What music has changed your life?

[yakamashii]

Now let's start a thread on music that changed your life . . ..

Done!

Love reading, but probably love music even more. One thing I would do if I were RE would be to follow Soundcloud/Wiki/youtube rabbit holes to my heart's desire in search of inspiring music that's new to me. I've actually allowed myself to do more of this and not feel so bad about wasting time, because it's not a waste of time to me!

Music that changed my life?

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: Christmas Album. Got the CD in my stocking one year, a real head-scratcher for 14-year-old me. Did not listen to it for three years, and when I did, I didn't like it, but the faint Latin-ness of it pushed me to search for more of that element. In that search, I happened upon:
Tito Puente
Cal Tjader
Chucho Valdes and a host of other Latin jazz artists that taught me the genre and laid the foundation for a nine-piece Latin jazz band I played in for a couple years. Since then,
Steely Dan
Jamiroquai
Snarky Puppy
Honeymunch
Jordan Rakei
Hubrist/Aananda and so many others keep the beat goin' for me.

[Mikila]

Ska, revival swing.  I love it.  Examples: Brian Setzer, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Five Iron Frenzy, Cherry Poppin' Daddies.  I never get tired of it. 

Sent from my XT1526 using Tapatalk

[NoStacheOhio]

It's hard to say if it's life-changing. I did my undergrad in music, and some of my earliest memories are music-related. Music is sort of just integral to life.

But here's a shortlist of important stuff:
-Mozart Requiem K.626
-Beethoven Piano Sonatas (all of them)
-Ben Folds
-Eric Whitacre: Lux Aurumque (I photographed him rehearsing this live with like five choirs in a concert hall, it was incredible)
-Guillaume Machaut
-Getz/Gilberto
-Horace Silver: Cape Verdean Blues
-Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
-Philip Glass: Solo Piano
-Elvis Costello & The Roots: Wise Up Ghost
-The Black Keys

[GuitarStv]

Supertramp's 'Crime of the Century' started me off into music in the first place.  I was rocking out to that music from the age of seven thanks to my dad's LP collection . . . and it was the gateway drug that led to Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, Cream, Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, and all of that awesome stuff from the 70s.

The Pixies and Nirvana blew my mind when I was in highschool . . . and are the reason I picked up a guitar.  Learning to play guitar and jam with others really led to an appreciation of blues, which led to the discovery of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, BB King, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Then in university I started to branch out from blues rock and play an awful lot of funk.  Curtis Mayfield, Niles Rodgers, Stevie Wonder, Bootsy Collins, Parliament, Isaac Hayes, Funkadelic . . . eventually I learned to play bass because of this stuff.

Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' and Thelonius Monk's 'Straight, No Chaser' albums proceeded to rock my world, and are what got me really interested in jazz.


Every few years I get interested in a different era or genre of music, but the stuff above has been the soundtrack of my life and will always be a part of me now.

[2Saving4Life]

Now let's start a thread on music that changed your life . . ..

Done!

Love reading, but probably love music even more. One thing I would do if I were RE would be to follow Soundcloud/Wiki/youtube rabbit holes to my heart's desire in search of inspiring music that's new to me. I've actually allowed myself to do more of this and not feel so bad about wasting time, because it's not a waste of time to me!

Music that changed my life?

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: Christmas Album. Got the CD in my stocking one year, a real head-scratcher for 14-year-old me. Did not listen to it for three years, and when I did, I didn't like it, but the faint Latin-ness of it pushed me to search for more of that element. In that search, I happened upon:
Tito Puente
Cal Tjader
Chucho Valdes and a host of other Latin jazz artists that taught me the genre and laid the foundation for a nine-piece Latin jazz band I played in for a couple years. Since then,
Steely Dan
Jamiroquai
Snarky Puppy
Honeymunch
Jordan Rakei
Hubrist/Aananda and so many others keep the beat goin' for me.

You listed the music that changed your life, but how did it do so and why?  Was it when you gained an appreciation for music or that type of music?  Was it associated with memories of places or moments in time? Or maybe when you learned to play it?

