"If
music be the food of love, play on." So said William Shakespeare
in one of his most famous theatrical lines. The Bard understood
very well the power music has to ignite passion and elicit emotional
response. And who would disagree?
Anyone can tell you the first record they ever
bought. The proud walk home from the record store, the eager rush
to the turntable, the umpteenth request to "turn it down"
shouted from a remote voice somewhere in the house. Ask someone
what led them to purchase a certain record and they will not only
tell you about the music, they will regale you with tales that
show its significance. They could tell you exactly what was happening
in their life at that time, for instance,
recall instantly an event or a person that a song reminds them
of. And of course, what everyone shares when we look back at our
early musical experiences is an assortment of emotional memories
that can feel just as powerful years later.
If you were lucky enough to have musical parents
with eclectic tastes you would have been privileged to receive
a musical education that would stand you in good stead for the
future. But, being exposed to a wide variety of musical genres
didn't just provide a solid ground from which to hone your own
tastes, it could also seriously improve your
credibility with your peers.
In those formative years, who doesn't remember
listening to the coolest kid in school espousing the virtues of
a band or song and thinking: "I must get a copy of that"?
And it didn't stop there. Along with working out what music was
important, not just to you alone in your bedroom but that which
was essential to have knowledge of in the locker room,
it was necessary also to take note of the fashion that followed
any given musical style.
If you identified with a particular piece of music
it was expected that your tastes were easily identifiable by others.
Public declarations of your audio pleasures were made through
the choice of clothes you wore and the badges you pinned to your
lapels. Delving further, you would seek
out the places to be, the clubs that played `your music': the
social scenes that brought like-minded individuals together. And,
of course, to add to your credibility, you would make sure that
everyone knew you went to those places!
Having worked through the angst-filled teenage
years though, coming to settle on your personal preferences, has
anything really changed? You might still get excited about new
music and be dressing in a particular style, or, you may have
left all that behind, sticking firmly with your favourites like
old and trusted friends. One thing is for sure however,
music is still important and the events of today will be recalled
in the future, along with the music that you are listening to
now.
Think of a CD that your long-term partner or recent
lover bought you, or an event where some music accompanied a special
meeting. In a few years time, if you listened to that music again,
you would think of them: a special evening maybe, the party where
you first danced to `that song', your first kiss perhaps and the
early stirrings of blossoming love. And so it goes on.
Should you be single right now and looking to
meet someone special, the power of music to fuel love is an essential
ingredient.
Just as it was in adolescence, music engenders
a sense of belonging, remaining one of the most powerful indicators
in recognising that you have that all-important something in common.
Right across the board, from opera through country to pop, talking
over classical pieces, old favourites and current loves conveys
whether you share similar passions, even whether you like the
same leisure activities and social
events. In fact, finding someone that shares our particular passion
can be a direct hit to our most intimate selves, arousing our
emotions and breaking down those inhibiting barriers so often
in place when we first meet someone.
If you are one of the millions of people looking
to make new friends or find romance through online dating, you
might want to seek out a niche dating site for music lovers. Most
people who do find it so much easier to get talking to someone
they already have something in common with.
In modern times, centuries after Shakespeare,
some would say that music provides the soundtrack to our lives,
accompanying our highs and lows, our everyday experiences and
our relationships. But, is music the food of love? Certainly,
you have only to look to your romantic memories. And what is life
without love? Let the orchestra continue
and the band play on!
About the Author:
Claire Gaskin is a social researcher who previously worked for
many years in the counselling field and now runs a successful
online dating site: http://www.music-mate.com.
