I'll admit it. Music helps me through the day. I constantly have music playing. In my car or at my desk - I live for music. It helps guide me, hold me, and in some cases - talk me off the ledge.
Just the other day I ran the gamut on musical genres. My initial musical quest was let loose by the basic need to soothe the savage beast within.
I needed to play some kind of violent game. I wanted to be the terror that made my Sims go running. If I could have played "Death" I would have. And I would have enjoyed myself immensely. While I imagined terrible things I was planning to do to my Sims, I also knew I needed loud, aggressive music piped directly into my ears. If I could've gotten that straight from the band itself (like plug their guitar output directly into my ears), it would have been better, but I'd be happy with just cranking my Ipod to 11.
I played and banged my head. Ax7, Rob Zombie, Limp Bizkit (Break Stuff is a fave), Escape the Fate, Nugent, Ozzy, Tool, Alice in Chains.
It wasn't long before I wanted music that I could sing to. Not just growl with. I wanted to not torture my Sims but maybe just cause some general mayhem on Burn Out. I switched games and plugged in White Stripes, MCR, George Thorogood, Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, Boston, Cage the Elephant, The Who, Led Zep.
Not long after that musical interlude I found my foot tapping and there might even be a smile lurking in the not too far distant future.
I was done with games and felt recharged. Knowing full well that it was a fine line between moving on from the dreck I came home with or crashing back into obscenity laden sputtering, finger pointing and scowls.
With my Ipod safely tucked into my pocket, I removed myself from the gaming arena and moved on to the kitchen. I was ready to join society again bit by bit. I was ready to create rather than destroy. My tunes were set to sing. I was ready to sing along.
I played my tunes and sang along. I cooked and smiled. I joked and teased. I joined normal society. I felt human again. There's nothing like Grateful Dead, Yes, Beatles, Pink Floyd to put the icing on your musical cake.
Music helps me. Helps me move to the next level. Not usually going up a notch in aggression, but lowers it. Eases it. Allows me to rage and then calm down. All within the safety of my own home.
ps - Starship Trooper
