On music

Aaaaaaaand Rhian is back! Long absence, long writers block.Riddle me this: What can't be seen, smelled, touched or tasted? If you bothered to read the title of this post, you'd have your answer. While filling out an application for college (don't freak out - it wasn't even a real application but it was the only term I could think of) it asked me to list three outer-curricular activities that I enjoyed. Well it took me no time at all to write down my top three hobbies: Acting, dancing and singing. While I love to read and write as well, I decided that didn't count as "outer curricular".
Well you all know that I love to act, though somehow I don't think anyone's seen me do anything other than Shakespeare, and you all know that I love to *try to* dance. However, I really don't think many of you, my loyal readers, have ever really heard me sing to the best of my abilities. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not very shy. At all. And yet, I find myself completely incapable of singing in my normal tones in front of most people. I get nervous and freaked out like you all will judge me on how good my voice is. Really, only my family could tell you how I really sing. And I don't encourage you to ask them.
But all that's beside the point - I recently made a list of 130 of my favorite songs that aren't hymns or from musicals. Do you know what I found out? I had a lot of country, a lot of pop, and a lot of light rock. I also had a lot of stuff that I don't think fits into any of those categories. I even had some opera. So what's the big deal, Rhian? Why bore us all with this stupid discovery?
Well the most honest answer is that when I feel like writing about something, that's what I do. Not to mention I don't write to please anyone. In any case, I felt like writing about music, because these past few days have been great ones for me in that sense - I've spent every moment I'm not doing homework, and even some that I am, singing with some of the most famous artists out there, and getting coached on The Voice by Adam Levine. (If you didn't understand what I just said, like my older sister, its another way of saying that I have a wild imagination). To tell you all the truth, I even spent a few hours pairing up my best friends with One Direction, then touring across the country with them.
Why does music effect people? Why are people moved through music? Why do harmonies make it sound better? Such questions that everyone always asks. To be honest, I don't think anyone really knows, least of all me. Music is a way to pour out emotions. For some reason I have been singing more than ever this past week, and every time I do I feel better and better. I'm happy when I sing. I also seem to have rediscovered my taste for Italian opera, which I've always enjoyed but ever since Forte took the stage of America's Got Talent I have loved it. Josh Groban always took the cake, but then I found footage of him and Josh Page, another of my favorites, singing together and every time I listen to them now, which has been frequently, I get goosebumps. As if that wasn't good enough I then heard Jackie Evancho and Josh Page, and then listened to Forte again and have enjoyed everything immensely.
Looking at comments on Youtube videos, I have discovered that I'm not the only one. People like opera. People are touched by it. They get goosebumps just like me. I've read about people whose lives are changed by music, who are inspired by it, everything. Music is absolutely one of the most amazing gifts of God. you experience life in a different way when you hear it. Unfortunately people seem to forget that.
Ah-ha, but do they? (Speaking of Ah-ha, listen to their "Take on me" It kicks Christina Aguilera's "Feel this Moment" to the trash bin. She stole their music, anyway...no offense if anyone loves Christina Aguilera.) Since I have lately been enjoying recaps of The Voice and America's got Talent and watching old clips of The X Factor, my faith in humanity has begun to get restored. Time and again people talk about their healing through music, how God gave them the gift of their voice and how they want to be able to use it for the good of the world. Most were raised in religious families and learned their musical abilities at church. I have been amazed at the faith of these people. Living in a culture with musical people like Miley Cyrus and others who not only put trash in their songs but act like trash themselves, one hardly expects to find any realization among people for what music really is.
And I could go on and on and on and on and on and if anyone has bothered to read this far I am impressed by you. Bravo!  My advice to you today: Sing! Listen! I love some of today's artists (OneRepublic, One Direction, Maroon Five, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, and occasionally P!nk), but listen to the classics, especially, and if anyone needed a song when their in a sad mood to help them feel better, listen to Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn. It's not peppy, so it won't irritate you, and it always makes me feel better somehow. Feeling random? Africa, by Toto. In a really excited mood? Pinball Wizard by The Who. Romantic? We Belong (either Lowen and Navarro's version or Pat Benatar's is fine, the latter is more fast-paced). Missing summer? The Beach Boys can make you almost smell the waves. In the dramatic mood that I usually find myself in? Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi. If you really want goosebumps, then look up Forte on America's got talent. Any of their songs will do. You can also try Celtic Woman's Jesu Joy of Man's desiring. Never fails to make me shiver. Are you feeling Irish by chance? Parting Glass by the High Kings. And if, like me, you sometimes feel a crave for Christmas Carols, particularly the Little Drummer Boy, listen to Josh Groban's version.
Congratulations, you have successfully completed a long-winded rant on the good of music. Stay tuned for Part Two: "How the Music Industry is Going Downhill." Maybe.
"Music expresses that which cannot be said and cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo
-Rhian
P.S. I really didn't mention country... it seems to me that country music alone never seems to change. Maybe that's why I love it so much.

