Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Let the Rhythm Take You Over

I spend a significant amount of time each day listening to music. I have my headphones in before I walk out the door in the morning, on the bus ride to work, most of the day at my desk, on my way to grab lunch, the ride home, at the gym and music is typically on in the background of whatever else I'm doing in the evening.

I can't claim to know anything about music, technically. I don't know what makes it good or bad. I can't produce any combination of sounds that anyone would want to hear. But, I love it anyway. I love how it can pull me out of a funk or push me deeper in. How certain songs automatically call up specific memories. Or the feeling when an entire room full of people are singing along with a performer.

That was a big build-up for me to say this: I worry sometimes that I let the rhythm take me over.

Yeah, you heard me. Bailamos, or something.

Exhibit A: The coffee shop in my building plays a lot of music I enjoy and one afternoon while meeting with a sales rep (PS - That's not weird. We have A LOT of meetings there.) I found myself distracted by the song playing. Pretty soon I was completely ignoring the man talking to me while tapping my feet and was on the verge of mouthing the words when I snapped out of it. Close call.

It's a legitimate concern. I fear that one day I'm going to be at my desk and start singing out loud without realizing it. Like Marcus in About a Boy when he accidentally sings in the middle of class. With his eyes closed.

But hopefully when (not really "if") that day comes the song won't be "Killing Me Softly". Although, when I take it to the bridge in the Fugees version there's really nothing quite like it.

1 comment:

Collin said...

I do that all the time. In fact, that's why somebody recommended "About a Boy" to me. My advice is to just let go and give yourself to the rhythm. People are always going to find something to make fun of you for anyway. I would make sure it wasn't "Sk8er Boy" just for the whole crimes against humanity thing.