humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of music professionals, amateurs, inspiring students, celebrities, lifestyle influencers, and general feel good human stories in the music sphere.
Why Music is Incredibly Important for Human Beings
Music, in its myriad forms, has been an integral part of human civilization since ancient times. Across cultures and throughout history, music has played a vital role in shaping societies, connecting people, and expressing human emotions. From joyous celebrations to solemn rituals, music resonates within us and holds a profound significance. This article delves into why music is incredibly important for human beings, exploring its impact on our emotions, well-being, communication, and cultural identity.
By Gokul Nath3 years ago in Beat
Pain Playlist
Pain. Unfortunately, it has a place in my life, the lives of others, and in music. The last two years, following a severe neck and spinal injury have been very, very difficult. It is a compounding list of injuries, having to do with genetic hypermobility and previous traumas. For brevity's sake, it is ~bad. To date, I still cannot drive more than a few miles. I wear a neck brace constantly. Even lifting my cats for a snuggle, has dire consequences. The following songs are about experiencing, coping with, and growing through the pain. They span a few different genres and multiple different artists. So please, give something new a chance. I don't want this playlist to come off as bleak. There are only thirteen songs and the underlying tone to most of them is inspiring. I lean on these songs when I don't feel good, and I find comfort in their familiarity. I hope not only the songs, but also my insights can reach the souls of those who need to be reached.
By Abby Kay Mendonca3 years ago in Beat
Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues."
I've always taught my kids and grandkids that history repeats it's self, always. No matter if we want to acknowledge that or not as human beings doesn't matter because it's a fact that cannot be ignored and the absolute truth I have of that is one song, "Inner City Blues" by Marvin Gaye.
By John P. Creekmore3 years ago in Beat
Feeling misunderstood?
5. I just couldn't get through that gut-wrenching pain in my stomach without these songs. That feeling of no matter what you do you will never fit in, or worst, your partner will never get you the way that they should. You may gaslight yourself and say that you may be overthinking, that you may be as crazy as they said you are. but I have proof that you are not. Here is the deal. If someone cares about you and I mean truly cares about you, they will put in the effort. There is no such thing as busy anymore. there is enough time. There are 24 hours in the day for them to do so, 24 hours to love and cherish you. " There are 24 hours in a day" and they chose to lie and gaslight you in those 24 hours.
By it's just S3 years ago in Beat
The "Gifted Kid To Haunted Bitch Pipeline" Playlist
I'm one of those people that have thought about what kind of soundtrack they would have if there life were made into a movie. Even though, so far, the movie would be a box office bomb- I mean, it's a simple life so far if you don't count existential dread and mental upheaval as anything exciting.
By Delise Fantome3 years ago in Beat
Shiver
Frisson. It's the French word for "shiver". In this case though, it's not because you're cold. It's because you are stimulated by music. Did you know that only 55-86% of people actually experience this? That was news to me. I am happy to include myself in this percentage because music really moves me, and it always has.
By Sara Wilson3 years ago in Beat
A Life of Music
I feel that I'm only alive because of music. Let me explain, most of us love music and a lot of us feel like we're the only one's that experience music on a deeper level than most. But I can honestly say that music affects me so deeply that it has literally saved my life on a number of occasions, I have suffered from depression for as long as I can remember and I remember the feeling of wanting my life to end around the age of 15. At that time I was on my way to becoming the artist I am today and doing so with my music always in the room or on the go, (it was 1984 so yeah, I had a boom box don't judge.). I had to have it on all the time no matter what to the point that it made my parents crazy, even though it was really their fault. I grew up with my mother playing Fleetwood Mac "Rumors", Chicago's Greatest Hits or James Taylor all over the house, while in the garage on any given Friday or Saturday night, my father would be listening to Merle Haggard, Waylon & Willie, B.B. King, The Rolling Stones or he would have WYSO radio playing bluegrass. I loved all of it and I couldn't get enough of it.
