How are you doing? It's great to be back at Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.
Music is something most people truly enjoy but some find it annoying at times. Some listen at home, some in cars, and music is played in restaurants, shops, you name it, music provides a background for many activities.
1. What kind of music appeals to you? What kind can you do without?
I love all kinds of music but my favourites are Christian music, mostly hymns and contemporary gospel, folk music/world music, some rock n roll, traditional country music and classical music. At the end of the day, I have very eclectic tastes in not only music, but also in decor, in books and foods.
I don't like heavy metal or a lot of what passes today as popular music. So much of it is vulgar, filled with cursing, degrading to women and downright nasty. But if one is a bit open minded there are good selections of music in almost any genre. I don’t actually listen to music a lot because there are so many things to fill my time. When I do listen, it is mostly worship music I like to listen to at home.
2. Do you consider music an important part of life? Why or why not?
Music is an important part of my life. Gospel music lifts me up and enriches me.
When I want to enliven my physical being, I listen to some rock n roll and dance in my chair as I work on the computer. When I want to relax and enjoy some moments, I listen to any of the other music I like but mostly folk music and world music, and less often to country music and rock n roll.
Music in general is important to society. It brings people together in a good way or a bad way. It depends on the music, the lyrics, the beats. Music has a very powerful effect on people, for good or for bad. I know music can be used therapeutically with the elderly or the suffering and that’s a good thing.
3. What's on the radio as you drive or what is on at home and do you find music in restaurants and shops soothing or off putting?
I don't tend to listen to the radio at home much. Now and then I’ll listen to a local news program or try to tune into a Christian radio station. But when I'm on a road trip I listen to whatever my fellow travellers listen want to hear. Usually they have a personal playlist. I don't mind music in restaurants and shops. In fact when I go to buy groceries, I will often dance in the aisles if no one is around, lol. I'm sure they get a laugh if anyone is watching the video cams.
4. Would you tell us some of your favorite songs and singers please?
I have so many gospel musicians I like: Don Moen, The Goodmans, The Isaacs, The Hoppers, Charity Gayle, Chris Tomlin, Tara Smith, Darlene Zschech, Tasha Cobbs, Sinach (Nigeria), Emmy Kosgei (Kenya-Nigeria), Soweto Gospel Choir (South Africa),and many others.
In the folk world my favs are: Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Buffy Ste. Marie, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Johnny Clegg (South Africa). Though it probably isn't technically correct, I classify World Music as Folk Music and I love a lot of World musicians. I especially like the music of many groups and individual artists. Examples include: Tinariwen, Ali Farka Toure, Sona Jobarteh, Fatoumata Diawara, Mdou Moctar, Bombino and many others. I often research the artists that come to town and though I don't usually go to their concerts I'll check out their music on You Tube videos.
Most of these World artists are men and women from many different countries in Africa and they are all absolutely incredible. Finding them and listening to them here and there, makes me feel a kinship with people all around the world and gives me joy to know that they are passionate about their music. I like some oldies but goodies in rock n roll. Too many to count really. I seldom listen but I do enjoy from time to time: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Eagles and many others I can’t remember off the top of my head because I so seldom listen. When I do want to listen to some rock n roll, I simply google “70s hits” and rediscover the music of the decade and other decades.
I almost forgot that I also like a lot of country music artists. I had to come back here and update the post when I realized that. But again I so seldom listen. I mostly get to hear the artists on award shows when they perform. I enjoy the country performers of old and newer artists who perform the old style: Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris, Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris to name a few. I saw Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Alan Jackson in concert over the years and they were all incredible. Oh my, I almost forgot too that I also love classical music. I find it very relaxing. I usually listen when I go to the symphony or opera but I haven't been for a long time. I enjoy Mozart best in terms of classical pieces and Giuseppe Verdi for the opera music. I will often listen to classical music on You Tube, especially in the Fall and around the Christmas season.
I close with two videos of my favourite gospel singers from the African continent. I hope you enjoy them.
