Thinking Out Loud About Forever and Ever

Everyone loves a good love song, at least every once in a while, and they aren't difficult to find. These days, though, with so many songs about one night stands and meaningless hook-ups, real love songs are more challenging to find. 

There's something about "forever love" that provides a perfect inspiration for any romantic song, whether it be from 30 years ago, or currently gracing the Top 40. Although Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" is more poetic, Randy Travis' "Forever and Ever, Amen" communicates the same concept of being in love as long as time lasts.

"They say time takes it's toll on the body, makes a young girl's brown hair turn grey. Well, honey, I don't care, I ain't in love with your hair. And if it all fell out, well I'd love you anyway. They say time can play tricks on the memory; make people forget things they knew... I'm gonna love you forever, forever and ever, amen."
His love for her is unconditional, it is not based on looks or outward appearances, but is instead a love that will never die. Even when they are old, when their youth has faded, their love will remain the same and be theirs to have and hold forever.




"When your legs don't work like they used to before, and I can't sweep you off of your feet... And darling, I will be loving you until we're 70... When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades, I know you will still love me the same... Your soul could never grow old... Your smile's forever in my mind and memory."
Here, also, we see love transcending time and hormonal romance, and extending into the grey-haired, feeble, forgetful years.




The idea of a love that is enduring is rare and beautiful, and songs like these give hope to the masses that love like that exists in places other than Disney movies. These songs are structurally similar, with verses, a refrain, and repeating lines ("maybe we found love right where we are" and "forever and ever, amen"), but contain identical themes of everlasting love that stirs the heart despite the day in age.

College Kids...

Prepare yourselves for this musically inspired rant about... college. First, watch this video. If you're in college, or have ever been in college, I think you'll find at least a few of these things to be true.

I have to vehemently admit that this pinpoints my sentiments exactly as of recent. I miss being home. I miss not having to worry about where I'm going to live or paying for where I live or balancing the three jobs it takes to pay for where I live. ("I"m poor, I'm starving, I'm flat broke, I've got no cash to spend.") As graduation approaches, student debt is increasingly weighing on my mind ("80 grand later...") I miss high school, where the social calender didn't involve even one boring, repetitive, same-thing-every-weekend frat party ("The party scene is kinda mean, I think it's sick and twisted"). 

Honestly, college has been a disappointment in a lot of categories. When my best friend from high school left for college in Tennessee a year before I graduated, I'd get letters from her describing everything incredible about college. I had high hopes. After I'd been offered four full rides, my dad chose Westminster. ("What my parents told me is what I did.") I wanted him to choose; I trusted his instincts and his perceptions. I was prepared to take a journey of self discovery, to learn who I was and delve into linguistics and literature. 

Ironically, college has been a place where I've lost myself. I don't always remember who I am, and the tedious busywork of classes has cost me my passion and creativity ("I find out that all that I had learned is that you should show up to take your finals and your midterms"). I find myself constantly fighting the monotony, now having to force my naturally optimistic self to look on the bright side. I feel as though I'm spending my time, money, and energy on something that, at least to date, hasn't had much return. 

I'm not saying that there's been nothing beneficial; I've made some good friends, I've had some great professors, and I've learn to be entirely self-sustaining. As socially "normal" as it is to graduate high school, go to college, get a degree, and then get a job for the rest of your life, I've come to the conclusion that college isn't for me. I'm excited to put it behind me and join this world which is thriving with life and opportunity. 

"Do what will make you happy; do what you feel is right. But only one thing matters, learn how to live your life."

Smashing Mash-Ups

I thought I'd post something simple this week, something light-hearted and cheery like this fantastic weather we are experiencing. One thing that makes me very happy is mash-ups, really well-done mash ups. So here's to my favorites...

EVOLUTION OF DANCE

I'll start with this one because it actually makes me "lol" every time I watch it. I will admit, though, I had one of those "good grief I'm getting old!" moments when searching this video. I was scrolling through YouTube looking for the right one, and I knew this was the right guy (note: orange Crush pop T-shirt), but I thought there was no way it could have been uploaded in 2006. That's almost ten years ago! Regardless, I love it. It makes me laugh, and it will make you laugh, too. Share it with older generations; they'll appreciate the decade-spanning humor!

