the creation of beauty is art.: fifteen music lover questions.

Life without music would be unbearable. There is power in a well written lyric, an interesting melody, and a clear voice. Music has been on my mind a lot lately and I have found myself reflecting on the many times it has understood me, offered me peace, and essentially held me together. It seemed like an appropriate time to wax poetic about it here on the creation of beauty is art. so here are fifteen music lover questions. Be sure to share your own answers in the comment section below.

Which band/artist do you have the most albums from? Even though I no longer support Hanson (you can read about that here), there are a ton of albums from them in my collection. In addition to all of the official studio albums, there are live albums, singles, and annual membership EPs. Next would be John Denver, who released many studio albums and live albums during his lifetime. In the years since, there have also been compilations and greatest hits released. That is a long way of saying there are many John Denver albums on my CD shelf.
What is the last song you listened to? Though it is June and summer is on the horizon, my heart is already longing for the fall season. I cannot wait for chunky knitted sweaters and fallen leaves. Sigh! Until the fall season returns, there is music to remind me of a time that I love. I have been listening to a vintage Halloween playlist today and the last song that played is one of my favourites, "The Wobblin' Goblin" from Rosemary Clooney.
What is the most musically involved you have ever been? I am not very talented when it comes to singing or playing musical instruments. Despite this, there were many efforts made in my younger years to translate the passion that I have for listening to music into making music. I played the flute in elementary school and high school - and was even in the band. I attempted to learn the guitar in high school as well, but that did not go very well. I was in different choirs as a child as well. Ultimately, the talent was not there and performing in front of people made me anxious. I think I am better suited to being a fan of talented musicians than attempting to become one.
Who have you always wanted to see live but never have? There are many artists that I would love to see live, but money and geography has made that impossible. Obviously, my dream would be to go back in time somehow and see John Denver perform life, but outside of that, the brand that I would love to see most is Busted. They never became popular in North America, but they remain one of my all-time favourites. Another that I would love to see is B*Witched. Even though they actually were quite popular in North America, they never seem to tour in Canada.
What is your favourite band shirt? There was this navy blue Hanson shirt with orange lettering on the front. I wore it to elementary school, high school, and university on a regular basis. I just felt better when I wore it. More like me. The lettering cracked over time, but I still wore it anyway. I loved it so much. Unfortunately, that is not a shirt that I can wear anymore, because the band ended up being a huge disappointment, but I still have the shirt tucked away. It makes me very nostalgic. My current favourite band shirt is from KATSEYE. Hot Topic has all sorts of shirts from the band, but my favourite one is oversized and grey with the words EYEKONS repeated all over.
How many music related DVDs do you own? Not counting musicals and stage productions, but only counting the DVDs that are specific to live concert performances and behind the scenes moments...fifty three. There are music DVDs from artists that I have never been able to see live (Busted, Atomic Kitten, Take That, John Denver, Hilary Duff) and artists that I have been lucky enough to see (Jamie Cullum, BBMak, Duran Duran, Gareth Gates). Music is meaningful to me and I love being able to watch these recordings from the comfort of my own home.
Last album you bought? Technically, that would be the new KATSEYE album, Wild. It will not be released until August, but I pre-ordered the CD and vinyl version. Before that, it was a thrifted compilation Christmas album.
Favourite lyrics? There are so many wonderful examples, but this is what immediately came to mind. These lyrics are from "Rhymes and Reasons" by John Denver: "So you speak to me of sadness and the coming of the winter, fear that is within you now, it seems to never end. And the dreams that have escaped you and the hope that you've forgotten. You tell me that you need me now, you want to be my friend. And you wonder where we're going, where's the rhyme and where's the reason? And it's you cannot accept it is here we must begin."
Song that motivates you? I love an upbeat and empowering anthem, but the song that motivates me most is "Start Again" by Donny Osmond. It is a reminder that it is always possible to start again, to move forward, and to become the version of yourself that will make you proud. It is about acknowledging the pain of the past and present, but still holding onto hope for the future. The song provides understanding, compassion, and encouragement.
How often do you listen to music? Every single day. I have music on when I clean, do dishes, shower, exercise, work. It is on almost all of the time. Sometimes, it is an album, and other times, it is relaxing background music, but there is almost always some sort of music playing in my home. It just makes life better.
Do your friends or loved ones have the same musical taste? There is some music that I have in common with friends and loved ones, but generally speaking, our taste is quite not the same. There are concerts that I have attended on my own, because no one wanted to see the band or artist that I was interested in seeing.
Songs that you like singing? I am not a great singer, but I love to sing when I am alone. My favourite album to sing to is Blue Skies from Diana DeGarmo, but my all-time favourite song to sing is "Like I'm Not Even Here," from her Unplugged In Nashville album. There is something about Diana DeGarmo music that makes me feel like singing!
Do you like to listen to the radio? No. Not anymore. The radio plays a lot of music that I am not interested in, including music from well known abusers. I would much rather listen to the music that I own and love.
What song do you listen to when you are angry? There is one answer for this: "EAT ME" by Demi Lovato featuring Royal and the Serpent. The song is angry, it is honest, and it expresses how I feel about the world we live in. It is about letting go of the version of yourself that played nice and tried to keep the peace. It is about embracing the person you truly are. It is about being honest about the society we live in and what is deemed acceptable. "EAT ME" by Demi Lovato is powerful, bold, and is the ideal song choice when the world lets you down.
Describe your musical taste. I love pop music. I love storytellers. I love honest lyrics. I love emotion. My musical taste largely focuses on bands and artists who check all (or at least some) of those boxes.