If Music be the Food of Life, Play on...

Yes, I know the quote is wrong but that's very much intentional!

Its the first warm day in a few days in Newcastle, and during what has felt like the longest week ever, (and I have no doubt will become the shortest weekend ever), I was walking into work and over my headphones came one of my favourite pieces of music.

Now, before I tell you what that is, let me tell you, my tastes in music are quite diverse.

My parents - like most parents in the 80's had a record player, so we listened to a lot of vinyl.

If it was mum's choice, it would be the Osmond's, Tom Jones, Julio Iglesias.... all the crooners that knew how to shake their hips, insert some sexiness into a song and make a 30+ mum of four throw their knickers at the stage! Just a heads up though, the mother-ship never did that. Phew!

If it was dad, it could be acoustic guitar, John Denver, John Williams movie themes or classical.

I think this is where my love of classical stemmed from. Not only was it there just to listen to but he used it occasionally to wake the entire house up on a morning.

Every time I hear Flight of the Valkyries by Wagner it makes me smile! Although it meant no lie in, there are so many amazing memories attached to it that now, being woken up by it has become completely forgivable.

The piece of music itself is only just over 5 minutes long, but not only did it signal that it was time to get up, it usually meant that there was a cooked breakfast on the go.

My mum and dad had a huge flat plate and breakfast was always cooked on it.

It could be american style pancakes or a full English but there was something simply magical about coming downstairs to the smell of breakfast cooking and Flight of the Valkyries playing on the record player.

We also learnt very quickly that if we didn't get up, there was a strong possibility we would have a glass of cold water thrown over us and nobody wants that when you are cosy and warm in bed!

So anyway, back to last week...

As I said, I was walking into work and over the headphones came one of my favourite pieces of music and something I don't hear often. It was Adagio for Strings - Opus 11 by Samuel Barber and it is quite simply one of the most exquisitely beautiful and breathtaking pieces of music I have ever heard.

If you haven't heard it, find somewhere quiet, close your eyes and just let the music wash over you.

I promise you, you won't regret it.

It aches with longing, sadness, desolation and utter despair. The notes ebb and flow in waves, always moving, tendrils of emotions intertwining, pulsing and throbbing, winding their way into every molecule of your being and leaving you with a sadness that echoes through your soul.

For me, it represents all the pain we witness everyday, and are helpless to change.

Its the tears that mother nature weeps as we destroy not only the beauty around us but the lives of the animals who share her with us.

Its the devastation of war, hatred, power and money that consumes people when if we were to just stop, we would realise that actually, there is more than enough for everyone.

Nobody needs to go hungry.

Nobody needs to be in pain.

Nobody needs to be at war.

Bold statements I know, and even more so when you consider that all comes from a piece of music that lasts just 8 minutes and 22 seconds.

The thing is, it got me to thinking about music and how much of an impact it actually has on our daily lives and how for me, its always been a huge part of my everyday existence.

I don't know about you guys but I have anthems. Now, don't laugh. I promise that there is method in the madness! Let me give you an example.

I was a slightly rebellious and willful teenager - shocking I know, but there it is. What can I tell you!

Anyhoo, it resulted in rather a lot of backwards and forwards between me and my dad who hadn't quite figured out how to handle a stubborn, rebellious teenage girl.

You see, I had the joy of being the very first, and in all honesty, I think that was a little unfair on him and the mother ship as I was not the easiest and had very little interest in being easy.

After all, I was a teenager. I knew everything don't ya know!

This resulted in many rows and me being sent to my room regularly where I could 'think about what I had done - or not done' as the case may be!

There was one song that always got played on my hi-fi when that happened and if you weren't an 80's child then you may not know it. It was my big 'screw you' moment', and being the brave soul that I was, I would stick it on and pretend my dad was on the other side of the door whilst I vehemently and defiantly sang it at him. (Check out my big brass balls!)

The song of choice was You Don't Own Me from Dirty Dancing and it fit my mood rather well every time I was in trouble which was often.

Every time I hear it now it makes me think of those moments and smile.

If you aren't a parent you may not understand it but when you become one, you will.

I would say the vast majority of those moments in my room were well deserved, and me telling him through a door that I was my own person when in reality, I was just being a brat was rather comical and just a tad pathetic!

So, that was my 'I am a hard done by teenager' anthem.

I guarantee you, if you sit down and think about it, there will be something that you threw on every time you got told off in your younger years and if there wasn't, what is wrong with you!!!

You Don't Own Me was one of many songs that became hugely important to me, and I am still collecting songs even now as a 40 something.

When those particular songs come on over Spotify, (the hi-fi is unfortunately no more), they inject a huge amount of dopamine into my brain because they carry with them moments that were all but forgotten.

Even music that brings sad memories has become special, because that one piece can thrust you into a forgotten memory for a split second.The floodgates open and those exquisitely painful yet beautifully poignant moments are exposed, leaving you slightly breathless in their wake.

One of the songs that has that affect on me is My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.

This is not because Leo dies in Titanic, (apologies for the spoiler if you haven't seen it, but if you haven't - where the devil have you been!).

Titanic was the last film I watched at the cinema with my grandad before he became sick and we eventually lost him. Its a sad film anyway but when you add that familial connection, it becomes incredibly hard to watch, and the song a stark reminder of what we lost.

The thing is musers, as painful as that can be, that song also opens a doorway into things that I had forgotten.

I'm reminded of me cuddling into my grandad whilst he balanced a hot drink on his belly and we watched Carry On Films. Carry On Up The Jungle is still one of my favourite films!

I'm reminded of the kitchen windowsill being full of tomato plants and the sweet, earthy smell that emanated from them.

Everytime I smell tomato plants it reminds me of my grandparents.

I'm reminded of his coleslaws. Always very, very tasty but all sorts went into them.

I'm reminded of the day he talked me into trying a green olive. I was 12 and I don't think I had ever had anything quite so awful in my mouth before.

The funny thing is, I have gotten older and my tastes have changed, I absolutely love them and eating them is something else that triggers a really special memory.

My Heart Will Go On was never about the film for me.

It has become the trigger for a lifetime of memories that have helped to shape who I am today.

I would be lying if I said I didn't have a bit of a music obsession. From childhood, it has been my comfort, my motivation, my protection and my inspiration.

I have hidden in it when the world has gotten a little too much.

It never judges or questions.

It just is, and within that inexplicable combination of pitch, tone and harmonization, it has opened doors that have changed my life.

For me, music is life and a life without music would be no life at all.

As the world changes by the minute, I find comfort and familiarity in the music that has carried me through since childhood, and I honestly think, if you were to tell me I had to lose one of my senses, I would rather lose my sight than my ability to hear because in amongst those melodies, I can close my eyes and travel through a thousand different realities.

That truly is the power of great music and something that I hope will never change.

Until next time............