MILEY CYRUS

I remember when my sister and I got our first Hannah Montana CD. It was a pretty exciting day. We put on our dance leotards and jammed out all day (read: all month). Miley is still my go-to for a good jam, and this mash-up of her transformation is really spectacular. I'd love to hear it updated in a year!

EVOLUTION OF MUSIC

Even more extensive than the Evolution of Dance, this musical compilation dates back to the 11th Century. Featuring the members of the duo Superfruit, the group Pentatonix blends these extremely diverse songs flawlessly. Their range of vocals are impressive at the least, and this makes me want to try and find Gregorian Chant on iTunes to download... 

TAYLOR SWIFT

Anthem Lights is one of my favorite mash-up groups (check out their K-Love Fan Awards Mash-Up). I've been a fan of Taylor Swift since I was 14 and my best friend played me "Teardrops on My Guitar" from the audio recording on her Razor phone. Every time I sang it, I obsessively replaced "Drew" with the name of the 17-year-old I was then in love with (who, of course, was in love with a different girl that he raved about to me). It was a rough time for junior-high-me, and Taylor was there every step of the way. I wept over "Fifteen" when I turned 15, and locked myself in my dorm room with nothing but "Last Kiss" when I thought I'd messed up the best relationship I'd ever had. Despite my nostalgic rant there, this song will make you smile -- especially my fellow T Swift fans out there. 

AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME

I'm sure it says something about who you are (or perhaps just how old you are) depending on which "As Long as You Love Me" popped into your head when you read this: Backstreet Boys or Justin Bieber? I was a fairly typical Backstreet fan girl growing up, and I don't mind Justin Bieber, but this Michael Henry and Justin Robinett medley, I would suggest, certainly one-ups the originals. (Here. Just put this playlist on replay.)

LET IT GO/LET HER GO

Although Elsa does not "only need the sun when it starts to snow," Passenger and Frozen (the Disney film) were bound to come to a crossroads at some point. Sam Tsui does a brilliant job weaving these two together. Although it is not "frozen" outside anymore, you can still appreciate this melodic collaboration of two songs that are sure to empower you. 

 

Something Classic: Polyphony in Music

I love classical music, probably more so than any other type of music. I don't know a whole lot about it, but Classical music is my comfort music.* I feel at home, there, where there is a strong sense of familiarity without judgement or expectation. Classical music is interpretive -- how do you feel, how do you perceive, how do you listen?

Recently, I was visiting home, and my younger sister and I were working on homework together. She is far more superior to me in most every category (academic and practical), and so it's always a compliment to me when she consults me for advice on anything. "What is polyphony?" she asked me (pronouncing it "pah-lee-FO-nee"), and I began considering the meaning of the term on multiple levels. To begin, I explained it to her musically. 

Polyphony is the style of simultaneously combining a number of parts, each preforming an individual melody and harmonizing with one another.

Polyphony is evident in Vivaldi's Winter in his concerto of the Four Seasons.  The sharp, biting sound of the distinctive violin predominates the piece, while the symphonic sounds of the orchestra provide a more continuous melodic foundation. The contrast between the two is vibrant and crisp, transitioning into a smooth, fluttering second movement. The constant differentiation between the solo violin and the polyphonic symphony is stark and depicts the paradoxical bitter innocence of winter.

The piece played by the solo violinist is brilliant, and portrays a powerful sense of honesty. Throughout the Allegro and Largo movements, the soloist is at the forefront of the piece evoking images of winter's brisk brutality, as well as its fresh liveliness. The solo violin carries the composition, moving it quickly in the first and third movements, and drawing out long, trailing notes in the second movement. Figuratively, the solo piece is the focal point – the intricacies of winter, while the orchestra contributes to the completion of the evocative musical scene.

The rapid, staccato progression of the solo violin accompanied by the fullness of the orchestra creates authentic layers that are necessary for the integrated nature of the composition. 

Vivaldi's Winter movement of his The Four Seasons is impressively redolent of a biting, forceful winter full of nuances and secret life hiding behind the orchestra of angry cold.

*NB: This is not like "comfort food," and is, in fact, quite the opposite.