What we know we learned from the radio

Music brings us together – that much is undeniable.  

Some of my earliest memories play to the soundtrack of my father’s old 1991 Dodge Dakota. That truck has lived through more car-jam sessions than I have. The stereo knobs were worn by the time I knew what they were. When the doors on that truck no longer locked and the age-old stereo was replaced, someone opened the doors and stole the replacement, rendering drives in the Dakota silent. For only a short period of time.

See – it isn’t like you can sit in the car in silence for a long period of time, because sooner or later, someone is going to start humming. Or chattering. And the silence will be filled with conversation, laughter, and hopefully song of some sort.

There’s something about a car ride, a radio, or a freshly burned CD. Songs, just like scents, are triggers for memories. Sometimes, they’re just a reminder we’re not alone in this big bad world. That someone has been where we are before us, once upon a time.

Some life experiences are truly universal which talented songwriters and musicians convey through their music. It’s one of the things I love most about music: the longevity of a song. The time and date of its original release are really of no matter – what matters is the message. While certain melodies become tired and beats are overused, lyrics can echo timelessness through themes that transcend generations and locations.

Even when a melody becomes tired, it’s the message we remember.

The Beatles are one of the most important examples, here. They had simple melodies, very easy to play and very easy to construct with catchy lyrics that either told a story or had meaning. Few people remain untouched by “Come Together” or “Let it Be”. Other examples of timelessness include Cher, Kiss, the Progressive Rock genre (Sorry, Phil Collins… you, Genesis, and Peter Gabriel are under this genre), The Who, and Tina Turner.

Their music is so impactful and iconic that they’ve come out of retirement to share the same beloved songs with their fans (at least) one more time. Some musicians and acts who have retired (maybe too soon) hit the road more often post-retirement than they did pre-retirement.

Life lessons are taught in songs under the guise of an album. We grow up with the radio, remembering car rides and extensive family trips by what was playing on the car stereo during the drive. We choose songs as our theme music, we create playlists to suit our mood and our inner feelings.

Music, among other things, brings us together. Even if it’s just for one last drive, one jam-sesh, or one last concert. Our favorite musicians deserve a fond farewell – regardless of whether they’re leaving the stage for the final time or not.

We both know their songs will stay with us forever, anyway.

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