Nostalgic Music Month took place in October of 2017. Each day Mike Martin and I (Jon Hilton) chose nostalgic music and wrote about what they meant. Each attacked the subject differently and in the end, it was clear that music effects everyone in life. This is a reflection of that process.
What did I learn? Music is a constant for people of many different backgrounds. I learned that creating something is important to the soul. We should all be looking for ways to create every day. I also learned that many memories of people and events can be brought back to mind by listening to a song. Even though those memories are gone, sometimes they seem real enough to reach out and touch. If only for a minute.
What was great? Remembering the music was great but better than that was to visit the person that I was throughout My life. At different points of my development, there were a lot of different versions of myself over time. One thing I realized through this project is that the people that were a part of my life are still just as important today as they were then. Even though we are separated by time and circumstance the effects of those people are real. From childhood, high school, college, and adult life. All that affected me are still important.
What is missing? I think we could have actively involved more people if we had planned better. It was the nature of the project that we were not collaborating with each other about the daily productions. There were many artists that I didn’t include because there were only 31 days. I wrote about the ones that resonated with me on that day. Elton John, Cat Stevens, The Beatles, The Police, Alice Cooper, ACDC, Meatloaf, Pearl Jam and Jimmy Buffett are just a few off the top of my head I wish could have been included. Most of all though, it was fun and that is the juice that made it happen.
What is this leading to? In the beginning, the project was done with no expectations and no set agenda. The results have made me appreciate the ability to create. It is a powerful thing to create something that didn’t exist before you made it up in your mind. It is good for your body, mind, and spirit. It has also led to ideas of creating things in other genres. Video, podcasts, and of course more writing. Even if nobody else read these pages, it’s alright. The purpose was for self-expression and growth and that occurred.
The complete list of Nostalgic Music Month with links to each. Feel free to visit each one that resonates with you.
Day 31- Halloween/Dr. Hook–
Day 30-Michael Jackson/VanHalen–
Day 29-Pink Floyd/Spin Doctors–
Day 28-Journey/Loverboy–
Day 27-Bob Segar/Iron Maiden–
Day 26- David Bowie/Miley Cyrus-
Day 25- Jackson Browne/Don McLean–
Day 24- Queen/Def Leppard–
Day 23- Rolling Stones/ Bruno Mars–
Day 22- Steve Miller Band/ U2–
Day 21- Moody Blues/ Kenny Loggins–
Day 20- Billy Joel/ Terry Jacks–
Day 19- John Mellencamp/ Jack Johnson–
Day 18- 1985/ Van Morrison–
Day 17- Water/ Thin Lizzy
Day 16- Monday/ Bon Jovi
Day 15- Creedence Clearwater Revival/Micheal Martin Murphy–
Day 14- Simon and Garfunkel/ Harry Chapin–
Day 13- Bob Marley/ Jim Croce–
Day 12- Peter Gabriel/ Ratt
Day 11- Phil Collins/ Depeche Mode
Day 10- Bruce Springsteen/ Alanis Morrisette–
Day 9- Bob Dylan/ Nirvana–
Day 8- James Taylor/ The Eagles–
Day 7- Kiss/ George Thorogood
Day 6-John Denver/Gordon Lightfoot–
Day 5- Guns’n’Roses/ Aerosmith–
Day 4- The Kinks/ The Congos
Day 3- Tom Petty–
Day 2- The Who/ Mamas and the Papas
Day 1- Dire Straits/ Night Ranger