Music.
Where did I start, and where am I now? I used to be ashamed of the music I enjoy. If it wasn’t the social normal then it generally was not acceptable. I have an interesting musical history.
It all started with Cher — yes, I admit it. She was my first favorite artist. Disco is old, and even at the young age when I began to enjoy it, this genre was relying on long-time fans to keep it alive. Cher has a negative stigma too — homosexuals, middle-aged to old junkies, and druggies. It is not considered a college student’s type of music. But I don’t care. Music is like a language that speaks more than just words. It speaks rhythm, tone, and beat and is able to penetrate our tough outer shells and alter our emotions and mindset. Suppressing our taste of music due to social expectations is denying who we are.
Every once in a while I dig up Cher from my iTunes library — I actually have quite a collection of her work. To me, her music never grows old unlike today’s new hip-hop, electronic, or pop music. Seriously, can you stand hearing “Whatcha Say” or “TiK ToK” on the radio anymore? Even then, are you going to pick out that song in your library just to listen to it? It got old fast, and personally, if I hear any of those songs pop up on shuffle I will skip them in a second.
But now I step back and analyze my music collection as a whole. What I realize is that today’s electronic and pop genres assume many cues from the past… Like from disco. I hear a lot similarities between Cher and new artists. I feel like if Cher was to release a single using iTunes Single of the Week or Starbucks Pick of the Week under a different artist name, it would be a hit. Does iTunes even have a disco genre in the store anymore? Isn’t it mostly categorized as dance music? The dance genre is among the newest of music types, yet it’s as age-old as disco.
Cher has done a lot for me. Her music, that is, has pulled me through a lot of times. For years, as I have battled my emotional issues with obesity, I turned to Cher many times for support. And when I was finally amidst making changes in my life and losing the weight and rebuilding it how I wanted, I accidentally played a Cher song. I almost changed the track… But I stopped and let the song run through. I think I’m hooked all over again.
I challenge you to listen to some of Cher’s music. Put aside stigmas and her image. Just let your ears do the work. I hope you recognize her music as I do… Pure, empowering, invigorating and perfect for your ups and downs. It’ll be our own little secret.
Published from my iPad.
