Boston Music Blog: "Unlocking the Power of Music"
Have you ever been walking down the streets of Boston, singing a song in your head and without even realizing, you are stepping to the beat? Better yet have you ever had a really annoying song stuck so deep in your head that it consumes your thoughts for the day? Well maybe it's just me and maybe I'm a little crazy, but it seems like everything I do has music running through it. Let me explain further....
Today, I went into Boston for an MRI on my right knee. I was there because of an overuse injury, which was totally my own fault. Every day I go to the gym and workout. Although I change my training routine, my lifestyle routine stays the same. Wake up, walk the dog while singing songs in my head. Feed the dog and cats their breakfast... but not without singing the "Who Wants Breakfast!?" song. Next, a drive to the gym with my Sirius Radio blazing. I grab my iPhone and headphones and stroll on into the gym to start my workout.
For my warm-up I usually rock out to a little Coldplay. Nice and mellow but fun and upbeat too. Then when its time to really hit it hard, I throw on some 311, maybe some Outkast or a little 80's Rock. The studies show that the music you listen to will really affect your workouts. For me, unfortunately this is true. It seems that the screaming guitar riffs, funky basslines, and hard hitting drums got my adrenaline going to the point of a nice tear in my right meniscus. Awesome. Thanks a lot Rock n' Roll.
But as I lay there this morning in the booming MRI machine, I wouldn't let the music go. For those of you who have never had the pleasure, the machine is so loud that they offer you either headphones or earplugs. Ha! No-brainer for this music lover. The funny thing about the machine is it keeps a steady boom-chick...boom-chick over and over, like and industrial dance club beat. "Josh you need to stay still!" said the lovely MRI technician. "Sorry!" I couldn't help myself. Boom-chick boom chick. "Josh, we're gonna have to do that one again since you keep moving your foot." "Sorry...I'll behave! In the end, I managed to stay keep still for long enough for them to get what they needed.
My lovely wife has asked me many times..." why are you walking like that?" ... "why do you keep hitting your leg?" or "why do you keep making those weird sounds?" I reply, "Just rockin out to the beat! You don't hear that?" Even as I sit here typing this Boston Music Blog, I can't help but hit my keypad to the rhythm of a song. Right now I sadly have "Poker Face" by Lady Ga Ga running thru my head. Don't hold it against me.
The music is in me, for sure, thanks to years of PianoLessons, Guitar Lessons and Singing lessons. Or maybe the lessons are the result of my passion. I think it’s the former and I have mymany teachers and influences to thank. I’ve been in bands for the last 10 years and if I’m not making music, Ifeel incomplete. Music has been apowerful force in my life and certainly has changed my life. So what if it controls my movements orconsumes my thoughts? So what ifit drives me to “meniscus tearing performance?” I’d rather have a busted knee than a life without music!!