Take Pink Floyd for example, I have gained so much more appreciation for their music since I first heard it.  It's an emotional experience for me because it's tied to people, places, experiences, and points in time.  It's like you can feel their emotions in the music, or is it just my emotions?  I say both.  Shine on you crazy diamond is one of my favorites (I'm listening to it right now).  When I saw Roger Waters at the Gorge and they had their Private Jet (it was big) fly out of the Gorge and buzz the crowd and play their first note off of that, man that was amazing. 

Tom Petty is another one I really enjoy and have been to his shows 3 times, all at the Gorge Amphitheater.  The people are so awesome at his shows.  Lots of laid back cool people hanging out singing and listening to his music.

Gotta also mention George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, they are just fun. 

Lately I've been listening to a lot of St. Paul and the Broken Bones Pandora Station ( Al Green, Love and Happiness is playing now.) Also Jack Johnson and Bob Marley Stations on Pandora, to many good songs to mention.

I don't know if it has changed my life but it has made my life more enjoyable, so maybe it has. 

[yakamashii]

You listed the music that changed your life, but how did it do so and why?  Was it when you gained an appreciation for music or that type of music?  Was it associated with memories of places or moments in time? Or maybe when you learned to play it?

Take Pink Floyd for example, I have gained so much more appreciation for their music since I first heard it.  It's an emotional experience for me because it's tied to people, places, experiences, and points in time.  It's like you can feel their emotions in the music, or is it just my emotions?  I say both.  Shine on you crazy diamond is one of my favorites (I'm listening to it right now).  When I saw Roger Waters at the Gorge and they had their Private Jet (it was big) fly out of the Gorge and buzz the crowd and play their first note off of that, man that was amazing. 

Tom Petty is another one I really enjoy and have been to his shows 3 times, all at the Gorge Amphitheater.  The people are so awesome at his shows.  Lots of laid back cool people hanging out singing and listening to his music.

Gotta also mention George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, they are just fun. 

Lately I've been listening to a lot of St. Paul and the Broken Bones Pandora Station ( Al Green, Love and Happiness is playing now.) Also Jack Johnson and Bob Marley Stations on Pandora, to many good songs to mention.

I don't know if it has changed my life but it has made my life more enjoyable, so maybe it has.

Fair enough, I did just make a list at the end there. The first couple artists introduced me to a style that resonated with me to the point that I learned to play them on the piano and joined a band. It was a short, but very sweet period in my life that I'll always cherish.

As for these:
Steely Dan = Extremely high replay value, nearly always something new to notice. Catchy grooves, yet complex musical components, and the dark, sarcastic lyrics (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb_XEwgfmDk) are a bonus. Inspired me to consider learning to play the bass.
Jamiroquai = Great grooves and wonderful changes that provide a fitting soundtrack for many times and places in my life. Pushed me over the edge on the bass; now learning.
Snarky Puppy = Huge band, multi-layered rhythm sections, lots of fusion, always record in front of a live studio audience, something I'd never heard or seen before.
Honeymunch = Damn good electronica/progressive from the early 2000s. First heard it at a very low point in my life, and I give them credit for helping me help myself out of the hole.
Jordan Rakei = Smooth vocals, reggae/funk/jazzy mix with tracks on the short side, like musical vignettes. Brightened up the winter of 2014.
Hubrist/Aananda = Electronic music plus a mean banjo. I met Hubrist when we were both living in a foreign country and searching for our next step. His approach to life and talents inspire me. Now, we're on opposite sides of the world, but it's been amazing to watch him grow as a musician.

In essence, these artists' music showed me things I'd never known before, and I'm grateful for the lessons and inspiration. I feel like my life is richer for having heard it. I'm glad to read how music has affected others, as well. 2Saving4Life, that opening to the Roger Waters show sounds _awesome_.

