This is the second English song of my life. Of course I was exposed to many songs sung in my native language, Finnish, before and co-sidedly with the English ones. I will publish some of those a bit later. I selected "Memories" by Barbra Streisand as my second post, because there is a rather funny story that goes along with it... as well as sadder one.
I was probably something like 7 or 8 years old (just started school so on my first or second grade). I used to bicycle my way to school each morning, my school was located about one kilometer away from my home. I often sang when I was on my way to school. Love for music and singing is something I inherited from my mother. You also have to remember that I lived in the country side, so there was just the woods and the fields around me. I could sing my heart out without worrying someone might hear me.
I did not know a word of English at this time. In Finland the first foreign language hits the educational program on the 3rd grade. So what I did was, I sang "Memories" in my very own way. I did not hum - or maybe I did partially - cannot really remember that well. But what I do remember, is me singing the song with my own strange language. Because I did not know the right lyrics, I made them up. I think I was trying to imitate the original lyrics but what mostly came out was nothing like it. All I knew was that I loved the bittersweet melody, wanted to sing it, didn't know the words, so ended up inventing a language of my own. It must have looked and sounded rather hilarious, haha! It's a pity I do not remember my "special language" anymore - though I have a feeling that it wasn't very organized, I think I made up different words each time so my linguistic interpretation was forever changing, hahaha!
I loved "Memories". Once again it is a very dramatic song, sort of melancholic and gloomy - and again there is that moment when the song sort of bursts to life and all the sadness is brushed aside. The new dawn wipes all the darkness and loneliness away and gives a sense of hope.
From early on, life's fragility was exposed to me. There was lots of dramatic events which still effect my approach to things. First of all, I lost my Grandmother Tyyne who was very dear to me, when I was only 5 years old. My first years were blessed and shadowed by change - my family moved a lot. I had to adapt quickly to new circumstances. Soon after my Grandmother died, I was diagnosed with epilepsy which added another segment of drama in my life. Three years later, a car drove over me. So, lots of sudden changes that brought a revolution after revolution into my life. I think it left a scar in me even if it also added depth to my being, because I started to understand that things like certainty didn't really exist, that it was all just an illusion.
I became reluctant to trust in people and I started to question everything. I became aware that all or part of something which I held dear could be taken away from me - they could die/disappear/leave me - any minute, any day without me having any control over it. I think, therefore I was also capable of identifying and connecting with dramatic musical pieces (as well as write mature poetry) at a very young age. I was exposed to life's hardships and it moulded my character profoundly. Of course I did not understand it at the time, it all happened unconsciously. But now - at the age of 33 - I can see how all those things paved a way for my personal growth and stregth, as well as all my weaknesses and vulnerabilities. I was exposed to the duality of life: joy and sorrow are different sides of the same "coin".
I was probably something like 7 or 8 years old (just started school so on my first or second grade). I used to bicycle my way to school each morning, my school was located about one kilometer away from my home. I often sang when I was on my way to school. Love for music and singing is something I inherited from my mother. You also have to remember that I lived in the country side, so there was just the woods and the fields around me. I could sing my heart out without worrying someone might hear me.
I did not know a word of English at this time. In Finland the first foreign language hits the educational program on the 3rd grade. So what I did was, I sang "Memories" in my very own way. I did not hum - or maybe I did partially - cannot really remember that well. But what I do remember, is me singing the song with my own strange language. Because I did not know the right lyrics, I made them up. I think I was trying to imitate the original lyrics but what mostly came out was nothing like it. All I knew was that I loved the bittersweet melody, wanted to sing it, didn't know the words, so ended up inventing a language of my own. It must have looked and sounded rather hilarious, haha! It's a pity I do not remember my "special language" anymore - though I have a feeling that it wasn't very organized, I think I made up different words each time so my linguistic interpretation was forever changing, hahaha!
I loved "Memories". Once again it is a very dramatic song, sort of melancholic and gloomy - and again there is that moment when the song sort of bursts to life and all the sadness is brushed aside. The new dawn wipes all the darkness and loneliness away and gives a sense of hope.
From early on, life's fragility was exposed to me. There was lots of dramatic events which still effect my approach to things. First of all, I lost my Grandmother Tyyne who was very dear to me, when I was only 5 years old. My first years were blessed and shadowed by change - my family moved a lot. I had to adapt quickly to new circumstances. Soon after my Grandmother died, I was diagnosed with epilepsy which added another segment of drama in my life. Three years later, a car drove over me. So, lots of sudden changes that brought a revolution after revolution into my life. I think it left a scar in me even if it also added depth to my being, because I started to understand that things like certainty didn't really exist, that it was all just an illusion.
I became reluctant to trust in people and I started to question everything. I became aware that all or part of something which I held dear could be taken away from me - they could die/disappear/leave me - any minute, any day without me having any control over it. I think, therefore I was also capable of identifying and connecting with dramatic musical pieces (as well as write mature poetry) at a very young age. I was exposed to life's hardships and it moulded my character profoundly. Of course I did not understand it at the time, it all happened unconsciously. But now - at the age of 33 - I can see how all those things paved a way for my personal growth and stregth, as well as all my weaknesses and vulnerabilities. I was exposed to the duality of life: joy and sorrow are different sides of the same "coin".
Here are the lyrics to "Memories":
Midnight/ Not a sound from the pavement/ Has the moon lost her memory/ She is smiling alone
In the lamplight/ The withered leaves collect at my feet/ And the wind begins to moan
Memory, all alone in the moonlight/ I can dream of the old days/ Life was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was/ Let the memory live again
Every street lamp seems to beat/ A fatalistic warning/ Someone mutters and the street lamp sputters/ Soon it will be morning
Daylight/ I must wait for the sunrise/ I must think of a new life and I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes/ Tonight will be a memory too/ And a new day will begin
Burnt out ends of smoky days/ The stale court smell of morning/ A street lamp dies
Another night is over/ Another day is dawning
Touch me/ It is so easy to leave me/ All alone with the memory/ Of my days in the sun
If you'll touch me/ You'll understand what happiness is/ Look, a new day has begun...
