So those of you who KNOW me, know that music is more than just something to jam to, dance to, or just chillax to ( yes I just said chillax and am in my ahem late late late revisited 20's). Read with me and come on my musical journey... there are links to some super amazing songs attached to many of my m ost intimate and memorable moments.Music is my THERAPY. When asked a few years back by the amazing JACK BODEN ( My therapist who changed my life, no biggie) what was something I could do to eject myself for a little while out of an angry, frustrating or hurtful place. Music. period. Nothing calms me faster, nothing lifts my spirits or allows me a space to let everything go and just have myself an all out blubbering snot faced-teared out meltdown like music.
And believe you me, these personal therapy sessions happen often. And have been happening longer than I had realized! My first therapy session I remember happened at about the age of 8 possibly 7 not sure I remember exactly how old I was when my favorite idol of that age left and went to college. My oldest sister Tiffany was my idol at that age and still remains one of my very very best friends on earth. Well my chauffeur to HARTS in Lehi on "treat days" & babysitter that took me on adventures in her floor-less Volkswagon Rabbit, left for RICKS COLLEGE in Idaho. Needless to say I WAS DEVASTATED. I remember holding her leg, telling her not to go. Who would I sing trashy 80's songs with? (Many a night spent watcher my gorgeous sisters get ready for their teenage adventures with the radio blaring out all of the popular and totally amazing 80's songs of the time) Who would I watch Purple Rain with and gush over how much I wanted to look like Apollonia ?
She came upstairs into my room ( I was holding Simon in my lap and we were both bawling ) and she handed me her PRINCE Purple Rain record, and told me that whenever we missed her, we could play it and remember all the fun times we had dancing to it. I believe I (we) listened to it solid for the rest of the day and cried and cried and cried some more. But guess what? It worked. I can't listen to any of the songs on that album without transporting back to that room with the brown carpet and Fisher Price record player and see us rocking back and forth to the music.Second and soon after close second, My Parents get divorced. I am 9. I was DEVASTATED but remember thinking that I had to be "ok" with it and make sure mom and dad weren't sad. So ( and you can ask my mom ) I never cried, not once, in front of ANYONE except Melissa. I told everyone it was ok, made sure that when my mom was upset or dad was upset, I had a big smile on my face. And every time I had the chance, I turned on the Judds song; Grandpa. And sobbed while I sang " Daddies really never go away". And guess what? Now that my Dad has passed, I still do it. :)
Ok rewind a teeensy bit. ( one sec while I blow my nose, I still can't listen to that song without tearing up about Dad) ok its Christmas, its the 80's, and I have just gotten my first cassette player...it was a HUGE moment. Goodbye Fisher Price Record Player, hello shiny new cassette player...we were so in the now!
and lets just put in my most EPIC Christmas present from my older sister Shanin. MY FIRST TWO TAPES!
Ready for it? CYNDI LAUPER -She's So Unusual & Til' Tuesday - Everything's Different Now ( I linked 2 of my favorite songs off the album).
This particular Christmas gift changed my life. I began to sing, and memorize songs. I sat with my sister Shanin for HOURS learning harmonies and singing my GUTS out!
Don't get me wrong, I have ALWAYS loved music... my first record was ANNIE and my favorite thing was to sit alone in the basement and sing the entire record. ( unless my sisters were hiding in the closet scaring the CRAP out of me making noises and making me believe our house was haunted...which led to a whole new career later on, but that's a different story altogether)
These two tapes opened my ears. I wanted to hear EVERYTHING! I begged for a SONY WALKMAN.
I wanted music with me everywhere. It didn't matter what kind. I had music playing or I was singing to fill the spaces of quiet.
ENTER 80's and early 90's rock movement. I caught the (air)waves and didn't look back.
I was a music DIVA and prided myself on knowing the difference between the songs SHOT THROUGH THE HEART & YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME (when my friends all just became Casey Casem's top 40 countdown song fans) by the epic and never fail to amaze me, my number one favorite musician and band of all time... (DRUMROLL PLEASE)
BON JOVI ( born John Francis Bongiovi
)
We ( Melissa & I)
We ( Melissa & I)became OBSESSED and I do believe we had EVERY SINGLE teen magazine pullout poster, clipping, small cover shot, and full-sized poster of him wallpapering our shared bedroom walls.
Wow. What a super hottie. & LIFE CHANGING musician. I can't begin to tell you the therapy sessions Mr. Bongiovi sat with me through. We had good memories, and lots and lots of sloppy teen bawling sessions.
