There's probably some sort of quasi-scientific basis to this, but I truly think middle-age activates the sentimentality gland.
Now, granted, you have to have a certain pre-disposition and sensitivity to be emotional and all that -- it's not as I didn't ever cry before I reached my 40s -- but I swear it's really gotten worse as I've approached, and now passed, the mid-century mark. And I find music in particular can get the waterworks going. A song with just the right combination of melody, lyrics and overall tone, or a tune -- doesn't even have to be a slow air -- that has a certain phrase and power to it, played with the right amount of passion and precision, and my throat starts feeling husky. I think the apt word is "verklempt."
I blame Kate Rusby for setting off the sentimentality gland in the first place. I remember listening to one of her early albums some years ago, being caught by a particular song ("Shoheen") and trying to sing along -- and failing because my husky throat made my singing voice falter.
I tell ya, sometimes the challenge for me in learning a new song is not so much getting the words and/or melody right, but getting through it without weeping. Put Karine Polwart ("Waterlily") on the stereo nowadays and I'm about ready to collapse into a gibbering heap.
I can only imagine what it might be like at sessions in the years ahead: Someone plays a great tune set, and I'll be sobbing into my pint, ruining a perfectly good beer with all that salt from my tears.
*AHEM*! But yeah, I'm still a guy, okay? Let's get that straight. Still watchin' my sports and drinkin' my six-pack and belchin' when I feel like it. You betcha.
One reason I prefer tunes to songs is that songs usually make my cry. They always seem to be about what you had and lost, never had and wish you did, have and wish you didn't.
The running joke in my family is that Mary can cry watching an acid indigestion commercial.
I've always been that way. It really frustrates me. Quite frankly it's embarassing. I spoke to a man recently who had just lost his dog. He was dry eyed, I was crying like a baby. Your're right it's getting worse as I get older.
Glad I'm not alone......sniff, sniff....makes me feel much better.....sob.
The way I look at it, jumping into the music at my age (the sunny side of 50 as it were) is better because I understand the 'why' of practice. I also have the humility to accept criticism from a much younger teacher.
I just wish I could have the brain plasticity and synapses I had when I was young and chasing every skirt..... I hope Herself doesn't see this!
There is a thriving business in nostalgia, songs, books, photos, and all that. Get a load of old photos of almost any area, and you have a book to sell on nostalgia grounds.
It has even reached food. Two cheap meals here used to be "bangers and mash" and "champ". "Champ" is simply mashed potato with butter and spring onions/scallions mixed through it. Due to nostalgia, these are now expensive delicacies in restaurants.
Songs are the best however for real good sentimitality. You can always identify a song with a particular moment in life, and that gets the old maudlin feelings going.
Yes, I always identify a song with a particular moment in life. The tunes, though, seep into your soul in a much less gregarious manner. I love the way you can never remember where you heard them first. I love the way you can be playing away and hear a tune and just find yourself playing it.
We used to have a similar problem with blubbing and WW1 songs - someone would say "Here's a song from the First World War", and there would be strong bearded men in hand-knitted jumpers blubbing buckets into their pewter tankards of real ale. Of course, that was on the folk club scene, not the session scene.
It may have died out a bit - I think the Fureys' version of "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" may have hardened a few people up.
PS Are you really that old, Sean ?
Oh, yes, of course, you were at Dingles in the late '70s', now I remember.
I must try and send you a photo - my daughter just graduated, big smiles all round and running around the campus like Batgurl in her cap and gown.......
There's a session in Bristol, England where on, or close to, November 11 the two gentleman of the Gypsy's Kiss band (who anchor the session) will do a medley of WW1 songs. Look carefully and even in these times you'll see a few misty eyes in the pub. These songs were very much around in Britain in WW2 - and I'm old enough to remember them being sung. Which must explain why I'm note-perfect when the medley is played.
I wonder if there's more resonance in the UK for these songs than perhaps in some more distant parts of the globe.
