Why I’m Repurchasing My Favorite Music

My beautiful daughter and me on her 16th birthday. She loves music as much as I do.

I have always loved music. I once had a coworker say something condescending about me not liking music because I didn’t always remember to turn it on when I got into the salon. It has stuck with me because music has always been a really important part of my life since I was a little girl. The fact that she didn’t know that about me hit me hard. The truth was I realized she had to have music in the background in order to feel less awkward with clients. It was fine, but it made me understand something very important. I loved music, but I was also comfortable with silence. Not everyone is the same as me.

My Musical Background

As a young student, I started playing clarinet in the elementary band. I remember I hated practicing at home, and I awkwardly asked my sweet music teacher why her back humped at the bottom of her neck during one of my lessons. The fact that this 4th grade moment refuses to elude me should give you a bit of insight into my true nature. Anyway, in addition to playing clarinet and piano during this time (also reluctantly practicing for 2 years before I finally forced my parents to let me quit), I got my first cassette tape player…with two cassettes…Bon Jovi and The Monkees. My God, I was hooked.

I still remember moments in my childhood when I hear certain songs. I’m transported to my family’s small kitchen when I hear Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” or Phil Collins’ Genesis’ “In The Air Tonight.” My mom would mop the floor, then put newspaper all over it while it dried. That way we could still walk through the room. It never made sense to me, but it was always fun jumping from damp newsprint to damp newsprint. But that big “boom box” was on the shelf in the corner. She always had a tape playing, and we would dance and swing around while the floor dried. It was probably one of her manic mood swings, but it still feels special when I look back at those moments.

 The 10 CD’s for a Penny Scam

Did anyone NOT fall for Columbia House’s massive marketing scam? And didn’t we all feel like we won by not paying that threatening letter that came month after month? I remember carefully penciling in the CD codes on the mail in card, and when that box came 6-8 weeks later? Pure BLISS! My mom was the first to dive in, but I filled out my own card when I was a teen—I did actually pay for that shipment, but I remember feeling like it took a few months to write that check out and mail it in. 

Having the music I loved in my hands felt like I could access any emotion I needed at any moment. Falling asleep to Guns N Roses “November Rain” because my high school boyfriend and I danced to it felt so romantic. Playing the “Sliver” soundtrack over and over again felt so naughty. I discovered my still-favorite band, Pink Floyd, when I was a junior in high school. It took me years before I realized that people thought only “potheads’ listened to it…I was obsessed with the sound and the feel of the music even without being in an altered state. 

Music and Money

I spent a decent amount on music between my teens and thirties. CD’s were the drug of choice, and I could have my music everywhere. My stereo at home, my car, my Walkman…I had my favorite music every place I wanted to be. I had a band or cd for every mood, whether I was in my dorm at college, at my apartment doing homework, or in my car driving to Destination Anywhere. (Extra points for those of you who are true Bon Jovi fans!) Buying CDs was as much a ritual as going to dinner and a movie with my husband every week. It was an important part of my life.

Music and the Digital Age

I am old AF. I have only recently realized this, and it’s because I’ve just purchased a brand new Kia Telluride. The first vehicle I’ve secured as an Self-Employed Woman. All on my own accord, EFF YES!!! Three rows of leather bound luxury. Every creature comfort known to man but a CD player. So I listen to my podcasts and music on digital download. I refuse to pay for Sirius XM. It’s expensive radio. LOL 

But the music I have always reached for as my healing balm is gone. I’ve always been able to launch my emotions into a 3-6 disc changer in my dashboard. Whatever I’ve been planning, I’ve had multiple CDs readied to support my goal. Road trips, business coups, life hacks…all at the thrust of a CD into the changer.  I just realized that you might not understand “changer’ as a term. Like I said, I’m old AF. It just means I can put multiple CDs in a player at the same time….a physical way of  preparing for a future yet to be felt…

Investing In Music

The future is here. Barely visible, and ultimately lost in an instant. I never wanted to rely on digital downloads. I’d already spend so much on music over the last twenty years. What a suck. But the problem is this: I crave a feeling. That feeling is always accessible through music. I’ve always been able to create this connection…music is the conduit, and it is a stim that has to be met. It’s probably not necessarily important for everyone, but for people like me? You can’t live the same way without it. So, I’ve finally decided to commit. 

I don’t have my music in my car or on my phone unless I subscribe to a steaming service or pay for the digital download. I have to say, you probably know I need to own it, not just stream it. I have to be in control, obviously. Lol. I’ve tried to be cool with just going with the flow, but I’ve realized that what I crave is the feeling my favorite music gives me. And in order to cultivate that feeling, I’ve decided to repurchase some of my favorite music digitally.

My Music Downloads

This year so far I have purchased digital versions of some of my all time faves. Multiple Pink Floyd albums, (I'm currently obsessed with hearing live versions of everything, so Pulse and Delicate Sound of Thunder are on repeat,) Dido, Mazzy Star...literally the best and worst of every emotion I could feel during college. I've also purchased best of collections of Van Morrison and Chicago. Though I never owned these cds previously, I've always loved the music. Basically, if I'm in the mood for specific music, I'm going to purchase it as a digital version. And I feel like the investment has been so beneficial to enhancing my mood on a regular basis.

More Than a Feeling

Certain rituals in life help create certainty and a feeling of connection, being grounded in life. I love finding those moments and habits that create positive feelings, whether it's getting my hair done, my evening skincare routine, cooking a favorite meal, working out then making my smoothie, or shuffling through my favorite tunes and playing exactly what I'm in the mood for. Especially when the world feels like it's in total chaos, it's really satisfying to know I can create a tiny bit of reliability in my own little space. How do you connect yourself back into your life when you need to recharge? Do you have feelings about digital music? Or am I the only one who's felt that this was a life-changing moment in my life?

This has been quite a different post than normal, as you may have noticed. While my first passion is all things beauty, hair, and NBR, I am excited to share more about the rest of my boring-ish life. Let me know if you have anything specific you're interested in hearing, or if you just want to Learn More About NBR Extensions, click here!