THE POWER OF SONG

The Power of Song

"Song Boy!" This is how my wife often refers to me. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I have been singing to her almost since the day we met. After those many years of practice, one would think that my singing would be better by now, but I guess I am still a work in progress!? I may not be able to carry a tune at a semi-professional level, however, I love music.

Why do songs cling to our brains like superglue? A better question in my home might be, “Why does he feel the need to continue singing off-key?” I justify my answer with “it makes me smile.” Maybe that is why many people sing in the shower or while driving down the highway. No matter the reason, music has so many positive effects on our psyche.? The right song heard at the appropriate moment can transport us back in time and bring a smile to any face.

I believe songs can send us back to another time, sometimes pleasant and sometimes not. Regardless, these songs can make us feel something very powerful. They connect us to people and places from our past. Songs also carry messages within their words. Often, many of us don’t really pay attention to the lyrics; we just sing them.? We have fun singing.? However, there are some strong messages within the lyrics that can accentuate our connection to them if we listen more closely.

So, let us explore a couple of songs and how I perceive their messages. Good for your ears, there is no audio file connected to this article that would subject you to my singing.

I am going to focus on two famous Kennys: Chesney and Loggins. “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” is a top-notch country song, and “I’m Alright” takes me back to the 1980s, which is my preferred jam.

Chesney hits us with the title, “Everything’s gonna be alright,” as well as, “There ain’t no doubt it’s gonna work out.” I recognize that life is far from easy. It challenges all of us in various ways. Maybe there are troubles at work, with family, or financial insecurity. Life will throw many challenges our way. We all go through the ups and downs that come with being human. I think this song speaks to resilience and how we handle the adversity that is sure to show up for all of us. I believe that our attitude toward how we handle tough times is a measure of our view on life. We can always focus on the problems we are encountering personally, in our community, country, or the world. If we focus on the negative, it will be top of mind, and we will become distrustful of others. Conversely, if we CHOOSE to look for the good in others and our lives, we will make ourselves happier. Remember, no one makes us happy. WE are in control and responsible for our happiness. I choose to believe Chesney when he states, “There ain’t no doubt it’s gonna work out.” Focus on the good in yourself and others, and I know you can change your life for the better. It will work out.

Loggins reminds us of a couple of great lessons: “It’s your life, isn’t it a masterpiece,” and, “Don’t nobody worry about me.” We are all artists, maybe not the type that paints on a canvas or performs in front of audiences, but rather the type that gets to create our masterpiece every day. Our masterpiece is very individual. No two people will create the same life. However, it is our story to paint, tell, and live out with our actions. An example from just two days ago as I stood in line at the grocery store resonates on this theme. I wasn’t in a hurry. I really love not being in a hurry. I think it allows us to see people and connect. I turned around and just made some irrelevant comment to an older lady standing behind me in line. The kind of small talk that may annoy some, but not her on this day. Maybe she wasn’t in a hurry or was just happy that someone recognized her and made a small connection. We chatted for two minutes or so until my groceries were bagged, and my credit card officially charged. As I turned to head out, she said, “Have a great day!” I looked back into her eyes and said, “Same to you.” I don’t know what kind of day she had after that, but I know that I had a better day because of our short connection. It took so little effort and yet two strangers exchanged a moment that made the world a better place, if only for a short time. Yeah, “I’m Alright.”

Thanks to Kenny and Kenny for their significant words.

This “song boy” chooses to listen for the important messages within these catchy tunes. ?I hope the same for you. Music has a special power to raise our spirits and make us smile. I am smiling as I write these last few words AND listen to Kenny Chesney.