From Jazz to Pop: Why I Love American Music

Songs that made me aware of another love unbounded by time.

American music of the last century, including modern classical composers like Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Frank Zappa, is a treasure worth exploring. From blues legend Robert Johnson’s 1936 recording of “Crossroads” to Johnny Cash covering the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt,” there’s so much to love that I’ve never stayed long in a single musical camp. It’s the individual song that quickens my soul.

Occasionally, an entire album has inspired me, but that’s rare. I gravitate towards songs that awaken emotions and old memories; melodies beautiful to the ear.

Years ago, on a summer night, I passed a bar whose jukebox was blasting Martha and the Vandella’s “Heat Wave.” The song’s about a woman madly in love:

Whenever I'm with him
Something inside
Starts to burning
And I'm filled with desire
Could it be a devil in me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?

At the time I was in my early twenties, not in love, yet surefooted in my steps, my heart lacking the bitterness of being alone. As the streets filled with college-age kids, just like myself, the twilight sky edged into electric blue, and I was startled by the last verse:

Sometimes I stare in space
Tears all over my face
I can't explain it, don't understand it
I ain't never felt like this before
Now that funny feeling has me amazed
Don't know what to do, my head's in a haze
It's like a heat wave

The lyrics pummeled me and pulled me into a brand-new love, even though no beautiful young girl was on my arm. I felt joy, participation in something spectacular, something not belonging to personal history. I seemed to soar just above the rooftops of the college town’s red brick buildings, alongside nighthawks diving and circling. Both nature and I were suddenly aware of another love unbounded by time.

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Editor’s Note: Check out the ongoing discussions about music at GOTD and associate editor Mike Kilgore’s daily music series:

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2. Who Is Generation X's Greatest Black Musician? Here's My Vote

3. Generation X's Greatest Black Musician? Rihanna, In My Humble Opinion.

4. Rihanna is an Xer-Leaning Millennial! Try Again, Mike!

5. I Didn't Do My Due Diligence, or How I Have to Pick a Favorite Black Gen X Musician For Real This Time.

6. Why Rap & Country Are So Challenging and Why I Much Prefer Tupac Shakur to Will Smith

7. Music. The GotD Frontier

8. As a Gen-Xer, the 1980s is My Favorite Musical Decade

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Check out “Mike’s Music Morning,” born from these debates:

1. The Inaugural "Mike's Music Morning" post

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3. Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.

4. What music evokes an emotional response for you? What song really twangs your heartstrangs?

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6. Would you like a little slink with your Wednesday?

7. Who Is Your Favorite Film Composer? Here are 6 of My Favorites

8. How Could I Have Forgotten Ennio Morricone's Greatness? My 7 Favorites from the Italian Master

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13. How Do We Deserve People Like Dave Grohl??? Today, on a Very Special Episode of MMM...