Guernsey Pete writes: PS Are you really that old, Sean ?
Oh, yes, of course, you were at Dingles in the late '70s', now I remember.
Yes, Pete, I must confess I am! In fact, this past weekend I went to my high school reunion; it's the 32nd anniversary year of my graduating class. Talk about sentimentality -- lots of "hits of the 70s and 80s" during the event ("Play That Funky Music, White Boy," anyone?).
I often think of Dingle's as one of the great joys of my year in the UK, a place where I met lots of terrific people (including, well, you and Maggie), heard lots of great music and had the opportunity to present my own modest musical efforts.
It's those kinds of experiences that are so important to our musical development, and I would hope everyone here would have at least one such place to go to on a regular basis.
Oh, and we just had our youngest graduate high school this year as well. Guess the Missus and I are just about all growed up now.
As you get older, your accumulated experiences will change your perspective and your viewpoint on life. You react differently to songs because you can see deeper and different meanings in the words as you grow older.
I was going to say "as you mature" instead of "as you grow older" but some people never mature--instead, they are still adolescents emotionally, psychologically, and mentally no matter how old they become chronologically.
May I suggest, "Play That Bodhran Music, Irish Boy" or, maybe, "Play That Irish Music, Celtic Boy"? (both suggested by a bodhran player at the local session)
Middle-age sentimentality and music
Middle-age sentimentality and music
There's probably some sort of quasi-scientific basis to this, but I truly think middle-age activates the sentimentality gland.
Now, granted, you have to have a certain pre-disposition and sensitivity to be emotional and all that -- it's not as I didn't ever cry before I reached my 40s -- but I swear it's really gotten worse as I've approached, and now passed, the mid-century mark. And I find music in particular can get the waterworks going. A song with just the right combination of melody, lyrics and overall tone, or a tune -- doesn't even have to be a slow air -- that has a certain phrase and power to it, played with the right amount of passion and precision, and my throat starts feeling husky. I think the apt word is "verklempt."
I blame Kate Rusby for setting off the sentimentality gland in the first place. I remember listening to one of her early albums some years ago, being caught by a particular song ("Shoheen") and trying to sing along -- and failing because my husky throat made my singing voice falter.
I tell ya, sometimes the challenge for me in learning a new song is not so much getting the words and/or melody right, but getting through it without weeping. Put Karine Polwart ("Waterlily") on the stereo nowadays and I'm about ready to collapse into a gibbering heap.
I can only imagine what it might be like at sessions in the years ahead: Someone plays a great tune set, and I'll be sobbing into my pint, ruining a perfectly good beer with all that salt from my tears.
*AHEM*! But yeah, I'm still a guy, okay? Let's get that straight. Still watchin' my sports and drinkin' my six-pack and belchin' when I feel like it. You betcha.
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by sts
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
It's OK there now, STS ..... just lie back on the couch and tell me all about it!!
Seriously, maybe it's something to do with having children and/or watching parents age ... 'all my life's a circle' etc. etc.
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by the wounded hussar
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
One reason I prefer tunes to songs is that songs usually make my cry. They always seem to be about what you had and lost, never had and wish you did, have and wish you didn't.
The running joke in my family is that Mary can cry watching an acid indigestion commercial.
I've always been that way. It really frustrates me. Quite frankly it's embarassing. I spoke to a man recently who had just lost his dog. He was dry eyed, I was crying like a baby. Your're right it's getting worse as I get older.
Glad I'm not alone......sniff, sniff....makes me feel much better.....sob.
Mary
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by Antikhntr
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
It's not just about having children, it's grandchildren as well.
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
Forget middle age, it happens to you in your 30's too !
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by Wabbit
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
Youth is wasted on the young
The way I look at it, jumping into the music at my age (the sunny side of 50 as it were) is better because I understand the 'why' of practice. I also have the humility to accept criticism from a much younger teacher.
