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So I find myself nominated to the Music and Words award by Far Away Eyes, one of the many fine participants in the bi-monthly Battle Of The Bands which you can find out more about on her site. I am not sure exactly, outside having music playing in my head ALL THE TIME I have done to warrant this recognition, but as it is a subject I am versed in (get it, "versed"?) I have decided to participate. Thusly I will get to adhere that lovely award picture on my bottom (of my blog, Al Penwasser) as that is where I actually have most of my other awards and stuff. So, here are the legal niceties...
Once accepted, the award process has five steps:
Link back to the person who nominated you (Done above)
Answer the questions with words AND music
Pass the award on to 5 bloggers who inspire you with their posts about music
Tag your post with #MWA, for Music&Words Award so that we can all find you down the line (like my award-er, I'm not sure what that means, so I will use the blogger tag thing that I never use anymore to accomplish this)
Quote these 5 steps and the award icon in your post. You can display the icon on your sidebar as well. (Done here and above)
Now I will note that passing awards on to unsuspecting victims makes me feel like a Jehovah's Witness at a gang hangout, so I will open it up: The first five callers at 555-SONG get to play along. If you get no answer, just go ahead and play along and I won't turn you in.
Now, to the Batmobi- er, to the questions:
What does music mean to you?
For me music is two things. Mostly it is praise to God for the wonder that He has allowed us to experience on earth. It is the way I connect to the divine, no matter what song it is. And while the soaring strings of Percy Faith's A Summer Place theme gets one a tad closer than say, AC/DC's Highway To Hell, it all is part of that same panorama to me.
Second, it is the tiny bubbles in my mind where memories are stored. Where feelings get preserved. Long after my conscious mind loses its tenuous hold on reality, I know it will only take the right chord to bring me back.
What is your first music related memory?
I don't know that I can pull up an actual musical first memory, but I do know that the first two songs I knew were the aforementioned Theme From A Summer Place and the Four Seasons' Sherry. And both still rank in my all time top 10.
What was the first album you’ve purchased yourself?
An easy one. Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975, followed shortly thereafter by Boston's debut lp.
What was the latest music you purchased? (No online streaming or free downloads, I’m talking about cash here!)
Again, easy, as I was just listening to it- Beach House's Depression Cherry, along with Alvvays' debut lp.
And finally...
Which song did you listen to last?
Can't you guess? Beach House and Space Song!
Now FAE went on to mention another little gig that I had actually seen on twitter earlier, where you have to answer questions with the titles of ONE ACT'S songs. Apparently a fellow blogger called Debbie the Dog Lady found it on FB and turned it into a bloghop. So here I go with my attempt at it, using, of course...
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA!
Are you a male or female?
I am just a poor boy...
Describe yourself:
The Quick and the Daft
How do you feel?:
It Really Doesn't Matter
Describe where you currently live:
Latitude 88 North
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Xanadu
Your favorite form of transportation:
Tightrope
Your best friend is:
Mr. Blue Sky
Your favorite color is:
Midnight Blue
What’s the weather like?
Rain Is Falling
Favorite time of day:
Daybreaker
If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?
The Diary of Horace Wimp
What is life to you?
Summer and Lightning
Your relationships:
Secret Messages
Your fear:
Oh No Not Susan
What is the best advice you have to give?
Buildings Have Eyes
If you could change your name, you would change it to:
Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
Thought for the day:
Rock 'n' Roll Is King
How you would like to die:
Standin' in the Rain
Your soul’s present condition:
Moment in Paradise
Your motto:
In My Own Time
And I get a badge with that, I guess, as well:
So if you'll excuse me, I have to remember how to post awards...
Great job, Chris! Congratulations on being tagged for the M&W Award and for taking Debbie the Doglady's Musical Challenge. I enjoyed reading your musings on what music means to you. "Theme From a Summer Place" and "Sherry" are two of the principal memory-floggers from my youth.
ReplyDeleteThanks, good buddy!
(Tips hat and smiles)
DeleteMusic - 'the tiny bubbles in my mind where memories are stores'. I live that, and it is so true. Great answers and I'm glad you played along with Debbie's meme. That was fun! All if this has proved interesting for the music lover in us all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for bringing me in!
DeleteChris:
ReplyDeleteNow that's a very pleasing thing to see...a MUSIC award for 'ya.
(you're MY go-to guru for all the stuff I have long forgotten in that realm).
Congrats.
(btw, the earliest memory of music was provided to me from my late Mom who told me when I was in the playpen, I ALWAYS watched the one & only Kate Smith on TV.
Beats shaking shiny keys.
And I love the answers you provided...gave me lots to think about (between smiles and chuckles).
Nicely done, lad.
Stay safe (and dry) up there, brother.
Thank you, sir... I needed that!
DeleteYou handled both of these very well. Nice pick with ELO--the titles were worked in very well. I've never heard of Beach House, but I do like their sound.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Jeff Lynne's lyrics can be just the thing for a wise-ass like me...
DeleteThanks for playing along with "My Life According To...". Also enjoyed the #MWA part. I just published that one, myself. Cheers! ☺
ReplyDeleteYep, saw it too, as you know.
DeleteYou probably already know this, but it's proven among people with alzheimers/dementia that music is the last thing to go. People might not remember their own name, but if someone starts playing a song they know they can hum or even sing along. They might not be able to talk, but can still sing. We discovered that to be true with my grandma. My mom can tinker on the piano, so she brought music when we went to see her. Amazing how many songs she could sing to, even though she had very real trouble talking. She eventually lost most of her grasp of the English language and spoke in her own gibberish. It was extremely hard to watch. BUT, it's fascinating how music works in the brain. It's truly the last thing to go. So, it MUST be divine!
ReplyDeleteI liked your ELO responses. Can I call you Ma-Belle from now on????
Why not? Robyn Alana Engel calls me worse, lol!
Delete