The link between my ears and my heart...

Recently, I received some music I'd been waiting to hear for a long, long time. And it made me think about what I would say to the person who had given it to me because he does not always accept the simple answer. (strangely - this time he did but he's full of surprises these days that one).

I listen to music with my heart as well my ears. That is why when people ask me what I think of it, I cannot always make logical sense. I can often say whether or not I liked it on first listen but beyond that, all dissection of basslines, mix, and overall sound is beyond me (unless it's awful - I know awful when I hear it). Overall impression and...ok... lyrics - those are my first analysis points. If a song/album gets past that stage, then I can listen to it time and again on my car stereo until I know the ins and outs of it all and then, and only then, can I dissect it into its parts.

And sometimes, I refuse. Sometimes the experience of a song is just too visceral, too personal, too magnificent to analyze in that way. And so I just listen and smile (or cry or both) and sing along.

And on top of that, first impressions are still not always what my opinion eventually becomes.

I remember once receiving an album from a friend on the same day that I got another one I'd been waiting forever for. The first album got one quick listen and then was replaced by the much anticipated one. And now, that first album is probably among the top ten... or at least top twenty (I find it so hard to choose only 10) that I own. I guess I'm weird that way.

Incidentally the music that stimulated this line of thought is now ensconced in the car stereo where I think it will live for quite some time. And I have found that I particularly enjoy the bassline there, and the vocals on that song. But I don't think I'll be going any further with the dissection, I think I'll just listen and sing along. For many reasons my heart, along with my ears, enjoys every minute of it.