I love to ask random questions. Partly because I love to get to know people but mostly because I love the deep and meaningfuls that random questions can spark. This post, however, is not about D&Ms (that will be another day), this post is about a very specific question and what it sparked in me.
Would you rather lose your sight or your hearing?
I had some really wonderful conversations about this choice. Everyone I encountered struggled to choose but most agreed they would rather lose their hearing.
I could not imagine a world without sound or a world reduced to the sound of my own pulse inside my head. Music is infinite to me. It heals the wounds that time slowly licks. I have an ongoing soundtrack to my life playing in the back of my mind. I could string together lyrics that changed my life for days (but I won't because you wouldn't keep reading).
I get teased all the time for listening to Pop punk, hardcore and "emo " bands. The people who tease me usually are not lyric people or even music people. They don't hear the powerful statements to "be strong and believe" and "be a black sheep with me". I'll stop quoting there but you get the idea. I appreciate the passion and dedication these artists have for their art. Meeting some of them has been so surreal because they are just dudes who put their passion first and never gave up. Their lyrics reflect this motivation and persistence. When I sing along it's like they are filling me with the persistence to truly live life, rather than just settle for existing and getting by.
Music people will understand there is nothing that will ever compare to being a concert headbanging and pushing through the pit or crowding surfing to the stage. Even more so is the way complete strangers become one, all connected by the same chords and lyrics. People complain about online dating. Just go to a show and make a new potentially-more-than friend there because you've already got one thing in common: Music.
Something else we have in common at these shows: We can't sing but we sing often and loudly and with way too much conviction.
When my plans fall through, I am always able to crank up the radio and sing like no one is watching (even though everyone on The 285 mwy is watching every time I get stopped at the red light on Federal St). I am never lonely when dancing around my room or in the shower. If you ask my closest friend, they'll tell you music is like my natural habitat, the place I can be myself. Regardless of genre and my inability to sing.
My musical taste is not limited to the aforementioned genres. I am deeply in love with Balkan beat box, German rap, Dutch house, maybe a tiny bit of country and Australian.... well Australia in general. Hearing music from other cultures is an experience in itself and I look forward to hearing and feeling Bosnian music this summer.
I could go on for hours but I think this sums up, why music makes me want to live; not just exist.
Below is a song I really love. I sang it at the top of my lungs earlier today and got pumped for tomorrows challenge. Take a good listen to the lyrics and see if you can spot me in the crowd.
<3 always,
Nik Nak