I mean, what girl DIDN'T wait up for Friday Night Video's just waiting to hit record on the tricked out VHS tape, to record his lips almost touching the microphone while he sang I'll Be There For You? (and he WAS there for me...swoon)
Favorite song of all time from my favorite artist? I'll let it be a surprise. Click HERE to be musically transported into my absolute favorite place on EARTH.
Why is it my favorite? Because even today I believe I found earth shattering love at the age of 15. And even while everyone told me I was crazy, I KNEW without a doubt that Jason was my soulmate, that I was going to be with him, married or not.
THANK GOODNESS HE MARRIED ME!
And my wedding song? Get ready for one of the most romantic songs of all time, with lyrics to make any girl feel like they are the most amazing and precious thing on earth.
As we danced on our wedding day, he sang it to me, too quiet for anyone else to hear. And I fell in love with him even more. Click our Pic to listen.
Seriously. Who didn't love the guy I just snagged FOREVER? Look at that Mullet!a.k.a. Brighton Spill-bee, a.k.a. Tennessee Tophat. EAT YOUR HEART OUT LADIES WHO LOVED THE JASON BELNAP! DOUBLE SWOON!
Ok so this blog post is seriously long already and hasnt even TOUCHED the music therapy I have today. SO I'm going to list some of my fave's here. Some make me happy, some make me feel young, some make me cry, some make club living room come to life, some make me want to become a runnerkickboxeralltimebodychampionkickasstrainer lady, some make me "frisky", some make me hyper, some make me chill the freak out when I need it. And some just plain make me sing.
ready?
Marky Mark & the Funkybunch- Good Vibrations ( And yes Mark...I CAN feel it!)
Olivia Newton John-Physical ( I was totally BANNED from listening to this as a kid!)
DO I EVEN NEED TO LINK TO ANY AND ALL OF THE SONGS FROM GREASE?
Pat Benetar- We Belong & Invincible ( she deserves two epic slots, two words BILLIE JEAN)
which brings me to the PEDESTAL given music man in our house...seriously don't even JOKE about this man or you get smacked by my mother.
MICHAEL JACKSON
A few faves...but trust me when I say we love all of them.
Thriller ( of course duh)
And just because he deserves SO MUCH MORE than what my tiny blog can devote... I give you the amazing M.J. & Pepsi commercial ( because they are 2 of my favorite things & DEFINED OUR GENERATION style and music!)
Now didn't that just make your whole day?
Ok
So as not to bore you, here are some of my current favorites... as in CLUB LIVING ROOM or SING YOUR GUTS OUT favorites that you most likely will hear if you walk past my house.
LMFAO- PARTY ROCK ANTHEM ( I should live in that city of mindless music drones)
Adele- Someone Like You ( this version is my fave aside from *this* version)
Skrillex-Bangarang or Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites or even Rock n Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain) ( Thank you Ty for introducing me to DUBSTEP ultimately)
How about my FAVES that I post about all the time that aren't internationally known per say?
Such as:
(listen to the whole album, you wont be sorry)
Royal Bliss-Crazy ( if you like this song click here & watch him perform it acoustically)
other songs that make me travel back in time:
Ok I'll admit I could go on and on and on... Saigon Kick? Van Halen? RATT? Great White?Motley Crue?Poison, Queensryche? AC/DC? STEVE MILLER BAND? Def Leppard? OMG I could be here all day.
All these songs SAVED me from my darkest times...all I had to do was push play and close my eyes and let go of ANYTHING that was bothering me.So people are always shocked when I mention these... ask me why they are shocked? I have no idea. But these are some faves.
Carrie Underwood-How Great Thou Art ( Are you freaking kidding me?wow)
and my FAVORITE song to Karaoke in the entire world. Why? Because A: its amazing, & B: it fits my voice & C: it happens to be a damn good song.
another version by another of my all time FAVES : here
Who knows? maybe someday I will sing it for you.
or one of these other Michelle's Karaoke Staples:
Ok and here is my secret song that I put on when I really need to cry, when I really need to get in touch and remember that life throws us curveballs, there is no guarantee that you will have everyone forever, mental illness is out there and WE NEED TO ACCEPT it as fact & accept that it is OK to admit we aren't perfect.
(For my dad) Neil Diamond-Hello
(for someone who might not be ready to be named, but holds a huge piece of my heart)
(For my kids, who are growing up WAY TOO FAST)
(For Jason, who gave me all my greatest gifts)
Oh gosh... have I given you an idea of my life thru music yet? Good Gravy. Even I dont want to keep reading. YouTube may need compensation after this post! I think I need a THERAPY session now.
Todays Choice?
You didn't think I'd forget HIM did you?
