Song Association

Have you ever heard a song and it takes you back to a moment in your life that seems so real.  This has happened to me from time to time and sometimes it’s the most amazing feeling.  This happened to me just last week.   

When I was younger and I would have to spend the night at my grandparents’ house I always dreaded the mornings.  It was great because my grandpa would make a big breakfast but I had to also suffer through four hours of Polka music.  Because my family is polish my grandparents listen and enjoy the music.  I would have to wake up to the annoying accordion sounds filling the whole house.  As a little girl in elementary school this was my worst nightmare.  Even worse, they would play the same song at the end of the ten o’clock hour.  Who Stole The Keeshka by the Matys Brothers.  This song was so repetitive and my grandpa would whistle at the same part every time it played.  I hated this song. 

Recently, my grandfather passed away and when we were planning his funeral my family all sat down and we tried to figure out what flowers were needed and what music to play.  We sat for hours racking our brains and then it came to me.  That dreaded Keeshka song.  He knew all the words and I knew he loved that song.  So we finally agreed that would be the song to play at the end.  Now whenever I hear this song I remember him dancing around the kitchen making me and my sister breakfast and most importantly him being happy.  

-Randi D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V4EkaCeTas

The Craze

The first thing that comes to mind when someone asks what the best day of my life so far has been is August 29^th 2015.  This was the day I would meet my future husband and he would first notice me.  The day Harry Styles pointed and blew a kiss to me.  While this is a bit dramatic, it really did happen.

I’ve been to three One Direction concerts and each of them represent a different stage in my addiction to the band.

The first concert was in July of 2013.  My best friends surprised me the day before the concert.  I hadn’t been to a concert at the Palace of Auburn Hills before so I had no idea what to expect.  While I like One Direction and knew all the songs off the album I wasn’t obsessed yet.  The three of us enjoyed the concert and that was the start of a long addiction.  After the concert we sat starring at the blank stage trying to process what we had just experienced.  This was my first dose and it was strong enough to get me hooked.

The second concert was in July of 2015.  A friend and I decided to get floor seats.  These would be the equivalent to a Grade A stash.  I was feeding my addiction.  But when my friend moved away my mom took the ticket and it was just the two of us.  The concert was exhilarating.  I was so close to the 5 boys and it was everything I had ever dreamed of.  I smiled through the whole concert and by the end my face hurt along with my strained calf muscles. This was as good as I thought it could get, But, I was wrong.

The third concert was in August of this past summer.  One of the member had left so it was now a four man group.  I was scared that maybe it wouldn’t be the same.  I had like usually gotten ready for the concert making sure my makeup was perfect in case I meet the boys, which was a long shot.  We got to Ford Field and I was ready for the time of my life.  I was a Rollercoaster of emotions.  We got to our seats and I cried.  The lights went off and I cried.  They came out on stage and I cried.  Then after the first song I pulled myself together and enjoyed the show, but by the forth song I was crying again.  Seventh song, still crying.  Once again I wiped my tears and I was ready.  And then they left the stage. That was it…..

ENCORE ENCORE ENCORE ENCORE

They run back out and play a few more songs.  The last song I’m so excited I am jumping up and down with a smile plastered to my face.  That when Harry Styles saw me and the rest is history. 

My family makes fun of my obsession with the band and I’m sure some people think I’m crazy or immature but I’m okay with that.  I could be addicted to many worse things than One Direction.

It’s Halloween! Drop me a scary beat.

                Halloween music can either but fun or scary.  I prefer fun because I don’t want to be listening to it in my room and getting scared.  But through the years new artist came along and changed the game. 

                First off, I’m going to start with my all-time favorite Halloween song, Ghostbuster.  My love for Bill Murray has also been a biased for my love for this song.  Because the song is so catchy everyone knows the words and who to call.  Obviously Ghostbuster!  The song taught us a life lesson and also gave listeners another more up-beat festive song.

                Spooky Scary Skeletons is one of the oldest Halloween songs I know of.  It started as just a song in a Disney cartoon short back in 1929 but the song was catchy and for some became a favorite.  The cartoon depicts dancing skeletons in a grave yard and was played for years on TV.  A little later down the road Dr. Seuss brought to the table a dark musical called Halloween is Grinch Night.  The 1977 show didn’t quit make a hit with audiences and was never aired after the first year.

                One Halloween Movie musical which has been popular since its release in 1993 is Nightmare before Christmas.  The movie has 21 songs throughout and in my house everyone knows the words to them all.  In the year 2008 the songs were remade by popular alternative artist.  They include Marilyn Manson, Korn, All American Rejects, and Amy Lee from Evanescence as well as many other artists.  The recent album as well as the original motion picture album are both in the top 5 Halloween albums of all time.

                Rock and Roll music also plays a large roll in Halloween music.  Some songs arnt considered to be only Halloween songs because of the genera tho.  Rob Zombies directing and music making are both known for their creepy and gruesome tone.  Alice Coopers song “He’s Back” was feature in “Friday the 13^th: Jason’s back” movie and became an anthem for Halloween at the time.  Alice Cooper is one of the faces of Halloween.  Some would say he is to Halloween what Santa is to Christmas.  Iggy Pop’s song “Why was I born” was also featured in “Freddy’s dead: the Final Nightmare” and sparked popularity to the not so popular song.  A few other memorable mentions of artist who had songs feature in Horror Movies are The Ramones, J. Geils Band, Donavan, and David Bowe.

                Halloween Rocks.

Music and Movies

                As the girl tip toes down the hallway to try and hid from the killer the music in the background gets louder and louder and louder.  Suddenly, the murderer jumps out and the organ music is so bone chilling that it causes Goosebumps to raise on your arm.  Had the music not been playing in the background the audience wouldn’t have been as scared.  The music can make or break a movie.  The same goes for a sad “Chick Flick” movie.  When the main character breaks down by the end of the movie there is always a scene where the other noises are drowned out by the depressing melodies and everything seems to be moving in slow motion.  Once again the effects would not be the same if you had just heard the sobs of the character.  While we obviously experiencing a film through sight, we are also experiencing it through our ears. In today’s day and age music in movies has come a long way and can affect the audience more than words. 

                Before all the fancy movie equipment came along and there was no speaking in movies.  Music told the story along with slides to help describe what was happening.  Later in the 50’s producers decided music wasn’t needed for a good movie and for a short period many movies had no background music.  Audiences were confused and many movies feel flat at the cinemas.  People said the movies seemed life-less and boring.  Music was quickly brought back and movies now incorporate both score and soundtracks.

                Some of the most famous soundtracks include Saturday Night Fever, This is Spinal Tap, and Pulp Fiction.  But other movies like HELP or Rock in Roll High School actually had soundtracks made before the movie was written because the movie revolved around the music.  One of my personal favorites is the Fault in Our Stars soundtrack.  Since it is already one of my favorite movies I also love the song within it.  From the combination of watching the movie so many times and listening to all the songs so often I actually can tell you exactly where each of the songs are featured at in the movie.  A soundtrack like this has the ability to tell the story without having to see it.  You know that the tone is gloomy in some parts but also loving and hopeful in others. 

Beautiful film music can be made relevant to any period. -A. R. Rahman