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Thursday, September 3, 2015

Gifts of Music and Memory


I love music.

Photo Credit: TiiaBear
In the car, in the kitchen, while I walk, when I worship. 

And nearly every kind. I can appreciate a banjo as well as an intelligent rap and just about anything in between.

I’m amazed that God would use elements as formulaic and functional as math and physics for a composition so artistic and enjoyable as music.

His brilliant combination makes music a powerful tool.

Think of the lyrics you know by heart. You have words from entire songs--perhaps entire albums-- tucked away in your brain. With a few starting notes you can recite the words without much effort. 

It is no coincidence that in biblical times children—yes children—could memorize the entire book of Psalms because it was their song book. The soundtrack of their heritage. Add melody to words, repeat regularly, and over time 150 chapters of scripture and history get locked into memory. 

One-hundred-fifty chapters! 

I have trouble remembering phone numbers…except for Jenny's, “8 6 7 - 5 3 0 ny-eee-I-een.” See what I mean?

I’ve tried to harness this gift for my kids. We’ve set verses to such ridiculous melodies, none of us can forget even if we tried. We’ve also listened to artists such as Ellie Holcomb who has set scripture to music.


But it “cuts both ways” as Gloria Estefan sang.

We’ve had the radio going in the car a lot because… well, I love music. However, while I admire Megan Trainor’s message in “All About that Bass,” I cringe when I hear my boys singing about “booty.” Call me a prude but hearing them sing Bruno Mars’s jam, “Up-town you-know-what,” is also troublesome for me.

So I took a cue from a friend and decided this year on the drive to school we will hear a monthly theme song. An entertaining song with lyrics that don’t embarrass me, or them, if they start mindlessly singing them at family gatherings.

With school starting in August, I chose an oldie by Scott Krippayne called I’m Not Cool. Even if it is cheesy, I still get a little choked up when I listen. It speaks to adolescent insecurities which apparently die hard.


The tune is catchy, and I hope the message sticks. The artist laments his complexion, clothes, and car and then declares, "I’m not cool, but that’s okay, My God loves me anyway!”

There was a little eye-rolling from the boys, but we stuck with it through August.

For September the boys chose Impossible by Building 429 which champions the truth “That nothing is unreachable, when we trust the God of miracles.” I like it, but a month is going to be a challenge. I may have to adjust the schedule for a new song every week.

So I’m on the hunt for songs with solid lyrics that my boys would like.

If you have a recommendation, I’d sure be grateful if you’d share it. I’ll head straight to iTunes and add it to our playlist!



(Unless it’s something like THIS SONG. I think that song, catchy as it is, will ruin the theme song project forever! Thanks to Andee for digging up that gem
.)

10 comments:

  1. The newest Toby Mac songs have a great message, catchy tunes and have had my kids asking good, searching questions about the words and how they apply to God! ;)

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    1. Awesome, Stephanie! Thanks for the tip. I'm checking it out!

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  2. That's funny - we has a similar problem with our 2-year-old daughter. She loves this Rihanna as img for dancing but I didn't feel like it was the best influence so we started to listen to Royal Tailor for dance music, especially their song Ready Set Go.

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    1. Kathy, I like it! I just played it and heard my boys singing along in the living room!! Apparently they've heard it before :) I had no idea. Thanks for the suggestions!

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  3. That's funny - we has a similar problem with our 2-year-old daughter. She loves this Rihanna as img for dancing but I didn't feel like it was the best influence so we started to listen to Royal Tailor for dance music, especially their song Ready Set Go.

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  4. We are liking Rend Collective's "You will never run" but don't count out LONG BLACK TRAIN for life lessons. HA!

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    1. Love Rend Collective. I have their Campfire collection. Long Black Train will give us an opportunity to discuss metaphor...amongst other things :) Thanks for the suggestion!

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  5. Hey Shauna! Mathew West's "Day One" is on my girls' hit list lately. Happy listening!
    Tami

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    1. Thanks for the suggestion, Tami. I'm checking it out now!!

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