.
For the purposes of confidentiality, pseudonyms will be used in place of actual names if your post is selected for inclusion in the book. By posting your story to this blog you are giving consent to participate and confirming that you are at least 18 years old. Participation in this blog qualifies as implied consent. For more information, contact us at my.life.153@gmail.com
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ReplyDeleteI'm Tra from the USA and the song I relate to most is No More Drama by Mary J.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time in my life when it was filled with drama--problems, issues, craziness--all coming from the terrible relationship I had with myself that projected into the relationship I had with my son's father. I remember when things began to come together and make sense for me. I remember learning to love myself and to know in my heart that I was OK no matter what size I was, what I had done to myself, or what others had done to me in the past. This song came out a long time after I had made this transformation, but I could still definitely relate. I love Mary J. for putting her life out there in her music for us and allowing us to use her experiences to help us heal ourselves.
Thanks for creating this blog!
Tra
I really think this is a cool concept. My name is Karin and im co-founder of Ascension magazine. I could really see your work as part of our magazine. Perhaps a column!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read the larger body of work this blog will ultimate create.
My contribution:
A song that speaks to where I am right now is Fertile Ground's "Changing Woman"
http://www.myspace.com/fertilegroundmusic
This is Monica from Wichita, KS, USA. I think this is amazing and I cannot wait until you have the finished product.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many songs that have touched my life but I believe the song that best describes where I am at in life right now is "Alright" by Ledisi. This song just reminds me that its okay to be me and that things happen in life but at the end of the day everything will be alright. Check out her myspace page listed below:
http://www.myspace.com/ledisi
Much Love!
I saw your comment on my blog and it led me to your site. I must agree with "verbal essence", you do have a great concept for this blog, and I can definitely see great potential for a book on this topic.
ReplyDeleteI'll begin by saying that Music is more than just a hobby, or something that I am completely passionate about. For me, music IS "My Sweet Escape", which is what my music blog is all about. By connecting with music that I love, I feel like I'm in a completely different place, a place where I can be myself, and try not to let my problems in life get the best of me. One of my favorite albums at the moment is Carolina Liar's "Coming To Terms". This album says so much about my life and what I'm experiencing that I'm grateful that it has helped me to grow up emotionally and mentally.
In order to make you understand how I am connected to this album, I will share something very personal to everyone. This year has been a very tough year for my family and I. Ever since my father had an affair with a younger woman, it has taken its toll on everyone in the family, but especially my mother. The consequences of the affair was too much for her to handle that all that depression turned into epilepsy. Plenty of anger and denial at first, but eventually we all learned to forgive him and tried to move one with our lives. I know it sounds easy when I typed all that in one sentence. But it was one of the hardest things I've ever done, believe me. During all that drama, I must've played this album over and over again: "Show Me What I'm Looking For" when I was feeling confused and didn't know how to deal with the heartbreaking news; "Coming To Terms" when I finally accepted that shit happens in life, it might hurt like hell, it might not be easy to forgive but deep down everyone deserves a second chance no matter how badly they screw up, even my dad; and last but not least, "Beautiful World"--the best song in the album, because in the end, I realized one thing: We all still have each other and that there are still plenty of things to look forward to in the future.
I hope that gives you an insight as to how I am connected through my music. If you'd like me to comment some more on your project anytime soon, just leave me a message/ comment on
http://www4.shoutmix.com/?easily_distracted [the MSE7 shoutbox] OR on my blog directly.
Stef-MSE7
http://mysweetescape7.blogspot.com/
well...Thanks guys for ur comment in my blog, i like the idea actually. Music for me is...Everything, i cannot live a day without music, i play Piano and selftaught guitar. Anywayz moving to my Best song, imma have to say "I'm Like a Bird- Nelly Furtado", it reminds me of a stage in my life that changed me alot from the inside out, it's where i became more extrovert, more open-minded, began to form a philosophie or a point of view of life around me, and put some rules for it, And it's where i Started Painting! That period was when i Travelled to England for Aloooooong Time... 8 Mnths!!:), Yeah its a short time maybe but a great effect is that it had on me, and still me and my bro remember England whenever we listen this Song! And i feel like an artist, A bird, i have no home, i'm just a part of this world, i know no colours and i know all the colours, i visualise the fresh british breeze and the smell of wet grass...MMMMmmm!
