Glen and Marketa

I was sweatily reminded tonight of the power of music. If you don't already listen to them, listen to Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, please. And see them live if you can. I'm not super musically gifted, but I have been gifted with a baseline ability to keep a beat, sing on key, play a little guitar, and play a tiny little piano... most of the time anyway. I wish I could do crazy things musically, and I wish I were both creative and talented enough to write music. But I love making music, even if it isn't all that impressive. Sometimes it takes nights like this to remind me just how much I love making music. But even if I'm not the one playing or singing, music is such a powerful thing for me. I admire artists' ability to turn words and thoughts into something profoundly beautiful. But I think even more than that, I am awed by how people can put together notes and chords and rhythms and melodies and harmonies in a way that actually affect my soul. Lyrics are just a bonus for me. My favorite group, sigur rós, sings in Icelandic (which I obviously am not fluent in), and 'hopelandic' (a language Jónsi made up, thus I am even more obviously not fluent in). I don't have a clue what they are saying. As a drummer, Shakerleg constantly amazes me. Nothing but percussion. As a very amateur guitar player, the likes of Phil Keaggy and Andy McKee befuddle me. There are so many artists that have music that affects me deeply, even when words are not present, or not understandable. I am realizing that I have no point whatsoever to this post. I guess I am just excited because my passion for music was re-awakened tonight. And I realized yet again that music has incredible power, so far beyond explanation, and I am committed to using that as another tool to fight despair and cling to hope.