My Personal Music Roots

                Something that brings me back.  The music that I was surrounded with as a child.  Back to when I was around five, riding in my older sister’s brand-new Honda Civic to the pool, listening to all the “hot songs.”  Looking back, I’d say that my sister had great taste in music.  I don’t know the reason that I still enjoy listening to those songs now; because of how timeless they are or because they were the first songs I was exposed to… or maybe it was that she constantly played them over and over and over?    

                The music back then was positive and real.  It was deep and had timeless lyrics.  The lyrics weren’t like today’s greatest rap hits.  They didn’t have obscenities, four letter words, or phrases that are degrading towards women.  They are classy and can be listened to for years to come.  Phrases and words weren’t repeated constantly for three and a half minutes either and called a “song.” 

Sure, they repeated the chorus some, but not every verse was the same.  It is hilarious because a few days ago, I ran across a Facebook group that was titled, “1)Say “Dale!” 2)Mumble three Spanish words. 3)List four cities. Congratulations, you just made yourself a Pitbull song.”  But it is so true.  Most (I SAID MOST!  So before all you diehard Indie rockers jump all over me…) artists today do not have any clue where to begin when wanting to write substance, and if they do they don’t want to because they know that 1)It won’t be played in the “clubs.” Or 2)No one will buy their album on iTunes. 

                I learned and knew so much about who the hottest artists were and what their best songs were.  PepperMartin could recite all the Enrique Iglesias songs… in español.  (Which probably inspired my desire to take Spanish as a foreign language in high school.  Thanks, Enrique!)

  I had some disputes with my sister over the lyrics as well.  Example: I argued that Shakira said “and that’s the dam*, my dear…” instead of “and that’s the deal, my dear.”  (Being five years old, I knew that profanity was naughty and shouldn’t be listened to by my older sister that was supposed to be a good influence on me.)  Hearing that song today, I laugh at myself.  Shakira didn’t cuss, silly!  That was just her Colombian diction.  It sparks so many memories of my sister and me in the car, dancing and singing along to the radio.

                Many of you may not remember these songs I’m talking about, but they were recorded in the late 1990’s early 2000’s.  The time period that is considered the greatest by many people in their late 20’s.  (My sister is almost 29.)  Usually I wish that I would be closer to my sister in age (closer than 12 years) for bonding reasons and what not, but in the music sense, I wouldn’t trade it.  It developed my love for music to what it is today, and for that, I am forever grateful.  Thank God for that time period… and Hanson!  Along with:

Christina Aguilera

Backstreet Boys

‘N Sync

Britney Spears

Destiny’s Child

J.LO (Jennifer Lopez)

Mariah Carey

Salt-n-Pepa

Shaggy

Celine Dion

LeAnn Rimes

Shania Twain

U2 (appreciated by Mizzay)

Tim McGraw

Faith Hill

Boyz II Men

Lee Ann Womack

Vanessa Carlton (below)

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