ReplyDeleteWell, here's a bit of my story, thanks for letting me remember this period, it's really Fun!
Salam
First of all, thanks for the comment you posted on my blog, it made me feel proud of myself. I'm Sara from Romania and I think the track that represents me from this list is India Arie-Just for Today.
ReplyDeleteI have had a rough life so far, always have been very independent and realistic and I have succeeded in having almost all the things I wanted. I have learnt a lot of things from the past, from all the experience I have gained, whether it resulted from good or bad stuff. It made me who i am today and I thank God for giving me yet another chance, each day, to live and to love my life. I live through music, there isn't any day that could go on without hip-hop and I'm trying to improve my singing every day.
Besides the fact that I'm Ice Cube's biggest fan, I live through music, I sing every day and I want to make something out of it, as I know I can really do it. Life has taught me that if you want something, it will be meant to be, sooner or later. Don't hope, just plan. That's why I'm planning to meet Cube one day, to make it as a singer and to be proud of myself. I know that I wouldn't be what I am today without my mom, who is everything to me, body, soul, thought and person, and without my friends. Also, I learnt from my mistakes and I can see only challenges, not difficult things.
The sky is the limit...
Peace!
S.
Of the songs listed, I think Mary J's "No More Drama" is the most powerful. It first catches me because it uses the theme to The Young and the Restless, and I've been watching that show since I was a kid. Then once Mary starts singing, you can't help but connect with her story.
ReplyDeleteI can't narrow my story down to one song. Music has always been so important in my life. There are handfuls of songs that are the soundtrack to different periods in my life. I was listening to Madonna's "Express Yourself" a few weeks ago, and I remarked to my husband that this was no longer a song to me. It was more like an audio photograph. It instantly transported me back to a certain time and certain feelings.
One of my earliest music memories was in 3rd grade. All the "cool" kids were wearing Rick Springfield shirts and talking about Van Halen and Duran Duran. I was listening to country music at the time because that's what my family listened to. I remember making the decision to switch the dial to rock. I needed to know these bands if I wanted to be cool. Soon after a little album called "Thriller" came out. I was hooked.
Around this time I also discovered the hero of my childhood. She influenced how I wanted to dress, dance, speak...everything. Her name was Madonna, and I knew that's what I wanted to be like. From "Lucky Star" and "Like a Virgin" to "Like a Prayer" and "Express Yourself"' I continued to look to Madonna for inspiration until I graduated high school. But along the way there were others who also made their mark.
In 8th grade, these 5 guys from Boston taught me about boys and love! I chose friends based on our mutual love for New Kids on the Block. Songs like "I'll Be Loving You Forever" helped me form my opinion of what a boyfriend should be like.
When I was a freshman in high school I wanted to save the world because of Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation". From education to racism, I wanted to make a difference. I really took her messages to heart, and I still believe in the ideas from that album.
Then the Generation X hero came along. I was about 16, and Kurt Cobain changed everything. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became the anthem for an entire generation and ushered in the grunge genre. These bands (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, etc...) gave me something to call my own. This wasn't music for parents, popular radio, or commercialism. This was music for teenage rebellion and idealism, and this was perfect as I was making the transition to college.
In college, Sarah McLachlan's "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" guided me through relationships and breakups, and also became the reason I learned to play guitar so I could make my own music.
So that's my music story. Critical periods of my life, the times when I was discovering or changing, are strongly linked to the music of that period. Hearing those songs is more like looking through a photo album than listening to the radio.
I know this is probably alot longer than you wanted and maybe not exactly what you'd intended, but I just couldn't narrow it down to a single song. Good luck with the book, and I expect an autographed copy!
-Melissa
hey i have only read a fine balance...
ReplyDeletehavent read the other books of the author...
have u read tht one too??
n from the songs.. i like we belong together..