Sweet Summer

Well well well, here we are. Another summer come and gone. While not as fanatic and social as last summer, I think I infinitely prefer this one. I'm going to focus on two major highlights that I hope don't bore everyone too much:
#1 The Friend Factor
Ah, those lovely friends that stick with you through thick and thin. I know everyone is saying the friends as their highlight, but in reading two recent books (21 secrets to finding your soul mate and Rediscover Catholicism), I began thinking of a phrase I read in the former that really made me think a bit:

"Find your bridesmaids before your groom"

Seeing as it's every girl's dream to find her guy, this made me jump a bit, and I thought it was actually really fascinating. Being the hopeless romantic that I am, spending time with God and my simply cosmic friends this past summer made me realize that it is OK to wait! It really is! Using a deduction process from Regina Doman's Waking Rose I figured it out the same as Rose did: "There are billions of men in this world, and millions near my age. Maybe hundreds who are compatible with me, maybe at least a dozen who would want to date me. There's got to be at least five in on the continent who I would be happy marrying." Well, I'm content to wait until God hands me one of those five. Until then, I have the most amazing people in the world who are sticking by me.

In the latter of the two afore mentioned books, I read about a man's father said to him "If you find five true friends in this world, you are very blessed." A peculiar statement - don't most people have dozens of friends?  He continued to say, however, that a true friend is not someone who always thinks the way you do and does what you want. It is someone who challenges you to make you be the VERY BEST person you possibly can. All I can say is that, I must have some true friends, because being around my very favorite people this year has really made me aware of my shortcomings in light of their virtues, and made me seriously humbled sometimes and rethinking myself. But not only do they encourage me to be better, they are always there for me and love me for who I am, even when I'm not being a the best I can be - more like a stinker. 

And speaking of true friends, in a marvelous turn of events that have a fascinating tale that I won't get into because I'm already writing too much, the only friends that I have known my ENTIRE life recently moved from their three-day drive time home in Colorado to the mere four-hour drive time house in Steaubanville, Ohio (where I was born). I hadn't seen them in three years, and was blessed to see them twice just two weeks apart this summer! They are an amazing blessing and are truly inspiring in their goodness and grace. Christ shines through them like they were lit up by a star.

#2 The Not-Social Summer

Now I didn't get to see everyone as much as I would have liked, but it gave me the chance to pursue what I honestly think is my entire family's favorite (and expected to be favorite) pastime - that is, reading. I've always loved to read, but this summer I leapt deep into the world of not only classics but also family favorites that kept me not only occupied, but led me on a wild hunt through a thousand different lands that made me think and dream in a different fashion than my previous years. It was amazing to read the classical literature that has survived centuries of readers - some scary, some sad, some epic. I hope to do even more this school year and next summer.

But of course, knowing me, I require other stimulation. That is, the ever present screen. Watching movies has actually not been a pastime in my family for anyone except me and possible my brother. But I have gone to see movies with my friends also this year, and seen them at home. Possibly I have watched some of the best films I have ever seen this year, and have discovered that dramas are my favorite kind of film. If anyone needs a recommendations for movies that make you cry, laugh and really think, I can give a few suggestions. God has truly blessed my summer, and I hope he has blessed yours!

Don't summers just get better and better?

-Rhian