[mrpercentage]

Without a doubt the hours spent with this album on repeat has shaped my philosophy
https://youtu.be/Tj75Arhq5ho
more philosophy insights
https://youtu.be/S0KQWTBljjg
of the Lord
https://youtu.be/O5_Z3ZZYLDc
and more driving past the superstition mountains
https://youtu.be/MOUu_D1cIbA?list=PLPPX805Bi10FARF_mmNzYBI051hK-r-9w

[Kris]

Supertramp's 'Crime of the Century' started me off into music in the first place.  I was rocking out to that music from the age of seven thanks to my dad's LP collection . . . and it was the gateway drug that led to Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, Cream, Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, and all of that awesome stuff from the 70s.

The Pixies and Nirvana blew my mind when I was in highschool . . . and are the reason I picked up a guitar.  Learning to play guitar and jam with others really led to an appreciation of blues, which led to the discovery of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, BB King, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Then in university I started to branch out from blues rock and play an awful lot of funk.  Curtis Mayfield, Niles Rodgers, Stevie Wonder, Bootsy Collins, Parliament, Isaac Hayes, Funkadelic . . . eventually I learned to play bass because of this stuff.

Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' and Thelonius Monk's 'Straight, No Chaser' albums proceeded to rock my world, and are what got me really interested in jazz.


Every few years I get interested in a different era or genre of music, but the stuff above has been the soundtrack of my life and will always be a part of me now.

Looks like you and I are musical soulmates.

[mrpercentage]

Supertramp's 'Crime of the Century' started me off into music in the first place.  I was rocking out to that music from the age of seven thanks to my dad's LP collection . . . and it was the gateway drug that led to Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, Cream, Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, and all of that awesome stuff from the 70s.

The Pixies and Nirvana blew my mind when I was in highschool . . . and are the reason I picked up a guitar.  Learning to play guitar and jam with others really led to an appreciation of blues, which led to the discovery of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, BB King, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Then in university I started to branch out from blues rock and play an awful lot of funk.  Curtis Mayfield, Niles Rodgers, Stevie Wonder, Bootsy Collins, Parliament, Isaac Hayes, Funkadelic . . . eventually I learned to play bass because of this stuff.

Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' and Thelonius Monk's 'Straight, No Chaser' albums proceeded to rock my world, and are what got me really interested in jazz.


Every few years I get interested in a different era or genre of music, but the stuff above has been the soundtrack of my life and will always be a part of me now.

Looks like you and I are musical soulmates.

All good stuff. I can think of a few songs from most of that list I like. Im probably overthinking the life changing part of the post.

but seriously dude no Guns and Roses or Metallica? What! Im a closet freak for 80's music too like Foreigner I want to know what love is
People secretly love this stuff and sing it in there car just like this https://youtu.be/iDt1VLn58e8?t=10s
oh yeah they do

[GuitarStv]

Supertramp's 'Crime of the Century' started me off into music in the first place.  I was rocking out to that music from the age of seven thanks to my dad's LP collection . . . and it was the gateway drug that led to Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, Cream, Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, and all of that awesome stuff from the 70s.

The Pixies and Nirvana blew my mind when I was in highschool . . . and are the reason I picked up a guitar.  Learning to play guitar and jam with others really led to an appreciation of blues, which led to the discovery of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, BB King, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Then in university I started to branch out from blues rock and play an awful lot of funk.  Curtis Mayfield, Niles Rodgers, Stevie Wonder, Bootsy Collins, Parliament, Isaac Hayes, Funkadelic . . . eventually I learned to play bass because of this stuff.

Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' and Thelonius Monk's 'Straight, No Chaser' albums proceeded to rock my world, and are what got me really interested in jazz.


Every few years I get interested in a different era or genre of music, but the stuff above has been the soundtrack of my life and will always be a part of me now.

Looks like you and I are musical soulmates.

All good stuff. I can think of a few songs from most of that list I like. Im probably overthinking the life changing part of the post.

but seriously dude no Guns and Roses or Metallica? What! Im a closet freak for 80's music too like Foreigner I want to know what love is
People secretly love this stuff and sing it in there car just like this https://youtu.be/iDt1VLn58e8?t=10s
oh yeah they do

I liked some of their earlier thrash and all of Metallica's Black album was very solid.  Since then though, they've put out an awful lot of terrible stuff.  G n' R were a decent band in their heyday . . . but Axle is a gigantic douchebag, and if you turn the gain down a bit on the amps and remove the top hat, Slash is a pretty meat and potatoes blues-rock guy.  It's fun to get hammered and bang songs from the 80s out with some guys, but it isn't really something that I'd choose to play by default.

