Then Sings My Soul

Since I was a child, music has always been a big part of my life. Be it listening to the radio, records, CD’s, or like now, streaming all my music through a Navidrome server I host.

I recently got my hands on 146 country CDs from the late 90’s/early 2000’s, at an auction. I’ve been going through the painstaking process of converting them all to FLAC format, because I want lossless music I can listen to from anywhere.

Sure, I could just pay for a Spotify, Amazon, or some other streaming service, but I hate the idea of paying to listen to music I already own. On top of that, I prefer knowing I own the music, rather than being tied to a subscription that constantly raises their prices without giving me anything extra in the process.

I guess part of that is, I came from a time when owning music was a thing of pride. It was a badge of honor to go out and buy the latest album from your favorite musician. It was also much more enjoyable thumbing through the selection, trying to find something new you’d never heard before. An album cover said a lot.

In the process of ripping all these new CDs, I completely forgot how tedious the process is. However, the finished product when I get to see new music on my server, that is priceless.

I also recently purchased a USB audio capture device, allowing me to connect my turntable to my computer and record all my records to digital. I’m looking forward to doing this, because I’m curious if it will filter out the scratchiness that is typically heard with records. Don’t get me wrong, even if it doesn’t, there’s still something about listening to a record on a turntable.

Getting the chance to actually sit down in front of my stereo and pull out a record takes time away from other things I should/could be doing. As much as I enjoy sitting around listening to a record, I just have so many more things to do that I really don’t have the opportunity to do it. It’s much easier to stream my music wherever I’m at and be able to listen on the go. It isn’t the same, and I’d much prefer listening to music on my stereo, but it is what it is.

Regardless, there’s just something I’ve always admired about music. The way it has the ability to reach deep down within us and tug at our emotions. A good songwriter can reach us in ways that other mediums just aren’t capable of doing with the same efficiency. Well, at least for me, anyways.

It seems I have a song for almost every big event in my life. I can hear a song or an artist and remember clearly what I was going through when that song pierced my ears for the first time. I can let the melody carry me away to a different world. When I’m angry, sad, or happy, the music can move me. It can still me. It can soothe me. There’s very little in life that can do this or with this kind of consistency.

I’ve ripped about 26 of these CDs so far and already found new music I’ve enjoyed and marveled at never hearing before or never giving a good enough listen in order to form a better opinion.

I’m not picky about what I listen to. I listen to Country, Rap, Metal, Emo, Americana, Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock’n’Roll, and damn near every other genre under the sun. I’m not concerned with the technical stylings. I’m not impressed by time changes or unique chord progressions. What I care about is the emotions the music stirs within me. What I care about is how the music, the vocals, and the lyrics come together in one cohesive unit.

To be honest, I feel the same when I go to a concert. I often find myself watching how the band/musician performs over anything else. I sing along and I move when a favorite gets played, but I watch to see how the band engages the audience. I watch to see how much energy they have. I watch to see how the crowd and the band mingle to complete the whole picture.

I can’t imagine a life of constantly being on the road, though. I am sure it’s difficult to sustain that same energy at the start of an 8 month tour. I have to give these musicians some credit. You bounce from one town to the next, you live in your van, you’re constantly eating fast food and having late nights, then you’re right back on the road; on to the next town. It has got to be hell at times. I know that’s not a life I would want to live.

At one time, the idea of that life sounded amazing. As I get older, it appeals less and less to me. I guess what I’m saying is, I have a lot of respect for the hustle of a touring musician. And more than that, I’m grateful to all the musicians out there. You all make the world a much better place.

I can’t imagine a world without Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, or Buddy Holly. I can’t imagine a world without The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Who, or The Beatles. I can’t imagine a world without Muddy Waters, Etta James, or BB King. I can’t imagine a world without Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, or The Eels. And I can’t imagine a world without Snoop, Dre, Cube and E. What would it be like without Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, or Bach? Where would we be if the musicians we know and love had never graced us with their gift? I shudder to think of what life would be like without the music I’ve come to know throughout my short life.