My Life Tracks

I learned of this concept from an Apple iBook about Personal Branding called the I Am project.  The life tracks is a playlist of songs that represent you, your values, and your life.  It isn't simply songs you like.  While it can be songs that you also like, it needs to show some aspect of your life that is of importance to you.  Not only do you list the song, but you also explain why you chose the song how it is symbolic to your life.  Here are a couple of examples: let's say you play soccer or you like soccer and follow the world cup, then you might choose "We Are One (Ole Ola)" by Pitbull.

Here are my life tracks:

Good Riddance has an folk melody and simple lyrics.  It reminds me to enjoy life to the fullest.  Make sure that whatever you do, you are getting the most out of life (Unity would call that Living Abundantly).  If through the struggles and strife - see the moment for what it is - living.  Each moment we live is a choice - some simple, some life changing.  Whatever, you choose, make sure you make it worthy of being a moment in your life.  We are a product of our choices.  This song also came to me at a point when my wife and I worked on photo slideshows for student's graduations and people's memories.

Music touches the soul even without lyrics.  It inspires and moves us with the melody alone.  Songs speak to us through our heart.  When we can hear music and feel emotion, the song has spoken to us.  John Williams has written some amazing compositions, but The 1984 Olympic Fanfare with its intended purpose tells me to be the best I can be.  When a song is tied to an event, often our affinity for the event trickles over into the song's purpose and meaning to us.  I watched the opening ceremonies live in 1984.  So watching events in real time ties us to the experience.  This song embodies the fanfare and boldness of what I imagine it means for an athlete to strive to be in the Olympics.  If the song is worthy of our emotional ties to the event, the song will speak to us.  In order to hear what it has to has, we simply need to listen with our heart - the ear is just the wave the music rides into our soul.  

"The Olympic Games continue to fascinate and inspire each one of us - with every presentation of the Games, we experience that complete dedication and unshakable will to persevere that typifies the goal of each competitor. The human spirit soars, and we strive for the best within us.

These are the qualities which we seek to capture, describe and preserve through music, and it has been my great honor to contribute "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. I dedicate it lovingly to all participating athletes, from whom we derive so much strength and inspiration."

(John Williams, May 1984)

100 Years has a pleasant beat and John Ondrasik's voice in this song is pleasant to listen to.  However, when I listen to the lyrics, I can't help but wonder and reflect on my life.  I feel joy and sadness simultaneously.  I'm reminded of fond memories and longing for times past.  I feel remorse, regret, and loss for the things that no longer are.  And it fills me with despair and yet hope too, that I still have a chance in my life to make it right.  I shouldn't have made the mistakes I have in my life.  With each passing year, I have less time - fewer chances to make a difference, be successful, make my mark on the world, leave a legacy and be remembered - hopefully fondly.

Cats and the Cradle, while having a nice sound, is actually sad.  It tells a story of a father who loves his son, but never makes the time for him when it matters the most - during the little things: his first step, playing catch, and listening to his stories.  He's so wrapped up in daily life that he doesn't live.  When he's older and finally has time for his son, he realizes his son has become him.  I identify with the father's character all to well.  The song reminds me not to be like this.

Where My Heart Will Take Me is a song that was adapted by Rod Stewart’s version by Russell Watson for use as the theme to the Star Trek Enterprise series.  As a show that is part of the Star Trek brand, I identify with it and Roddenberry’s vision of the future.  The Enterprise series was different because it was at a time in Earth’s future history as depicted in the franchise when mankind was first exploring the space.  Like the explorers of old, there is a feeling of adventure and romanticism with discovering new places, but I think of mankind’s ultimate exploration – the discovery of one’s self.  It is a life long journey that needs to be traversed whether we want to take the helm or not.  Too often I don’t look at where I’m going and will miss out on where my heart will take me if I don’t use my map.

Piano Man is a song that has meaning for me on multiple levels.  It reminds me of the days my friends and I used to go to bars and socialize.  It is also one of the few songs I knew the lyrics to without background accompaniment so I would sing it to my daughter, Kathryn, when she was an infant so she would go to sleep.  I also like the song for its sound and rhythm.  Finally it also makes me think of a lesson learned.  If you aren’t careful with your own life’s interests you might be taken advantage of by others who are more interested in their own needs, which doesn’t always mean they are malicious people, however, there are some of those too.

Cheeseburgers in Paradise - Jimmy Buffet - (island life) v. Cheeseburgers in America's Paradise

Move Let Them Pass - Stroka Band - (island life)

Silhouette by Kenny G (saxophone)
Auld Lang Syne (Millennium Edition) by Kenny G (history and nostalgia but hope for the future)

We're Going to Be Friends - White Stripes (value of friendships)

 

Just Fishin' - Trace Adkins  (importance of doing things with my daughter)

Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News and the experience 

Binghamton Crosby's 

Funeral for a Friend - Elton John (Tim)

We didn't start the fire - Billy Joel (life goes on, make the most)

Playlist on the album when I first did the assignment

⟱ Good Riddance - Green Day (2:33)   🔊 

⟱ 1984 Olympic Fanfare - John Williams (4:14)   🔊 

⟱ Cats in the Cradle - Harry Chapin (3:47)   🔊 

⟱ Where My Heart Will Take Me - Russell Watson (🔊 4:10)(🔊 1:31)

⟱ Piano Man - Billy Joel (5:36)   🔊 

⟱ Funeral for a Friend - Elton John (11:08)   🔊 

⟱ 100 Years – Five for Fighting (4:05)   🔊 

⟱ Cheeseburgers in Paradise - Jimmy Buffet (2:55)   🔊 

⟱ Silhouette - Kenny G (5:27)   🔊 

⟱ Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News (3:54)   🔊 

⟱ We're Going to Be Friends - White Stripes (2:22)   🔊 

(For the moment this is only the list of songs.  I had written an explanation for each of these at some point during the project I did with the students, but unfortunately, I can't put my hands on it at this time.)