music How important is music to you?

[Randimaxis 8,652]

My father was an honest-to-goodness folk musician - less Bob Dylan, more Kingston Trio - and he was responsible for helping me to understand music in a fashion that made it a forerunner throughout my entire life.  I have coasted through so many different styles and tastes in my time, have found something to love in many, many different things...

I was raised on the Golden Oldies of the 1950's, 60's & early 70's, as well as folk standards, Baptist hymns, and down home bluegrass pickin' from my Dad and his friends.  But my Dad also made sure I had a wide exposure to music, including Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Leadbelly, The New New Christy Minstrels, Ian Whitcomb, Tom Lehrer, Bach, Cream, Stan Freberg and The Mystic Moods Orchestra. 

And both my father and I enjoyed much of Weird Al Yankovic's catalogue, as well as a few musicals like The Music Man and Popeye... because we're both a bit touched with the Strange Stick (see: Tom Lehrer, Stan Freberg, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Ian Whitcomb, Cheech & Chong, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, Vic Mizzy).  My mother, bless her soul, was also responsible for my love of classic country: Hank Wiliams Jr., Tom T. Hall, Johnny Cash, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton (who is the sweetest woman in the world, I believe) and Loretta Lynn.

Growing up in the 80's, I was somewhat sheltered by my loving-yet-overprotective parents - but eventually, I discovered both Hair Metal (Motley Crue, to be direct, and the Theatre Of Pain album, to be precise) and Rap (LL Cool J's Bigger And Deffer album, the first place I ever heard the word 'motherfucker' in my entire life)... as well as a love for The Fat Boys, which led to my own beatboxing (*embarrassed blush, but nods to affirm*)  From there, I began to find a lot more of the later 70's groups - yes, including DISCO, bite me... but also Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Aerosmith.  And further excursions into musical discoveries ensued, with albums such as Thriller making me a Michael Jackson fan, and Screaming For Vengeance and Dr. Feelgood helping me find more stories within the lyrics.  And yes, I also discovered the MIGHT and MOCKERY that is GWAR in the late 90's, as well as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and it's incredibly catchy showtunes.

Reaching the 90's, I was actually enjoying the likes of Nirvana, The Suicide Machines, House Of Pain, MC Hammer (no regrets; the man is awesome), Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony, the Insane Clown Posse (whoop whoop!), and albums like KMFDM's Nihil and ESPECIALLY Pop Will Eat Itself's protest masterpiece, Dos Deidos Mi Amigos - an album that holds a dear place in my heart as something I'd found myself, led by the PS1 game 'Loaded', and no other influences; my friends ended up liking it too.

Then... *sigh*... I began to 'experiment with substances that altered my state of mind', and let's leave it at that; I'll completely be Applejack about it and tell the truth, but it's not exactly something I'm proud of, honestly.  But in the course of this, I was introduced to some music through certain people who I 'experimented' with.  Bands such as Marilyn Manson, Sykotik Sinfoney, Lords Of Acid, Beenie Man, Cypress Hill, Crystal Method (their Vegas album makes for INCREDIBLE trance/study music), and such.  Techno and alternative grunge was interesting enough to me, and eventually it also included Korn, Megadeth and Pantera to round out my Metal tastes.

The 2000's onward saw me grope my way backwards to catch what I'd missed, with bands like DEVO, The Cult, Moxy Fruvous, the Beastie Boys, NWA, and The Dead Kennedys... but also discovering more electric sources, such as Deadmau5, Temenite, Skrillex, Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy, Danny Brown and more... and it feels good to know I haven't chosen to simply stay in my own, comfortable music zone; I'd rather be open-minded toward the future, and maybe help influence it with the past, in the form of covers and Remixes (which are a secret passion of mine).

In my lifetime, I have FILLED original XBOXes (yes, plural) with music for my friends, I recorded myself singing and cutting up quite often, and I AM the guy who used to make mixtapes (REAL cassettes) for my friends.  I believe that music is the sound our souls make to speak to the world; any DJ lost in the beat, any guitarist who ever played their clsssic licks and every rapper worth their salt are all simply relating a message that is too BIG inside of them for mere words to suffice; music bridges the gap between our emotions and our logic - even if there's not a word said.

Is music important to me..?  You better, you better you bet.      };D

 

[Lucky Bolt 35,063]

I cannot go a day without sticking my earbuds in my ears and listening to music of some kind. So yes, music is pretty important to me I'd say lol.

[TheRockARooster 51,528]

Music is very important to me.

It helps me with stress and it can also help take your mind off whatever’s upset you.

[Pandora 38,063]

Its very important to me, my mind is chaos but it helps me relax a little 

[Derpsieh 231]

It used to be a bit more important to me, but now I can't really listen to music as much anymore :<

I still do get pumped up when I hear awesome songs, and I still get sad when I hear sad songs, but I just listen to music a lot less now... >.<

[Early Sunsets 2,107]

Pretty important. Listening to music gets me through my work day, and playing music is so much fun. I just haven't been playing much in recent years since I don't really have a reason. Maybe I'll join a local concert band once I get a vehicle and covid fucks off.

[Astralshy 26,810]

It's also very important to me. I listen everyday to music for different reasons. It's really hard me to imagine a day without consuming music to realx.

[Clawdeen 14,392]

It’s very important to me. It’s how I survive working, driving and so on.

[Fluttershyfan94 5,742]

Music is definintely important to me, I don't go a day without playing some music. That and it usually sets the mood nicely such as when driving. Or if you're studying perhaps. While there is also the uniqueness of each and everyones different music listening tastes. I also feel music really brings you back in time so yes music is great.

[ZiggWheelsManning 10,525]

Music is important to me, given it keeps away that blank, hopelessness in the mind  

[ExplosionMare 18,064]

It used to not matter to me much when I was a kid but now that I’m older I’ve grown to really love music. I use it either to cope or to get ideas flowing while I draw or write.

[Cash In 22,364]

Music is pretty much one of the reasons I'm still sane (arguably), so yeah, it's pretty important to me. It's kind of funny, since it's only within the last couple of years where I started to appreciate music. 

[Splashee 28,564]

Can't live without it (sadly, same with chocolate). I have a problem that it takes up my brain power, so I won't do any work while listening to (or eating) it.

 

[Prospekt 11,018]

Music is close to my heart. It gets me through bad times and it's something to be grateful for during the good times.

[schizo 85]

Incredibly important to me. Im usually always listening to music no matter what

Music personally helps me with paranoia and such too