Thank you for the music

ABBA knew what they were saying when they released this song. Because, let´s admit it, what WOULD life be without music?

I´ve always been in awe of composers. How do you come up with not only a melody but, in some cases, also lyrics? And in the most extreme situation, how do you manage to produce notes for the whole fucking orchestra?

I know it isn´t always a one-man activity, but imagine what must be happening in a composer´s brain. Composers influence so many lives, and when they´re successful, there are tone sequences people will forever associate with certain movies and moments.

Yes, I´m talking about you, John Williams. You took E and F and made us feel like we´re in the open water, seeing a massive fin quickly getting closer and closer every time we hear those two simple notes (if you didn´t get the reference, I´m talking about the soundtrack for Jaws).

Or when Dario Marianelli came up with Dawn for Pride and Prejudice and formed my womanhood with that easy, upbeat piano track. Do you want to make me believe in love? Learn a duet from The Corpse Bride on the piano with me, and let´s play it until we make out on the keyboard.

People like Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Howard Shore make me want to become a surgeon and take their brains apart into small pieces to find out where the brilliance comes from.

But let´s not stay with composers and move to the songwriters. No situation would not be solved by playing Vienna by Billy Joel on repeat until I´ve calmed down enough to go and deal with it. And no matter how angry I am, screaming the bridge from The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived will always make me feel better.

So all that´s left to say is:

Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty

What would life be?

Without a song or a dance, what are we?

Love,

Book and Tea Girl