I love your essays with the music and personal story connection, for what is music but the telling of a story. I wanted to comment on your daydream believer story, without being presumptive and how it did make me feel sad for the boy that was treated as the white knight when your mother (in this mother/grandmother’s heart) should have protecting the young one under the bluebirds wing. Music touches our soul. Keep writing and telling your story through words and music. I’m listening.
This was a nice piece. I enjoy your work and I relate to music much as you do. Would you please refer me to the piece you wrote about your mother? I think I would find that very interesting. Interestingly, there’s a minority percentage of the population that sometimes have a physical reaction to music. It can be a cord struck, or the switch from major to minor, but whatever it is, it often sends shivers up us or similar physical reactions. I’ve had it my whole life so I never knew that not everyone did. There’s some music that just touches me so deeply, and I would love to share it with you. And vice versa. Sending you lots of love and appreciation for who you are, and for sharing that with us.
I, too, often experience music that way. Sometimes a switch from major to minor, or a melody, can send a shiver through me, right up to my scalp, that can even cure a headache. Music can really reach my soul and make me cry or make me happy. It is amazing that there are people who don't feel it.
My boomer generation got to experience all the gorgeous songs of the era, in our own heads and imaginations, without imposed video images. I never could understand what was appealing about them. But your writings about songs, yes, yes, please bring them on!
There is a "watch/listen" song I love beyond love, Josh - this song reaches deep into my being and I can't begin to come up with the words to describe how moved I am when watching and listening to this artist and his band perform it (in his mother's living room).
Does this performance evoke deep feelings for you as well? Is it just me? Do you believe our individual passion for songs or music videos is a product of attached memories? Interestingly, I don't have any memories attached to this song - only that from the very first time I watched/listened, I couldn't get it off my mind... ❤️
You're a great writer, Josh. Your writing always stimulates my thoughts and emotions which is exactly why I enjoy reading your articles. Thanks for being unabashedly you.
“Daydream Believer” is a charter example of this genre you’re perfecting — the literary equivalent of a music video — where the story refers to a specific song whose verses break into the narrative at key moments, the way background music in a film swells during emotional scenes.
Please do write more of these pieces. They very effectively evoke in this reader the feelings you’re sharing, just as the humming violin string stirs adjacent strings into sympathetic vibration.
“but sympathetic as in sympathetic emotional vibrations. Like the way a string on a violin will reverberate in a harmonic tone simply from having the string next to it plucked to send vibrations into the air. “
What a great way to put it, Josh. So much heartache in this world….this helps me tremendously. Not to lose myself in another’s pain…..but to be willing to “reverberate.” I’ll be thinking on this…there’s something I need to learn here.
For the record, I would pre-order any book you chose to produce, regardless of topic, in a heartbeat. Excellent prose feeds my soul in a way that echos what music does for you. I also am deeply moved by beautiful music, and reading your essays on pieces you find profound make me take another listen to songs I might have otherwise disregarded.
Nailed it. That emotional connection is why I've played music since I was four years old. If you want to really experience the sounds you love, pick up an instrument and teach yourself to play, even if nobody else hears it. I posted one of my songs on my Substack under the 'music' tab. It may bring about some feels for you.
I read the pieces you reference here when you originally posted them, and they all made me cry. You didn't manipulate my emotions, you brought them to the surface.
I also respond to finely crafted words and beautiful melodies in the way you describe. There is such a great feeling of relief when someone can put words to something in a way that makes me say, "Yes! This is exactly it. I'm not the only one who has felt this." Some may call it maudlin; I call it miraculous. You and I are very different people with vastly different life experiences - but in that moment of exquisite beauty, our souls connect.
Thank you for the responses, everyone. I was genuinely curious about what you thought, and I appreciate you telling me.
Music is the conduit that connects everything.
I love your essays with the music and personal story connection, for what is music but the telling of a story. I wanted to comment on your daydream believer story, without being presumptive and how it did make me feel sad for the boy that was treated as the white knight when your mother (in this mother/grandmother’s heart) should have protecting the young one under the bluebirds wing. Music touches our soul. Keep writing and telling your story through words and music. I’m listening.
