If My Life Were a Soundtrack - Jennifer

Hey everyone! Welcome to my first blog. I must admit I am a bit timid when it comes to publicly journaling my thoughts, but I know this is going to be an exciting adventure that we will take together. Your comments and ideas about the things I will share over the course of time will become a key component to make this blog space interesting and unique. So thanks in advance for what you and I are going to explore together.

My inexperience for preparing for this blog immediately surfaced when it took a ridiculous 30 minutes to pull off the CD image of my “life’s soundtrack” from the internet. I had to laugh at myself and realize that there are plenty of other “30 somethings” out there who would probably agree that the tweeners have become our mentors on this sort of thing…but heck-I can totally do it….my hair just may turn grey before it happens! HA! Would you agree?

So anyway–Day 1–my current season of life is best defined by the first album I ever bought as a child “Grease”. Yes, it is a bit embarrassing to admit I have always felt like the famed Sandy (played by long time mentor Olivia Newton John)… who brilliantly created the role of the straight laced, conservative, America’s perfect little sweetheart. Along with those qualities, surfaced the desire to be liked and accepted by her peers. Yet in the last scene of the movie she emerges as a svelte, skintight pants wearing, sexy, super-confident, pop singing diva-adored by her handsome Danny!

Sandy’s finale is something I strive for-especially as a musician (minus the leather pants). I am ready to find my voice and come out of the predictable and safe music shell I have been living in. I am ready to move boldly into the world with a clear sense of who I am as an artist and a person– not worrying about what others think about me. I am ready to define my own authentic sense of “cool” which will be magnetic. I am thankful that I have a beautiful husband, Jason (my Danny) who will help me discover this new confident self and my two beautiful kids (Jackson and Julia).

Wanna join me? It’s time we all find our inner-rock star!

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If My Life Were a SoundTrack - LaMonte

Immediately, I thought of a soundtrack that fit me perfectly.  The raw emotions of the melody played perfectly with each scene of the movie.  The movie and its soundtrack so eloquently articulates love, passion, trust, despair, war and sacrifice.  Doesn’t that sound a bit like today’s world?  At the very least, it has some of those elements piercing each of our souls.  Which leads me to the million dollar question, what does the future have in store for me? 

Well, I know I must love and respect relationship.  Love the idea that I can love as much as I want, and no one can slow its pace.  I must live with a sense of passion.  Believe in what I love and feel its passion.  I must trust in Good.  I must trust that Goodness will have my back and protect me against that which threatens my love.  Despair will surely show its face, but I will be prepared as the aforementioned will have positioned me to embrace it.  War, well, it seems that will always be present.  Maybe it has something to do with people not wanting to love and be loved.  Lastly, sacrifice.  I have profound respect for sacrifice, for it is the ultimate expression of love and selflessness.  What am I willing to sacrifice for love and relationship?  Emphatically, EVERYTHING!

The soundtrack that set the stage, that evoked such emotion, is The Last of the Mohicans .  I’m not asking any of you to embrace my feelings about this soundtrack, but I am curious however to hear of any soundtrack, that moved you, that struck a cord, that made you say, I really like that.

So, please share with us your soundtrack of life?

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What's Your Favorite Song by Jennifer

It is impossible pick one song that is meaningful to me. So I won’t! Through the course of my life there have been so many songs both poetic and just plain fun that have made an impact on me. Don’t you agree that certain songs take you back to moments in time that were significant and sweet—or perhaps painful and strained? I am going to focus on the high points today.

My earliest musical moment I can remember came with the purchase of our family “singing machine”—the first Karaoke machine invented I assure you. In fact, I have that machine in my attic to this day that plays 8 tracks tapes signifying the influence that little sound maker played in my life. Stephanie and I would sing on opposite ends of a single jump-rope wailing complicated tunes from Barbara Streisand (Duet with Neil Daimond, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, Memory from Cats, and The Way We Were). While I don’t sit in my car these days blurting these tunes out…they shaped me and remind me of my younger days of musically connecting with my sister!

During my 4th grade year at Bright Elementary (brightschool.com), I debuted as the starring role in the Chattanooga Little Theater’s play, Annie. The song, Tomorrow, will be forever etched in my soul to remind me that when hard times comes, there is hope in each God given day.

I think back to my days of 8th grade at Baylor High School (baylorschool.org) during our crazy co-ed dances where I found so much joy twirling in the dark, strobe lights of our gym to The Bangles song Walk Like an Egyptian. Every time I hear that song I am freed by the reflection of the innocence of my youth. In my later years, I think on the song from one of my favorite movies Pretty In Pink, If You Leave, by OMD. I call those my technotronic days. Please forgive me.

College years included a love for songs by Depeche Mode (Personal Jesus and People are People) The Cure and a longing to be musically cool and “in the know” by my peers.

Of course the last decade of my life is really summed up as a musical smorgasbord. If you saw my IPod you would think I was totally schizophrenic, but I like it that way. I am most intrigued by artists who are selling lots of product, and I am trying to identify why the industry thinks they are endearing. For instance, what up with all this “throw back” music (with the likes of Duffy and Amy Whinehouse)? Is it really that good musically or just fulfilling a niche that hasn’t been occupied in a while? What artists do you listen to and are they selling? Why or Why not?

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