The very first stereo I owned was a hand-me-down from my older cousins.
At the ripe old age of eleven or twelve, I discovered pop music on the radio on that double cassette tape stereo. Most of the music I had listened to until then was Vietnamese pop music and the opera like traditional Vietnamese music that reminded my parents of happier times of their homeland. Oh, I can’t forget about all the sedate songs sung by our church choir.
I was amazed by all the different music I heard on the radio. All I had to do was roll my thumb on the little dial to commence the scavenger hunt for music amidst the static. All while pointing my telescoping antenna to various parts of the room in order to receive better reception.
Thus commenced my love for angsty ballads like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler or “Winds of Change” by Scorpion. I stalked the nightly Top 8 at 8 to record my favorite songs, hoping the DJ would shut up so I could tape the song in its entirety. I remember racing into my bedroom after Sunday service to listen to Casey Casem’s America’s Top Forty. Of course my favorites was when he’d read the heart wrenching letters and play a sappy song for the requests and dedications.
Until I met my husband, popular music on the radio was all I knew. In college, he introduced me to the beautiful world of Diana Krall, and along with her, jazz. Until I heard Diana Krall’s sultry voice, I had no idea jazz was so. . .exciting! We definitely did our share of making out to her CDs, but we also listened to her in the car, while cooking dinner–whenever we could.
While I prefer to sit in silence to read or work, my husband introduced me to so many different types of music. Thanks to him I discovered Prince, Elvis, Ella Fitzgerald, Broadway musicals, and much more. From there, I began to figure out what my music tastes were. My music preferences has evolved from my preteen days, but I will never ever lose my love for jazz and Diana Krall.
Do you listen to jazz?
This post was inspired by 2 A.M. At The Cat’s Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino, a novel about hope, love, and music in snow covered streets of Philadelphia. Join From Left to Write on August 28 we discuss 2 A.M. At The Cat’s Pajamas. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
Diana Krall is one of my favorites!! Your post brings back fond memories of sitting in girlish bedrooms listening to Top 10 lists, and calling in to radio stations. While your husband broadened your musical horizons, my husband has taken up jazz as a study and an avocation, and I am sadly a bit turned off by too much studious listening to jazz, as an intellectual exercise, rather than as a liberating experience.
But, listening to jazz live, to me, is the ultimate!
I love to listen to jazz. I went to college in NYC, and my dorm was in Greenwich Village, so I was surrounded by jazz clubs. It was great! We also love to listen to jazz at home on weekend mornings. Sets the tone perfectly!
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I have the same memories of trying to tape my favorite songs and listening to the Top 40. It all seemed so exciting, right?
My husband introduced me to Nina Simone. It reminds me of our pre-kid life. Now I find I don't listen to music, because I get so little silence in my life. I have to take it when I can!