Hanging By a Thread

Side B: Continued from Love Songs, Part 1; Q & A

Q & A

One of my favorite Current DJs, Mark Wheat, does an annual Valentine's Day Greatest Love Songs of All Time broadcast, which you can access here. And, if you're not so keen on love songs this year, access the Greatest Breakup Songs hosted by David Campbell here which aired on Saturday night {both are excellent play lists}.

Mark was kind enough to agree to do a Q & A with me last week regarding love songs. Here are my questions and his answers:

What is the top song request you get for Valentine's Day?

 

Over the years Etta James' "At Last" and Ben Folds' "The Luckiest" have been the most consistent vote getters.

 

What is the strangest Valentine's Day request you've received?

 

Not for V Day but I had a guy planning to have me play a song at a certain time for him to propose to. He said it was going to happen in January, but he never wrote back...I worry about him.

 

Approximately how many listeners make requests for the Greatest Love Songs of All Time?

 

Between 400-450 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 5 years.

 

Do you think there are more "lovers" than "haters" on Valentine's Day?

 

A lot of lovers hate Valentine's Day! I think we have equal parts of each within us and we try to maintain a balance. Lovers are more verbose!

 

Why do you think couples choose a song to be "their song?"

 

It's the first piece of music that they can agree upon.

It's as simple and as complex as that!

 

Do you & the Mrs. have a song? What is it? {if you don't mind sharing}

 

We bonded over a mutual love of producers like St.Germain and Tosca, but when we were married 9 years ago, my wife's best friend gave us a copy of Etta's song mentioned above. It was a nice thought and so brilliant that it has become a Current fave.

 

Is it more of an American tradition for couples to choose a song to represent their relationship?

 

No, I know that growing up {in England} we had to have a song with each girlfriend! But then I have always been a musichead!

 

If a couple doesn't have a song, what are a few good suggestions for them to try out?

    

Just listen to the show on Monday night or check the playlist, but it has to be their unique decision.

Thank you, Mark.

Mark has always been so gracious to answer my emails regarding music/artist questions, song requests and now this Q & A. I think Mark and all the DJs and behind the scenes people do a great job. In our home, we listen to all three of the MPR stations. Our Darling Boys have been raised on the music The Currentand MPR Classical stations play; and I'm proud of this fact. Not every 4 year old and 2 year old can identify Johnny Cash on the radio and get excited about it.

Contribute Now

I actually feel stress when I imagine a world without MPR if funding is lost or their member drives fall short because I NEED this radio station so much. MPR happens to be having a membership drive now. If you listen or if you want to reduce my stress levels, please do your part and pay ANY amount to become a member today. It's worth it.

 

Write Your Rep.

Which brings me to another point: the U.S. House of Representatives will begin debate today, Tuesday, February 15^th, on the House Budget Bill. The spending cuts outlined in this bill include cutting ALL federal funding for public broadcasting. I happen to feel that public radio and T.V. stations provide a much needed service exposing many listeners and viewers to music, news, art and culture for very little and most often no cost to the public, including children and young families who enjoy this great community asset regardless of economic status. Please contact your U.S. representative if you feel that federal funding for public broadcasting should be spared. You can find out more information and send a note to your U.S. Representative at 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting.

The Scoop

But, to leave you on positive note... If you live in the Twin Cities, please join me at Rock The Cradle on Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. This FREE event is sponsored by The Current, Children's Theatre Company and Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA). Enjoy music, art, books, puppetry, theatre, yoga and some snacks with all your favorite DJs. Our family's favorite part is always getting down at the Disco Party. For more information on Rock The Cradle, click here. Over and out...

Anna

Side A: Love Songs, Part 1

If music be the food of love, play on. ~ William Shakespeare

What does music have to do with love? Just about everything. Almost every song, regardless of genre or generation, is about love: unrequited love; good love; bad love; long lost love; the magic of love; falling in love; falling out of love; first love; last love; secret love; young love; love after many years, the upside of the love and the downside of love.

Music often sets the stage for falling in love whether it plays in the background at a bar, a restaurant, a movie, a concert or on the car radio; music allows you to get close to your potential new love without words when dancing, holding hands or snuggling; and music can bring back the feelings of first being in love; losing love; hitting some rough patches and making up again. One song can represent all of these things to a couple; or maybe different songs symbolize different phases of a relationship for another couple. Just like every couple's experiences and relationship is unique, so is their song and its meaning.

I ask you, what else can reduce us to tears, puff us up with love and confidence or give us a boost to follow our hearts? What else other than music can make us feel so much?

The Science of Music

I recently read an article about a study done at McGill University that found that listening to music triggers the same pleasure inducing chemicals in the brain as sex does. In this study, volunteers' brains were scanned while they listened to their favorite instrumental music, ranging from classical to punk to bagpipes even. The resulting scans indicated that as the thrilling parts of the music approached, the neurochemical dopamine was released by a part of the brain's striatum region. Once the musical climax occurred, the dopamine surged through a different part of the striatum. Dopamine is the same chemical associated with pleasurable feelings while eating, having sex or using psychoactive drugs.

Still think music isn't so important to love or life and our feelings about things? Think about your favorite love scene in a movie; or any favorite movie scene for that matter? Now take the music away. I bet its affect is not the same. Music adds passion and powerful feelings and emotions.

My World of Music

Music is an important part of my world. I love music and always have. And I thought I had a wide musical range until 89.3 The Current, a Minnesota Public Radio station, went on the air in early 2005. This young station's arrival on the scene coincided with the beginning of my working from home as an independent contractor. I began listening out of curiosity. The Current has now become a part of me; a part of our family; we've been sustaining members for years now. They have opened my eyes {& ears} to so many fabulous artists and musical styles; both locally and worldwide.

The Scoop

Later today, I'll be posting a Q & A with Mark Wheat, Current DJ and host of the Valentine's Day Greatest Love Songs of All Time. Plus I'll have a Motherly Law-style Public Service Announcement regarding MPR and all public stations. Over and out...

Anna

Motherly Advice

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that all parents and kids are not created equally, but are wholly individual in personality and style. Regardless of these differences, the basic needs of love, patience and support remain constant. Here are the weekly affirmations, tips and reminders. Unless otherwise noted, these are entirely my opinion. Take them with a grain of salt, or not!

Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children. 

~Marilyn Penland

Sing and dance with your kids. Expose them to ALL genres of music. Nothing puts you in a better mood than some happy dance music. Here are a few of our favorite dance songs: Darling 1 suggests: We'll Find Another Way to Dance by Young Love, Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen and Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts; Darling 2 loves: Ave Maria by David Bisbal, I Like to Move It by will.i.am, and Real Gone by Sheryl Crow; Mommy grooves to: Human by The Killers, Dying Day by Brandi Carlile and Gimme Sympathy by Metric and Dear Husband adds his picks too: Queen of Apology by The Sounds, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah by The Flaming Lips and Swagger by Flogging Molly. Instant dance party!

It's Friday…. Go eat some chocolate. It's good for you, and you deserve it!

Anna