The Power of Music

Oh this is the most beautiful tv series I've seen in a while. This is where we get to see how music not only brings people together but how it acts as therapy and a great healer too. When I sing with a choir (well try to sing) I can feel every single worry go away even if it's just for a while. My mind is transported into a place where nothing else matters except the song I'm singing and receiving a great feeling of satisfaction when the learning of a new song comes together. 

I suffer from anxiety and I feel singing helps to relax so when I saw thirteen year old Jasmine overcoming her chronic anxiety in episode one of 'This Is My Song' I could totally relate to how she felt. Blimey I was in tears, she was so good. You could see how worried she was but all that seemed to fall away when she sang Andra Day's 'Rise Up' and what a song to sing. She felt this was the song that had helped her through some tough times and the lyrics are just so apt for her story. 

This episode also saw twenty three year old Jordan team up with his grandad Ronnie to sing and record Ben E King's 'Stand By Me'. Ronnie has trouble remembering things at present and worried about not being able to remember the lyrics but when they started to sing he just never had a problem at all. 

There are only two episodes in the series and the next one featured Charles who wanted to record a song he had learnt on his guitar after receiving a life saving double lung transplant. This would be his first real performance with his new lungs and my goodness they were in fine form. He belted out Ella Henderson's 'Yours' only twelve weeks post op which I think is a blooming brave thing to do but what a way to celebrate this new lease of life.

Bethany's story got me blubbing like a baby as she recorded 'I'm Your's' by Jason Mraz. She lost her father a few years ago and was about to get married so she wanted to include her dad in some way on her big day. Bethany had some old recordings which she had made singing with her dad and some of the recording with him playing guitar was able to be mixed in with the track she would sing in the studio. This track was then played as the first dance at her wedding. I know right....how lovely is that? 

There were other stories such including a reunion of the 60's band Earl Preston and the TT's whom came together again to record a track and another lovely lady who wanted to record a track for her father complete with steel drums, I just love the sound of steel drums.....that was awesome and a lovely proud moment for that family. 

With the help of big music producers such as Sister Bliss from Faithless, Andrew Hunt, Naughty Boy and vocal coaches such as Mark De-Lisser and CeCe Sammy all these people were able to fulfil a dream using the power of music. These big names in the music business gave these amateur musicians the confidence to go and stand up to a mic in a recording studio and record a song that would be there for them as a memory forever. 

If you get the chance to catch up with one series over the Christmas period then do take a look at this as it's just brilliant. You can find it on the BBC iplayer but do have your tissues ready as there are some very precious moments which will make you blub a bit.

Great isn't it? Music.....it is just an amazing thing. We listen to it for enjoyment, it can make us happy and also help us through tough times too. It can act as therapy to those who need it and some songs can make us laugh so what is not to like? I cannot imagine my life without music. 

As one of my all time favourite song goes 'music was my first love and it will be my last, music of the future and music of the past.....to live without my music would be impossible to do, in this world of troubles, my music pulls me through'
                                                 (Music by John Miles)

I will be back tomorrow for Teapot Tuesday (yes even on Christmas Day) but for now take care and have a lovely Christmas.