This was a nice piece. I enjoy your work and I relate to music much as you do. Would you please refer me to the piece you wrote about your mother? I think I would find that very interesting. Interestingly, there’s a minority percentage of the population that sometimes have a physical reaction to music. It can be a cord struck, or the switch from major to minor, but whatever it is, it often sends shivers up us or similar physical reactions. I’ve had it my whole life so I never knew that not everyone did. There’s some music that just touches me so deeply, and I would love to share it with you. And vice versa. Sending you lots of love and appreciation for who you are, and for sharing that with us.
Thanks Suzi.
If you go back up in the essay, you will notice that I put hyperlinks to those stories. Look for the underlining.
I, too, often experience music that way. Sometimes a switch from major to minor, or a melody, can send a shiver through me, right up to my scalp, that can even cure a headache. Music can really reach my soul and make me cry or make me happy. It is amazing that there are people who don't feel it.
My boomer generation got to experience all the gorgeous songs of the era, in our own heads and imaginations, without imposed video images. I never could understand what was appealing about them. But your writings about songs, yes, yes, please bring them on!
Your generation had the best music and I often think I was born in the wrong generation.
It's like the difference of reading and/or watching something. If it's well-written, the reader can use their imagination which is vital to the story.
There is a "watch/listen" song I love beyond love, Josh - this song reaches deep into my being and I can't begin to come up with the words to describe how moved I am when watching and listening to this artist and his band perform it (in his mother's living room).
https://youtu.be/z4Hy6kp5kIs?si=iUoiPjfIW0Z6aNRX
Does this performance evoke deep feelings for you as well? Is it just me? Do you believe our individual passion for songs or music videos is a product of attached memories? Interestingly, I don't have any memories attached to this song - only that from the very first time I watched/listened, I couldn't get it off my mind... ❤️
You're a great writer, Josh. Your writing always stimulates my thoughts and emotions which is exactly why I enjoy reading your articles. Thanks for being unabashedly you.
It's interesting that you mention music. Because every song you've used is one I'm familiar with.
I grew up in the '70s and '80s. But my parents listened to the 40s,50s, and 60s, and as I grew up, I listened to classical music.
I really enjoy all your writings! The one around Karen Carpenter had me in tears while reading! You did take me along and I appreciate it!
“Daydream Believer” is a charter example of this genre you’re perfecting — the literary equivalent of a music video — where the story refers to a specific song whose verses break into the narrative at key moments, the way background music in a film swells during emotional scenes.
Please do write more of these pieces. They very effectively evoke in this reader the feelings you’re sharing, just as the humming violin string stirs adjacent strings into sympathetic vibration.
I'm with ellenwuzhere on this. When I read your melodic pieces, I don't sympathize so much as I *harmonize*. ❤️
“but sympathetic as in sympathetic emotional vibrations. Like the way a string on a violin will reverberate in a harmonic tone simply from having the string next to it plucked to send vibrations into the air. “
What a great way to put it, Josh. So much heartache in this world….this helps me tremendously. Not to lose myself in another’s pain…..but to be willing to “reverberate.” I’ll be thinking on this…there’s something I need to learn here.
Thank you!
For the record, I would pre-order any book you chose to produce, regardless of topic, in a heartbeat. Excellent prose feeds my soul in a way that echos what music does for you. I also am deeply moved by beautiful music, and reading your essays on pieces you find profound make me take another listen to songs I might have otherwise disregarded.
Ryn, Josh, This is what I came to say also!
Josh, your words (about any topic) are the words that don't come out of me. I really enjoy your music posts! I learn, appreciate, and feel!
Nailed it. That emotional connection is why I've played music since I was four years old. If you want to really experience the sounds you love, pick up an instrument and teach yourself to play, even if nobody else hears it. I posted one of my songs on my Substack under the 'music' tab. It may bring about some feels for you.
I read the pieces you reference here when you originally posted them, and they all made me cry. You didn't manipulate my emotions, you brought them to the surface.
I also respond to finely crafted words and beautiful melodies in the way you describe. There is such a great feeling of relief when someone can put words to something in a way that makes me say, "Yes! This is exactly it. I'm not the only one who has felt this." Some may call it maudlin; I call it miraculous. You and I are very different people with vastly different life experiences - but in that moment of exquisite beauty, our souls connect.