the brighten blog » the photo blog of brighten photography

A few weeks ago we found ourselves on our rooftop with some friends, having one of those random conversations where we listed our favorites of any category that we could come up with. Music was one of the obvious conversation starters. We all had our turn, listing the inspirational songs and artists that caused us to raise our fists in the air ready to take on the world of adolescence, or moved us to tears while going through disastrous relational endings. The more we talked, the more it seemed our minds began to remember, taking us back to the moments that have shaped us into who we are today.

Realizing that Whitney hadn’t thrown in her thoughts in the musical category yet, I threw her a quick gaze and beckoned her to share with the rest of us.

“Ummm…… Destiny’s Child?” She said with a small lack of confidence.

*crickets*

*eruption of laughter*

As the laughter slowly came to an end, we all became much more inquisitive as to a.) the lack of confidence and b.) seriously? Destiny’s Child?

She went on to explain how she enjoyed those summer nights driving with the windows open, bellowing out her own voice alongside Beyonce. It was this R&B and teen pop that caused her soul to come alive.

And I love that.

As a couple we are awful at being any sense of music snobs. We love the music that makes us smile and want to sing at the top of our lungs with our fists in the air. I struggle to maintain any sense of connection with those conversations that analyze an artist’s movement from one genre to another, while dropping as many large musical terms as possible to make one’s self sound far more educated than they really are. I just want to know one thing: Does it make me(you) come alive?

And for Whitney, Destiny’s Child does just that. (although I still chuckle a little bit when I think about my wife blaring it out to the world while at a stop light.) That is why she makes my heart beat the way that it does.

Of course, the world needs people that are incredibly passionate about musical terms and over analyzing rhythmic and tonal qualities. I love those people too. They are the ones that point me to the music that moves my soul.

With all that nonsense said…. the following is a band that truly has moved my soul over and over. Based out of Seattle, The Classic Crime falls somewhere in the category of rock/indie/alternative. Their lead singer, Matt McDonald, drops both lyric and melody that brings my heart to places I didn’t know I even had. And although their new album, The Silver Cord, didn’t come out today, it did just one month ago.

It is worth every listen (that is of course, if good ol’ rock n’ roll is up your alley).

This whole post has made me wonder… what music moves you to get up and dance or cry those tears of yours?

sorry this was a long post… brevity is usually our plan.

Just in case you didn’t know. We both grew up there. Well…Whitney actually grew up all over the place. Florida. Texas. Virginia. Hawaii. But mostly in Nebraska.

So we thought we would give a little shoutout to our homefront. We’re not gonna lie… there are things (although the list isn’t incredibly long) that we love about Nebraska. And then there is this…

Although this video reinforces every stereotype about Nebraska… we had to share it. It’s just too good to keep tucked away. I laughed for minutes when I first saw this. I hope it brightens your day as it did mine.

found via Tyler