INFORMATION FINDING CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY|WHAT MUSIC MEANS TO ME.

INTRODUCTION

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This is my entry for the Information Finding Championship Season 1, Round 22, hosted by @apolymask.

I didn’t want to just write poetry which I could have done and walk away just fine. I wanted to show what music actually meant to me. I cannot play any musical instrument or hold a note but the sound of music in my ears is worth a lot to me.

You can join the challenge here.

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POETRY: MUSIC

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The music tiptoed between my spine
And made me tingle and twitch
Until my feet released me and I danced.

It was Let’s Hurt Tonight,
One Republic screaming on a beat;
A wicked hit that made me breathe, made me live,
Until tears fell and I gasped,
And staggered between falling feet
And struggling limbs rushing through tunes.

I tried to sit, to rest my flesh
But the hook came, after a pause
Then the beat again and
I tingled and twitched and again,
I was released and I danced.

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WHAT IS MUSIC TO ME

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Music… it is a part of me that I cannot explain. It is as if, there is a tie between me and sound. Music is everything for me. It is something more than writing, more than listening; it is living.

I have always loved music. Even when I didn’t know the words, or understood the meaning, as a child I used to mime 'Hit em Up' by Tupac. I was cussing out Biggie Smalls but I didn’t even know. To me, it was just music and it felt good to flow with it.

Music fills me up and leads me along different parts. When I hear a good song, I lose myself within its power. I have been known to play a song or a couple of songs on repeat for days. It is something more than entertainment for me.

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MUSIC IS MEMORY

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When I hear a song in a particular atmosphere and the song opens a part of me to that atmosphere, I tend to retain the memory inside that song. I actually tag different songs to people and events and when I hear that song, I remember the event or person and the memory is usually quite fresh.

Some songs which remind me of someone or an incident include;

'Gallery' by Mario Vasquez which reminds me of Sonia. She loved the song back then and always wanted to hear me sing it to her or we do a duet… love.

We broke up many years ago, but that song brings her beautiful face to me and sometimes I can still perceive the scent of the perfume she always wore, in the air. Yes I do, I tell you the truth.

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'Stay' by Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko reminds me of Annabel. When I hear the song, I feel sad at what we could have had and all that we lost between distrust and insecurity. Hmmm...love.

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What really hooked me to the song besides finding it on Annabel's phone was the part where Rhianna had tears in her eyes. It was such a sad moment that it stuck. you know I like sad stuff, right?

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'Fireflies' by Owl City reminds me of my office space in my last job. It was a sitting room turned into office. I had my own plastic chair and table facing the television. I would play the song while I wrote my story series contribution for the blog I worked with, when it was my turn to post.

I had actually heard the song in Warri but I didn’t know the title or the artist then, but anytime I heard the instrumental start, something seemed to start within me. It was a colleague who told me the title and from that day it was on repeat for weeks. It was the most played song on my playlist last year, closely followed by 'Midnight Blues' by Snowy White.

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'Baby can I Hold You' by Tracy Chapman brings memories of my holiday with my cousins in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. I found a Tracy Chapman album disc plate and I played that album back to back for two months. I just loved her voice, the depth and the sadness that it shared.

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'Cleaning Out My Closet' by Eminem was my teenage angst song. It was my song of rebellion. I used to mime the whole song while I cleaned the house but despite the fact that I was rebelling and beefing my parents behind the veneer of music because I felt they were depriving me of a life, there were some words I skipped over. Words like fuck among others stuck to my throat while I mimed because the ass whooping that would have come to me had either of them heard those words, would have been major.

Wisdom is profitable to direct.

_{Source: Ecclesiastes 10:10, KJV.}

Now I say anything and do anything and damn, I wish I was back to those years. Nostalgia sucks.

Anyway that is some of what music reminds me of and I know that there are people who music does the same thing for them. I know this because my mom loves to sing this hymn;

Revive thy work, O Lord,
Thy mighty arm make bare;
Speak with the voice that wakes the dead,
And make thy people hear.

_{Stanza one; Revive Thy Work, O Lord}

It is one of my favourite hymns as a result of hearing her sing it all the time, especially during morning devotions. The song always made me cry, I never knew why. Maybe it was the way she sang it. There was always a tinge of sadness in her voice when she sang it and she does not follow the notes that you may know. I think Nigerians have found a different note for the song that is more sombere.

Anyway, she later told me that it was the song she sang at her father’s graveside when he was being lowered to the ground. How do you forget that?

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MUSIC IS INSPIRATION

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Music does not only make me remember stuff but it also plays a vital role in my writing. When I seek a certain mood; loneliness, sadness, anger, fear, etc, I use music. Music makes me fall into the mood and from that, I express myself in poetry or prose.

Sometimes its about the beats and at times it is about the words. There are certain beats that are just wicked and they make me want to just write on and on. Some songs that hit me in my heart include;

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Music inspires excitement, the feeling of being glad to be alive.

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Sia’s 'Chandelier' which makes me excited to be alive. The damn-the-consequences thrill can make me take spontaneous actions. What this means in writing is, I will write a poem that may or may not have a plot but it will definitely be filled with internal rhymes and crazy metaphors. Lol. I do edit after I can see clearly. Other songs that give me this kind of high include 'Ngas I Know' by Ink Edwards, 'Fireflies' by Owl City, 'Spend Some Time' by Eminem, 'High Class' by Falz.

