Music
March 5, 2006 by Melissa
I think I have talked before about my love of music and how some influences my writing. I do have a little background in music, as I play the flute, but the influence of music started much earlier in my life. If my mother, who read to me before I knew what she was saying, just as I did with my children, influenced my love of books and writing, my father influenced my love of music. I remember many times my father would turn on the stereo on a Saturday morning in our apartment in Vogelweh and blast it. Anything from Frankie Valley to Elvis to Motown classics were in the mix. So many of my memories involve music.
Crazy for You by Madonna reminds me of high school dances, while anything by INXS reminds me of my first few years of college parties. I have one clear memory of one of my family’s last trips in Europe before we moved to Texas. It was to the Black Forrest and I remember listening to Paul McCartney and Wings playing on the radio as we drove. And, the DH and I have a private joke about Coward of the County.
And now, there are memories of writing that I link to music. I think everytime I hear Keith Urban’s Raining on Sunday I will think of Chris and Cynthia from A Little Harmless Pleasure. Holding out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler and Lose Yourself by Eminem really influenced Hunting Mila. While I was writing Forever My Love in the Operation Love anthology from LSB, I listened to Brother Iz most of the time. For those of you who don’t know Hawaiian music, Brother Iz is the legend who recorded the wonderful version of Somewhere over the Rainbow that plays in many movies, including the ending of 50 First Dates.
I was shopping online for music downloads for my new historical I am writing and came across Etta James’ At Last. IMHO, that is one of the most romantic songs ever recorded. Every time I hear it, I just sigh. And although Caroline and Ash are going to have a time of it, that is one thing these two make me do. I’ve never met two people more lost by themselves than these two. In each other, though, I think they have found something.
Harry Connick will be thrown in there, but I have picked a few others, including Faith Hill’s There You’ll Be, Josh Gracin’s Brass Bed, and 3 Doors Down’s Here Without You.
Yes, and you can see, I have eclectic tastes, as do my characters lol. Well, I am getting back to work…hope you enjoyed the pic:)
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Hi Melissa!
Just checking out your music mentions. Glad you found Etta James’ “At Last”. You’re right: it is among the sexiest songs ever recorded. Love Josh Gracin’s song that you listed. I’m a Lonestar lover myself. I sing just about every type of music. There are some songs that literally make me melt. I did a Dixieland performance for Mardi Gras for some oldsters and ended with Harry Connick’s version of “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans”…wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
Love your site (and your stuff)
Jeanne
TY for stopping by Jeanne. I love that version by Harry Connick. I have had a really hard time watching movies or reading books set in New Orleans since Katrina. But, the music, now that doesn’t seem to bother me, don’t know why. But since I plan on writing a book about a Katrina survivor, I hope it won’t mess with my concentration. With Harry’s voice as the soundtrack, probably not hard to do:)