listen
Music plays such a big part in so many lives. Those who create it can't keep the sounds from within their imaginations from finding their way through instruments. Those who are comforted by it crave the notes that lilt and fall. Some of us tag songs with memories of a first date, a last dance and other surprise moments in between.
My friend is heartbroken right now. She fights herself every day with the ups and downs of feeling assured and then simply feeling like ass. There's a song she'd heard that reminded her of her ex- and it soon became a frequency modulated enemy, its opening bars ambushing her in the car, in convenience stores, on television.
It made me sad to know this about her struggle. It's a joyful song, full of love and shyness, adoration and modesty. It hurt her to remember these things. I wanted her to be able to enjoy it as much as I do and to be able to smile at its sweet sincerity.
One morning, it hit me like a bolt of lightning that I would take the song back for her. I would make it hers and not the sadness'. Despite being rusty in my songwriting skills, I re-wrote the lyrics to the song in a way that applied to my friend. I re-appropriated this radio hit with words that came from our friendship; words of encouragement and humor layered above the original lyrics. Like a fresh coat of paint to hide the dented and rusty eyesores.
A few days later, we sat at my kitchen table and I played her the song, singing awkwardly but with a heartfelt wish that it would take the place of a sad memory. She sat with her hands over her mouth, manicured nails shining, eyes sparkling. She told me she couldn't stop smiling. So it worked. We have reclaimed a song from the clutches of a broken heart. Copyright laws be damned.
My friend is heartbroken right now. She fights herself every day with the ups and downs of feeling assured and then simply feeling like ass. There's a song she'd heard that reminded her of her ex- and it soon became a frequency modulated enemy, its opening bars ambushing her in the car, in convenience stores, on television.
It made me sad to know this about her struggle. It's a joyful song, full of love and shyness, adoration and modesty. It hurt her to remember these things. I wanted her to be able to enjoy it as much as I do and to be able to smile at its sweet sincerity.
One morning, it hit me like a bolt of lightning that I would take the song back for her. I would make it hers and not the sadness'. Despite being rusty in my songwriting skills, I re-wrote the lyrics to the song in a way that applied to my friend. I re-appropriated this radio hit with words that came from our friendship; words of encouragement and humor layered above the original lyrics. Like a fresh coat of paint to hide the dented and rusty eyesores.
A few days later, we sat at my kitchen table and I played her the song, singing awkwardly but with a heartfelt wish that it would take the place of a sad memory. She sat with her hands over her mouth, manicured nails shining, eyes sparkling. She told me she couldn't stop smiling. So it worked. We have reclaimed a song from the clutches of a broken heart. Copyright laws be damned.
posted by Katie at 11:04 PM
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