By John P. Creekmore3 years ago in Beat
My Melodic Milestone Playlist
And Arnie said, “kids the hits just keep on coming”. During the summers of 1958 & 1959, music was the magic and the non-periodic element that was the building block of all our lives. No longer were we drinking milk and toasting the 34th President of the United States (“I Like Ike” Dwight David Eisenhower) with Big Brother Bob Emery. No sir, we were no longer small fry, we had moved to AM radio and to https://youtu.be/anZYqaFdoIw the Arnie (Woo-Woo) Ginsburg Show and the latest hits on his WMEX “Night Train Show” (I can still hear a train whistle in the background). If I had been old enough to drive, I would have driven any distance to get to Adventure Car Hop on Route 1 in Saugus for a big juicy “Ginsburger”. “La Bamba”-Ritchie Valens https://youtu.be/Jp6j5HJ-Cok and https://youtu.be/Uyl7GP_VMJY ”Tequila” by The Champs and Bobby Darrin “Splish Splash”’d the nights away and all the Everly brothers had to do was “Dream Dream Dream”, “I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine any time night or day.” https://youtu.be/JnpbzmjcxQM This same year (1958) David Seville introduced us (before Alvin, Simon and Theodore) to his friend https://youtu.be/xwGwl-ktuNA “The Witch Doctor” (ooh eeh ooh ah aah, ting tang walla walla bing bang) and Sheb Wooley, yup he would later drive cattle in “Rawhide” https://youtu.be/PeUvQkaCSIY sing of a one eyed, one horned “Flyin’ Purple People Eater”. Almost a teen, and observing my contemporaries, we were about to embark on a path leading to the possibility of actually having to speak to girls; Oh, the humanity! Peggy Lee sings fever and everyone in the room felt the temperature rise. https://youtu.be/REryc1TpeY8 Ricky Nelson sings Poor Little Fool https://youtu.be/R12H8QWnwvE and I felt badly, and because I was Catholic, a little guilty too. The Skyliners did “Since I don’t Have You” https://youtu.be/JKbAPnqo_QM and the Capri’s “There’s A Moon Out Tonight” https://youtu.be/JrsNYIno8Ns and The Elegants did “Little Star”, https://youtu.be/hqOn4W9yK0o all I knew then, was I had to be home before the moon or stars even thought about appearing or my flipside would have had some hurt attached to it. Deep inside, Connie was singing “Stupid Cupid”, “quit picking on me”. https://youtu.be/7EQX70weW8o 1959 brought more mixed feelings as we couldn’t help but move to “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles. https://youtu.be/HAjeSS3kktA The Flamingo’s “I Only Have Eyes for You” had me using my eyes to view girls for the first time. https://youtu.be/nrzusdilnKQ Dion and the Belmont’s sang “A Teenager in Love” https://youtu.be/2pwgswchPDo and Phil Phillips’ “Sea of Love” caused some more stirring questions within, https://youtu.be/lrkNRcyvtF4 but just as I thought I might be on to something “Along Came Jones” and the Coasters, with “Charlie Brown” and everyone’s botanical fear https://youtu.be/yE90wyqILOA “Poison Ivy”. ”Sleep Walk” by Santo & Johnny and Bobby Darrin’s “Dream Lover” https://youtu.be/aSZQrM54qUI only brought the negatives of Ricky Nelson’s “It’s Late” and “Never Be Anyone Else for Me” more into focus. A few pre-teen parties and The Fleetwood’s “Mr. Blue” and “Come Softly to Me” https://youtu.be/ABxtkaeC18Q began making some sense to me. Going to sleep with things (non-sports related on my mind) was new. I liked the idea of The Clover’s “Love Potion #9” and I got the feeling that behind Brenda Lee’s “Sweet Nothin’s” https://youtu.be/Vs2h18M6ky8 were sweeter somethin’s. I remember learning and dancing the “Shag” to Freddie “Boom Boom” Cannon’s “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” https://youtu.be/1XVStjH1frs at a Mary Mahoney house party and having, for the first time, a good time with girls. If I betrayed the boy’s code it was too late; the ice was broken, forever. Everly Brothers (‘Til) I Kissed You” and “Let It Be Me” and one for mama by Sarah Vaughn called “Broken Hearted Melody” led 1959. https://youtu.be/vLgvFzVKK5o Dave Baby Cortez’ “Happy Organ” and Johnny Horton’s” Battle of New Orleans” https://youtu.be/1s51IVwqcKo along with Connie’s “Lipstick On Your Collar” kept our feet moving, while hearts were moved by “Lavender Blue” and Sammy Turner’s and Frankie Avalon’s “Venus” (Venus, Goddess of love that you are, surely the things I ask, can’t be too great a task). https://youtu.be/jbP_DFiKqfo The hormones lifted off with “Lonely Boy”, Paul Anka, as he sang “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” https://youtu.be/9DAAYwO_7j4 and others like The Mystics as they sang “Hushabye” (Hushabye hushabye guardian angels up above, take care of the one I love). https://youtu.be/BNcpkmrYWTU Looking back, to a home where Benny Goodman Ella Fitzgerald and Glenn Miller reigned supreme (before there even were Supremes) the changes were very subtle, but like the one-foot-tall maple trees that Chris and I planted in front of our house when we moved to 361 Spring Street, West Bridgewater, MA. in 1957, we were growing fast, all of us. We were content for that moment to be under the protection of parents who loved and wanted us to be happy. There would be plenty of time for songs and girls and love.
