Hello, GreenEyes---
I've played many years in classiscal Baroque ensembles and symphonies, and those are the places I most take for peace and deepest thought, but I am pan-audio and mostly go diriected by others to music they have come upon and felt spoken to by. And I listen to music in churches and compose and play there as invited. In my times of youthful zeal (all through my life and now in older age) my bits of attachment to passionate but passionate with a wink are ever expanding, and with many safety concerns I can still conduct to an air orchestra the rubato violin solo from Gypsey Airs, or play aong on an instrument or badly hum the tune of Oops, I did It Again alond with a favorite German singer Max Raabe who puts smiles into the 1920's-40's swing songs and takeoffs---try a few gulps of Max Raabe in moderation (or not) and whatever your chosen style, I imagine some smile results https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=max+raabe,+oops,+i+did+it+again&mid=7D8AEFF4219A9E750B597D8AEFF4219A9E750B59&FORM=VIRE.

I look more to what makes me smile/smirk as I am older rather than seeing grand vistas open, and more dances of two than complex opera with pomp that would have challenged and appealed to me in the past, and double entendre built into the presentation rather than a delight of music theory.

Have I come close to not answering the question? Good! I do love cruising YouTube and landing wherever I land there.

using musical instruments (voice included) is valuable part of my therapy program. while listening is soothing, it is too passive to serve as a therapy tool for my own hyper senses.

however, listening sure is fun. i like to use music as a means of studying language and will follow genres through the international scene. here's a mellow tune from a mexican jam band from the turn of the millennium, if anyone is interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDgHdK_3YlE

https://youtu.be/8ue7ztpUtrs?si=LpioxsNE_DV1nEkF

Arfie, I first became aware of Shakira on MTV Unplugged where everything was in Spanish but I loved it! Bought the cd.

Quilliam, your taste in music is very different from mine but good for you! If you like the piano and want to check out new artists, try Tori Amos, Charlotte Martin, Vienna Teng, Iris Leu, Lijie, Jenny Dalton, Casey Stratton, Imogen Heap.

i was first introduced to shakira as a role model for using music as a language study tool. she did not speak english when she made her crossover to the u.s. market. she couldn't speak english, but she sure could sing it. how impressive are the results of her unconventional approach to language study?

she is nowhere near the only one. many artists sing languages they cannot speak. if you carry the passion through to mastering the language, you are studying some of the most admired accents in any given language.

i only admire shakira. since you don't seem repulsed, let me introduce you to one of my spanish speaking heroes. the lyrics are very worth translating, if you are feeling ambitious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w67-hlaUSIs

Arfie, that's so cool that you like Shakira too! I think she's amazing! I took Spanish in high school but really never mastered it. I wish that had. It would make me more marketable.

nunca es demasiado tarde, greeneyes. hazlo. cantalo.

I think that means it's never too late. Am I right? Funny, my brothers and I gave each other Spanish names and a friend of mine who is Spanish and her siblings go by American names! I'm actually not in the market for a bilingual position but thanks for the words of encouragement!

great guess on the first sentence, greeneyes. the second and third lessons translate as, "just do it. sing it."

have you played with the machine translators? i have adored them since star trek introduced me to the potentials. the tech is approaching viable, though still quirky, and they open up brave new virtual worlds.

side note
did you know that singing, en qualquier idioma, is a breathing exercise? just breath.

I listened to OAR today, not having heard it before, It is outside my experience but the lyrics (or moreso the thoughts behind it, both dark and on other levels hopeful are compelling and bear more listening.

Through the formative events of my youth, which included The Bomb and the cold war, Viet Nam War, Equal Race Rights, Female Rights, Family Planning, Presidential Assassination and Presidential resignation, beginnings of specified rights for sexual or gender identifies minorities, the coming of vaccines for polio, etc., and th ecoming of the pandemic, the coming of digital society.. I have had much to think on that is dark, and much that is beautiful and hopeful and full of ideals. On some level, for those of who faithfully meditate, faithfully journal, and value healing or hope, lyrical music is a collective journal that can be a wonderful reference for healing or hope.

Our chosen songs say a lot about how we see (or want to see) the world.

amen to how much the music we choose says about how we see (or want to see) the world, ouilliam. may i add an adverbial clause and say that exploring new music leads us to new ways we **can** see the world?

i love exploring music so much music and so little brain space. . ..

In June of 2011, I went with my youngest cousin to the Dave Matthews Caravan Tour in Atlantic City. Did I say that already? O.A.R. was there, along with Guster and Lisa Hannigan. I love exploring new music too arfie! I use YouTube and Pandora. Quilliam, thanks for giving O.A.R. a go. I think they are lively and fun! My cousin told me about them.

I cant stand the quiet so music is always on low at least. I have playlists for different moods. I have premium Pandora and Apple Music too

at the risk of this being the last time you encourage me. . .

how 'bout a couple of algerian cuties who stole my heart all the way from algeria. of course, that is me they are singing about -- in my dreams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as0aPttNo8s

I feel like I don’t listen to music as much anymore. I don’t connect with new songs? I don’t listen to the radio so I don’t get exposed to a lot of new stuff? I spend more free time listening to audiobooks these days. I go to a lot less concerts than I used to. Maybe COVID and the smell of marijuana and drunk people did that for me. I’m older and can’t tolerate it? My last one was FirstAidKit and later this year will be Hozier (it will be my 3rd time to see him). I definitely prefer singer songwriters. I still listen to bands that I’ve picked up along the way through life. Dermot Kennedy and Switchfoot, 90s country have stayed with me. Looking at some albums I have in no particular order Evanescence, needtobreathe, foo fighters, Live, Mat Kearney, Pink.
I enjoyed certain songs or albums at certain times but never stayed with their new stuff but still listen to their old stuff. It’s a timeline almost.