Music has been my favorite thing in the world for the majority of my life since the early 70’s. I’ve had time to rack up my share of musical obsessions. Their music filled my ears like their posters covered my walls. As I got older, my envelope of concert ticket stubs grew thicker and thicker. Many favorite bands came and went, but never fully went away. There is always room for another favorite band.
Starting in my 30’s, a really cool pattern started to emerge. A band I previously liked only moderately would pop back into my life with a vengeance. It demanded that I take notice at what I previously overlooked. The feeling took over my body, mind, and soul. A band that I thought was “just okay”, a band that I had pegged as wannabes, a band that blended in with all the rest…was suddenly seen in a new light. And boy, is it a glorious light!
This feeling is like having a friend as a teenager that you only think of as a friend. But years later, you see them fully grown and absolutely jaw-droppingly amazing! When did this happen!? Surely, while you weren’t paying attention. And those are the best relationships because you already knew them but now you know them on a whole different level. Now you know all the ways they are amazing, where previously you only looked on the surface.
When this happens with a band, it really makes you kick yourself. “Damnit, I could have seen them live if only I had known they still existed!” “Damnit, I could have been a part of the excitement with each album release!” “Damnit, I could have married the singer!” (The fangirl in me will never die.)
The second time around, as I like to call it, is always the best feeling. Falling in love with a band that you already knew makes it even more special. That first hit single that made them famous goes from just random radio background noise to something you have no shame in blaring out your car windows. Their live shows, which you never saw or cared about, suddenly become your most-watched videos on YouTube.
Suddenly, you must own all their albums. You dig through all your old boxes of cd’s hoping you never sold theirs. You spend hours every day scouring the internet for long-discontinued merch. You search for the last remnants of their loyal fan base, and if you’re lucky, you make more new music friends that love to stay up late chatting about the lyrics you want to get tattoed, their solo projects, and “the incident” (every band has an incident).
Their songs are filled with intricacies you never knew were possible. Every feeling and every emotion is conjured up, all contained in a 5-minute masterpiece. You’re making up for lost time and you can’t get enough. You begin to eat, sleep, and breathe this new musical obsession.
How did this nearly-perfect band slip past you all these years? This music was made for YOU! Curse the music gods! How dare they not send you the memo! Like a message in a bottle lost at sea, you never know when you will get the memo. Better late than never, right?
As an older music fan, you learn to appreciate music properly in a way you clearly couldn’t in the past. You learn to hear instruments that you swore were not there before. You learn about the band members and what they went through to bring you that music. You find meaning in the lyrics that fit your life right now, fully realizing what Divine timing really is.
As you get older, you learn what really makes good music. You also learn what really makes a good musician and what makes a good fan. It’s a team effort. They may create the music, but it’s you that makes it timeless.
Don’t choose the music, let the music choose you. The Universe will show you, in a random article online, or a friend’s social media post. You’ll feel the spark. So wait for it, and when it happens, let it take you over. Feel 16 again. It’s always better the second time around.
Rhythm Harmony Melody 