The Songs We Choose to Sing

When it all started...

There are songs we listen to. And then there are songs we can't help but sing. I've always thought those are two completely different things.

Listening is passive. Singing is participation. The moment you start singing, the song becomes yours. You aren't just hearing someone else's story anymore. You're borrowing it for a few minutes, adding your own memories, your own emotions, and your own voice. I've been doing that for as long as I can remember.

Growing up as the youngest of thirteen kids, I spent a lot of time watching before I spoke. My older brothers and sisters were already creating the noise around me. Somewhere along the way I discovered that music gave me another way to join the conversation.

At home we'd sing with whatever was playing on our Bee Gees record player. We sang in church. We sang during family gatherings. We made up performances just because we were bored.

Looking back, I don't think any of us cared whether we sounded good. We were simply having fun together. As I got older, singing became something different. It gave me confidence.

I sang in choirs, school plays, Christmas performances, and eventually whenever someone handed me a microphone. Sometimes it was karaoke. Sometimes it was with friends who had bands. Sometimes it was at random college parties after the band's lead singer decided to take a break. A little courage, sometimes liquid courage, went a long way. I was never chasing a record deal. 

I was chasing the feeling. Like so many teenagers growing up in the 80s and 90s, I imagined myself standing on stage next to the musicians I admired most. I went through my Jim Morrison phase after seeing The Doors. I wanted the energy of Led Zeppelin. I'd spend nights singing along to Pink Floyd, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and whoever happened to be playing through the speakers that week. Every generation has artists they wish they could become. Mine just happened to come with long hair and loud guitars.

Over time, though, I realized something. The songs I enjoyed singing weren't always the loudest ones. They were the ones that made me feel something. Some songs helped me celebrate. Others helped me grieve. Some carried me through long road trips. Others reminded me of people I'd lost.

Music has always been one of the few things capable of changing my mood in just a few minutes. If I'm feeling overwhelmed, there's usually a song that slows everything down. If I need motivation, another one does the opposite.

I've spent years listening to artists who know how to create emotion with both words and melody. That's the kind of music I always find myself coming back to.

Today I probably sing less often in front of people than I did years ago. These days it's usually while cooking dinner. Floating in the pool. Driving alone. Walking the dog. Working around the house. Nobody's applauding. Nobody's judging. And honestly… I think I enjoy it even more now.

A Playlist Worth Singing Along To

For this month's playlist, I wanted to share something a little different. Instead of songs that simply influenced my life, these are songs I genuinely love to sing.

I originally planned to choose ten, but I couldn't stop there. The playlist grew to thirteen songs, a fitting number since I'm the youngest of thirteen children!

Each song creates a different feeling. Some are quiet and reflective. Some build slowly before exploding. Some remind me to be grateful. Others simply make me want to turn the volume up and sing.

Whether you're walking, working out, driving, or just sitting outside with a cup of coffee, I hope at least one of these songs finds its way onto your own playlist.

Listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4u8PTAVvLfymSgIPTSjn9n?si=864819356feb4a03 

I've learned that singing has very little to do with having the perfect voice. It has everything to do with allowing yourself to feel something. A chorus you know by heart. A lyric that suddenly means something different. A song that reminds you who you were. Or maybe who you're becoming.

Because in the end, the songs we choose to sing often say more about us than the words we choose to speak. And that's why music will always have a place in my life. And why it will always have a place here at Only One Life.