Sadness Took Over My Musical Soul

I cried for a little bit of my old self tonight.  Not in sadness.  Not in happiness.  I don't know in what... reminiscence maybe?  You all may judge me and choose to have dramatic public readings of my blog after you read this (you know who you are), but I'm okay with that.

Tonight I was watching Journey:  Live in Milan.  Not old epic Journey; new Journey with the new front man that is younger than the age of the band itself.  Anyway, that is beside the point.  I was watching Journey and completely singing and dancing to "Separate Ways" (probably my favorite Journey song), and it made me cry.  I wasn't crying because I was happy.  I wasn't crying because I was sad.  I mean, the crying it what made me sad, but it wasn't a sad cry.  If that makes any sense.  It was like sob-singing.  I couldn't stop singing along but was definitely crying while trying to do so.  I would be willing to put money on the idea that this happens to everyone at some point in their life.  You just aren't willing to admit it.  Anyway, I know it sounds cliche.  I know it sounds super cheesy when people say they just "feel" the music.  But I was feeling it. 

It made me cry just like it does any other time I hear that song.  I love it.  There are just those songs that will get you every time, no matter how often you hear it and it will get you even worse if you're trying to sing along.  It will get you even more if you watch a tv performance of it, but it will get you the worst at a live concert.  I would be willing to bet that I have cried or nearly cried at almost every concert that I've been to, and for those who don't know me as well as others, there have probably been a LOT of live performances that I've seen.  Music is just powerful like that.

An artist is always going to find a way to connect with the audience.  It's not art if it can't connect with someone, even if it is just the artist himself.

I've always loved music and I love the rush that I get from it.  I've never drank before a concert I really cared about seeing, as a lot of people would, because I get such a physical high from the live performance.  I love songs that I feel I connect with and I love songs that represent the ideal me.  I'm sad to say, however, that I miss music.

A lot of my life used to be dedicated to finding bands to call my own (the lesser known bands that are just coming around); I used to be the person that my friends would come to first if they heard a new song and needed it identified.  There was not a band that a person could stump me with.  It's weird now for me to reminisce about it because I feel so out of the loop anymore.  My search for the ultimate song ended when I started spending all of my time with a certain man.  Let's blame Jack!  That's what I get for getting involved with boys.

I also put an end to concert-going last year in order to do adult things, like pay for a house and all of those fun little expenses that come along with it.  That's what I miss the most.  That is ultimately what made me sad tonight.  Watching that performance from Journey made me remember how much I love going to concerts.  I know that I am old now and could no longer handle some of the crazy crowds I've been a part of (how many of you have been to a concert with me where I didn't get you on the front gate directly in front of the stage?), but still...

Please faithful readers, tell me which songs give that feeling to you: that ultimate "hell yes" moment.  I need to know I'm not the only one.  (Tell me your favorite live performance you've seen too.  I need to live vicariously through you.)


P.S.  If any one of you want to attempt to knock on my love for Journey; go for it.  Try and tell me that you don't like Journey.  If you say that you don't, you're a poser.  There is no shame in loving Journey.