"I get knocked down, but I get up again"

As someone who LOVES TO SING and equally loves to listen to music (I love R&B, Soul, Gospel, Christian bands, Rap, Hip Hop, Rock songs that make you want to dance and some ‘easy listening’ Artists like my boy Ed Sheeran, Newton Faulkner, Tracey Chapman and of course the little hottie that he is John Mayor) this prompt is going to be a long one!

Songs have a lot of meaning to me. They will bring me right back to a pivotal moment in my life and sometimes just hearing the first few notes is enough to bring tears to my eyes or a big smile to my face. I love the power of music because it binds us together, helps us understand each other, helps people understand us and is really the universal language. No matter what language we speak, we can all understand the value of a well-written tune. I love that.

I could be here talking about songs for HOURS but because I’m behind on #bloganary, I’d better keep this as short as I can.

First of all and most importantly, I love singing in Church. Hillsong are geniuses and I love so many of their songs. My favourite songs by other Christian artists/bands are:

“Good, good Father” by Chris Tomlin is one of the best songs ever about God’s love for us as a Dad. Makes me cry a lot but damn, I love to worship God to it.

“Great are you Lord” by Casting Crowns – the violins on this KILL ME, seriously. They are so beautiful and feel like the sound of a heart break.

“Waymaker” by Sinach – and many, many other Christian groups have covered it – I love every cover I’ve heard, it’s such a powerful song. I love the reminder of God’s character in the chorus: “Waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper – light in the darkness…My God, that is who you are” whenever I sing along, my heart heals and my soul shines.

The day my Dad died, I listened to a Christian song (I didn’t know it was Christian at the time, I heard it a few days before Dad was suddenly torn from us and it broke me), I listened to “Truth about the world” by Andrea Marie on repeat the day Dad died. I was in so much shock that such a tragedy could have happened. I didn’t have the words for it, so this song spoke for me. The music is incredible, too. I cry really hard – from the depths of my soul whenever I listen to it. It’s over a year since I lost my Dad, and yet the grief is still so big and so raw. I alternate this song with Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers” and “I wish that Heaven had visition hours” to make it hurt especially. I don’t know why I do this to myself – I use certain songs to make a pain hurt especially deeply or it doesn’t feel real.

If I hear a Boyz II Men song – any song of theirs – I’m transported in time to finishing year 12, renting out Chalets by the beach with all my mates – I think there were about 30 of us? and hanging out together for about 4 days by the beach. We played Boyz II Men most of all so when I hear their songs, I remember my huge crush on Ben, how much Dawn loved to cook and bring us all together, how Samantha and I bonded over our love for “on bended knee”, loving the beautiful tinkle of Tracey’s laugh, the pranks Cynthia and I played on everyone and delighting in seeing all 30 of us sharing meals and our amazing beach holiday together. I loved being part of the “cool crew” and feel like experiences like this cant be bought but are worth trillions. Seriously.

As a singer, my favourites to sing to are Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey (her range is out of this world), Jennifer Knapp (an incredible Christian singer) and of course, Lauryn Hill. She’s absolutely amazing.

I have loved Matt for over 25 years of my life and whenever I hear “Just to hold you once again” by Mariah Carey, “I don’t want to be your friend” by Cyndi Lauper or “Positive” or “You didn’t kiss me” By Marry Me Jane – that heartache is suddenly so raw and so real. I tried so hard to be what Matt needed but just kept falling short. To have my heart broken over almost 3 generations by the same guy…it’s a lot. There are a lot of songs (“To be with you” by Mr Big, “When your love is gone” by Jimmy Barnes, “If you come back” Westlife) wrapped up in my feelings for that maddening boy.

*sigh*

I first heard “Last day on Earth” by Kate Miller (her voice is sooo beautiful) when Alby drove me to Kings park for the afternoon. It started on the radio just as he pulled into the main entrance – an absolutley breathtaking view of the city skyline from the Kings Park Forest. We drove along the length of the main road; lined by tall Karri trees and the shadows between the leaves gently passed over the windscreen. It was a special moment…being in a car with a man who had just told me he loved me. I will forever remember that drive and the accompanying song.

When I suffered a brain injury in 2009, sometimes all I was physically capable of for weeks and months on end was laying on my bed. So, I’d put in Newton Faulkner’s debut cd “Handbuilt by robots” and I’d imagine my life getting better. I’d visualise myself getting stronger. I’d set goals for myself: “One day, I will go UNASSISTED to the bathroom” “One day soon, I’ll take a shower on my own” “One day I’ll be able to walk to the store on the corner again and get snacks”…and every day for almost 12 months I listened to Newton’s first cd. It gave me so much peace and hopefulness.

By 2010, I was so much better and I moved onto Newton’s 2nd album “Rebuilt by humans” and I was excited for dating. One song on that cd: “Let’s get together” made me smile because Newton talks about finding someone to fall in love with. He mentions giving his future girlfriend a piggy back or building a fire for her if she felt cold. I loved his hopefulness and would daydream about who would be my future boyfriend whenever that song came on. I hear it now and will always think of Alun; sending a prayer up to God for him and thanking Jesus for such an incredible husband. I truly am blessed. I love that boy sooo much.

Songs by Tracey Chapman are bittersweet because I love her as an Artist but it’s painful to hear her because her cd was something Dad and I bonded over. I can’t listen to her songs without picturing Dad’s face – eyes closed, face tilted up and him tapping his knee with his hand to the beat and softly singing along. Dad was like a teenager with her first album and played it ON REPEAT. FOR MONTHS. Mom and Jay were very patient with Dad and I because we both just loved it so much. I initially thought Tracey Chapman was a boy and was horrified when Dad said “she looks a lot like you, Chook”. Err… EXCUSE ME?!? But yes. Tracey is a beautiful lady and an incredible artist.

At the moment, I’m listening to a lot of “Jonas Brothers” because their songs are so upbeat. They have a song called “Cool” where they are feeling super confident being themselves. That song gets me PUMPED and I want to one day feel confident enough to sing the lyrics “Damn it I’m feeling so cool. Everything about me is cool. Every little thing that I do, damn it I’m feeling so coo-oo-oo-oo-ool” and the line I love most “when I grow up, I want to be just like me“. Oh to have that level of confidence and to be that comfortable in being who I am. That’s my 2023 goal.

I have SO MANY OTHER BLOGS to catch up so I’m going!!!

Please tell me what your fave songs are, I’d love to know.