I
was once travelling to Church with 3 friends, and when my friends picked
up in their car , the radio was tuned into Radio 2, and this very old song was
playing, and two of my friends seemed to know the words very well, I wasn’t sure of the words, and decided to move my head to the
music. The song was “Lollipop” by the circa 1950’s American Female Cappella
group “ The Cordettes” I’m way to young,
to actually remember when this song was released!
While
listening to this song I did wonder what would the sound-track to my life sound
like, the first music I remember
listening would be mostly 1970’s “ Abba”,
“ Motown”, “Showaddywaddy” and “The Wurzels” although when I was very young mainly because
there must have been of some of his films were on TV,
around the time he died, I
discovered the music of Elvis. I
remember my granddad singing along to the Gracie Fields song “ Sally” when she
was on a Royal Variety Performance in the 1970’s.
However
because of my Christian up-bringing and background, I knew of, and learned some
great hymns and choruses mainly because of the Redemption Hymnal, I was even in
a singing group that a friend of my parents started up! I remember when I was
in Sunday School asking can we sing " By the Rivers of Babylon” by Bonny M
because it’s mentioned in Psalm 137:
New
International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Psalm
137
1
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
2
There on the poplars
we hung our harps,
3
for there our captors asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of
Zion!’
4
How can we sing the songs of the Lord
while in a foreign land?
5
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill.
6
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if
I do not consider Jerusalem
my highest joy.
7
Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did
on the day Jerusalem fell.
‘Tear
it down,’ they cried,
‘tear it down to its foundations!’
8
Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy is the one who repays you
according to what you have done to us.
9
Happy is the one who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.
Growing
up in a Welsh Valley’s community in the 1980’s, I used to love listening to Top
of the Pops and enjoying the music of “ Shakin Stevens” and other 1980’s
legends, I had opportunity to study
Music in School, although I’m not musically talented, I remember being moved by the film “
Footloose” , my musically tastes have
come through both my Christian heritage,
the hymns and choruses I have sung and listened to since my youth have been
combined with the non-christian songs I’ve listened over the years, it’s since
I’ve moved to Merseyside, I’ve
discovered the music of the Beatles, I
remember just after moving to Southport visiting the world famous Cavern Club to
listen a retro band playing 1960’s classics!
My
understanding of theology has been
influenced in some ways by the Christian Hymns and Choruses I’ve listened to,
over time, although to clarify not all
these hymns and choruses we sing or have sung are fully established in the
Bible! I love listening to music, and I
also enjoy singing to music, however I’m
more of the making a joyful noise category of singer, my dad is in a Christian
Male Voice Choir, and his musical talent hasn’t been passed down to his son!
One of my closest friends is a very talented organist and it’s an honour
to hear him play the organ at Church.
Part
of being Welsh, and male is that you
imagine when you sing that you sound
like a cross between Tom Jones and Bryn Terfel!, oh I wish that was true in my case! I
remember enjoying listening to “Mamma Mia “which is based on the music of
Abba, and more recently “ Sunshine on
Leith “ which is based on the music of the Proclaimers.
Looking back on the multitude of music I have
listened to and enjoyed over time, that
I has made me laugh, cry, feel pride in such
as the classic’s “ Men of Harlech” or “
Amazing Grace” and the music made me what to sing along to, (badly) , I wonder
if there was a soundtrack to my life what would it sound like, maybe you can ask yourselves the same
question ?, but I know whatever that
soundtrack would sound like, our Lord
and Saviour Jesus has a soundtrack for our lives.
Zephaniah
3:17
17The
Lord your God is with you,
the
Mighty Warrior who saves.
He
will take great delight in you;
in
his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over
you with singing.”
Be
Blessed Today
Blair
Humphreys
Southport,
Merseyside
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