When it comes to music, science tells us that whether it’s by listening to it, playing an instrument or singing, music provides us with some amazing mental health benefits, including reducing stress and improving our mood. Even more, it can foster creativity as well as enhance emotional regulation, which, by extension, then allows us to build stronger relationships and connections to both the community around us as well as with ourselves and our self-esteem and even empathy.
That’s a pretty good list of positives that deepens my already strong sense of appreciation for music. Of course, these benefits aside, music is just a wonderful gift, adding a layer of beauty and vibes to daily tasks and other parts of my day. I tend to play music throughout my day, including when I’m writing, when I’m doing a chore I would rather not do, when I’m driving, and even when I’m resting. While I enjoy quiet times and opportunities for reflection in silent moments, I also find that music can motivate my creative thinking and indeed relaxes me if I am experiencing higher levels of stress. This is why I have curated myriad playlists on both Spotify and YouTube—to fit my many moods and creative needs. In fact, I have a writing playlist going even as I type these words.
Much of this is probably why I love the moments when my teenagers break into spontaneous singing of shared favorite songs. On the most recent episode of my 15 year old’s favorite show, apparently there was a rendition of the old song, Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built for Two). The history of this particular song is fascinating given that the man who wrote it, Englishman Henry Dacre, was inspired by an offhand comment by a friend. The story goes that Dacre came to visit a friend in New York City and brought with him a bicycle; he was charged an import duty on the bike and, according to the legend, his friend told him, it was a good thing Dacre didn’t bring with him a “bicycle built for two” as he’d be charged a twin duty. Apparently Dacre loved the phrase “bicycle built for two” and wrote a song around it: and so Daisy Bell was created.
Every now and then, for no particular reason, one of my girls will reference Daisy Bell, and then the two of them are off, singing and harmonizing the simple lyrics:
Daisy, Daisy,
Give me your answer, do!
I’m half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won’t be a stylish marriage,
I can’t afford a carriage,
But you’ll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two!
Their blend of voices never fails to make me smile. Part of that is their combined effort and the shared experience between them, but part of it is also that I can hear in their voice the sheer joy singing brings them. I can hear their smiles; even when I’m busy in the other room I can tell they’re smiling and I love those moments for the joy they provide me as well as them.
Because there is joy in their singing, I admit that sometimes I will say a phrase I know may prompt them to burst into song. For example, pretty much any time my husband or I utter the catch phrase, carry on my wayward children, we are almost guaranteed that one or both girls will launch into the refrain of Kansas’ song, Carry on Wayward Son. Other times, I will randomly hum or reference the Queen song that is the favorite of all of us, Bohemian Rhapsody and await their serenading of the portion that includes thunder, lightning, and Galileo. This short concert is almost always accompanied by a quote or two from the biopic Queen movie, which is like icing on the musical cake.
Sometimes, the singing is only a line and yet it reminds me of the ways music weaves through the tapestry of our lives here. I love the way music infiltrates our shared experiences and I love the way it inspires joy, filling each of our hearts, each of our souls, with the simple beauty of music, of creativity. This is the fuel of our days indeed and their singing, the harmony of their voices fuels my daily efforts effortlessly. Truly these two remarkable young women furnish a good portion of the soundtrack of my life and that brings me great joy.