TLDR - Some decent songs, but none of 'em really blew me away.

[Parizade]

Beck's album Sea Change.

I discovered this album while I was in therapy to help me recover from the devastating impact my mother's narcissistic personality disorder had on my emotional development. While it was probably the excellent therapy and my commitment to recovery that actually changed my life, Beck's music was like a warm embrace from a kindred spirit. The entire album, start to finish, was balm to my torn and bleeding soul. It definitely supported the difficult and painful changes I was experiencing.

[Kris]

Beck's album Sea Change.

I discovered this album while I was in therapy to help me recover from the devastating impact my mother's narcissistic personality disorder had on my emotional development. While it was probably the excellent therapy and my commitment to recovery that actually changed my life, Beck's music was like a warm embrace from a kindred spirit. The entire album, start to finish, was balm to my torn and bleeding soul. It definitely supported the difficult and painful changes I was experiencing.

Oh, man, I love that album.

Too bad Beck is a scientologist. I try not to think about his being a whack job when I listen to him.

[2Saving4Life]

You listed the music that changed your life, but how did it do so and why?  Was it when you gained an appreciation for music or that type of music?  Was it associated with memories of places or moments in time? Or maybe when you learned to play it?

Take Pink Floyd for example, I have gained so much more appreciation for their music since I first heard it.  It's an emotional experience for me because it's tied to people, places, experiences, and points in time.  It's like you can feel their emotions in the music, or is it just my emotions?  I say both.  Shine on you crazy diamond is one of my favorites (I'm listening to it right now).  When I saw Roger Waters at the Gorge and they had their Private Jet (it was big) fly out of the Gorge and buzz the crowd and play their first note off of that, man that was amazing. 

Tom Petty is another one I really enjoy and have been to his shows 3 times, all at the Gorge Amphitheater.  The people are so awesome at his shows.  Lots of laid back cool people hanging out singing and listening to his music.

Gotta also mention George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, they are just fun. 

Lately I've been listening to a lot of St. Paul and the Broken Bones Pandora Station ( Al Green, Love and Happiness is playing now.) Also Jack Johnson and Bob Marley Stations on Pandora, to many good songs to mention.

I don't know if it has changed my life but it has made my life more enjoyable, so maybe it has.

Fair enough, I did just make a list at the end there. The first couple artists introduced me to a style that resonated with me to the point that I learned to play them on the piano and joined a band. It was a short, but very sweet period in my life that I'll always cherish.

As for these:
Steely Dan = Extremely high replay value, nearly always something new to notice. Catchy grooves, yet complex musical components, and the dark, sarcastic lyrics (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb_XEwgfmDk) are a bonus. Inspired me to consider learning to play the bass.
Jamiroquai = Great grooves and wonderful changes that provide a fitting soundtrack for many times and places in my life. Pushed me over the edge on the bass; now learning.
Snarky Puppy = Huge band, multi-layered rhythm sections, lots of fusion, always record in front of a live studio audience, something I'd never heard or seen before.
Honeymunch = Damn good electronica/progressive from the early 2000s. First heard it at a very low point in my life, and I give them credit for helping me help myself out of the hole.
Jordan Rakei = Smooth vocals, reggae/funk/jazzy mix with tracks on the short side, like musical vignettes. Brightened up the winter of 2014.
Hubrist/Aananda = Electronic music plus a mean banjo. I met Hubrist when we were both living in a foreign country and searching for our next step. His approach to life and talents inspire me. Now, we're on opposite sides of the world, but it's been amazing to watch him grow as a musician.

In essence, these artists' music showed me things I'd never known before, and I'm grateful for the lessons and inspiration. I feel like my life is richer for having heard it. I'm glad to read how music has affected others, as well. 2Saving4Life, that opening to the Roger Waters show sounds _awesome_.

