Does Music Keep Us Young?
I was glancing through the music blogoshpere and came across a post by NPR blogger, Carrie Brownstein that asked the question, "Does music fandom or being a musician keep us in a delayed or a perennial state of adolescence?"
In other words, does music keep us young? and is that a bad thing? As I regard my own music obsessions I have to say a resounding "yes - it keeps me young" and "no - it's not a bad thing!" just yesterday i went over to the Brazilian Independence Day celebration, which is held at Artesani Park along the Charles River in Boston. It was a gorgeous day and there were a few thousand Brazilians gathered there for an afternoon of Brazilian food and music. If any culture knows how to stay young (even adolescent) through music it's Brazilians.
As a sambaholic myself I know the reason that I LOVE samba (and why I go to two samba classes each week without fail and show up at nearly every samba event around Boston) is because by moving and immersing myself into the music I lose my sense of self that has all the normal junk and worries of daily life. In samba i grow a big smile and my body shakes and it surely makes me young. As the saying goes 'with my feet in samba, my head is in the clouds'.
My four-year-old daughter will get up and spin and twirl and dance at the slightest musical provocation. and she'll do this just about anywhere - which is very young of her - and i am doing my best to follow her example... when we're waiting for the subway, or walking down the street, or in the park, we can sing and dance -- and yes, when i do this -- I FEEL like a four year old!! It feels really good!!
Music creates infectious enthusiasm -- always associated with the young. The story from the play 'The Music Man' is all about a con man who uses music to bring infectious enthusiasm to a small town in jaded Iowa (by offering to create a marching band) and in pure Broadway musical style, he gets the whole town singing and dancing and, well, acting like kids. (that they were all being duped is besides the point).
So if I'm spending my time with my head in the clouds, is all this singing and dancing adolescent? Of course it is!! But as an adult, I can do this without all that adolescent angst. It seems like all my life I've been resisting the call to 'grow up' and take on the seriousness and responsibilities of life -- but I use music, and my music passion, as a bridge between my young self -- and my current self -- to keep me feeling sane, free, inspired and alive.
Hope your Brazilian Independence Day was a good one!!
Comment
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Comment by Lydia Kalish on September 8, 2008 at 5:11pm - HOPEFULLY!
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Comment by Atlas Soul on September 8, 2008 at 1:23pm -
These are words of wisdom! bravo!
Jacques
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