Name that Tune!

Do you ever get a song in your head that just won’t turn off?

A month or so ago, it was Raffi’s Banana Phone, something our toddler granddaughter enjoys. For a listen, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqq6jppAYFo

Cute and fun, right? I used to enjoy listening to it–until the darned thing got stuck in my head. And I mean stuck. I heard it all day, and even if I happened to wake up in the middle of the night! As you can imagine, that drove me crazy!

Of all the wonderful songs out there, why that one? I finally banished the song by saying to myself, STOP! at the first “ring, ring, ring.” Later, when I successfully banished the song–and after about five long and tortured days, I finally did–I got to thinking that maybe my mind was trying to tell me something. To lighten up and be silly more often. I can do that.  

Happily, most of the time, songs come and go in my head. I love music, and often listen to it, especially when I work. Instrumentals interfere the least with my concentration. My current favorite album to start the work day is Heart of the Harp, by David Michael. The music is beautiful and helps me get peaceful and focused on the work at hand.

If you have iTunes, you may have noticed the radio button in the Library section. There are 25 categories, each offering a good 30-50 stations to choose from. Choosing the right one can help with the writing. For my Saddlers Prairie miniseries, I tune in to country and find a station that plays the kinds of songs I imagine my rancher heroes and heroines listen to. Listening to what they like helps me get into their heads and set the mood for a scene or chapter.

What about you? Do you listen to music when you work (or play :-)), and if so, what’s your current favorite album or song? If you’ve ever had a song stuck in your brain, I would love to hear about  that, too. Please share so that I’ll feel better about Banana Phone. :-)

Until next month, and wishing you an enjoyable and music-filled October,

Ann…

www.annroth.net