Music is a wonderful form of the arts – country, rock, classical, rhythm and blues, jazz – the list goes on. I love music (maybe not the rap style or hip hop with few words and less tune), but it is clever in its own odd way. One of my favourite songs is by Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On. It was played at the funeral of my partner Ben, chosen by him for me. It was to remind me, that although he was gone in physical body, he would remain forever in spirit, in my heart and memories.
As a child growing up, my parents both played the accordion. Mum’s was the piano accordion; and Dad the button accordion, (which I now proudly own, but can’t play). We spent many happy hours listening to them. Neither could read music, they simply listened to a song a few times. Often Mum would sing as Dad played, while others danced or listened. Dad played at local dances in his younger days with other young men playing various other instruments – fiddle, concertina, harmonica or lagerphone.
I was a teenager in the ‘70’s – a great era for music. One girlfriend and I spent many happy hours playing songs over and over, writing down the words before finally singing our version at the top of our lungs. Favourites were Sherbet, Skyhooks, William Shakespeare, Michael Jackson, Hush, Led Zeppelin, The Bee Gees, ACDC, even Elton John. We must have driven Mum crazy with the constant repetition. I believe she allowed it because she loved Debbie like a daughter. I still love ‘70’s music. My first live concert was at 16, to see Hush – Aloud and Alive, in Wagga. It was a really hot February night, kids were packed into the hall like sardines; I managed to get right near the front. I screamed their songs out for 3 hours, and loved it.
Mum also taught me lots of songs from the 40’s and 50’s – Dean Martin, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Vera Lynn etc. My elder sister grew up in the ‘60’s, so Elvis Presley, Johnny O’Keefe, Johnny Cash, The Seekers and The Beatles were high on the listening list. The Rolling Stones were never my kind of music.
As an adult I love most music. I listen to it constantly, mostly country music. I have hundreds of CD’s, still have all my cassettes (about 600 plus) and an extensive collection of LP’s. I inherited over 500 of these when I bought my house in Mathoura in 2006. In the collection are several originals of Freddie Mercury, Cliff Richard, Duane Eddy, Tom Jones etc.
My music these days is by artists such as Alan Jackson, Don Williams, Cameron Mason, Justin Standley and many Australian artists of country music, Sarah Brightman, Celine Dion, Lorena McKenna, Foster & Allan, Paul McLeod, etc; way too many to mention. Celtic music I find very soothing , I have dozens of relaxation and instrumental CD’s.
Music is wonderful; so much talent and skill to perform – no matter the style. It can be soothing, relaxing, uplifting, emotional, horrendous, annoying, and repetitious. In whatever form it is performed, someone, somewhere enjoys it.
Maxine Gardiner
As a child growing up, my parents both played the accordion. Mum’s was the piano accordion; and Dad the button accordion, (which I now proudly own, but can’t play). We spent many happy hours listening to them. Neither could read music, they simply listened to a song a few times. Often Mum would sing as Dad played, while others danced or listened. Dad played at local dances in his younger days with other young men playing various other instruments – fiddle, concertina, harmonica or lagerphone.
I was a teenager in the ‘70’s – a great era for music. One girlfriend and I spent many happy hours playing songs over and over, writing down the words before finally singing our version at the top of our lungs. Favourites were Sherbet, Skyhooks, William Shakespeare, Michael Jackson, Hush, Led Zeppelin, The Bee Gees, ACDC, even Elton John. We must have driven Mum crazy with the constant repetition. I believe she allowed it because she loved Debbie like a daughter. I still love ‘70’s music. My first live concert was at 16, to see Hush – Aloud and Alive, in Wagga. It was a really hot February night, kids were packed into the hall like sardines; I managed to get right near the front. I screamed their songs out for 3 hours, and loved it.
Mum also taught me lots of songs from the 40’s and 50’s – Dean Martin, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Vera Lynn etc. My elder sister grew up in the ‘60’s, so Elvis Presley, Johnny O’Keefe, Johnny Cash, The Seekers and The Beatles were high on the listening list. The Rolling Stones were never my kind of music.
As an adult I love most music. I listen to it constantly, mostly country music. I have hundreds of CD’s, still have all my cassettes (about 600 plus) and an extensive collection of LP’s. I inherited over 500 of these when I bought my house in Mathoura in 2006. In the collection are several originals of Freddie Mercury, Cliff Richard, Duane Eddy, Tom Jones etc.
My music these days is by artists such as Alan Jackson, Don Williams, Cameron Mason, Justin Standley and many Australian artists of country music, Sarah Brightman, Celine Dion, Lorena McKenna, Foster & Allan, Paul McLeod, etc; way too many to mention. Celtic music I find very soothing , I have dozens of relaxation and instrumental CD’s.
Music is wonderful; so much talent and skill to perform – no matter the style. It can be soothing, relaxing, uplifting, emotional, horrendous, annoying, and repetitious. In whatever form it is performed, someone, somewhere enjoys it.
Maxine Gardiner
RSS Feed
