Children
I’ve been forced to watch a lot of children’s television lately and I’ve noticed something strange. I’ve been humming the tunes everywhere I go. This is not remarkable in itself but furthermore, I actually look forward to watching my two year olds DVDs and I think that they are actually making me happier!
I started joining in with the singing and dancing on the DVDs to try and get Sol to be less passive as it was bothering me that he was just sitting and watching it. The strategy has worked, when we watch TV we interact with each other, follow the actions, sing some of the words and interact with each other too. So that makes me feel a little better about watching DVDs.
The affect it’s had on me to is to unlock a part of me that I think is in all of us which is the joy of making sound and moving to music. As a musician, I’ve always enjoyed music but it’s been more of an intellectual challenge – much of the focus for me has been on improving my musical skills and doing rad things. But children’s music is simple. The emotions are simple. The melodies, the beats – everything is simple. Except the dance moves are beyond me at times.
Also, there seems to be a celebration of life that comes through in children’s music. It’s not about anything complex, just the fun of being alive – breathing, clapping, moving etc… I find it quite therapeutic.
Posted: March 8th, 2007 under Spirituality.
Comments: 4
Comments
Comment from djfoobarmatt
Time: 10/3/2007, 8:17 pm
Well yeah probably. But I find that amongst adults at clubs or parties you’re expected to be grown up so you can’t just clap and smile while you dance (and the music is usually pretty serious too), if you’re a bloke you have to walk the line of not looking like you’re into it too much but into it enough to pick up chics. Either that or you need to get drunk or look drunk enough to excuse the fact that you’re having fun. Me and Sol have no pretences when it comes to the Wiggles. But I would like to get out more…
Comment from andrea
Time: 12/3/2007, 9:46 pm
Don’t worry, I’m posting about how I like a good park more than a night out, at the moment.
I liked your description of the male politics of enjoying music in public in your comment. Very insightful.
Comment from Sheena Walsh
Time: 9/3/2007, 11:12 am
When I saw Music and Lyrics last Sunday night it seemed to me that the movie was a bit about celebrating that – the function of simple, catchy tunes in society and the outlet that music expression provides for everyone. It made me look on WHAM! a lot more kindly. I have found myself that singing plays a large role in my spiritual health – I have been much happier since I joined a choir and sing for at least a couple of ours a week.