Bangin' Tunes

I am a music junkie. I love it in all its forms. As I write I am digging some ambient trance. I love the crafting of a good song, harmonies, funky bass lines and serious beats. I need to connect with the music on an emotional level and this connection is my focus of an article I am writing this month for an online parenting magazine.


I recently read that teenagers seek music as more of a way to conform and seek approval than rebel. I was horrified as I was not listening to the Smiths, Cure, Stone Roses, Sundays, Sex Pistols etc. to conform. What they had to say resonated with how I felt which was dislocated from society. I had no idea where I fit in but these bands had a sound I liked, an image and some of Morrissey’s finest lyrics. I loved his irony and observations and still do.

I thought harder and realized that I was listening to these bands because some of the boys I liked loved them and what way to better endear myself to these divine creature than professing a love for Black Sabbath, Sisters of Mercy and All About Eve? So I was conforming.

It has always been easier to be a geek who knew a few decent bands and be accepted than just a geek. I was not a geek more the arty type with hair wrestling itself free from the French plait down my back, bags of something tripping me up, clarinet case and rucksack slung over shoulders as I ran for the bus.

In fact my husband was the only one I knew who had Peter Murphy’s “Strange Kind of Love” and loved it as much as I did. This was a bonding moment almost 20 years ago. Boys again!

My brother is my music guru and he introduced me to so much incredible music- Placebo, Mumford & Sons, The Temper Trap, Pure Reason Revolution, Jose Gonzalez to name a few. I gave him Muse, Turin Brakes and The Doves. He has a knack for finding bands with a crafted sound that have yet to hit the big time but do. He wrote incredible and insightful reviews of all the gigs he attended and I felt I was there with him screaming, cooing and whistling. We are passionate about music.

I am still not writing the article I need to am I? I am trying to work out how I feel towards music. I am trying to get my thoughts in order as I only have 300-500 words to condense studies and emotions regarding teenagers and music for the piece. I suppose this is the brainstorming session. Any excuse to listen to music.