Wedding Weekend Update

Chapel Bridge Over Troubled WaterI got back from Chicago last night. My friends put together a beautiful wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to beĀ  part of it, and sang Bridge Over Troubled Water right before they said their vows. The bride started crying as I was singing, and I was really moved when they said their vows. My two friends were glowing with joy at the altar, and I felt really happy I could be there for them and witness it.

A couple of other people who attended the wedding came up later and told me I had made them cry as well. An elderly gentleman said he’d fallen in love with his wife 40 years ago to this very song.

The reception and party afterward were also a ton of fun. It was great being back in Chicago and seeing old friends from college after many years.

Wedding

Two of my closest friends from college are getting married to each other. I’m flying out for the wedding this morning. Really excited…Hope my singing at the wedding turns out ok!

Rewinding

Two very close friends of mine are getting married in a few weeks, and they very generously asked me to sing at their wedding. I suggested a few songs, but they eventually settled on Bridge Over Troubled Water, by Simon and Garfunkel. As a result, I’ve been listening to and falling in love with their music all over again after years of not really having paid attention. Their music is really special to me–my best friend and I used to sing all the harmonies in the halls at school and in classes constantly. We sang for years together. Our parents introduced us to Simon and Garfunkel. My mother loves these songs as much as I do.

Their music brings me back to a time that I have a very nostalgic picture of. I want to idealize it and say people back then could appreciate real instruments, strong vocals, and really great songwriting in a way that may no longer exist. Don’t get me wrong, there are some dubstep songs I like, and I definitely like dancing to my share of pop. And I guess we’ve got singers like Adele in our generation. But back then, that was the norm. I wonder what causes shifts in music? Are there studies on why a particular generation likes what it likes listening to?