Eminem, for me, is the best thing to have happened to rap music and despite some of his controversial lyrics, I love his ability with words. The song 'Spend Some Time' caught my attention when I realised that in every new verse, a new layer was added to the sound. It was beautiful. Then Eminem's lengthy verse filled with metaphors, alliteration and assonance just blew my mind. The other song that I have seen something similar in is Tupac's 'Only God Can Judge Me'.

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Music inspires pain, sadness. depression.

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Snowy White’s 'Midnight Blues' is a song that, for me, is a classic. I had first heard of it through Meek Mills cover; I can’t remember the title and I am glad I don’t. That boy can’t rap.

_{midnight blues audio}

Anyways, Snowy White was a beautiful find. The guitar riffs are awesome and I have played that song on repeat in the bathroom, in the kitchen and while I am writing. What stories the music inspires in me are usually sad ones. So I turn to Snowy White for depressed, sad, dark poetry and prose. The guitars and words seem to suck life out of me. Who would say words like this to me;

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MIDNIGHT BLUES LYRICS

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This is my blues
Cause I'm back down on my own again
This is the blues I'm playing
Yes its a fine old thing
When the night is cold and lonely
This is the midnight blues.

This is the midnight blues
For a girl I left behind me
Ain't it a fine old thing
This is the blues
Just a feeling deep inside of me
This is the midnight blues.

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Then play the guitar for the remaining part of the song and expects me to be fine? You just need to hear the guitars though and the piano; it is wicked. I am searching for guitar play like this and if you know of any musician who has this in their repertoire, please tell me and I promise, I will gift you a poem of your own for your services to the writing art.

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Other songs that take me to places even angels fear to tread include 'Riding The Blues' also by Snowy White, 'Way Down We go' by Kaleo, 'Let’s Hurt Tonight' by One Republic, 'Mirror' by Lil Wayne featuring Bruno Mars.

There are other songs that time and space will not let me mention here. I also enjoy soundtracks like 'Opportunity' sung by Annie in the movie also titled Annie (This is a remake and this time Annie is African-American) and a soundtrack from Powers Season one, Episode 2.

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POETRY: INSPIRATION

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They came home lost,
Wings broken and eyes shut.
They had fallen, crumbled like clay
And now they float like the sun ray
On a lost sky bleeding rain and tears.
They need sleep but they have only fears.
They can not dream but they close their eyes.
They are dead but they still haunt the walls
And stir their shadows beyond the horizons of their thoughts.
They are broken but they want to be whole.
Is it a wrong thing to need?

They are unholy, unclean.
Sin is a body holding semen between knees.
Sin is a prayer lost at sea, seeking God’s grace,
Needing healing from pain.
Love is a word and they are its voice
But their throats are cut
And mutes do not speak of speaking truth.
They are home and lost; ghosts
Haunting thoughts and songs;
Memory inspiring dread.

Please if you have the name of the soundtrack playing in the series, Powers season 1, episode 2, where Christian Walker is shown bathing, then trying to get his tie to behave before trying to reach Retrogirl (Janice), I would be glad to have it. I would love you completely; promise.

<sub>Walker finding his tie: Powers Season 1, Episode 2

Janice after calling Walker: Powers Season 1, Episode 2</sub>

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I do need though, and I will not forget the favour. If you need more info, please contact me on this discord server IFC. My username is the same there; @warpedpoetic.

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Music gives awareness of truths, opens the eyes.

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There is music I listen to, if I want to become more in tune with the society and social conscious themes. These songs help me mostly when I write articles. These songs make me think on the society I live in; its limitations and possibilities. The music that give me this feel are mostly Rap nusic. So rappers like Tupac, Jcole, Rick Ross, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Fugees, Naughty by Nature, Arrested Development, Olamide, Jay Z, Biggie Smalls, Erigga, Eve, Dmx, Macklemore, Dremo, Big Sean, etc. give me the kick.

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Erigga is a rapper from my hometown, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. He raps in Warri Pidgin and he is the craziest rapper ever in my personal opinion. He is not afraid to speak his mind. Though not all of his opinions are acceptable to me, I enjoy the fact that he is daring and he has managed to stay relevant despite the fact that his style of rap is not mainstream. His song 'Long Story' is the bomb. Definitely worth a listen, if you can follow the language though…lol.

_{Erigga: Long Story}

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Music is everything that is beautiful.

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There are some other songs and artistes that blend between all the ones mentioned above. All of Asa’s songs are awesome listens and they have helped me write so many times. Brandy, Mayorkun, R.Kelly, Adele, Tony Braxton, Sade, etc. have all influence my writing one time or the other, for I must listen to a song before I write, while I write and after I write.

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CONCLUSION

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I feel that the link between music and writing is a very strong one. The rhythm of music make my finger tips dance over my keyboard and sometimes I bring out of me writing that not only surprises me but sometimes scares me. I don’t know what music is to you but this is as best as I can explain it presently. Thank you.

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THE END

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Music: People Everyday by Arrested Development.

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_{Hey folks, this is Oskilo's blog and he would love to read your suggestions on how to make this blog better serve you. He would like to know what you, his reader, think of the content so do not forget to leave a comment; you just might have something he needs.}

Peace,

©@warpedpoetic.