March 8: The Music in Me

I have music inside me. I always have. Most days a song is playing in my head, usually WITHOUT PERMISSION. I sang at church and in the school choir, but most people don't think I sing all that well. I can carry a tune, and I like how I sing in the car. I took piano lessons for 7 years, and I played the flute in the band for 6 years, and the snare drum for 3 years. I can make up a tune in a snap, and I do that pretty often.

Today, I will share with you what I believe to be my list of favorite songs throughout my life. They were either songs that I sang a bazillion times, or they have meaning for me. Basically, these are the only songs I would sit in the car to finish singing.

1980s
1) "Man in the Mirror"-Michael Jackson (These were among many 80s hits that have stayed with me so many years. Who knew 3rd grade would create lasting favorites from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack we listened to --when I had never seen the movie-- to "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and another favorite "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" with good ol' Belinda? What a year!).

2) "Cover Girl"-New Kids on the Block (I finally saw them in concert last year at the end of school along with Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul--dream come true)

I did love Whitney Houston and all the girl fun singers along with the hairbands who sang romance.

These 2 songs still have meaning to me, as "Man in the Mirror" is about really seeing ourselves for who we are, as "Cover Girl" is just who I want to be to my beloved.

1990s

3) "Stay"-Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories (I even bought this on those singles tape cassettes with the little sleeve)

4) "As I Lay Me Down"-Sophie B. Hawkins

5) "I Love You Always Forever"-Donna Lewis (4 & 5 came out the same year, and I had no idea until I looked them up.)

6) "Truly Madly Deeply"-Savage Garden
These were the boy bands of college with LFO, Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, 98 Degrees, etc., which eventually led into Eagle Eye Cherry, Goo Goo Dolls, Nickelback, etc.

In the 90s, I was very much in love with love, and these songs convey that. 

Late 90s to 2000s, I guess I enjoyed a little country:
8&9) "Mayberry" and "My Wish"-Rascal Flatts (I saw them in concert for my 30 birthday)

10&11) "I Love You" and "Blessed"-Martina McBride ("Blessed" was in my wedding video)

These country songs have value because Mayberry reminds me of Welch, and my wish for everyone is that they get all that they want, while with the Martina songs, "I Love You" is just a fun song to sing, while "Blessed" is how I thought my life would sound, and it isn't too far off.

12) "1,000 Miles"-Vanessa Carlton (This past year, Jason, my husband, informed me we do have a song, which is this one. He moved to Georgia when we were dating, so he said this fit us perfectly. I looked it up tonight, and it came out the year we got together. How fitting.)

During the 2000s, I switched to almost full time Christian music. Here are some of those favorites:
13) "Made to Worship"-Chris Tomlin

14) "Give Me Your Eyes"-Brandon Heath

15) "Words"-Hawk Nelson (VBS song that Haidyn and I cherish)

16) "Hanging On"-Britt Nicole

Britt Nicole is probably my favorite Christian singer, but I also enjoy Mandisa, Jamie Grace, and Kari Jobe.

These last songs are really me deep inside. I love to worship, especially through music, I want to see what God sees as my spiritual gift is mercy, words truly matter to me and encouraging others is important, and finally, somedays, I am just hanging on to God, for that is all I can do.