Let the music take you!

Photo by Alireza Attari on Unsplash

I woke up in a foul mood to another winter day of grey skies, climbed into my dirty white-now-grey-car and drove through grey, slushy streets. It was the kind of day that I should be at home under a quilt with a book, sipping on a mug of hot cocoa. However, Jean had called Neighbourlink, an agency I volunteer at, and I was assigned to drive her to her medical appointment in another city. She lived on Grey Street. Of course.

I’d never met Jean before but by the time we pulled onto the highway, I’d learned that she’d never married, that she’d lived on Grey Street for all of her 92 years and she enjoyed listening to music.

“What kind of music do you like?” I asked.

“Perry Como..but I’m sure you’ve never heard of him”.

“Well, how would you like to listen to him now?”

“What do you mean? You’re too young to have his CD.”

My response: “OK Google…play Perry Como”

Her eyes widened as a voice responded:

“Got it! Playing Perry Como’s greatest hits on Spotify.”

“How did you do that?” she asked incredulously.

“It’s magic.”

And so for the next half hour, Jean listened to her favourite crooner, her head resting back on the seat, eyes closed and a blissful half-smile playing around her lips.

Where did she go? Was she dancing in the arms of her high school sweetheart? Or perhaps she was lying on a blanket on the beach, watching the sunset. I’ll never know but what I do know is that music has the power to change us and transport us to other worlds.

Slaves sang “Swing low, sweet chariot” to help escape their world of pain and suffering. Dylan sang, “Blowing in the wind”, a prophetic song that shifted the mindset of a generation. "It is well, it is well with my soul," emphasizes a deep sense of joy and trust in God despite external pain.

By the way…

I always have a playlist of instrumental songs ready to go before dinner guests arrive. Background music is a social lubricant and creates space for shy guests to feel comfortable in an otherwise quiet room. It can also set the mood for a themed dinner party. We’re hosting a Mexican dinner next month and guests will arrive to the joyful sound of salsa music. But we’ll later tone it down to some easy-listening, mellow jazz. I’d love to know- where does the music take you?