By David X. Sheehan3 years ago in Beat
Mental Health Rocks
Mental Health Rocks We attended a powerful rock concert this weekend, April 30, 2023, in Minneapolis, MN, where proceeds from every ticket sold were donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Each of the three groups offered their take on the theme by speaking about the importance of recognizing and acknowledging mental health and performing their songs based on it. From depression to anxiety to suicide, and everything on the spectrum, the impacts upon society are huge. I attended the show fully expecting to be entertained, which I was, but I also came away with a deeper level of respect, and a desire to understand why the issue of mental health is such a strong motivator for them. It seems that they have felt the impacts of the issue greatly amongst family and friends.
By KJ Aartila3 years ago in Beat
Hayashi
Daydreaming and seeing in illusion has always been my reality. I’m an easy target for conspiracy theories and unconventional wisdom. So naturally, in college I took a course on “Spirituality and Empowerment”. I wasn’t a stranger to meditation and certainly not the cartoon labyrinth of my own mind. All of my adventures inward had been psychedelic catapults or solo attempts at reaching enlightenment, I can only compare to an insect trying to build Apollo. Professor Hayashi was the teacher I’d been searching for. On Tuesdays and Thursdays about 20 college students would show up to the 23rd floor of some building on Michigan Ave at 10 AM. Most of us stoned and too many wired on prescription speed. We’d do a short meditation and spend the rest of class talking on spiritual theory and different approaches laid by various ancient masters. I ate up every second of it, but even the cynical kids who didn’t want to appear too eager, started chiming in. Attendance wasn’t strictly enforced, but everyone kept showing up. I recall early in the semester lying on the floor as Professor Hayashi led us through a meditation. I felt ignited with the present moment as I flooded my body with breath until my peer parallel began snoring, ripping me back to reality. The downside of 10AM for college students. In an effort to become more present individuals, Professor Hayashi had us keep journals entries of conscious moments. By week 4, he could no longer grade them on the content because we all got in the habit of well exceeding the word count. As someone who was already sold before I entered the door, it was exciting to watch those initially apprehensive become more vulnerable in the process. Deeper in the semester we set out for our most ambitious meditation yet, we would meet some sort of “spirit guide” if I recall the proper term. Instead of sitting close to each-other, we all took our own space and began the journey. I went into the meditation with no skepticism and when the time was appropriate I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I turned around I found myself in the photography dark room of my old High School. The man there was an idol of mine whom I’d never met before his passing. We sat there and talked for a while and now, I do genuinely believe it was his spirit I communicated with. When we returned to the moment and shifted our awareness back to the room there was a tranquility. Upon opening my eyes I struggled at first to understand if what I had experienced was actual. Across from me was the girl most cynical at the start, crying in amazement. The rest of the hour we spent with the lights low sharing our experience. Students talked with grandparents, friends who’d passed on, and even younger versions of themselves. When I shared my story not one person snickered or made me to feel it was “fake”. We progressed to a point further than just classmates. When I would see my peers of Hayashi around Chicago, we would greet each other like old friends, a connection I failed to reach in my “Accounting & Accountability” class. We would share what we experienced since our last meet and what we could do better the coming week. I laughed more in that room than any classroom before. I wondered if Professor Hayashi’s other students had fallen in this well or if we were some isolated incident of cinematic camaraderie. A few weeks after the spirit guide meditation Professor Hayashi cancelled class, and then another week, and then an e-mail. Professor Steve would be taking over the course starting the following Tuesday. Steve was an incredible teacher and a great man, but knowing Professor Hayashi was ill and wouldn’t return was a blow we couldn’t come back from. Some stopped coming to class and when they did Steve taught about the theory behind spirituality instead of the experience. When the semester ended none of us stayed in touch but I think about them and Professor Hayashi all time. He was just a professor, so I suppose we didn’t deserve any sort of follow up on his health, but I wish we’d gotten one. I was never going to be hard to teach and am no partiuclar story of interest. It’s the cynics that were able to put down their walls and share in a strange fantastic journey that prove to me what happened was real and impactful. A half-baked “easy-a” choice undoubtedly changed lives forever. Professor Hayashi’s influence beyond the 23rd floor will forever be immeasurable.
By Collin Salajka McCormick3 years ago in Beat