Excellent list, thanks for sharing.  Last night turned into an evening of music after dinner.  Snarky Puppy is awesome, and Laura Mvula's voice is beautiful. The first video we watched was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Ua9xZP6Lw .  That would be amazing to watch live.  It wouldn't matter who's singing, looks they have a wide variety of people singing with them.  I watched many others but Snarky Puppy stuck out as my favorite of the evening.  Thanks for explaining the why also.


GuitarStv has an excellent list, I listened to that whole list. 

[RetiredAt63]

I was lucky to have the British Invasion happen in my early teens.  What a change from the 50's stuff I heard as a kid.  (I am not counting Elvis in there, he was radical for the times, he brought black music to white radio.)  And then Motown.
Folk was also big - more interesting than rock because of the social message, although R&R was there too, think of Ohio (CSN&Y), and still is, Everyone Watched the Wedding (Jim Cuddy).  Gordon Lightfoot.  Buffy Ste-Marie.  Ian and Sylvia.   CanCon.
So lucky to have lived through it all.

Then I got into Celtic music - another fascinating genre, and close to my roots.

Personally, Blue Rodeo got me through some bad times. 

Sort of OT, but given some of the music listed here, how many of you listen to Vinyl Tap on CBC?  There are podcasts available.  Randy Bachman goes all over the place, from really early black stuff right up to now, with interesting takes on the history and interesting stories about the people.  My tax dollars at work, money well spent  ;-)

[mrpercentage]

I liked some of their earlier thrash and all of Metallica's Black album was very solid.  Since then though, they've put out an awful lot of terrible stuff.  G n' R were a decent band in their heyday . . . but Axle is a gigantic douchebag, and if you turn the gain down a bit on the amps and remove the top hat, Slash is a pretty meat and potatoes blues-rock guy.  It's fun to get hammered and bang songs from the 80s out with some guys, but it isn't really something that I'd choose to play by default.

Agreed. As soon as Metallica cut their hair they were doomed. The Samson effect. I think they also became so successful that they lost a lot of the genuine attitude that made the music so great. I also grew and prefer to listen to things that put me in a good mood. Thats why I rock upbeat 80's, electronic dance, alternative, and pop on occasion. Can't go wrong with AC/DC and the like but I still have to be in the right mood. Bush, Four Non-Blondes, and all the early 90's get me going every once in a while. Eary 90's MTV stuff. Before MTV trainwrecked into reality shows because of slightly better ratings. They should have just mixed music like old hits and top 40 so they didn't bore people out of it. Video killed the radio star then MTV killed themselves with reality. I never watch MTV anymore. Never... and I have all the channels. My wife likes Direct TV's sonic channels though. No video but it rocks music through the TV like MTV used to. The same with her parents only they listen to the cable version. Its always on when I go over

[Spork]

It's always been Rush.  I like lots of things (but I am a little bit stuck in the 70s).  But if we're talking life altering, it was Rush.  I picked them up as a favorite in high school and went to every tour since Moving Pictures -- sometimes spending way too much on scalper tickets, sometimes camping out.  (This was pre internet days.)  I wanted to go to Permanent Waves, but Mommy wouldn't let me.

It was the words and the music.  I was always a bit of a weird kid -- a bit of an outsider.  It was the first time I felt like someone understood me.  (Whether the did or didn't is certainly up for debate.)  I seemed to connect with them on religion, philosophical issues and political issues.  My first exposure to them was from their Ayn Rand days and even though they've moved somewhat away from that, it was when I first started reading Rand.  It pretty much seemed there is an appropriate Rush quote for any occasion.

The music also really appealed to me: the complexity, the odd and often changing time signatures, the crying guitars and awesome drum fills.  I know Geddy's voice gets on a lot of people's last damn nerve, but I can't imagine it with any other voice.

[Bracken_Joy]

I'm having a harder time with "changed my life", so I'll go with "shook me to my core".