I just wish I could have the brain plasticity and synapses I had when I was young and chasing every skirt..... I hope Herself doesn't see this!
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by zippydw
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
Just after my dad died I was listening to a song called the old man and i ended up in tears But then he was my best friend and hero
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by DES RYNNE
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/05/survey-produced.html
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by Tall, Dark, and Mysterious
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
Des Rynne
I don't know if it is the same one...the late Steve Goodman did 'My Old Man'. Great Song.
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by zippydw
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
There is a thriving business in nostalgia, songs, books, photos, and all that. Get a load of old photos of almost any area, and you have a book to sell on nostalgia grounds.
It has even reached food. Two cheap meals here used to be "bangers and mash" and "champ". "Champ" is simply mashed potato with butter and spring onions/scallions mixed through it. Due to nostalgia, these are now expensive delicacies in restaurants.
Songs are the best however for real good sentimitality. You can always identify a song with a particular moment in life, and that gets the old maudlin feelings going.
Great. Sniff, sniff.
# Posted on July 21st 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
Yes, I always identify a song with a particular moment in life. The tunes, though, seep into your soul in a much less gregarious manner. I love the way you can never remember where you heard them first. I love the way you can be playing away and hear a tune and just find yourself playing it.
# Posted on July 22nd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
"Forget middle age, it happens to you in your 30's too !"
Forget middle age? I already have.
# Posted on July 22nd 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
We used to have a similar problem with blubbing and WW1 songs - someone would say "Here's a song from the First World War", and there would be strong bearded men in hand-knitted jumpers blubbing buckets into their pewter tankards of real ale. Of course, that was on the folk club scene, not the session scene.
It may have died out a bit - I think the Fureys' version of "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" may have hardened a few people up.
# Posted on July 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
PS Are you really that old, Sean ?
Oh, yes, of course, you were at Dingles in the late '70s', now I remember.
I must try and send you a photo - my daughter just graduated, big smiles all round and running around the campus like Batgurl in her cap and gown.......
# Posted on July 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
There's a session in Bristol, England where on, or close to, November 11 the two gentleman of the Gypsy's Kiss band (who anchor the session) will do a medley of WW1 songs. Look carefully and even in these times you'll see a few misty eyes in the pub. These songs were very much around in Britain in WW2 - and I'm old enough to remember them being sung. Which must explain why I'm note-perfect when the medley is played.
I wonder if there's more resonance in the UK for these songs than perhaps in some more distant parts of the globe.
# Posted on July 23rd 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
Guernsey Pete writes: PS Are you really that old, Sean ?
Oh, yes, of course, you were at Dingles in the late '70s', now I remember.
Yes, Pete, I must confess I am! In fact, this past weekend I went to my high school reunion; it's the 32nd anniversary year of my graduating class. Talk about sentimentality -- lots of "hits of the 70s and 80s" during the event ("Play That Funky Music, White Boy," anyone?).
I often think of Dingle's as one of the great joys of my year in the UK, a place where I met lots of terrific people (including, well, you and Maggie), heard lots of great music and had the opportunity to present my own modest musical efforts.
It's those kinds of experiences that are so important to our musical development, and I would hope everyone here would have at least one such place to go to on a regular basis.
Oh, and we just had our youngest graduate high school this year as well. Guess the Missus and I are just about all growed up now.
# Posted on July 23rd 2008 by sts
Re: Middle-age sentimentality and music
As you get older, your accumulated experiences will change your perspective and your viewpoint on life. You react differently to songs because you can see deeper and different meanings in the words as you grow older.
I was going to say "as you mature" instead of "as you grow older" but some people never mature--instead, they are still adolescents emotionally, psychologically, and mentally no matter how old they become chronologically.
May I suggest, "Play That Bodhran Music, Irish Boy" or, maybe, "Play That Irish Music, Celtic Boy"? (both suggested by a bodhran player at the local session)
# Posted on July 26th 2008 by fauxcelt