Turn it On and Turn it Up

This weekend marked the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.'s album Automatic for the People.  I can remember, very distinctly, making plans with a college friend to purchase the CD the day it was released.  That was 1992, way before iTunes and even Kazaa (remember that option??).  So, the day of the release, we drove to the record store, we each picked up a copy, and we returned to my friend's dorm room to listen.  We listened to the entire album.  We couldn't turn it off.  The music and lyrics were so moving.  Naturally, I purchased the anniversary edition of the album this weekend.  😎

I have listened to R.E.M. since I first heard them in the late 80's on the local college radio station, 89.7, WGLS.  They became a part of my adolescence and have continued to be a presence in my adulthood.  My ex husband and I used to argue about them because he couldn't stand them (sorry guys).  Argue over music?  Yup.  Clearly we had other issues to work on. 

September 5, 1999, my ex-husband (we were dating at the time) and I attended the "Up" tour in Camden, NJ.  It was drizzly and gross all day.  We were living in Delaware at the time and had driven up to attend the concert.  We had lawn "seats" and he forgot to bring something for the weather.  I couldn't care less what the weather was doing.  My ex husband, on the other hand, decided to stop at his parent's house to pick up a raincoat.  So, there we were, standing on the lawn at the concert, me taking in all that is R.E.M., and him, standing there in a purple, shiny raincoat that was way too small on him, with his arms sticking out, being a good boyfriend accompanying me to the show.  He wasn't a Shiny Happy Person that night, but I was.  The rain broke at the perfect time and we, well I, enjoyed the show from beginning to end.  On a side note, we were engaged two months later.

What's my point in sharing all of this?  Music can take us to places and times in our lives.  Music can create emotional reaction.  Music can create inspiration.  At my father's funeral, we played "Doo-Wop" music instead of anything sad.  He would have wanted it that way.  He didn't want people being sad about his passing.  He would want to have everyone enjoy themselves and possibly tap into their own memories of growing up in the 50's.

According to an article published on huffingtonpost.com (February 2, 2015), music lights up nearly every area of our brain.  It creates the release of dopamine and heightens positive emotions.  In this same article, studies show that music reduces the stress hormone cortisol, and reduces stress and anxiety.  Research has even shown that music helped reduce the need for pain killers post-surgery.  In a 2013 study, 60 participants diagnosed with fibromyalgia participated in a music study.  Some participants listened to music once a day over a four week period, while the control group did not.  The results showed the music group experienced significant pain reduction and fewer symptoms of depression.

There are so many different styles of music.  Try some on.  See how it feels.  And don't limit yourself to music from your own geographic region.  Expand your borders, maybe you will fall in love with a band in another country and find an excuse to travel there.  Whatever it is, turn it on, turn it up, and enjoy the experience.