On Tuesday I spent more time than I should, listening to Clay Aiken sing. I started with Perfect Day, then clicked on Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You. I had to listen to Something About Us more times than I could count. And since its the holidays, I enjoyed All Is Well and The Christmas Waltz. Yep…it was a good day!
What this did was make me hunt for some answers. What is Music? Why am I so touched? Why do I feel better after listening?
First, I looked at some short answers:
Music is what life sounds like. ~Eric Olson
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~Berthold Auerbach
He who sings scares away his woes. ~Cervantes
In music the passions enjoy themselves. ~Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, 1886
Very nice, but when I found an article by the world-renowned singer, Annie Lennox, I had to read it all. The following is a part of her article from 2008. If you want to read then entire article, you can find it at RESURGENCE
What is music? Music is pure magic. It is a wonderful gift to humanity. Music moves us, and soothes us. It stimulates. It makes us want to dance or sing. It makes us feel happy or sad, inspired or uplifted. It affects our mood in all kinds of infinite ways. It can be exquisitely subtle or wildly raucous: from lullaby, to a war cry for revolution.
EVER SINCE I can remember, music has been an accompaniment to my life. It would be impossible for me to even try and conceptualize a world without music. If you have a natural aptitude and appreciation for it, then music simply draws you to it and connects. Watch a baby nodding her head, clapping her hands, or bouncing in response to a rhythm or melody…….
Songs in particular contain something profoundly elemental. The singer actually ‘becomes’ the instrument, or vehicle of communication and expression. Through the combination of voice, lyrical content and poetic structure, melody, rhythm, the nuance of combined tonal qualities and phrasing within the breath, singers can transmit and translate thoughts and feelings, potentially elevating and transporting both the singer and the listener to another realm. Music really can lead us into another dimension.
Music also tells stories, breaks hearts, reduces us to tears, or seduces us into falling in love, over and over and over again. Music is a universal language. A human creation from a divine source… perhaps.
Music is a mystery, a code. A vehicle of spirit and soul. It is perceived through ‘hearing’ the vibration of sound, the most sublime resonance – from the eardrum to the brain. Music moves us beyond intellect to the heart-centre…….
Did Annie realize she was writing about Clay Aiken when she wrote the bolded words? Whatever, or whoever she was writing about really doesn’t matter. I just realize that we are so lucky to be able to lose ourselves in the stunning voice that belongs to Clay Aiken.
Do you have a Clay Aiken song that you listen to more than others?
Thank you for this beautiful post. Music should be a part of everyones life. It really does help control your moods. And Clay…well we know he is someone very special and he has touched the lives of many people.
I love all the songs that you mentioned…but I will always remember Clay singing Solitaire.
I love music and I love what Annie Lennox said. It does sound like she is talking about Clay. He brings so much life to his songs. I can listen to him every day!
If I am blue, I listen to Clay sing All Is Well and I know that everything will be OK!
Lovely Blog today Musicfan. There is nothing better than music to take you away. Sometimes it makes me happy, other days when I'm sad, I find myself letting it all out, and then I feel better. Clay has that ability to take me to all levels. There is just something so special about his voice, delivery, everything. Lately, I have been finding myself playing "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" a lot. I mean really listening, to everything, and it is stunning. But you know what? Every song that Clay sings, he brings it to life. No one else does that to me.
Not a day goes by that I don't learn something new from the CANN post. Thanks Musicfan. I'm busy preparing for the Thanksgiving dinner with the family tomorrow. I began by playing Clay's Christmas albums to get me in the spirit while I chopped onions & celery.
Music definitely is a big part of my life. I always have it playing at work and it relaxes me at night. I can’t think of one specific song I play more than others but I listen to the On My Way Here cd the most.
ilike music i like to hear music sing music music has always been a part of my life music can make you feelthings every thing from happy ness to sadness i cant thgink right now of all the songs clay sang id say solatare that one
I have been told that singing is "praying twice" – I am sure that is inspirational music! But Clay's voice
is always inspirational to me – doesn't matter what he sings. I really like listening to him when I can
just listen and not do anything else – it's like I can't do anything else because my mind will just be
on every sound he makes. I don't have one in particular – there are so many – the one I am listening
to is always my favorite!!! Thank you for the wonderful writing today – and the even more wonderful pictures. <3
I don't care what he sings. It's all magnificent !!!
Music! I have always liked music. It relaxes you and makes you happy. I especially love Clay's singing. I could listen to him forever. One of my favorites is…Something About Us. It is so beautiful and romantic. I will be getting my Christmas music out after Thanksgiving. I really love O Holy Night by Clay. It is just so beautiful.