The most recent one (a couple years ago) I remember was "Like Home" by Nicky Romero and NERVO. It came on pandora. And all of a sudden... hey, I'm crying! And I don't cry. Particularly at random. So it was a big deal for me. Still gives me chills. https://youtu.be/6agp_W-rqgQ

When I was younger (middle/early high school), Linkin Park had a major impact on me. No making fun. I was dealing with my first depressive episode, and it made me feel not so alone.

During that same age range when NOT depressed, I absolutely loved (and still do) Nickel Creek. Particularly "When you come back down", "Lighthouse's Tale," and "Sweet Afton".
https://youtu.be/ng5-VUDcjJ8
https://youtu.be/ARIr6S_0lAQ
https://youtu.be/rbJlz8mYFeY


OH. I guess it would be remiss of me to not put the song my husband and I did our first dance to: https://youtu.be/k7s3Wa0Y6j0 Weird for a first dance. Not weird for us =)

[YK-Phil]

I don't think any one music changed my life, but it was certainly a big part of my younger years and always in the background, especially growing up in the late 60s early 70s and trying to fit in with the cool crowd, with long hair and whatnot. Name all the big names, from the Stones to Led Zeppelin, I had their their 45 rpm's or LPs.

Later in life, not so much. Having spent my entire adult life working and living in the Arctic, I quickly appreciated the music of nature, now more than ever. I never could understand people who wear headphones when they go for a nature walk, a bike ride, or hike. To me, it's like wearing an eye mask. Nowadays, I rarely listen to music, except when I am by myself on a long road trip. But one type of music I will always go back to is "Rom" music. All of it, from flamenco to gypsy jazz. Despite having three citizenship for convenience, I am myself country-less since I was born, so gypsy music resonates deep in my soul and body. For a good idea of what gypsy music is all about, check this beautiful movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B4aom3IaBQ&list=PL48E11D792664C50F

[Telecaster]

Great thread!  For me, my all time fave is the Who, with Rush being a close second.   My older brother was a jazz head, so I always listened to tons of jazz too.

But when you get down to brass tacks, my real love is 70's cop show TV themes. 

First, the Streets of San Francisco.  Larry Carlton on guitar!  Completely sick!  The part is that the song is written for a mainstream audience, yet slightly subversive: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVu0l8fXWaQ

Next the Theme from Swat.  Again, the wah guitar is completely off the hook:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIVWSjgHUkQ

Theme the Rookies.  Bass line is awesome, cool syncopated horn parts, and again, completely sick wah guitar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pde-l3Z0A4E\

Next is Starsky and Hutch.  I believe this is from season two, written by Tom Scott.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsJ4pALlbEM

Season four is pretty good too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD6R7EXpCUw

[Glenstache]

So much music has to do with time and place, I'm not sure I could list the music without the context. It is more how music dovetails with events in life than either one independently in some cases.

Instead, here's an live clip of some tracks from an album that made me stop in my tracks in the last year. I was just skipping through new artists seeing if I would find something interesting and just had to stop and listen to the whole album front to back twice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkot9YL3YyQ

And the whole album:
https://julienbaker.bandcamp.com/

[Lski'stash]

Ska, revival swing.  I love it.  Examples: Brian Setzer, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Five Iron Frenzy, Cherry Poppin' Daddies.  I never get tired of it. 

Sent from my XT1526 using Tapatalk

I listen to Mustard Plug and Deals Gone Bad when I am feeling down and need to 'perk up.' Totally agree, I just cannot get tired of it.

[Lski'stash]

I sing.The feeling I get when singing with a group is really unlike anything else I have in my life. There's this sense of complete unity and emotional high that I just could not live without.

 A few highlights:
Mozart's Requiem
Mahler's 2nd
Stephan Paulus's To Be Certain of the Dawn
Ave Maris Stella
And Beethoven's Ninth

[ransom132]

Nirvana - They bring out so much memories of the early 90's, I was going through some shit in high school and I remember how much their music helped me. I still remember that day I learned that Cobain killed himself the sameway my parents still remember Elvis and John Lennon's deaths. I remember every single detail on what I was doing that day. I remember how everyone in school was shocked and nobody was paying attention to any of the teachers.